The Temperate Forest Biomes Greatest Sustainability Threats

The Duties and Objectives of Elementary School Teachers

The Duties and Objectives of Elementary School Teachers The role of a teacher is to use classroom instruction and presentations to help students learn and apply concepts such as math, English, and science. Teachers prepare lessons, grade papers, manage the classroom, meet with parents, and work closely with school staff. However, being a teacher is much more than just executing lesson plans. In todays world, teaching is a multifaceted profession; teachers often carry the roles of a surrogate parent, class disciplinarian, mentor, counselor, bookkeeper, role model, planner, and many other related roles. Elementary school teachers play an important role in the development of students. What students learn in their formative years can shape the men and women they will become. The Third Parent The role of a teacher is clearly more than just planning and executing lesson plans. In some senses, because the teacher spends so much time with the students, she or he can become the students third parent. Teachers can be a constant positive role model for their students, particularly for children that lack a solid family foundation. Of course, the teachers role as a semi-parent depends to a large extent on the age and grade of the children they teach. The kindergarten teacher develops basic skills in her children that are necessary to excel and progress to the next year, while a teacher in the intermediate grades teaches specific information about a particular subject. A Teachers Role in Todays World Teachers roles today are considerably different than they used to be. Teachers were once issued a specific curriculum to teach, and a set of instructions on how to teach it, using the same methods for all students. In todays world, a teachers role is quite multifaceted. Their job is to counsel students, help them learn how to use their knowledge and integrate it into their lives so they will become valuable members of society. Teachers are encouraged to adapt learning methods to each individual students learning, to challenge and inspire them to learn. The modern teaching profession is also about taking on broader roles to promote education. Teachers often: Work with politicians, colleagues, and community members to set clear and attainable standards for their studentsParticipate in the decision making that helps to deal with the problems that affect the students learningMentor new teachers to prepare them to teach the youth of today Teacher Duties Duties of elementary school teachers include: Planning lessons that teach specific subjects, such as math, science, and EnglishTeaching lessons in whole-group or small-group configurationsAssessing and evaluating students abilities, strengths, and weaknessesPreparing students for standardized testsCommunicating student progress to parentsDeveloping and enforcing classroom rulesSupervising children in extracurricular activities (such as lunch, playground)Conducting in-class activitiesPlanning field trips Teacher Standards In the United States, standards for teachers are set by state and federal law and supported by state and national teacher organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences and open-houses, many schools have parent-teacher organizations, in which parents have an opportunity to discuss their concerns about the roles of teachers in schools today. Resources and Further Reading â€Å"Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers.† Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor, 8 May 2019.Ryan, Mary, and Terri Bourke. â€Å"The Teacher as Reflexive Professional: Making Visible the Excluded Discourse in Teacher Standards.† Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, vol. 34, no. 3, 24 Aug. 2012, pp. 411-423.Taack Lanier, Judith. â€Å"Redefining the Role of the Teacher: Its a Multifaceted Profession.† Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 1 July 1997.

Vermont State Health Policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Vermont State Health Policy - Term Paper Example Single-payment will be funded from tax collections, diversion of financial aids from Federal governments and hence, it will be based on equitable financing and 100% of healthcare of Vermonters will be met by Vermont State.   Vermont’s governor Shumlin conceived the single -payer system, and he promised all the 620,000 Vermonters with a gift of $3,225 each and every year to pay for free healthcare by Vermont State. However, Shumlin has not come out with his plans how he is going to fund the same. Only time has to tell us whether Shumlin dream project is going to stand as a model for all the remaining states in the USA or going to drain out the state’s exchequer’s resources.   As per United States Census Bureau, as of 2013, Vermont population was estimated at 626,011.This indicates a growth of 0.004% as compared to 2010 census. About 67.7 people were residing per sq. mile as of 2013. (Quickfacts.census.gov 2014).   From the following figure, we can understand that Vermont State spent $2210.9 million or $2.2 billion on human services (which includes healthcare expenses also) which is equivalent to 41.8% of the aggregate of the expenses of Vermont during 2013. Human service expenses include health care, food stamps, Child protective and housing services.   Medicaid: This offers insurance coverage for kids, adolescents under age 21, pregnant women, caretaker relatives, parents, disabled or blind people and those aged 65 or above. For qualifying under this, the income level should be below the protected income level† (PIL) or below the Federal Poverty Level. (FPL)†. The Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP): This scheme is available to those adolescents above the age of 18 and older who are not eligible under Medicaid program and those who are having income below 150% of FPL.   

Legal Environment Surrounding Sale and Purchase of Goods Essay

Legal Environment Surrounding Sale and Purchase of Goods - Essay Example According to Crose & Miller (2011), in any legal undertaking it is good to understand about what is legally right and what is legally wrong in any kind of legal issue. Therefore, it is advisable that Winston understand where his rights were infringed and where he might have failed during contract signing so that he can lay out a base for his legal arguments. This would enhance his chances of winning the case and thus enabling him to obtain compensation. As a plaintiff in this case he also need to understand the courts that will be involved if the case reaches litigation stage and the procedures involved in this stage so that he can prepare adequately. This paper plays a very significant role in explaining these issues and thus it would be of great assistance to Winston. Any kind of legal environment or undertaking is influenced by various factors. According to Meiners et al (2011), some of the factors that influence the legal environment are the needs and demands of the business comm unity, consumers, and the government. In this paper, we start by explaining the issues surrounding these factors. These issues are like the difference between express and implied terms, sales of goods act, difference between consumer and non-consumer sales, and process and procedures involved in the litigation stage of a case. ... These terms are rigid and cannot change to implied term whatever the case that interpret them. They also do not have further categories and we cannot have very many of them in a contract. However, each contract must have several of those terms clearly understood by both parties before signing. All other terms found in a contract, which are not express term, are regarded as implied terms. Unlike the express terms, these terms are subdivided to those implied primarily by factual circumstances of the agreements and those implied primarily by the law (Klass 2010). Also unlike the express terms, the terms implied by the factual circumstances of the agreement can change to express terms depending on the situation that interpret them. They are also found in larger number in any form of a contract. However, these two terms have one similarity, which is that they have to be included in any form of a contract and each party must read and understand them before signing the contract. According t o Klass (2010), when interpreting a contract, a court gives more priorities to express terms as compared to implied terms. This is merely because of their characteristics and their ability to explain the contract and the situation in which the contract was made. The express terms can also reveal some of the factors that made either of the parties to sign the contract. Therefore when signing any form of a contract one should be very careful with the express terms because they can play a very great part in making a case ruled to your advantage in case of any dispute arising from the contract. Sales of goods act The sales of goods act deals mainly with the sales contract

Systems of New Knowledge Production and Management of Innovative Research Paper

Systems of New Knowledge Production and Management of Innovative Development - Research Paper Example The term "lifelong learning" reflects hopes, which society assigns to education, and also opportunities, which should be necessary given to every single person for the development of his/her potential. Notwithstanding the long evolution of the concept of â€Å"lifelong learning†, there is no one general definition of this term. This notion can be defined as the realization of purposeful actions on learning, both formal and informal, undertaken continually with the aim to improve own knowledge, skills, and competencies. According to Edwards, Miller, Small, & Tait (2002), the life-learning concepts advocated today have grown out of the â€Å"lifelong education’, ‘permanent education’, and ‘recurrent education’ plans proposed in key documents several decades ago, many of the principles espoused still apply today, even though the contexts and the concepts themselves have changed in certain ways (see e.g. Tuijnman, 1994; Hasan, 1996). Nowadays huma nkind has become a witness and a direct participant of great changes. The development of communication networks, digital technologies and genetics, trade and culture connections, and general globalisation of civilization give everyone a variety of possibilities on the way of self-improvement. People get more and more freedom in choosing their behaviour and the way of life in general, however, everyone should understand that such freedom involves certain responsibilities. In such circumstances, the distance between those, who do first-rate on the labour market, and those, who have hopelessly fallen, behind become more and more obvious.

Assessment of Ureteroscopy During Pregnancy

Assessment of Ureteroscopy During Pregnancy INTRODUCTION Urolithiasis during pregnancy is an infrequent condition, with an incidence of 0.026 to 0.531 percent in the medical literature (1). Renal colic is the most common presentation of urolithiasis, as well as the most common nonobstetric cause of hospitalization during pregnancy and a predetermining factor of premature labor especially if accompanied by urinary tract infection(2,3). In approximately 70 percent of the cases the stone is passed spontaneously with the use of analgesics and hydration. (4-7) In other cases the onset of infection, fever and refractory ureteral colic require a variety of endourologic actions such as stent placement treatment(8). The diagnosis of ureteral calculi in pregnant women is often difficult because of the serious risks presented by radiation exposure, especially during the first trimester. As such, the diagnosis is best based on clinical data, urinalysis and ultrasound examinations; however, ultrasound does not always provide a clear diagnostic picture, even though at times color flow Doppler ultrasound may be useful (9). Further diagnostic efforts are indicated when the patient has intractable pain or upper urinary tract infection, or if renal function is decreasing for which a more precise diagnosis aims at specific treatment. In this situation ureteroscopy was considered a useful option, since it combines the diagnostic procedure with definitive treatment(10). Because of the recent advances in the techniques and technology in the field of ureteroscopy, the new and thinner semirigid and flexible ureteroscopes have allowed easy access to the ureter without any need for dilation and with minimal manipulation. (11) Ureteroscopy can be performed successfully for ureteral calculi in pregnant women and stones can be removed with the stone basket or fragmented with ultrasonic ballistic or laser lithotriptors under sedation-analgesia (12-14). Ureteroscopy can be performed with greater care when the patient is under sedation-analgesia than if spinal or general anesthesia is used, since the patient can collaborate during the procedure. Therefore, sedation-analgesia may be preferred when ureteroscopy is performed in pregnant patients (15,16). For reasons mentioned above, we have started use of minureteroscopes for managing pregnant patients with complicated stone disease not responding to medical measures and herein we present our experience with 15 p atients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 2000 and 2005 we performed ureteroscopy and ureterolithotripsy on 15 pregnant patients 21 to 32 years old. All patients underwent extensive diagnostic evaluation including urinalysis, urine culture and antibiogram, complete blood picture, bleeding and coagulation times, renal and liver function tests as well as, complete abdomino-pelvic ultrasound, and an accurate obstetrical examination to evaluate the fetal condition. The women were placed on the operating table in an oblique position with the left side down when necessary to decrease the pressure of the pregnant uterus on the inferior vena cava. Sedation-analgesia with 2.5mg midazolam and 50 mg pethidine intravenously was used in the first 7 patients. In the following 8 cases 10 mg nalbuphine HCL was used in addition to midazolam. Prophylactic therapy with ampicillin/ sulbactum 1.5gm was administered before the procedure. Ureteroscopy was performed with ultrasound monitoring. The use of ionizing radiation was avoided before, during and after the procedures. Constant obstetrical monitoring was available throughout the procedures. All patients underwent ureteroscopy with thin rigid 7.0F ureteroscopes without dilation of the ureteral meatus. We used either the micro-six ACMI ureteroscope or Karl-Storz 6.9 F semirigid ureteroscope. Floppy tip guide wire 0.035 was inserted over a 6 F open tip ureteric catheter through the 22 F cystoscopy. The wire was advanced first to the collecting system where it has been fixed. In cases with difficult guide wire insertion through the cystoscope, direct ureteroscopy was then performed and a safety wire was inserted through the ureteroscope. Then the ureteroscope was advanced alongside the wire and visualization of the whole ureter was done. Once a stone is visualized a decision was made in regard to the best means of extraction. Factors, such as size, amount of speculation, degree of impaction, location within the ureter and condition of the distal ureter, were considered. Our method of choice was the use of the stone basket under direct vision. If the size of the stone preclu ded the use of the basket technique, we elected to disintegrate the stone using pneumatic intracorporeal lithotripsy. At the end of the procedure, a double pigtail ureteral stent or external ureteral catheter was placed in the ureter to avoid partial urinary obstruction and flank pain due to mucosal edema. If external stent was used, it is tied to a Foley catheter. The Foley and ureteral catheters were removed within 1 to 2 days. The operating time, hospital stay, perioperative and postoperative complications, outcome of the pregnancies and deliveries, and condition of the neonates postpartum were all recorded. All women underwent PUT and abdomino-pelvic ultrasound 6weeks after delivery. RESULTS The mean age of our patients was 25.3 years (range 21-32 years) and the mean gestation time was 28 weeks (range16-32 weeks). The main presenting symptoms and indication of surgical intervention were recurrent ureteric colic not responding to analgesics, fever, recurrent UTIs, and hematuria (table1). Urine culture was positive for ampicillin-sensitive strains of E-coli and proteus vulgaris in 3 patients. Macroscopic hematuria was found in 3 patients while microscopic hematuria was present in in 2 patients. Leukocytosis was found in 2 patients. Ultrasonography showed dilation of the renal pelvis in all cases and stones were identified in 8 cases. Upper ureteral stones were found in 3 patients while lower ureteric stones were diagnosed in 5 patients. The mean stone size diagnosed with ultrasound was 0.6cm (range from 0.5-1.2 cm). Ureteroscopy was done for all cases with the entire ureter examined without the need for ureteric orifice dilatation. Stones were extracted from the lower ureter by Dormia basket in 7 patients. Stone fragmentation with the pneumatic lithotriptor was used for stones above the iliac vessels in 6 cases and no stones have been found in 2 patients (table 2). A double pigtail ureteral catheter was inserted in 8 cases (6 patients with fragmented calculi and the 2 cases with no confirmed stone) and ensured to be in the proper position by watching its distal end in the bladder and monitoring of the upper end curling in the renal pelvis through ultrasound examination. In the 7 patients with extracted calculi, a 6 F ureteric catheter was inserted for one or two days postoperatively. Duration of the procedure ranged from 15-30 minutes and obstetric monitoring showed no signs of fetal distress or pre-term delivery. No complications encountered and convalescence was uneventful. Patients who had pain were improved remarkably and fever disappeared within the next 24 hours after the procedure. Patients were discharged home 72 days after the procedure and the external ureteric catheter was removed. Patients with double J stenting had their stent removed after labor in the two patients with negative ureteroscopic finding while patients underwent stone fragmentation had stent withdrawal after 3 weeks. All pregnancies progressed to full term delivery. Five patients had an elective Cesarean section as they had a history of previous section and no fetal abnormalities were detected. The follow up PUT and U/S performed 6 weeks postpartum revealed disappearance of renal pelvis dilatation and no calculi were found in all patients. DISCUSSION The first publications on ureteroscopic diagnosis and management of ureteral calculi during pregnancy appeared in 1988.12 The differential diagnosis of ureteral calculi versus physiological dilatation in pregnancy was rendered possible by this procedure with great assistance in management. Using ureteroscopy and stent placement, under ultrasound monitoring, was an important step forward in stone manipulation during pregnancy (12,13). It was supposed that anatomic distortions caused by the fetal presence would not allow the introduction of the rigid ureteroscope and this procedure could be of high risk to the pregnancy. However, it was proved that the natural ureteral dilation in pregnancy facilitates the introduction of the ureteroscope and the procedure could be performed easily by following the usual rules, except for the use of fluoroscopy (17). The diagnosis of ureteral calculi in pregnant women is often difficult because of the serious risks presented by radiation exposure, especially during the first trimester(9). Several investigators have highlighted the problems related to the exposure of the pregnant patients to x-rays in regard to the incidence of tumors in children who were irradiated during fetal life(9,18). Therefore, the use of x-ray for the diagnosis or management of stones during pregnancy remains controversial (19). Ultrasonography is the main diagnostic method in these cases, because besides its non-invasive nature, it does not use radiation, and is universally available (3,8). However, Ultrasound does not always provide a clear diagnostic picture, even though at times color flow Doppler ultrasound by using resistive indices may be useful (10). In our study, we avoided the use of x-ray for the diagnosis of stones during pregnancy and we depend mainly on clinical diagnosis and ultrasound examination. Renal pelvic dilatation alone or combined with calyceal dilatation was diagnosed by U/S in our patients and ureteral stones were found in 8 (61.5%) out of 13 ureteroscopically confirmed stones. Although U/S is safe under all circumstances of pregnancy, its utilization in diagnosing obstruction is of limited value owing to its sub-optimal view of the ureter and presence of hydroureteronephrosis as a physiologic concomitant of pregnancy. Hematuria, both macro and microscopic, is a frequent sign, but is not specific (4, 8, 20) while urinary tract infection is present in 20 to 45% of the cases of calculus during pregnancy (1,21-22). Among our patients, hematuria was present in 5 (33.3%) patients and asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 4 (26.7%) patients while pyelonephritis complicated 2 (13.3%) pregnant women. In the early protocols for stone management in pregnant patients, the double pigtail catheters were used to treat renal dilatation and in cases of failure, an ultrasound guided nephrostomy was preferred over the risks inherent with ureteroscopy (19). Stents and drains may have many disadvantages including accidental dislodgment, obstruction or bladder irritability and unpleasant symptoms (1). In addition, incrustation on double pigtail stents with resultant obstruction is frequent in pregnant women and it is advised that stents should be changed every few weeks during pregnancy. The repeated insertions of tubes and stents may have potential risks that may be comparable to the risk associated with ureteroscopy performed as a single procedure. (11-14). In the present series, we have used the 7F semirigid ureteroscope, without need of dilating the ureteral meatus in any of the cases. In fact, this procedure is simpler than it was supposed in the past. It was suggested that pregnant patients with ureteral calculus and fever should be treated with antibiotics and drainage by a double-J catheter. The advantage of this method is that it is an efficient and less invasive method. Ureteroscopy was not advised in these patients because ureteral manipulation and liquid injection under pressure in the excretory system may lead to bacteruria and dissemination of the infection (23). However, stent should be left until the end of pregnancy, which can be a predisposing factor to infections and may cause vesical discomfort in most patients. We have used ureteroscopy in 2 pregnant patients with pyelonephritis and obstructing ureteral calculi and stones were removed and double J stents were inserted for 3 weeks without complications. Those patients were given antibiotics according to culture and sensitivity test prior to the procedure and during ureteroscopy fluid pressure was kept at minimum and non-refluxing double J stents were used. A further advantage of ureteroscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic option is that general anesthesia can be avoided during pregnancy. With the application of mini-ureteroscopes and small instruments, general anesthesia was replaced by sedation analgesia among our patients. This aspect has already been highlighted by others who reported on flexible ureteroscopy (12). In conclusion, ureteroscopy during pregnancy can be performed safely under sedation analgesia for diagnosis and removal of ureteral calculi in cases of failure of conservative management in experienced centers with the use of miniureteroscopes and without using fluoroscopy.

A Need For Education :: essays research papers

The Once And Future King by T.H White is a four part book of magic, love, death, war and medieval tales. The book tells the tale of how the Wart (Arthur) becomes king and how he goes about life. The need for education is very important; the lessons Arthur learns and his application of them later in life demonstrates this importance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lessons Arthur learns as a child is taught to him by various animals. On the signs over each ant tunnel was a notice which read,† Everything Not Forbidden Is Compulsory† (122). In the life of a worker ant there is no free thought allowed. The worker ants also have no free will; they do only what they are told to do and nothing else. Another good example is the view of Lyo-lyok the goose; â€Å"There are no boundaries among the geese† (170). Lessons learned from the geese are those that teach leaders take charge when a leader is needed. The geese also teach Arthur why war is unnecessary. In those lessons Arthur learns that Communism is oppression, is war, and Lyo-lyok teaches that war is not the only thing one should depend on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later in Arthur’s life, he uses his education to form ideas of using might for right. For example, Arthur rhetorically inquires, â€Å"Why can’t you harness might so that it works for right† (248)? Asserting his idea Arthur decides to fight the battle at Bedegraine in hopes of stopping people from thinking of war as he once did. With that idea in mind Arthur wishes to use might to show people what is right. Arthur then decides to enforce his idea of might for right by creating a league of knights (The Knights Of The Round Table); this idea leads to a genius proposal in when he states, â€Å"Then we can have a circular table† (265). Arthur’s round table idea prevents jealousy and competition among the knights.

Maslow Hierarchy Speech

Topic: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Specific Purpose: The purpose is to allow the audience to understand how true happiness, or self-actualization, can be achieved. Introduction Attention Materials: Many times I have wondered what is true happiness. Is there such thing as true happiness? Can it even be attained if there is such a thing? Is it more of fulfilling desires, or satisfying psychological needs? Every person attempts to realize happiness in its fullest essence. It seems like today people are too busy trying to get rich. Nowadays it is believed that happiness lies in that new mansion, or a nice Ferrari.People are mistakingly assuming that wealth will bring to them a personal significance in which they will achieve happiness. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs actually limits the relationship between happiness and material possessions. Abraham Harold Maslow is a humanist psychologist who taught at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University. He stressed the importance of focusing on the positive qualities in people, as opposed to treating them as a â€Å"bag of symptoms. † It is believed that happiness, or self-actualization as Abraham Maslow calls it, is more of a mental and psychological thing.If you’re a psychology major you probably heard the term a couple of times, but I’d like to expand a little more about it. Thesis Statement: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs explains that happiness is achieved through a series of steps. Preview: We will look through the steps suggested by Abraham Maslow in order to achieve true happiness. (First, lets talk about the first step of the hierarchy, the most basic of human needs. ) Body I. Maslow’s Hierarchy consists of five levels. A. Physiological needs, which are basic human needs such as hunger, thirst, and avoidance of pain. . For the most part, physiological needs are obvious – they are the literal requirements for human survival. If these requirements are not met, the human body simply cannot continue to function. 2. Physiological needs are the most prepotent of all the other needs. Therefore, the human that lacks food, love, esteem, or safety would consider the food the most important. B. Safety needs, such as the need for secure housing and protection from weather. 1. With their physical needs relatively satisfied, the individual's safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. 2.In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, or, in cases of family violence, childhood abuse, etc. – people experience post-traumatic stress disorder. 3. This level is more likely to be found in children because they have a greater need to feel safe. C. Love and Belongingness, such as emotional intimacy, friendships, and social connections. 1. After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third layer of human needs are interpersonal and involve feelings of belongingness . 2. People have an emotional need that they need to fulfill, and without this there will be a gap in the persons psychological wellbeing.D. Esteem Needs, such as the need for the respect of one’s peers, status, or approval. 1. All humans have a need to be respected and to have self-esteem and self-respect. 2. People need to engage themselves to gain recognition and have an activity or activities that give the person a sense of contribution, to feel self-valued, be it in a profession or hobby. E. Last, but not least, Self-Actualization, which is the fulfillment of ones individual potential. 1. Since no two people are exactly alike, the drive for self-actualization leads people in different directions. . For some, self-actualization may mean creating works of art; for others, striving on the playing field, in the classroom, or in the corporate setting. 3. Not all of us climb to the top of the hierarchy; we don’t all achieve self-actualization. II. However, our needs may not be ordered in a fixed manner, as Maslow would suggest. A. An artist might go for days with little if any nourishment in order to complete a new work. B. People may limit constrain their social life to focus their energies on seeking status or prestige in their careers. C.Maslow might counter that eventually the emptiness of their emotional lives would motivate them to fill the gap. D. Despite its limitations, Maslow’s model leads us to recognize that human behavior is motivated by higher pursuits as well as satisfaction of basic needs. (Transition: Now what does this all mean? ) III. This means that in order to actually attain happiness, a person must achieve psychological, as well as physical needs to the fullest extent of their capabilities. A. Most of us college students are in the Esteem level. 1. We all have our group of friends that we meet up with after class, or on the weekends. . And we are working on this college degree, which would one day hopefully lead us to a satisfying career. 3. What are we here for? We are here to gain prestige and achieve as much as we can to prove to others and ourselves that we are fulfilling our potential. B. When we get that position we are looking for or have a job that brings status as well as stability to our lives, then we can move on to achieving the highest level of happiness. 1. After you start a family and have a stable career to support your family with, you can begin to look for the next level of the hierarchy. 2.That next level of hierarchy is actually realizing that you are at that level. 3. Looking back at your life realizing that you have all the other levels satisfied brings peace to your mind. 4. Bringing yourself to the highest level you can as a human being, or fulfilling your potential is what brings you that ultimate happiness. 5. Knowing that you did the most you can, as a human being will allow you relax and achieve that happiness. 6. After all, all this work and efforts your putting into school is really just in order to reach a point in life where you are satisfied with what you have done.

Drug testing in the Workplace

Drug testing in the Workplace Free Online Research Papers Testing employees or job applicants for drug or alcohol use invokes a controversial area of policy and law that is still establishing its parameters. Today, in many industries, drug testing has become a everyday business, just like a job interview for example. Drug testing at the workplace is up 277 % since 1987 ( American Civil Liberties Union ) and as a result Employee Privacy is becoming increasingly an issue, not only for employees and employers but also for lawyers and unions. While increasingly employers have to ensure that their employees are fit for duty the use of drug and alcohol testing is becoming more and more an controversial issue. On the one hand, drug abuse is a serious problem especially in the US, where 5 % of the worlds population consumes 60 % of the entire worlds supply of illegal drugs. Nine percent of current employees and 12% of job applicants test positive for illegal drug use, the U.S. Department of Labor has reported. Given these numbers, and the fact that drug abuse is estimated to cost business $100 billion per year in lost profits, it is no wonder that many businesses are considering drug testing. On the other hand for many employees drug testing can seem unnecessary, disruptive and a violation of privacy. Drug testing opponents also claim that drug testing is often inaccurate and unproven as a means of stopping drug use. Given those facts the question arises if drug testing for job applicants as well as for current employees is the best option to choose for employers. The topic has gotten more and more attention during the last years and the drug and alcohol testing laws are still changing rapidly. In addition they vary tremendously from state to state. A number o state courts have set out rulings defining when and why drug tests may be given. Considering all the states and their particular laws cant be undertaken in this paper. Therefore, the considerations are of general character and are not to be distinguished between different states. The right to privacy is the right to be left alone. It is highly valued in the U.S society that employees have privacy rights at work, subject to some limitations. The US and state constitutions give the employees a right to privacy, but it does not apply in the employees relationship with his employer. Many states sanction some sort of drug testing in the workplace but many do not regulate it much. In these states it is a employers right to ask for a drug test without a warrant or a particular reason. The can choose employees randomly just by drawing a name.However, this applies only for the private sector. In the public sector the workers have additional protections. Specifically, the Fourth Amendment to the US constitution prohibits the government from searching or ordering a search of a persons bodily fluids without a proper reason to do so. For the government to legally require drug testing, it must have a need to drug test that is so strong that this need outweighs an employees constitutional right to privacy. Otherwise the test violates the fourth amendment, prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures.Companies cannot usually conduct blanket drug tests off all employees or random drug tests. However, the courts have generally ruled that companies may test for drugs among employees whose actions could clearly cause human injury or property damage if their performances would be impaired by drugs, and in cases where there is good reason to think that employees are using drugs. Additionally there are a number of employees who, because of their specialized positions or type of work, can be tested more freely for drugs and alcohol use. For example the Department of Transportation requires drug testing for some critical positions, such as Airline Pilots and other high risk jobs. Another factor that has to be considered is if the company or government uses reasonable and accurate procedures to test. If they do drug testing of public employees is usual ly legal. Furthermore it has to be distinguished between testing job applicants and testing existing employees. It is more common to test job applicants for traces of drugs and just a few requirements have to bee fulfilled to legalize the test. These requirements include: The applicant knows that such testing will be part of the screening process for new employees All applicants are tested similarly and a state-certified laboratory administers the tests Besides those requirements there has to be a reasonable suspicion of drug use based on the following facts: -direct observation of drug use or of physical symptoms -abnormal conduct behavior while at work or significant deterioration in work performance -a report of drug use reported by a reliable and credible source or any kind other evidence drug possession usage or selling Once the decision to drug test someone there are several actual drug testing procedures. Although there are a lot of different methods the vast majority of drug testing procedures is either urine analysis or hair testing. Blood tests for drug purposes are very unusual because those tests can detect drugs only for a very short period of time, usually not even a day. Other methods such as the saliva and sweat testing are often discussed but it is still not clear how accurate they are. Among the two most popular methods, urine analysis and hair testing, employers usually choose the urine analysis. Even though, hair testing is more accurate and can detect drug use for months or even years after use, it is common to pick the cheaper method which is urine analysis. Nevertheless, urinal tests can detect drugs for a couple of weeks at the most. The urine drug testing is broken down into two basic types:the urine drug screen and the urine drug test. Neither of these tests actually test for drugs in the urine. They are looking for drug metabolites. A drug metabolite is what is left over of the original psychoactive molecule after the body breaks it down and passes it through the system. Drugs, in order to be detected in the urine must be absorbed, circulated in the blood and deposited in the bladder. This process takes approximately three hours for most drugsexcept alcohol which can take only 30 minutes. Thus, an individual who was tested just 15 or 20 minutes after using drugs would probably (but not always) test negative unless he was a chronic user who would have identifiable drug residue in his/her urine at all times. Chronic users of marijuana, for example, may test positive for marijuana use several months after use of the drug. A nice illustration of the actual drug testing procedure is given on the BBC Sports Homepage for the UEFA ( European Football Association ) . Every single step of the procedure is described and one extract states, Having washed their hands, the athlete takes the pot and produces the sample. Their midriff and genitals must be clearly visible so the testing officer can see the urine going directly from body to pot. This reveals how serious drug tests are considered not only in Business companies but as well for any kind of athlete. Once someone is tested positive there are several scenarios and consequences that could occur. If the person is a current employee the employer might have legally-justifiable reason to fire or deny a promotion, while potential employers might justifiably refuse to hire the person. If someone is fired for failing a drug test or injuring himself and then test positive, state or local drug testing laws (or other laws) might even allow the employer to deny the unemployment, workers compensation or disability benefits. As previously stated drug testing laws vary by municipality and state. Additionally, by example, the Feds encourage treatment and rehabilitation verses punishment. Lastly, not every employer and state has a mandatory zero-tolerance policy. So, there might be a second chance.This chance could mean that instead of firing the employer might offer an employee assistance program or ask to attend a drug treatment program. Usually both parties benefit from those kinds of solutions because it costs employers a lot of money to fire employees and hire replacements. So, treatment programs might be a cheaper alternative and produce sober, grateful, more-dedicated employees. However if a person refuses treatment after failing drug testing, he or she is likely out of a job even if it is a responsible, recreational drug user who doesnt really need formal help. Even by accepting treatment the employer might be under no obligation by law to give time off or sick leave pay. Persons who does not want to submit drug tests do not have to, that is their right but they might face the same consequences as someone who failed the test. Those persons are essentially proven guilty. The worst possible consequence of drug use is imprisonment but it is not likely. . There is still too much controversy over privacy invasion and drug testing accuracy and as previously indicated the Federal Courts encourage treatment and rehabilitation, not arrest. After providing the facts concerning this controversial issue the next section of the paper focuses on the alternatives o drug testing, the pros and cons as well as the authors own opinion in some parts. The first and major question is, if it is any business of anyone no matter if employer or government what the employee does in the time out of work. Drug testing is not done in the employees home. Testing is always done while the employee is on the job, about to start work or immediately after work. Nevertheless it is the employers business when drug abuse, even though done in private life, will effect performance or safety on the job. The employer should have the right to be concerned about an employees substance abuse at home if it may adversely impact on his business production and on his or others workplace safety. Everyone should have the right for a healthy and safe workplace environment. Nevertheless, employees also still have rights to privacy and accuracy in testing. Employees that will be tested should get a notice before the test is administered. Furthermore it should be guaranteed that accredited laboratories advise the tests. Lastly, the test results must be treated in t he same manner as other confidential personnel information. There are categories of employees who will need to be drug tested regarding to security and safety concerns. The first category would be the employees working with weapons such as in the military or police departments. These people are in charge of the public safety and they need to be drug free, because they need all their potential and skills to be able to do their job as they are supposed to do. Another category that should be tested is firemen, doctors and even nurses. For example, firemen have one of the most dangerous jobs. They have to fight against natural forces, and their job is about saving lifes. They cannot do their job properly and it is even dangerous for their own safety if they use drugs. In the same way, doctors (and nurses, the ones that are directly connected to the patients) are not allowed to make mistakes. One example is prescribing medicine or a wrong diagnosis. This can really hurt the patient, and even kill him. Also, employees driving a vehicle or flying aircrafts should be submitted for drug testing. They are responsible for other people’s lives and it would make sense that these people agree to be tested. For example, it is important that a bus driver or pilot agrees to be drug free. A study was conducted at Stanford University in which airline pilots smoked relatively weak government- issued marijuana cigarettes for the test. Each pilot was then tested on computerized flight simulators. The testing resulted in simulated airline â€Å"crashes† right after the marijuana use. (ohsinc.com/what_every_employer_should_know_part2.htm) More alarming was the fact that it also resulted in â€Å"crashes† a full 24 hours later, after every pilot reported no residual effects and each had stated they had no reservations about flying. Another category for drug tests is employees that work for the government. The main reason is not because of the public safety, but more because of the illegality of drugs. They have to respect the laws and be examples in being drug free. Drug users are approximately three times more likely to have an accident, one-third as productive, and have a much higher rate of being tardy and absent than other workers. Another study by the U.S. government found that those who illegally use drugs are 3.6 times more likely to injure themselves or another person in a workplace accident. Also they are 5 times more likely to be injured in an accident off the job which, in turn, affects their attendance and/or performance on the job. But there are also limitations to drug testing. False positive drug-test results can occur after eating a lot of poppy seed or drink herbal teas made from coca leaves. These are cross-reactants that look exactly the same to the laboratory as illegal drugs. But if the test is done properly, a second test is conducted using a different testing process that serves to confirm whether or not the first analysis was accurate. Additionally, the employee always has the right to explain the false result. There are voices that say that drug testing has nothing to do with impairment and everything to do with discrimination and is a violation of human rights. They argue that drug testing deters highly qualified workers from applying, discriminates against medical marijuana patients and hat there is no differentiation between responsible use and abuse. As a matter of fact, drug testing can lead most likely to a higher unemployment rate. Looking at the numbers of employees that are involved in drugs and that would test positive, this is an issue for the government. To reduce this number, drug-abuse prevention programs in companies could be undertaken. As a result, some of those who do apply would probably stop using drugs because of fear of being caught, and some who are later â€Å"caught† could undergo treatment and go straight. The U.S. Navy had a decrease to fewer than 4% down from 28% of its active personnel engaged in illegal drug use since the 1980 ´s. This is specifically due to the implementation of a comprehensive drug-abuse prevention program, including random drug testing of all active and reserve duty personnel. Additionally to these programs, company wide anti-drug abuse policies, drug awareness programs and employee assistance and rehabilitation programs can be adopted and implemented. To conclude, I would say that I definitely agree with alcohol and drug testing. Moreover, I think that not only specific categories should be tested, but all employees. There is no need to distinguish between categories, because it is a fact that in the United States.drugs are illegal and taking a closer look at the issue reveals that almost everyone using drugs can hurt someone else when the performance is influenced. Even athletes who just compete for themselves affect their performance and this has consequences for a many people. People who bet on them or spectators who paid money to see a good performance are betrayed in a certain way. The number of drug users is shocking and the government and employers have to react to this fact accordingly. A recent national Gallup survey shows that even employees demonstrated an increasing intolerance among drug abusers and an acceptance of employers taking strong steps to provide drug-free workplaces. 28% of employees who were asked what they thought was the greatest problem facing the United States today answered â€Å"drugs†. 22% of employees whose companies have drug-testing programs feel it is â€Å"not strong enough†. Lastly, 97% of employees favor drug testing in the workplace at least under some circumstances. I strongly believe that addicted people can have a bad influence on their job environment and non-users should absolutely have the right to work in a safe working environment and to not have their jobs and benefits undermined by drug abusers. Research Papers on Drug testing in the WorkplaceThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationStandardized TestingThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresResearch Process Part OneTwilight of the UAWPETSTEL analysis of IndiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesGenetic Engineering

The Naysayers Make the Most Noise

The Naysayers Make the Most Noise A writer wrote me about how distraught he was at the negativity about becoming a writer. He professed to being an introvert, and he felt I would understand his concerns because I profess to being an introvert. So we chatted. He has made his way through life via his writing more so than his verbal repartee. Oh boy, I can really relate to that. Every success I ever had in my life somehow originated from the written word. He fought to find his way in this writing mayhem out there, to see how he can make a partial living from his writing. Â  However, what upset him was the deluge of negativity. = Most people dont edit well enough to sell. Â   = There are too many writers so dont expect to sell much. = The agents take advantage of you. = The publishers take advantage of you. = Editors dont understand writers. = Vanity presses rip you off. = Editors rip you off. = Contracts rip you off. I could go on for the entire newsletter with that list. All the racket on the internet warns writers to watch out, be careful, demons await you around every turn and in every click to a how-to website. Well, let me tell you something, my sweethearts trembling in the shadows . . . those that screw up usually make the most noise. The people who struggled with their book and made no sales, who were taken advantage of Like I tell people in my classes . . . do your homework before publishing. Dont listen to the screamers who were taken advantage of or made bad decisions. Usually they are still uninformed, still stinging from being duped, and only have revenge in their sights. Dont get sucked into the drama. Take your time writing, then take your time editing, then take your time publishing. Know your options and know them well. I speak to writers each and every day about slowing down and educating themselves. But I can only shake my head at the ones who then reply (often sharply): = I found this one publisher who sounds good and wants my material (yet the writer cannot tell me if they are traditional or indie). = I trust this. (Sorry, but you dont trust a publisher . . . you have a business relationship sealed in a negotiated contract and you are NOT friends.) = The publisher will edit this for me. They wont let bad stuff get published. (Then I hear its a vanity press.) = I cannot afford an editor, website, or time to promote; so Ill put it up on Amazon and see what happens. = Im writing this book now, and my plan is to have it published = Im not writing/promoting/blogging like everyone else, so the rules dont apply to me (two of those this week). The noise isnt always the place to run too. Sometimes its what you run from.

Titanic disaster affect on JP Morgan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Titanic disaster affect on JP Morgan - Essay Example After participating in this major merger, he thereafter created the federal steel company by merging several steel corporations together in the year 1901. He further undertook some consolidations consolidating steel and wire companies to form the United States Steel Corporation. At the height of Morgan’s career, he and his partners had vast investments in both the financial and the corporate fields and were accused of their critics of controlling the nation’s high finance a criticism that he dispelled through a banking coalition in 1907. Despite such dispelled rumors, facts have it that Morgan was the lead financier of the Progressive era and his dedication and efficiency contributed in injecting transformations in the American businesses "J.P. Morgan, FDIC tangle over who will pay off WaMu liabilities."(2010). This is the man behind the Construction of the American owned vessel, the Titanic through financing the International Mercantile Marine Company (IMMC) and as the owner of the company. This company controlled trust and retaining ownership of the White Star Line, Red Star Line, Dominion Line, American Transport Line, and the Leyland Line. During the construction of the Titanic, the vessel was American owned as mentioned but Morgan kept the ships of his trust under the British registry with the British crew. He did this to escape accuses of violating the American Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 most so after the act had taken down J.D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. It is worth noting that Most of the vessels flew both American and British flags with the White Star Line burgee (Levinson 1912 pg 36-9). In addition to this massive investment, Morgan also owned US Steel, General Electric and numerous banks and other financial institutions. JP Morgan and company continue to thrive today as JP Morgan Chase. Did the sinking of titanic affect the JP Morgan Corporation According to Merchants and masterpieces (1995), if JP Morgan’s company I MM was not actually down then we can say that it was seriously wounded after the Titanic fiasco. The war at the time caused a lot of havoc to the company and the company crumbled during the war years. Most of the businesspersons in America at that time expressed interest of discounting all the dreams of Morgan without expressing any signs that they might one day try and pick up the pieces to recapture the visions that Morgan had in the near future. JP Morgan and his partners like Harriman, Hill and Hanna collective dream of the transportation industry failed but the legacy they left behind still lives with us up to date. The name Morgan is still around with us today most so his great contribution in the banking industry though JP Morgan & Chase "J.P. Morgan, FDIC tangle over who will pay off WaMu liabilities."(2010) Their legacy in the transportation industry though a company like Citibank lives with us to date though the pieces of the transportation network they constructed fell aw ay gradually. The white star line continued to date although it is quite hard for it to recover completely from the destructions caused by the Titanic and the same destruction took place with the IMM (Morris 2005 pg 126). The IMM and the white star line suffered another major loss most so after the loss caused by the Titanic and the onset of the war. This loss had an impact on the massive commercial travels across the Atlantic routes in the year 1916. During this time, the Britannica had served as the hospital ship from the time it was launched in 1914, within the same period specifically in November 21st the ship got a hard hit on a mine and sank off the island

Compare and contrast the views of Smith and Ricardo on the Essay

Compare and contrast the views of Smith and Ricardo on the determination and possible evolution over time of the natural rates of wages, profit and rent - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that the â€Å"natural prices† of the aforementioned criteria, i.e. profits, wages and rents are further examined to fluctuate in accordance with the varied circumstances in the job market scenario. According to the viewpoints of various economists, it has been noted that the â€Å"natural rates† of rent, profit and wages are likely to be continuously changing due to the presence of a huge number of buyers as well as sellers and also because of the increasing market competition. Subsequently, various theories have been developed in order to examine the determinants of production function in an economy which is further believed to steer the overall growth rate in that particular nation1. Among the commonly applied theories, the most influential and certainly the most debated theories have been the growth theory of Adam Smith and David Ricardo. In this paper, the views of two economists i.e. Adam Smith and David Ricardo upon the subject matter of the determination as well as the possible evolution over time of the â€Å"natural rates† of rents, wages and profits will be analysed and compared. Adam Smith, the world renowned economist and philosophist of the 1770s, stated that the conception of â€Å"natural rate† is principally described as the price which is offered to any particular commodity in order to yield a significant portion of revenue. As per the growth theory of Adam Smith, governments play an imperative role in the determination as well the possible evolution of the â€Å"natural rates† of wages, profit and rent over time. In this similar context, Smith strongly believed that the government of any particular nation must enforce effective contracts and simultaneously grant copyrights as well as patents for the purpose of promoting new inventions and innovative ideas which can assist in greater capital accumulation within the nation, resulting in the increased wealth of the economy and therefore influencing the