Capital Market Efficiency and Its Implication for Financial Reporting

Capital market efficiency has been a widely debated topic since the term was introduced. The efficient market hypothesis was introduced by Eugene Fama in 1970 and is one of the most important topics that is covered in financial accounting theory. There have been many papers and studies that have backed the efficiency market hypothesis. There have also been many others that have tried to show that the markets are inefficient. Are securities markets efficient or not? I believe that they are, and because they are efficient, there are multiple implications of efficient securities markets for financial reporting. In 1970, Eugene Fama introduced the efficient market hypothesis. Since there are many definitions and forms of an efficient securities market, I will focus my attention on the semi-strong form. In the semi-strong form, a market is considered efficient when security prices traded on that market at all times fully reflect all information that is publicly known about those securities. This hypothesis or theory has had many proponents for and many against it in recent years. These people have done their own studies and research on the market trying to either prove or disprove that the markets are efficient. An important statement in the definition of an efficient securities market is publically known. It focuses on the theory that the market prices are efficient and include all publicly known information. It does not rule out that some people will have inside information, and they will know more about the company than the market. Since these people know more than the market, they may be able to earn excess profits on their investments if they choose to take advantage of their inside information. While most insider trading is legal, it is illegal for insiders to trade when they trade with information that is not publicly known to further their own profits. By enacting trading laws, like insider trading, it just further solidifies that the markets are efficient. Market efficiency is a relative concept. This means that the market is efficient relative to the quality and quantity of the publicly known information. Nothing in the definition suggests that the current market prices reflect the real firm value. Due to the possible presence of inside information, for example, the market prices may be incorrect. What the definition does imply is that once new or corrected information comes along the market will adjust the prices quickly. This adjustment happens because rational investors will revise their beliefs. They will start buying and selling securities due to their new beliefs which in turn will change prices. Another important point of the theory is that investing is fair game if the market is efficient. In an efficient market there is an expected return on that security, and one way to establish the expected or normal return is by using the capital asset pricing model. In an efficient market, the investors cannot expect to earn excess returns on a security over and above the expected return of the capital asset pricing model. Under the efficient market hypothesis, a security’s market price should fluctuate randomly over time. The reason that prices will fluctuate is that anything about the firm that can be expected will be properly reflected in the price by the efficient market as soon as the expectation is formed. The only reason that prices in an efficient market will change is if some unexpected and relevant information comes along. By examining a time series form by the sequence of price changes, the time series should fluctuate randomly. A random walk is a time series of price movements that will not follow any patterns or trends and that these past movements cannot be used to predict future price movements. There seems to be an increasing number of people against the theory of market efficiency including Professor Charles Lee (2010). He states that the market efficiency has its limitations. He uses the United States housing market as an example of a market that seems to have been dominated by greed. He believes that emotions now dominate the markets and assist in setting the prices in the securities market. The other emotion that he points out is that of fear. The unwillingness to grant credit and to take risks are direct results of fear. Since these emotions dominate people’s actions, the markets are not as efficient as originally thought. Shiller (1984) created a model which featured two types of agents. The two types of agents are â€Å"smart-money† investors and noise traders (ordinary investors). The smart-money investors focus on fundamental information and react quickly to news about fundamental information in an unbiased manner. Noise traders are vulnerable to fads and may also overreact to news. Noise traders may also trade for consumption-based or liquidity reasons. Since there are noise traders in the market that assist in driving prices, the markets are not completely efficient. Critics of market efficiency also point out that there are several recent instances where the market prices must have been set by psychological considerations instead of by rational investors. The first example is the stock market crash of October 1987. During this crash, the general economic environment stayed the same, but the stock market lost about one-third of its value. A second example is the Internet â€Å"bubble† of the late 1990s. The values assigned to high-tech and Internet related companies were inconsistent with rational valuation. In looking at market efficiency, any large swings upwards or crashes downward that do not have related unexpected information can be signs that the market is not efficient. Despite these cases and examples of reasons that the market is inefficient, I believe that for the most part the market is efficient. It is not completely efficient, nor will it ever be, but for the most part the securities are properly priced. I believe that if the market was not efficient, there would be more professional investors that would be able to beat the market as a whole. I believe that with the information and the speed with which it is available today it is more efficient than in 1970 when Fama first introduced market efficiency. I do agree with the notion that there are some people who invest with emotions. When you talk to people about a company such as Apple, you will find just as many people who â€Å"love† the company as you will who dislike it. My feeling is that most of the emotion trading will for the most part cancel out and will not represent enough trading to dramatically adjust market securities prices. There are many fund managers who believe that they can outperform the market. Efficient markets depend on these participants who think that the market is inefficient and trade in the market in an attempt to outperform the market. Jensen (1968) performed the first study of mutual fund performance. He found that active fund managers underperformed the market and were unable to add value. In my personal research, I have found that when looking at â€Å"professional† analysts opinions, they are all over the board. My belief is that fund managers should focus more on correctly diversifying people’s portfolios than suggesting and trying to get them to invest in securities that they feel are undervalued. In order for the market to be efficient, the arket must be able to quickly analyze and adjust prices for new information. Nowadays with the Internet, investment journals that come out daily, and television shows and channels related to securities markets, the markets are more efficient than in the past. An example of the market being able to react quickly was in the article â€Å"The Stock Price Reaction to the Challenger Crash: Information Disclosure in an Efficient Market. â€Å" Maloney and Mulherin found that â€Å"the market pinpointed the guilty party within minutes. Regardless of whether you agree with the efficient securities markets theory or not, there are many implications of efficient securities markets for financial reporting. In W. H. Beaver’s article â€Å"What Should Be the FASB’s Objectives†, he outlines four implications. The first implication is accounting policies adopted by firms do not affect their security prices, as long as policies are disclosed. The accounting policies have no differential cash flow effects, and the information is given so readers can ea sily convert across different policies. The policy that is chosen will affect the reported net income, but it will not directly affect future cash flows and dividends. The efficient market is not fooled by different accounting policies when securities of firms are compared. The second implication is that efficient securities markets go hand in hand with full disclosure. Management should report firm information if the benefits are greater than the costs. Investors use information that is available to them to improve decisions in market efficiency. Confidence in the securities market will increase because of the information available. An important standard of full disclosure is Management Discussion and Analysis. The objective of MD&A is to enhance investor understanding of the issuer’s business by providing supplemental analysis and background material to allow a fuller understanding of the nature of an issuer, its operation, and known prospects for the future. The third implication is that market efficiency implies that financial statement information does not need to be presented in such a form that everyone is able to understand. The majority of investors are educated and will understand the information as presented. They are the ones who buy and sell and will move market prices to an efficient level. Naive investors are then price-protected since they can trust the efficient market to price securities. The final implication is that accountants are in competition with other information providers. With new pertinent information investors will change their beliefs. This revision of beliefs is a continuous process. If accountants did not provide useful, cost-effective information, the usefulness of this function would decline to other information sources. Accounting information is generally useful to investors. The theory of efficient securities markets has been around for more than forty years. The concept should be around for many years to come. As in all theories, there are people that will continue to try to further prove the theory and people that will work to disprove the theory. From all available information and from my experience, I believe that securities markets are efficient. Due to the efficient securities markets, there are many implications for financial reporting.

Rap Music Essay

Often times when people hear about Hip Hop/Rap music, they’ll paint a picture in their heads of black men cussing, guns, marijuana, lots of gold, and girls looking like prostitutes. Parents and teachers put an image in their kid’s head that Rap music is â€Å"bad†, and they don’t want their kids to be influenced by something that is negative. With the way Rap music is advertised in the US, I would have to agree with that looking at it from an average parent’s point of view. But what people don’t know is that Hip Hop isn’t just a type of music, it’s a culture. It’s a culture full of original elements, and it’s also a place where people can show others what they’ve got and who they are. Within this original society called Hip Hop, there are basically four main elements of MC, Break, Tag, and DJ. And each is represented by millions of people all over the globe. When the four come together, it makes Hip Hop musi c, and people live the music instead of listening to it. MC-ing is what people know as rapping. The main point of an MC is to make your crowd enjoy your music, and to send a message out to them. Unlike most of the lyrics out on the market today, Hip Hop contains meaning and it sends a message to the listeners. Although those messages might have bad words, and show images of things that are socially wrong, that’s actually what’s going on where they are from, and that’s who they are. Their music represents their area and their people, and it’s no different from a farmer singing about his cows and chickens in Idaho. Besides, â€Å"Gangster Rap† isn ’t the only type of Hip Hop music, it’s actually only a small sect of it all. Many rappers put out lyrics about what they believe in, their own philosophies, entertaining others, and although it may seem unlikely, many lyricists seem like Einstein to me. Just like all of the other geniuses like Newton, Galileo, and musically Jimi, there are MCs that are geniuses too. What makes those guys remarkable compared to others are their strength and choice of words, and their flow, or the melody, of their rhymes. I personally can’t relate to the ghetto, guns, and all of that â€Å"gangster† stuff, so I don’t listen to that genre all that much, but there are many elements people can pick up from the Hip Hop music. There is a whole Japanese Hip Hop scene that is growing bigger and bigger, and that’s what I personally live. The next element is Breaking. Breaking is a term used for dancing, and most people know it as Break Dancing. Although Breaking has become a small part of the whole dance scene in Hip Hop today, it’s the first form of Hip Hop dances. People spin on their heads, do handstands, slide with just their hands on the ground, spin on the floor with their legs spread out, and all kinds of astonishing moves. This is probably the most popular form of Hip Hop in Japan today because its so easy to begin and watch. DJs have one simple task: make people dance. Or that’s what it used to be. Before, their main goal was to have the knowledge of the music so they can make people dance according to the mood and time. Also scratching records were their performance. Now, DJs have lots more jobs and probably the toughest element of all. Most DJs team up with MCs so they can act as the rhythm section of the Hip Hop performance, and to do that and be original, they must create sounds of their own. They basically make the beats and the MCs lay the words on it. The steps to be able to make beats and tracks takes lots of time, money, and mind, so most DJs don’t/can’t take a step further into the scene. Today, more and more artists are creating their own tracks, for the money, and they tend to realize that they can’t be rapping at age 40 while its perfectly normal for a 40 year old to be playing the guitar. It ’s not wrong to say that DJs are the backbones to the Hip Hop music. The final element is Tagging, and its graffiti. This is actually a controversial issue because many people believe its wrong. But it’s a form of art to the culture, and it shows character of each artist. Its definitely not just about claiming area by the gangs, and its not just about vandalizing other people’s property. People need to admit that New York City would not have its flavor that it has today without all of those artwork, and there are many artists that put up their pieces just so they can show others what they got. It’s a way of communication in the form of Hip Hop. Many other types of music can be a culture too, and each person feels if it is a culture to them or not. If music means culture to that person, then they probably feel that uneasy sensation of going to bed without music, going on the train without your Walkman, and have that anger towards vacuum  cleaners. Music also is a form of communication when there is the kind of society where people understand one another through it. Which creates influences on others, and makes music grow.

Emerging Technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Emerging Technologies - Essay Example Audio files are broadcasted for download into iPod like devices and hence the name podcasting. Podcasting distributes the audio content through the use of RSS. RSS comprises a family of web feed formats that refers to standards like Really Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary and RDF Site Summary. The use of RSS makes the whole process simple. Podcasting is emerging as a technology that has application benefits in several fields of human activity. (Curry, A., 2004). The versatility of podcasting is the primary reason for the choice of podcasting in the emerging technologies of ICT. Podcasting offers scope of use in several disparate industrial activities. The hardware used is already popular in its entertainment application. The simplicity and affordability of the iPod adds to the attraction in exploring the possibilities of its wider use. Podcasting is being tried out as a means to increase the efficiency of education. In this emergent form, it is already gaining the popularity of students for several reasons. The familiarity of the hardware, the ease of use, the option of what to listen, and the convenience of when it can be used are the main factors that are likely to play a significant role in its wider use. The versatility of Podcasting makes it possible to select many different industrial activities. The industrial activity chosen for this project is its application to the field education. There are many parts to the industrial activity. The first part is the development of iPod like devices with the objective of increased suitability to the field of education. The second business activity is the development of educational content suitable for students, to be broadcasted through podcasting. The final part of the business activities consists of promotion of these educational facilities to the target market of students either as part of their online educational activities, or as part of support to their

Venture Screening Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Venture Screening - Assignment Example It also requires the skills and ingenuity to search and manage resources, which are often owned by other people. In any way, entrepreneurship requires considerable thought, planning and preparation. To certain extent, the modern world with its highly dynamic and changing character of technology, markets and competition among them, plays into the hands to entrepreneurship. Thus far, there is a great exertion in trying to model and see the future, as while business plan of a certain venture is designed, it can simply become obsolete (Timmons, 1999). When an entrepreneur discovers the potential of a new venture, one should reply the question if the new venture idea is able to make money. A feasibility study will help to answer such question and to assist in changing one’s new venture idea into a successful business. Such feasibility study is a certain comprehensive plan, which consists of a systematic gathering, recording and analysis of information concerning the potential succe ss of a new venture idea. In other words, it is a process screening that is used to find out business opportunities. Business plan will be worked out on its basis. Such feasibility study includes the preliminary assessment, new venture concept, market assessment, analysis of cost- profit and plans for the future actions (Bates, 2003). A feasibility study of screening is aimed to help one to screen out the ideas that have limited opportunity and allow the entrepreneur to invest one’s time, money and efforts into ideas with a potential for success.   The phase of preliminary assessment evolves evaluation and choosing of the idea of new venture and potentially generates the desired level of outcome in the desired time period. During this period personal and professional considerations are assessed in order to evaluate the needs of one entrepreneur and financial feasibility of the business idea. Here the entrepreneur figures out whether he or she wants to start a

International trade & business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International trade & business - Assignment Example onal trade and its correlation with foreign direct investments, domestic environments, latest technologies, and the impact on the current international business environment. It also describes the role of driving forces behind the firmly integrated global international trade system. A substantial preference is given to underline the implications of international trade i.e. declining barriers to the international business and its continuous contribution towards the world’s economy. It also analyzes that how the international businesses are reacting to the changing environment of global economy. The paper puts some light on the concerns highlighted by rapid growth of international trade along with its implications to some particular countries and multinational companies. The roles of these companies and government policies have been critically analyzed to figure out the benefits and gray areas of international trade. Over the past thirty years or so, a universal shift has been occurring in the world economy. There was a time when national economies were isolated from one another and relatively self contained. The rationale of isolation included barriers to cross-border trade and investment, i.e. due to distance, time zone, environment and cultures, natural differences in languages and political regulations, and the business systems. Today, the world has been observing a totally different scenario because geographical distances are reducing due to tremendous development in telecommunications and transportation technologies. Beside this, the global environment and culture have turned into almost same fashion while national economies are merging into an integrated as well as independent global economic system. All these changes and developments have decreased the barriers to cross-border trade and investments. It is widely believed that all such happenings and improvements have been occurred by the tremendous growth of international trade at global scale (Panic,

Disparities and Sentencing of African Americans Research Paper

Disparities and Sentencing of African Americans - Research Paper Example Since it is a very much controversial issue, my primary objective will be exploring the all the aspect of so called disparities and sentencing of the African American clan in the white's land and also calculating possibility and to answer the hypothesis that amount of time that this clan get for the same crime as whites. Since this research problem needs an in depth study and it give rise to some insights to the magnitude of the racism I'll formulate such research questions which help me to lead exploring the reality of the problem and if so, to analyze the measurements taken by the authorities against this issue. The questions will be, 1. What is the magnitude of the disparities being faced by African Americans 2. How the sentencing system differs between the African Americans and Caucasians 3. Whether the government has taken any actions against such disparities and sentencing 4. If so, to what extent 5. For how long the African Americans undergo such disparities in future 6. Whether there is any possibility that an African American get same crime as Caucasians 2Chapter 1 Background Since it is highly necessary to gather accurate information for giving an ample scope to my research problem, I will approach autonomous and governmental bodies like Bureau of Justice...Since this research problem needs an in depth study and it give rise to some insights to the magnitude of the racism I'll formulate such research questions which help me to lead exploring the reality of the problem and if so, to analyze the measurements taken by the authorities against this issue. The questions will be, Since it is highly necessary to gather accurate information for giving an ample scope to my research problem, I will approach autonomous and governmental bodies like Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Justice References Services. Collecting data from such bodies will help me to compare sentencing system with regard to Caucasians and African Americans .Further it will help me to assess the magnitude of the disparities occurring against the African Americans. By resorting to all these data I will formulate a time frame to calculate the amount of time the blacks get same crime as Caucasians. If adequate data is not available from these bodies I will approach other governmental bodies such as Federal Justice Statistics. Since the periodicals, Journals, publications etc. enumerate accurate information I will choose best of them.

Four Important Business Concepts that are Shaping Today and 20 Years Essay

Four Important Business Concepts that are Shaping Today and 20 Years from Now - Essay Example It also enables to develop the transportation system, to lower the trading costs and a reliable medium for exchange can be created for increasing the gains from trade. So, it can be stated that the early growth of government is associated with increase in the levels of income and increase in positive growths. (Saxton, 1998) It is very important to understand that failure can be observed in a free market at different time periods and it should have the ability to correct itself. The method of correction should be eliminating the less performing investments and businesses which dragged the market down. But the US lost their belief in the natural correction mechanism of free market at the time of financial crisis and started to correct the market by artificial measures. The existence of SEC or Securities and Exchange Commission alone gives an indication that the US economy is not a free market. Following the market crash of 1929 the Federal government took steps for preventing the fraud corporations from performing audits of these companies. The federal government of US also regulated the market at the end of the 19th century. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) was created to control and regulate the companies those who were not maintaining the purity law. A minimum wage for the nation was also established by forming the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. All these show that the Federal government of America has a great influence on the market by regulating it, which in turn makes the American market limited in nature and it does not exhibit a pure capitalist system (Clark, n.d.). The above mentioned government regulations are also invariable during the phase of calm and prosperity. But, they tend to crop up during the times of crisis; year 2008 is a good example of a managed economy. In addition, the federal government also intervened during ‘takeover of Mae and Mac’ and the ‘buy in of AIG’. The federal government also formed the CAFE reg ulation as mandate about the fuel consumption issue (Richman, 1988). These things show corporations cannot exercise or regulate the market but government with its authority can regulate market according to their will. So, if government wants to regulate the market there is no scope of rejection about the issue. These clearly indicate the regulatory power of the federal government and also shows American market is still not a purely capitalist market (Clark, n.d.). 2. Labor movement in America played a significant role in history. People came to America as laborers as servants or slaves. Although during the period of revolution the unions were merely a temporary band of people, this helped to set the stage for the modern day unionization of the workers. For these unions laborers enjoy many benefits today. These unions mainly advocated hikes in labor wages and shorter working hours. But the most concerning issue was after achieving the goals, these unions used to disintegrate. America was growing and so was the demand of labor. At that time many inventions and innovations occurred and a transition was also evident in America i.e. change of American society from an agricultural society to an industrial society. This transition was termed as the Industrial Revolution

ADHD Facts and Myths Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ADHD Facts and Myths - Research Paper Example A larger proportion of the findings categorizes the aspects of ADHP as of inattention category and the remaining claims the presence of hyperactivity-impulsivity in the behavior a child. A number of symptoms are identified from the basic reflective features for the easy identification of the child’s conducts that basically result the inferior learning process and overall behavioral disorder that distinguishes an ADHD affected child from his peer equals. Ever since the researches began, there have been many assumptions and findings about the reasons and consequences of ADHD; however, most of such conflicting opinions have greatly contributed in having the studies a myths-and-facts image. Diagnosis for the ADHD is no easy after the child grows older, because the significance of the preexisting disorders may not be exhibited in its routine activities related to study, work or relationships. Many scientists and psychologists are of the view that the issue that runs through the fam ily which develops in the later stages of brain development. Since it is the most largely identified disorder in child behavior, researchers have explored the causes and risk factors involved in AHDH and assessed that a number of problems like depression, insomnia and learning impairments as part of it. They suggest that an early consultation with a doctor for ADHS suspected children for their rescue from further development of behavioral and health issues that may seriously damage the personality of the child in the future. Some studies say that â€Å"the adolescent and adult populations with ADHD also demonstrate significantly different profiles from those of their normally achieving peers† (Gregg & Deshler, 23).† The symptoms present in the suspected cases are mainly the visible comprehensive disorder, laziness in learning, severe impatience in the classroom, higher level demonstration of energy while playing, constant nature of interrupting the speech etc. Although this problem is easily ignored by the teachers and parents as a stage of growth, many teenagers feel depressed during the period of abstinence from attentiveness of their respective listeners of their ideas. Observers are of the opinion that â€Å"it is very important for adolescent to feel that they have been listened to and understood and that their opinions have been taken seriously, because in the past their ideas may have often been discounted by adults† (Robin, 506). There are several tests for identifying the affected cases. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) has advised that the children below 7 years of age be observed with the indicative symptoms for over six months and for the older children, parent-teacher interviews, IQ and psychological testing and other forms of competitive mental and developmental examinations (â€Å"Attention deficit hyperactivity..) Though this problem can be addressed and managed with medication and behavior therapy by experts in this field. From the parental angle, the child should be guaranteed enough sleep and praise for good behavior. Experts warn that any negligence in treating the ADHD affected children may take them to a more complicated life style in the future such as alcoholism, academic failure, inconsistent job preferences and acute disgust towards the law. Moreover, the height of degree of impulsive behavior may cause them severe damage in the peer relationship. There has been a lot of conflicting information developed from the evaluation of such identified issues of ADHD related problems. The factors contributing to such an intellectual debate

The issue of corporporate responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The issue of corporporate responsibility - Essay Example Sustainability, at its core, reflects a more integrated and efficient management structure that would be adept to weather the economic downturn. Quoting from the World Economic Forum report, Smith (2003) elucidates three key pressures that impel businesses to incorporate CSR viz.: linkages between corporate competitiveness, corporate governance, and corporate citizenship. a) Every business decision should embed the sustainability criteria: Porter and Kramer (2006) articulate: "the essential test that should guide CSR, is not whether a cause is worthy, but whether, it presents an opportunity to create shared value, that is, a meaningful benefit for society that also is valuable to the business." The Patagonia's mission statement captures strategic alignment of CSR with business: b) Build Brand through total wealth creation: Businesses ought to maximize the wealth all stakeholders through effective community investment and poverty alleviation programs. The wealth creation should be woven around green policies through innovative projects that protect environmental assets for the long term. c) Develop environmental projects focusing on economic exclusion: There's an urgent need for companies to refocus on their corporate responsibility to produce a pronounced positive impact on environment protection, and especially target eco... c) Develop environmental projects focusing on economic exclusion: There's an urgent need for companies to refocus on their corporate responsibility to produce a pronounced positive impact on environment protection, and especially target economically deprived areas for holistic growth. d) Partner More effectively: Partnering with government and NGOs can ease to an extent, the project funding issues, and dovetail the company's businesses with national growth strategies. Such an approach would also bring credibility for activities, and help gain public trust. e) Focus on governance and accountability: Especially in times of recession, the scrutinizing eyes of media, shareholders and government would continue to hover on companies, demanding transparency and accountability. Guarnieri and Kao (2008) noted that the 2007 Top Companies for Leaders are poignantly strategic and use CSR to help attract, engage and retain leadership talent. Leaders in such companies are encouraged to take leadership roles in social and community organizations. CSR thus becomes a critical component for leadership development strategy. CSR can be the best starting point for integrating societal considerations with business operations (Porter, & Kramer, 2006). Especially, in economically hard times, companies would be forced to reflect on their core priority businesses, and customers. In such situations, sustainability programmes can help to sieve the strategic business areas, and relook at the supply chain management with a "sustainability screening policy." Corporate responsibility can thus help pruning overheads, and effect cost savings through carbon accounting. Conflict between Luxury Branding and Environmental Concern Pinault spearheading the case for sustainable luxury believes that

Community Within Maycomb Essay Example for Free

Community Within Maycomb Essay So often in a society we are misled at the actual courageous and uncourageous acts that are done amongst a society. Most of the time it is usually because we have our own perception that a society is emulated from the way someone may act or the lineage and community in which some are born into. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows the strengths and weaknesses of a community through the white community, black community, and lastly the community within a family. Though there is much strength in a White community, like holding their values high, there are also weaknesses like being racist toward the â€Å"Blacks. For instance Jem points out a weakness in the White community when he tells Scout, â€Å"They’re real sad†¦ They don’t belong anywhere. Colored folks won’t have ‘em because they’re half white; white folks won’t have ‘em cause they’re colored, so they’re just in-between, don’t belong anywhere. † Back during the 1930’s interracial marriage was unheard of and if it was it was thought of as impure or inadequate therefore disregarded. Experts Joyce Moss and Gorge Wilson say, â€Å"†¦ Racial relations where complicated by various restrictions in the 1930’s. Breaking the taboo against sexual intercourse between a black man and a white woman was considered by most whites and some blacks†¦ most serious offence. This kind of miscegenation would ‘taint’ racial purity. † This then re-states the negativity of racism during the time of Maycomb in the White community. Despite of Macomb’s racist perspectives they also share very important morals between their communities. Atticus Finch shares with Scout,† you never really understand a person until you consider things from his [or her] point of view ntil you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. †(Chapter 3) This excerpt shows how high Atticus being from the White community, keeps his standards and beliefs held high so that he may be looked up as Macomb’s role model. In conclusion this states, though Maycomb may struggle with some things that still to this very day affect us as a community, Maycomb is also showing how it is to be keeping their morals in mind. From the outside looking in it may seem as though the Black community has no strength despite the fact there is. During the time period the Blacks had no problem with helping one another. If one didn’t know the other one knew and they assisted one another. During church scout asks â€Å"How we gonna sing [the songs] if their aint any hymn books? † â€Å"[Zebo cleared his throat and read in a voice ]. We tend to always focus on the main idea but this tiny detail helps the Blacks unite with each other because they are able to participate in activities like sing in church by just being able to work with each other to read the hymnal and be a religious community. Scout being from the White community she doesn’t understand the ways of the â€Å"blacks† and how they choose to be one. KJ The book girl states, â€Å"The black community as a whole is a very close congregation, as it has to be to survive the harsh treatment by the white community†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Because the Blacks have been kind of segregated by the White community, it has taught them to become and be closer. In difference to the negative conversations that go on in the Black community as well. You aint got no business bringin white chillun here—they got their church, we got ourn. It is our church, aint it, Miss Cal? † said Lula. This is the first time Jem and Scout experience direct racism which is usually never heard of because they are white. This makes them in a real uncomfortable position in which they have never been. The weakness in the Black community is they are racist back and don’t want to make a difference well most of them anyway. Even though Lula is from the black community she is prejudice towards the whites. This is a weakness in the black community though they help one another they don’t realize how to be the bigger person in the sense of acting with dignity and not stooping and lowering you self to discriminate against different raced people. There are much strength as well as many weaknesses within the kinship of a Family community. Atticus instills within his kids that, â€Å"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway. † A Review of General Semantics says that,† Atticus agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of [a heinous crime] raping Mayella Ewell a white woman. During the trial, Atticus provides sufficient evidence†¦ if fact provides that Mayella’s father Bob[Ewell] is responsible for marks on her face†¦ however the all-white jury convicts Tom[Robinson] away†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Action speaks louder than words have always been the saying for a society especially when parents say it. Atticus is teaching his kids the moral of standing up for what is right and to have full courage when doing so. He defends Tom Robinson to not only prove that this man has done nothing wrong but also to teach his kids the moral of standing up for what you believe in and having courage to do so is far more meaning full than feeling powerful verse feeling courageous for doing the right thing. In contrast to the benefits of a positive family community. In contrast to a positive family environment Robert also know as Bob Ewell, is determined to have a black man imprisoned for a crime that he has not committed. Atticus, while on the trial with Mayella Ewell Atticus asks her, â€Å"Why don’t you tell the truth, child, didn’t Bob Ewell beat you up? † Bob Ewell being a horrifying father has done a crime that if people knew what he has done the community would probably never speak to or even regard him again. He has raped and beaten his own flesh and blood. The inhumanity that he possesses within his family as the head of the house hold is unfathomable.

Enhancement Of Computer Literacy In Primary Students Education Essay

Enhancement Of Computer Literacy In Primary Students Education Essay INTRODUCTION 1. Commencement of use of Information and Communication Technology have been re-engineering almost all the fields of human life from basic needs like communicating with friend living abroad to fundamental needs like education, health and governance. That is not only a technological evolution but also a social revolution that enforces the primary students, to discover new habits, innovative morals and production of new life systems, so that to adapt with global change in human culture and life style. Our education system also to be formulate to meet this concept and to be aligned with this new technology. Hence, the innovative distribution of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for education of primary students is becoming compulsive need since the professionalism is the backbone that could change the culture and the society in time to time towards create outstanding living condition expected by the people. 2. Today, it is extremely important that a primary student should be competent with coherence in the area of computers and technology. It is impossible to be successful in todays job market and high tech lifestyle, if our primary students are failed for timely educate as early as possible to suit the existing requirement to this subject. 3. The computer literacy is now an essential tool that all students must be familiar with in order to complete their routine studies and focusing for future job demand. Whatever our job; Teacher, Planner, Lawyer, Accountant or Salesperson; computer literacy are mandatory them to succeed. Primary students are also need to gain certain level of computer literacy in order to complete basic every day skills to face our future society. In Central Colleges in Sri Lanka most of the primary students are aware with computer studies but they have to use it in a way to achieve mandatory results need for join the future world and join the future community. 4. The use of the internet facility is highly required skill for students and they are to thoroughly master it definitely. Computer literacy and Internet are almost one; in the same thing usually one isnt mentioned without the other tagging along. Without the Internet, there would be no way to instantly find the name of a famous book your favorite writer was in five years ago. Primary students will need to be familiar with the Internet in all types of educational methods whether it is research on any topic or surfing for information. For this purpose primary students need to know what a search engine is and how it works, what a keyword is and how it works, how to open a browser and how to use a link, etc. The Internet is a huge wealth of information that every students should take advantage for gather information skills. There are web sites that will help primary students to find educational tours by posting their resume online. Online skills allow primary students to learn and share social, cultural, environmental facts of other countries, people and religions. Many secondary level students today are now getting their degree online in the comfort of their own homes on their own schedule. Its amazing how today with a couple of clicks, every student can go anywhere in the world in two, three seconds without leaving their computer. 5. Promotion of computer literacy is one of the most essential areas in education. The important role which it plays is intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development of children. The students normally use sensory perceptions to know his immediate surroundings. It is automatically widens his vision. The computer literacy skills of students are not a one time experience. It is a continuous lifetime experience. It is accepted that a proper skills of Computer Literacy has to be inculcated and nurtured in the early years of age. 6. It must be distinguished as the ability to work with understanding and appreciation. In Sri Lanka computer is mostly a Information Communication Technological skill which is brought about by brute repetition of a given stimulus together with the appropriate response. It is a matter of some doubt whether all children have acquired the ability to learn in the genuine sense, by the time they have reached school leaving age. It needs at least four years to attain the computer skill and is it reasonable to expect these children who drop out after primary level to sustain that skill afterwards? Computer literacy is a not a severe complex process. It is an average simple skill which once learned, can be increased with referral to the Information Technological contented publications. CHAPTER II METHODOLOGY AIM 1. This paper will emphasis and analyze why the children are not skilled in Computer Literacy and for examine the factors which determine computer literacy in children and what steps have to be taken for the enhancement of computer literacy and information technological skills in primary school children in Central Colleges in Sri Lanka. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 2. It is required to study of Primary level students of Central Colleges computer literacy and the present environment to enhance their capabilities in computer literacy. In this research need to focus on their Computer educational system and clarify the difficulties and the to the mechanism that they required to strengthen the computer literacy, information technology aspects, as considering the future job opportunities that can be gained by primary students in Central Colleges Sri Lanka. 3. The question is at present scenario is ,the primary school students in Central Colleges in Sri Lanka have not been able to acquire the required standard of Computer literacy, and information technology to enhance their minimum skills required in Computer field. 4. This paper will identify and analyze why the Computer Literacy in primary students is dwindling, the factors which determine literacy and suggest recommendation for the promotion of mechanism that needs to enhance skills, knowledge in primary level students. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 5. Mechanism will be strengthening to face the future job demand. In this aspect is to be achieved in a way of researching experimental computer study of guidance in formulation with Government educational policies on Information Technology for enhancement of Computer Literacy of primary students in Central Colleges SCOPE OF STUDY The scope of this research focused on the primary students in Grade 1 to Grade 5, their teachers and principals are to extract their ideas by questionnaire and interviews. Also the research will analyze educational specialists personal views on what should be the background surrounding the primary school children to promote their Computer literacy. The anonymity of the researcher was maintained by asking questions from certain group heads and teachers under the name of a consented individual. The purpose was to eliminate biased answers which may be given as a result of the fact that the questions are presented by a known IT instructor. This is also to investigate any differences in response for the same questions based on computer literacy. This method is adopted as the topic is of sensitive nature and based entirely on individual attitudes. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION 7. Data collection methods are as follows. a. Primary source. (1) Primary source of information were collected by interviewing IT educationists and heads of schools. (2) Further data collection done by a questionnaire prepared for the primary school students and their teachers. b. Secondary sources. Books, paper articles and websites used as the secondary sources of information. CHAPTER ORGANIZATION The thesis is structured as follows : a. CHAPTER I Introduction b. CHAPTER II Methodology CHAPTER III Computer Literacy of Primary Students in Central Colleges (1) Computer literacy introduction of primary students (2) Present literacy skills and IT environment of primary students CHAPTER IV Weather educational support and the required guidance and assistance will provide to enhance the computer literacy How teachers adopt educational method to improve computer literacy of students through policies of educational department. How the other aspects on infrastructure facilities given to improve on computer literacy of primary students (3) Enhancement of Computer literacy and IT Skills of Students i Learning interests of students ii Students interests in internet iii College IT Environment iv Teachers opinion about Computer literacy CHAPTER V Impact of Computer Literacy for primary students at Central Colleges and future Job demand at society (1). How the computer literacy help to increase job demand for future society (2). Increase job demands and the computer literacy as main educational aspects of needs in primary students. CHAPTER VI Reasons behind the inefficiency of present practices on computer studies of students. Why the basic computer needs cannot preserve the computer education at Central Colleges Present skills of students and personal interest on computer literacy of primary students. Education level of primary students in line with present technology changes behind computer educational systems. Awareness studies and competency of teachers on newly introduced software systems and theories on computer studies. Other aspects that can be used to increase the computer studies. The malfunction exist in routine and system stability on computer studies of students Advantages and disadvantages of utilizing adequate study hours for increase computer literacy. CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII j. CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER III LANGUAGE APTITUDE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 1. Language is a process that helps people to express themselves and to make effective social relationship among people all over the world. It is through language that people could acquire information to improve their basic needs such as health habits, consciousness, scientific changes and different types of skills to earn a living. Piaget, the renowned physiologist believed that the real key to human intellectual development, conceptual development, is language. Language is the most effective mode of communication. The lack of language ability often hinders ones progress.  [1]  The language aptitude and literacy performance of the primary level indicates the standards of childrens reading habits and information skills. LANGUAGE LEARNING OUTCOME IN SRI LANKA 2. Sri Lanka has attained the first generation education objective of providing widespread access to primary education (grades 1-5). However one major challenge that the country has to overcome is the moderate level of learning achievement in language proficiency among primary school children.  [2]   3. According to recent studies carried out by NIE and NEREC, University of Colombo only between 35 to 38 per cent of primary school students have achieved standard level of their mother tongue (Annex B). This is a serious constraint to further learning, as all subsequent studies will draw on the childs mother tongue capability. 4. There is a considerable difference in the achievement of mastery level in their first language between urban and rural schools. According to the above studies more than 40 per cent of urban children achieve mastery level in their mother language contrast to below 34 per cent in rural areas. Also more than 1/3 of pupils have failed to achieve standard level for their mother language. This shows the dwindling of reading habits and information skills among primary school children. 5. The regional disparity in achieving mastery level in first language is clearly shown in Table III.I. 41.24 per cent of Western province Grade 5 students achieve mastery level in contrast to 42.40 percent in Uva province students have failed to achieve the required standard level. This shows how the availability of physical and human resources affects performance. Mastery = 80% 100% Non Mastery = 0 59% Table III.I Achieving mastery levels in literacy in Grade 5 by provincial levels Source Performance of Grade 5 students in literacy and numeracy NIE LITERACY SKILLS OF CHILDREN 5. According to the research project on development of language skills among primary school children carried out by NLDC (Annex C), the overall performance of Grade 2 pupils is satisfactory. There is hardly any disparity between districts or among school types. 6. The Grade 4 assessment revealed disparity in performance among the districts and between school types. AAVG level schools show highest performance while SS level schools show poor performance. These variations in performance pin-point the inequalities in distribution of learning and teaching facilities for the school subjects, particularly in language skills. 7. More than half of the number of pupils in the sample have not been able to attain the expected achievement level for the vocabulary synonyms/ antonyms, spelling and grammatical writing ability and creative wring skills for the Grade, after four years of schooling. This suggests that they are suffering from lack of reading habits.  [3]   CHAPTER IV READING INTERESTS AND INFORMATION SKILLS OF CHILDREN READING INTERESTS OF CHILDREN 1. There is no particular age at which a child should actually begin the process of learning to read. It should appeal to real activity, to spontaneous work based upon personal need and interest.  [4]  Children have an innate desire to know about their surroundings. As the child develops learning through sensory perception, he becomes more and more curious to understand his environment; what has happened and what is happening are his interests. 2. Children may come to understand an important part of their world through the experience of reading. They start to learn about reading in a natural and incidental way.  [5]  If a book satisfies childs needs, he will start reading it for pleasure. A child begins acquaintance with a book by looking at pictures. If the book catches his interest, he returns to the book again. Also he is being exposed to the printed word in the environment such as bus boards, various posters on the highway, road signs, labels of goods in the market, advertisements on television and newspapers. The child sees lots of words in his environment and tries to grasp them meaningfully. Therefore, most children have a form of awareness of the printed word.  [6]   3. According to the study it has clearly shown that children are interested in books, magazines, childrens papers and they have a thirst for information, knowledge and communication. This inbuilt desire and interest found in children has to be harnessed to improve their reading habits and information skills. As such it is the duty and responsibility of the parent, the teacher and the authorities to take the full use of it.  [7]   Table IV.I would like to spend my Table IV.II would like to spend my leisure time à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.- Grade 2 leisure time à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.- Grade 4 CHILDRENS INTERESTS IN MEDIA 4. The child gets motivated to read when he hears stories or when an adult reads aloud a story to him. Today the child could get this type of satisfaction through the mass media. When children watch television or listen to the radio, those programmes which are meant for children create awareness and need for reading and they could be made use of to develop reading habits and information skills. 5. As per the study it is revealed that Both Grade 2 and 4 childrens best television programme is cartoon stories. Most of children like to listen to songs and stories by radio. These interests could be made use of in varied ways to develop reading habits and information skills in the classroom and home. Table IV.V Interest on Television Table IV.VI Interest on Television Grade 2 Grade 4 Table IV.V Interest on Radio Table IV.VI Interest on Radio Grade 2 Grade 4 Table IV.I Grade 2 Table IV.II Grade 4 Childrens interests on childrens paper 6. Above two tables indicate that a very high percentage of children in all three districts read childrens papers. It was found that this is a habit developed by the good teachers of those schools by exchanging papers within the class, when those parents who could afford to buy papers for their children bring them to school. This high percentage suggests that if reading materials are made available to children, and then reading habits and information skills of primary school children could be definitely improved. CHAPTER V READING AND CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENT 1. As a foundation for the development of reading habits and information skills, the four language skills listening, speaking, writing and reading has to be developed in the classroom and the home. The child should be able to read with ease and facility in order to develop reading as a habit. The first requisite for this is to gain ability to identify letters and words. Then the child has to read words and sentences to infer meaning and gain knowledge, information etc. This is a complex process.  [8]   2. Reading skills could develop only if reading materials are available. Non availability of suitable reading materials create serious limitations in developing reading habits. Hence the laying of foundation on a sound footing is the responsibility of the parent, the teacher and the school. SCHOOL BACKGROUND 3. A teaching-learning situation is significantly affected by the availability of building with sufficient number of classrooms, seating accommodation and furniture. Primary sections of some popular urban schools have more than 50 pupils in one classroom, which could accommodate only 40. This situation has resulted adversely. Neither the teacher nor the pupil could move about freely to give and receive individual attention.  [9]   4. The situation is worse in some schools where the classes are conducted in unpartitioned open halls. In such schools both teaching and learning has become drudgery and some teachers are force to conduct classes under the trees in the garden.  [10]   5. The teacher is the key factor in improving reading skills and habits in pupils when resources are sub standard. In those schools the teacher is the only source of learning. Out of the 25 teachers who supplied information through the questionnaire, 21 are primary education trained and 3 are trained graduates. However the response of head of the schools revealed that there are quite number of teachers who are not trained. The standard of education undoubtedly recedes when teachers are not trained for the profession. 6. Out of 15 schools exclusively primary education is given in only 5 schools. In those schools primary education is entirely managed by a Deputy Head. Of other 8 school primary heads three are trained five are graduates with post diploma. Academic professional status of the head of the school, his attitude toward improving the mother tongue, commitment to his profession, his support in providing reading materials and promoting reading habits is of significance in this context. 7. Out of 15 schools of the sample five schools do not posses libraries catering to the reading needs of primary school children. Out of the 10 school libraries three of them have 100 500 books. Three school libraries have less than 1000 books and two National schools in Colombo district and one National school in each other two districts have a wealth of 3000 or more books. The two schools in the sample which have a few books received as a donation complained that there are no storage facilities available for them even to keep them safely. Out of the 15 schools 7 schools do not buy even a single newspaper. In the mean time out of rest 8 schools only 5 schools buy childrens paper for the primary school children.  [11]   8. Except for the national schools librarians trained for the job are not available in the rest of the schools. In most of these schools a teacher from the staff helps in the library. In three schools a girl is employed for the work in the library paying a nominal fee. 9. This clearly displays the disparity between schools with sub standard resources and schools with above average standard resources. This fact substantiates the view presented earlier that the socio economic level at home and school affect achievement level of children. TEACHERS OPINION ABOUT READING 10. The response presented by the 25 teachers of the schools of the sample revealed that children are really interested in reading and teachers do their best to promote reading by managing classroom libraries under difficult situations. Each child in the classroom brings a story book at the beginning of the year. Sometimes teachers give the names of the list of story books. Also those who can afford to buy childrens paper bring them to the class. These books and papers are exchanged among the pupils. There by teachers help children to develop reading habits. Instead in some schools teachers get a few books, about thirty from the secondary school library and distribute them among children once a month or so. 11. Some teachers are of the opinion that the primary syllabuses contain far too much material for the year that they cannot complete and it is difficult for them to concentrate on developing the reading habits individually. There should be verity in the content of the curriculum to cater individual needs. Also they pointed out that Grade 2 and Grade 4 even Grade 5 text books do not motivate children to read as the stories do not awaken their feeling and curiosity. Stories do not create opportunities for children to think. Therefore the teachers say that children mechanically read by heart, even if they cannot identify letters, words or meaning of what they pretend to read. Therefore the authorities concerned have to be more cautious in the selection and grading curriculum and text book content. 12. Teachers also revealed that in addition to the scarcity of reading material, children of sub standard and average type schools suffer from other deficiencies such as socio economic conditions at home, large families, parents not been educated, their inability to realize the importance of reading. 13. Method of teaching plays an important role in learning situation. What was observed was teachers are more concerned with covering the syllabus, merely using general methods of teaching without thinking of special and innovative techniques and individual differences of learners. There is hardly any system of evaluating reading. Teachers do not seem to undertake feedback programmes and maintain record of it. Lack of teaching aids was observed in most of the schools and teachers depend only on Talk and Chalk. HOME BACKGROUND 14. Research done in western countries has revealed that success in reading had been achieved by children who were provided with plenty of opportunities for reading and access to books. Avid readers had stories read or told to them regularly by parents or grand parents.  [12]   15. Children read anything and everything they get hold of as they are interested in reading. If is therefore the duty of the adults to select suitable books for children, as they cannot discriminate between suitable books and books not suitable for them and evaluate them. 16. It is assumed that when family size is large, children do not get equal need satisfaction enjoyed by children of small families of the same income level. In the questionnaire the family size of pupils was divided in to two categories. a. Category 1 Number of family members four or less b. Category 2 Number of family members five or more Table V.I Indicating family size 17. According to the table V.I in Colombo district smaller sized families percentage is higher than other two districts. This factor seemed to have affected the achievement performance of children, as it is apparent from the highest ML percentage in Colombo district. 18. Parental support in supplying reading materials such as books, papers and magazines undoubtedly helped development of childrens reading habits and information skills. This in turn is conditioned by the socio economic status of parents. Table V.II Table V.III indicate the number of books Grade 2 and Grade 4 children posses is quite eloquent of this factor. Table V.II No. of books children posses for supplementary reading Grade 2 Table V.III No. of books children posses for supplementary reading Grade 4 19. The table V.II shows 10 per cent of Grade 2 pupils in Colombo district have more than 10 books for extra reading while other two districts children have below 10 books. Also the table V.III indicates 54 per cent of Grade 4 pupils in Colombo district have more than 10 books for extra reading while other two districts it is below by 36 per cent. This factor also seemed to have affected the achievement performance of children, as it is apparent from the highest ML percentage in Colombo district. 20. The names of books read by pupils indicate that they read whatever those come in their way, they have no choice. They read anything and everything they get hold of as they are interested in reading. It is therefore, the duty of the adults to select suitable books for children as they cannot discriminate between suitable books and books not suitable for them and evaluate them. Daily % Sundays % Sometimes % Never % Kandy 12.9 40.5 35.3 11.2 Kalutara 19.5 34.5 32.7 13.3 Colombo 22.4 41.3 28.4 7.8 Total % 18.2 38.8 32.2 10.7 Table V.IV Houses that buy newspapers Grade 4 21. 10.7 per cent of the overall sample of childrens parents do not buy a newspaper. However 38.8 per cent of the sample buy Sunday newspapers. This may be due to the fact that other form of mass media like the television and radio are being sought after for enjoyment and getting information. Thereby a good opportunity that the parents could offer in motivating the child to develop his habit of reading is neglected. It is only a very poor percentage of parents buy newspapers daily. Even in Colombo district 22.4 per cent of the sample only buy newspapers daily. It may have been caused by two factors. It may be due to lack of money or of time to read papers. Whatever it is, if the parents could afford to buy newspapers daily it would be a motivation for the child to read and improve their information skills. CHAPTER VI SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 1. More than 1/3 of primary school pupils have failed to achieve standard level for their mother language. 2. Most of Grade 2 pupils have acquired the language skills satisfactorily. 3. a. More than 50 per cent of pupils have not acquired the language skills expected for the grade, at the end of the year. b. Performance of Grade 4 pupils in vocabulary synonyms/ antonyms, spelling and grammatical writing ability and creative wring skills are very poor. 4. There is a marked disparity in achievement of language skills among districts and between school types. 5. There is no equitable provision of physical and human resources available in schools as yet for the promotion of reading habits and information skills. 6. Most of the primary schools of the sample do not posses libraries. Lack of suitable reading materials, librarians, varied kinds of books, a large quantity of books of quality to cater to varied needs and interests of primary children are found to be obstacles which stand in the way of development of reading habits and information skills. 7. The curriculum, text books and methods of teaching do not seem to suit the changed society of the modern day and it will not provide any encouragement to children for the improvement of reading habits. 8. The parental support and encouragement at home is not enough for the children to develop reading habits and information skills. 9. Family size the and the socio economic status of parents affect to the development of reading habits and information skills of children. 10. Children are interested in books, magazines, childrens papers and they have a thirst for information, knowledge and communication. CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION 1. Reading is one of the most important components of language. It is a basic tool subject especially in primary school. Reading helps to learn all the other areas of the school curriculum and provides vital means of learning. Reading is believed as a process of acquiring information, receiving a massage from a print in a meaningful way. 2. Reading is of greatest significance to the educationist because it is their responsibility to guide the child to develop his total personality for the welfare of the individual child and for the welfare of the entire society and also because it is the right of the child to be literate. It is important for children to read good books and develop their reading habits and information skills, in order to grow physically and mentally. Good reading habits are necessary for a healthy intellectual growth. 3. It is a matter of some doubt whether all children have acquired the ability to read in the genuine sense, by the time they have reached school leaving age. Teacher influence, home background and book provision hold the key to an improvement in reading. The main objective of carrying out this study was to find out the reason for deficiency in readi

fiv feline aids :: essays research papers fc

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the top five killers of domestic cats in the U.S. In fact 3% of healthy cats were reported to have contracted the disease in the year 1999. FIV is a fatal disease and interestingly enough most FIV cats don’t die of the disease it self by by other infections caused by their lowed immune system. FIV causes a deficiency in the immune system and makes cats very susceptible to a huge variety of medical problems basically because they have no fighting power. Case Report: Signalment- â€Å" Bella† Smith; 4 year old S/F DMH Chief Complaint- not eating, diarrhea, sudden unfriendliness History- Owner says Bella has been acting unfriendly for about two weeks (e.g. wont let owner pet or hold her anymore, also she hides under the bed constantly) owner also says Bella’s appetite has gone very low, she used to feed her one cup of dry every morning and one half a can of wet food at night and now she wont eat ‘hardly any of either’. Owner has seen diarrhea in litter box for 3 days. Bella had her kitten shots and boosters but no Hx of fiv/felv testing, deforming, fecal or blood analysis. S.O.A.P: S†¦ qar; mm=pink; poor coat w/ matted sections O†¦t=103.6, p=44, r=48, CRT=> 4 sec., *** FIV/FeLV test positive (+) for FIV. A†¦ Bella is FIV+ P†¦* FIV tested +; *hospitalization for observation; *200 ml Normasol fluids SQ then *iv fluids @150ml/hr, 3 ml vit B complex added; urinalysis to be performed in a.m. after completion of fluid therapy. â€Å"Feline Retro Virus Testing and Management† Compendium magazine July 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This article explains how to test for and care for FIV. The only way to prevent your cat from contracting FIV is by preventing contact with FIV infected cats.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   FIV testing is the best thing to do whenever your cat gets sick, no matter if they have tested negative for the disease before. Cats of all ages should be tested because it is so hard to know if your cat has come in contact with infected cats. â€Å"Infected cats may remain symptomatic for years during which time they may serve as unapparent sources of infection to other cats in the household†(Mary Tompkins, DVM, PhD). Basically if you have a cat, or cats, and u want to get another it is in the best interests of you and each one of the cats to be tested for FIV to ensure their heath and safety.

Solutions to Sustain Freshwater Essay -- Water Scarcity Environment

Would it be possible for humans to live without water? The answer is no because fifty percent of water is inside human bodies. In other words, water supports human lives, so every person is supposed to drink at least two litres of water everyday because it predominantly prevents them from being dehydrated. In terms of being the priceless resource, water is used in many fields such as agriculture, industry, business and so on. All preliminary products are comprised of water. Due to the abundance of water, most people seem not to be concerned about the way they consume this crucial resource. For example, in some countries, there are no dirty water treatment systems practising, and everyone can use water as much as they can as the price of water is cheap, too. However, in some countries, they lack water to access regularly and need to do trade with others in exchange for water. Also, Rogers (2008) notes, â€Å"that the problem is well-known makes it no less disturbing: today one out of six people, more than a billion, suffer inadequate access to safe freshwater† (As in New Delhi, para.3). There is no limit of the use of freshwater between one country to another, and it depends on the place people live. Even though there is a lot of freshwater available on the earth, we, people, should be worried about the proper water consumption. In order to thwart the water crisis from occurring one day, we should reverse our trend of using water by desalinating seawater, recycling waste water and reducing the unnecessary demand of water. The first solution to deal with the problem of water scarcity is to desalinate seawater. Getting freshwater from the sea is taken into account because seawater is much more than freshwater in reality. As Villiers (19... ...hwater is vital for humans to survive, but they should be more concerned about the problems of water scarcity that can happen in the future. Everyone should start to adapt these solutions such as desalinating seawater, recycling waste water and reducing water demands in order to maximize the fact that there is still the abundance of freshwater to use in a long time. Works Cited Reimold, R. J. (1998). Watershed Management: Practice, Policies, and Coordination. NY: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company. Rogers, P. (2008, August). Facing the Freshwater Crisis. Retrieved November 19, 2009, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=facing-the-freshwater-crisis&page=5 Thomson, S. A. (1999). Water Use, Management, and Planning in the United States. Toronto: ACADEMIC PRESS. Valliers, M. D. (1999). Water. San Diego: Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited.

Christmas Gifts You Love (to Hate) :: essays research papers

Christmas Gifts You Love (to Hate) Zack Imus Christmas. The most exciting and anticipated holiday of the year. A time when visions of sugar plums--or stereos, new cars, the latest computer, and various other desirable and expensive gifts--dance through our heads. Unfortunately the reality of Christmas gift-giving is often a far cry from our visions. When we're children, it seems as the holidays approach that anything is possible. But as we mature and gain experience with this annual observance it eventually begins to dawn on us that it might not always be all it's cracked up to be. By the time we've reached our late teens--when, coincidentally, the potential for receiving truly outstanding gifts is optimized--we realize that Christmas gifts are seldom what we hope for. In fact, from year to year it becomes possible to actually predict the kinds of gifts you'll unwrap on Christmas morning. Let's look at a few examples. The Necessity Gift The necessity gift is one that always seems like a really great idea to your mother or grandmother, but which is invariably a big yawn to unwrap. Let's be realistic, how excited is anybody likely to get over a dozen pairs of matching socks, a hairbrush, winter gloves or underwear? Slipper Sox, new sheet sets and toothbrushes also qualify. After unwrapping such a gift, a person is likely to exclaim: "Gosh, you shouldn't have!" And mean it. The Token Gift The Token Gift might be received from almost anyone. Though it seems like an intimate friend or close relative wouldn't stoop so low, experience proves that token gifts take up where imagination and/or money leaves off. So it's possible to receive these kinds of gifts from the most unexpected sources. One present in this category is the ever popular "soap-on-a-rope." I've never seen these marketed in June. But come early November the soap factories undoubtedly pay double-double overtime to their workers in order to meet the vast holiday demand for nameless, pungent-smelling brown soap manufactured over the top of what appears to be a six-foot-long shoe-string. A note of caution: Soap-on-a-rope should never be given to boys under the age of 12. They invariably turn them into near-lethal weapons. If disappointed enough, they might even turn them on you. Other token gifts include cheap aftershave lotion/cologne, stationery, and the ever-popular electric shaver. Though this latter might occasionally fit into the Necessity Gift category, I've never met anyone who actually uses an electric shaver. For this reason, this gift might also fit into our next category. The Closet Stuffer Gift Closet Stuffers are exactly what they sound like: gifts that are stuffed

Laboratory Report on the Effect of Acid Rain

1. ProblemAccording to an article, Acid Rain, by Novi Meadows Elementary, acid rain occurs in many parts of the world, no matter the climate difference. It is harmful not only to non-living things but especially to living things. It can affect humans, sea life and forests. This is because when the surroundings become too acidic, some living things die, like fish. Acid rain is formed when the pH, which is the measurement of acidity and basicity, of water is lower than 5.6.In relation with this, the group would like to investigate the effect of acidity on different seed crops by varying the pH level of its surroundings.2. HypothesisThe amount of seed germination will decrease as the surrounding of the seeds gets lower pH level, or becomes more acidic.3. ProcedureThe effect of varying pH levels on the germination of three different seed crops, Triticum aestivum (Wheat), Phaseolus sp. (Mung Bean) and Zea mays (corn) were investigated. Each group counted 25 seeds and placed them in petri dishes. Next, 20ml of solution of desired pH level (1, 3, 5 and 7) were poured into the petri dishes containing the seeds. The seeds were then observed for seven days wherein morphological changes in the seeds were noted. At the end of seven days, the number of seeds germinated in the petri dish was counted and the percentage of seed germination was calculated. The data was then compared with the other groups.4. ResultsTable 1 below shows the data gathered from the experiment. From the table, it canTable 1. Percentage of seed germination of Triticum aestivum (Wheat), Phaseolus sp. (Mung Bean) and Zea mays (corn) in pH levels 1, 3, 5 and 7.pH level Percentage of seed germination Triticum aestivum(Wheat) Phaseolus sp.(Mung Bean) Zea maysbe seen that there was 0% seed germination for Triticum aestivum in pH levels 1, 3 and 5. This is because in highly acidic environments, the cells in the seed are unable to absorb the nutrients it needs to grow. In accordance with that, there was also 0% seed germination at pH level 1 for both Phaseolus sp. and Zea mays.At pH level 3, there was 12% seed germination for Phaseolus sp. and 4% for Zea mays. This means that the seeds of these plants can grow in semi-acidic environments. However, it can also be noted that at a less acidic environment, pH level 5, the percentage of germination for Phaseolus sp. and Zea mays increased to 60% and 12%, respectively. This probably means that the cells of the seeds of the two plants are able to absorb more nutrients in less acidic conditions.On the other hand, at pH 7, the seed germination of Phaseolus sp. and Zea mays decreased to 28% and 0%, respectively. Probably these two plants cannot properly absorb the nutrients needed in a neutral condition. Interestingly, though, it is only at this pH level that Triticum aestivum begins to germinate. This means that it is only at this point that the conditions for seed germination are favorable for the seed.According to the article, Soil Facts †“ It's What We Don't See That Counts, by FrostProof.com, different plants require different pH levels to properly absorb the water and nutrients it needs. This is probably the reason why the maximum percentage of seed germination for each plant was in varying pH levels: 16% at pH 7 for Triticum aestivum, 60% and 12% at pH 5 for Phaseolus sp. and Zea mays, respectively.5. ConclusionFrom the results of the experiment and as stated in the hypothesis, it was concluded that the amount of seed germination will decrease as the acidity of the surrounding increases. In relation to this, acid rain could inhibit the growth of plants especially if its acidity is too high.Works CitedFrostProof.com. â€Å"Soil Facts – It's What We Don't See That Counts.† FrostProof.com. 6 November 2007 Novi Meadows Elementary. â€Å"Acid Rain.† 2002. Oracle Education Foundation: ThinkQuest Library. 6 November 2007

Reality TV and Morality

Invention of television is a product of a spectacular brain who has a great influence on everybody’s life nowadays, some of them are mortal, some of them are like brain-washing and some are just a little just because of reality televisions. This reality television changes the concept of reality in people’s mind. Television first started as our eye for outer world which we don’t know about and for being informed which we can say a â€Å"tool† but now it is just our â€Å"aim† to be on television. So this is forming obsessed brains which causing death of morality as Rushdie says. First of all, main reason why people are joining these reality programmes is just the anxiety of being rich and famous which are the most two important notions in western society in these days (Rushdie, 2010, p. 63). Contestants are doing bizarre and disturbing just for obtaining wealth and fame, like a guy fried his hand at American Survivor (Rushdie, 2010, p. 63). This leads us Rushdie’s thesis â€Å"good to be bad† (Rushdie, 2010, p. 64) from which it is comprehensible that people acts like mindless zombies like the hand frying guy. Good to be bad† refers to a lot of other things too like being selfish just for winning prize and being double faced in the competition. So it forms a question in mind; do you really need to be talented to win these competitions? Absolutely no (Rushdie, 2010, p. 63). You just need to play the game with its â€Å"corrupted† rules. One of the biggest immoral issues is the first death on television (Rushdie, 2010, p. 64) which n egates the most basic natural right that we have. Moreover, it is need to define what morality is. It distinguishes good and bad. However, â€Å"good to be bad† ignores it completely. As it became a common ritual to watch television in home with the whole family, children will be affected heavily by these programmes and generation by generation the spirit of morality will change or collapse. However producers don’t care others much, they just need ratings, big articles in newspapers next day after the show just for their name to be written on those piece of papers. These producers are enough blind and shallow that they can’t see influence of these programmes on society, so we are being acted like a guinea pig. They are just damaging society’s mental stability and pushing them act immoral in their lives without consciousness with injecting these awkward behaviours by their programmes. So basically contestants and producers are becoming famous without doing anything else. This is just an unfair way of tricking people and paralyzing them in front of television and even it annihilates our understanding of morality. Furthermore, there is another point of view which is not able to not to take into consideration about those poor contestants. Poniewozik tells that: â€Å"Isn’t there something simply wrong with people who enjoy entertainment that depends on ordinary people getting their heart broken, being told they can’t sing, or getting played for fools? â€Å" (Poniewozik, 2010, p. 70). It is really sad that some people are enjoying with this stuff. As spectators are the people who watch television in their home, it is acceptable to say that, there are lots of â€Å"already diseased† brains which are exempt of notion of morality. Everyone can imagine children will be affected more than everyone. They will be lost while they are searching their personalities and it is a high odd that they canalise to wrong role models for their life. So they are the main and the weakest victims. Something must be done to avoid for our future generation not to get attracted by those programmes or they should be aware while watching those television programmes or it is fatal that humanity will lose the â€Å"judgement ability†. As a result, these ideas show us that reality tv’s are really dangerous and causes death of morality. These un-realistic programmes are being watched nowadays and spectators don’t have any idea what they are watching. It’s clear that reality tv’s are absurd and not worth to watch. However there are no ways to avoid watching them because we can not limit or cut television sells. Immoral behaviours will increase day by day; if this problems goes on, there will be serious behaviour malfunctions in society. Some can say not to watch them but it will just enter from left ear and fly out from right ear. It’s able to see that Rushdie is right with his arguments so it’s clear that reality tv is a regret.

A Famous Festival in Myanmar Essay

Thingyan festival – Water Festival – Myanmar New Year – in April The country Myanmar is Known as the â€Å"Golden Land† in the world since every pagoda is decorated and painted with gold. Myanmar is full of very colourful and deep rooted festivals. There are 13 most popular year around festivals in Myanmar. One of them is the celebration on Thingyan Festival, as the Water Festival or Myanmar’s Traditional New Year Festival. Myanmar people celebrate the Water Festival all over the country for 4 days before New Year day by throwing water on each other. It takes place on April13th to April 16th of every year. It is believed that Water Festival washes away sins and welcomes the New Year, April 17th. The Mandats, water throwing and playing places with the large signboards are every where, not only in the cities but also in the villages. In major cities such as Yangon, garden hoses, huge syringes made of bamboo, plastic water pistols, bowls, cups and other devices from which water can be squirted are used. All these whole days, people are going round to the Mandats with their bicycles, motorbikes, opentop jeeps and trucks to play the water with each other. It is a hottest time of the year and a good dousing is welcomed by most. Everyone is fair game except the monks and obviously pregnant women. After playing around and having fun throughout the country, people welcome the New Year on the 17th by cleaning the floors of the pagodas and monasteries, washing old and aged peoples’ hair, helping to cut their nails. Some offer free foods and drinks for everyone who comes to the pagodas. Some make other donations. There is also a custom in Myanmar to buy live fishes and cows during the festival and let them free in sanctuaries or rivers or lakes with a prayer and a wish saying â€Å"I release you once, you release me ten times† on the final day of Thingyan. Most of the Myanmar’s believe in Buddhism and so killing any living creature is a sinful act. All these April days, there are music and sprinkling of water in the air. Throwing water on everyone with the intention to purify their mind and  spirit is really wet. If you are planning a trip to the Gold Land Myanmar, this is one festival not to be missed. All your sins are purified with Thingyan Water Festival. You will never forget true joy.

Financial Support Letter Example

The following is provided on behalf of (name) to support his petition to be considered an independent student. In January of 2012 1 became aware of (name) intention to attend school at The College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California. I also became aware of an unfortunate diminishing relationship between him and his parents and the impending affects that that relationship has and will continue to have on his efforts to pursue a college degree.As a former teacher at Meade High School, where (name) graduated, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting this very poised young man. I believe he has turned his ife around and is determined to succeed both as a father and as a student. Our relationship grew to where he trusted me. I have received many calls where he talked about the struggles of being abandoned by his parents and left to survive on his own. I have continued to provide counsel and guidance on the importance and value of staying the course.I applaud his courage attend a college, p articularly one that is located across country from his hometown. While I know that he has been quite resourceful in obtaining the necessary financial support to meet his needs, this does not negate the fact that this s truly a young man who is struggling – and one with no assurance that money will be available to support his educational needs. (name) is an excellent athlete and quite capable of achieving excellence in the classroom.Like everyone else, he deserves an opportunity to get a decent education. I believe we live in a society where â€Å"no child should be left behind,† particularly when it comes to education. Accordingly, I strongly believe that this child should no longer be left to fend for himself. Therefore, I strongly recommend that he be supported financially, to the greatest extent possible, in the furtherance of his education.

In God's Grandeur by Hopkins and Ozymandias by Shelley, which speaker Essay

In God's Grandeur by Hopkins and Ozymandias by Shelley, which speaker makes a more convincing argument against human ambition How does he do it - Essay Example The speaker discusses the message he received from a traveler about a sculpture in Egypt. Evidently, both poems give attention to human ambitions, although in different perspectives. This paper will highlight how each poem develops a convincing argument against human ambition. Evidently, the speakers in each poem are against human ambition, as this paper will depict. In the poem titled Gods Grandeur, the speaker says, â€Å"The world is charged with the grandeur of God/ It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; / It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil† (1-3). In these three lines, the speaker suggests that God’s glory has evidently filled the world, causing it to shine and flair. In addition, God’s glory causes intense flashes of light to be evident on the earth. The speaker compares God’s greatness and His works on earth to an electric current charging the earth. However, after introducing the measure of God’s greatness exhibited on the earth, the speaker goes forth to discuss how human beings do not heed God’s spirit but rather choose to destroy the earth. The speaker says the following, In the above lines, the speaker pinpoints how different generations have been working on the earth with their activities having negative effects on the earth. It is unfortunate that human beings have occupied different parts of the earth and immensely destroyed nature. For example, during the industrial revolution, all the vegetation was cut down and tall buildings replaced the tree. The speaker makes it evident that human beings have lost any connection to nature. He uses the last line in that stanza to highlight that human beings wear shoes that serve as a barrier between their feet and the earth. For this reason, it becomes impossible for human beings to remember the advantages of living in harmony with nature. In the second stanza, the speaker highlights how God’s greatness keeps renewing the earth despite the destruction caused

BUDD EXAM QUESTION 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BUDD EXAM QUESTION 3 - Essay Example Collective bargaining agreement denotes a legal contract that is enforceable for a particular period between the management of a specified entity and its employees and represented by a trade union, which is independent. Union connotes a group of workers in a given organization with the intention of promoting their common interest, as well as improving their working conditions. Probationary period is a trial moment, which gives the manager the chance to assess the conduct and performance of the employee. Dismissal of Jim Norbuck was legitimate, and all due procedures were followed. It is in the policy of our company not to hire college educated. During the job application process, Norbuck provided falsifying details about him. He actively took part in the union’s strike and wrote several pamphlets, which he distributed to the striking workers and urged them to maintain solidarity. It was during this period that I noticed these pamphlets and heard rumors that Norbuck was college educated. I did a thorough investigation into Norbucks background, his previous education, and his employment. After the strike had ended on March 8th, Norbuck was called back to his job position as labor pool person in the foundry department. On April 17th, I together with the local 55’s grievance committee and Norbuck, sat down and discussed all the issues concerning Norbuck. This then led to the dismissal of Norbuck due his misrepresentation of his personal information during his application process. The dismissal of Norbuck clearly violated the collective bargaining agreement. Leech industries clearly breached The Potentially Relevant Contracts Provisions. Article VIII explicitly states "Procedures, Suspensions, Discharges and disciplinary actions shall first be discussed with the shop steward before being put in effect. Failure to address will

WSJ3 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

WSJ3 - Article Example Himsagar variety on the other hand has a sweetened aroma and comes from West Bengal. This variety ripens in June and it is not fibrous at all thus very delicious. Kesar variety is yellow in color and it has a tinge of green on the outside. It commonly come from Gujarat and is relatively cheaper than the Alphonso. Rajyasree describes Alphonso as the most beautiful mangoes he has ever seen. The variety comes from Ratangiri, Maharashtra and they have a huge market both locally and internationally. Alphonso mangoes are very delicious though they are highly expensive. The final variety that the article discusses is the Banganapalli type. It usually come fromTamil Nadu, and it was first introduced by the royal family of Banganapalli in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Banganapalli mangoes are also very sweet and relatively cheaper compared to Alphonso (Rajyasree para1-9). However, apart from the varieties mentioned by the article, there exist other numerous varieties that are even popular than the above-mentioned. It appears as if Rajyasree covered mango varieties that are only common in India and ignored global varieties like Akbar, Apple, Betti Amba, Beverly, Banana and Batawi. The future of mango fruits is brilliant since there are various researches that are under way in various agricultural research centers in order to ensure that better mango varieties are introduced in the market that are more resistant to diseases, more delicious and varieties that can take a shorter time to mature. Rajyasree Sen. "Top Five Mango Must-Haves - India Real Time - WSJ." eFinancial Careers | Job News & Advice. N.p.,  2014. Web. 16  June  2014.

Contemporary Benefits Issue Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Contemporary Benefits Issue - Research Paper Example Sims (2007) highlighted that providing benefits in todays economy is a great challenge for the employers owing to the changing demographic and cost trends. Discussing about the most contemporary and dynamic compensation and benefit issues in the current decade, Sims (2007) highlighted changes in pension benefits, flexible benefits and healthcare costs and coverage as the most contemporary ones. In this paper, healthcare cost and coverage is the focus of attention as a contemporary benefits issue for employers. The paper analyses why and how offering health benefit is a major challenge for employers today and highlights the major components of this challenge. It also presents the implications of this challenge for the employers and discusses the possible future of this issue. Health benefits, according to Sims (2007, p. 467) grab the most attention of the employers today. Employees are also becoming more and more aware of health cover offered by the employers and demand it to be a part of their compensation package. Yet offering health benefits is challenging because of several accompanying issues such as the decisions on the premium rate (individual or group rate), employee contribution in premium, health cover for family, types of diseases covered, and the cover range (reimbursement of prescription drugs receipts, hospital fees etc.). Out of all the reasons, the main reason why health benefits poses a major challenge for the employers is because of the high cost of offering health insurance to the employees as stated by Sims (2007, p. 456) ‘the average cost of employer health plans continue to raise at a double-digit pace.† In addition to this, due to increased cost of living and increasing health problems employees have become conscious and demand health benefits to be a part of their compensation package. This increased concern of employees to receive health benefits in their jobs has made it difficult for the employers to

Power Point PHD Defense Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Power Point PHD Defense - Essay Example Whereas some companies have taken advantage of diversity within their organizations to experience growth, others have managed diversity poorly and so gone into administration. The core problem therefore has to do with lack of proper management of diversity in become competitive. Based on the problem identified above, the researcher conducted this study with the purpose of investigating the issue of diversity among companies in Brazil, and finding out how diversity is managed in Spanish and Brazilian companies situated in Brazil. Prompt: Whiles diversity can have several advantages such as promoting cross-functional roles, when it is not managed well it leads to a lot of negative effects. Next we shall review some of the outcomes when diversity is managed poorly. Crowder et al. (2012) defined culture disconnect as a situation where employees refuse to act and go about their roles in a manner that is in line with the organizational culture of the companies they work in. Prompt: The need to avoid such negative effect of diversity was the rationale for which this study was started. Our next slide will therefore give us more ideas on the need not to allow the effects of culture disconnect to happen. Prompt 1: According to Barinaga (2010), a the work output of employees is said to be efficient when employees are able to produce so much within a very short period of time and by the use of the most minimum resources available (Hughes et al. (2012). Where there is disconnect and every employee is pursuing their individual cultures and differences, the need to coordinate efforts to ensure such efficiency becomes hindered. Prompt 2: For employees to work and achieve the most optimal results, it is expected they will frequently consult with others within their rank and exchange ideas, knowledge, skill and competence (Taylor & Hansen, 2005). However, when diversity is not well