Renaissance in Italy and in Northern Europe Research Paper

Renaissance in Italy and in Northern Europe - Research Paper Example Other factors that contributed to the development of renaissance include the texts brought to Italy when Constantinople fell to the hands of the Ottoman Turks ad the migration of Greek scholars. The following paragraphs provide an exploration of these factors and more. Some historians argue that renaissance had its origin starting from 13th century as depicted by the writings of Francenso Petrarca (1304-1374) and Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), and the painting of Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337). Those who support the view that renaissance started from 1401 point to the rivalry that existed between geniuses Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti as the cause of renaissance. Jensen (1992) reveals that the two people competed to for a contract to construct the bronze doors of the Florence Cathedral’s Baptistery. Other historians hold the view that general competition between polymaths and artists like Masaccio, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi and Donatello for artistic missions caused the explosion of the creativity of renaissance (Jensen, 1992). The socio-political structures in Italy general had a good part to play in the emergence of renaissance. The socio-political structures in Italy general had a good part to play in the emergence of renaissance. This is because there existed a unique political structure in Italy during the Middle Ages. For example, the country did not exist as a political entity. Instead, it was divided into territories and states (Clare and Millen, 1994). Some of the states like the republic of Florence had remarkable merchant Republics for example the Venice Republic. This practice had some features of democracy and the states involved were responsive with belief in liberty and forms of participation in government. Therefore, these states enjoyed a relative political freedom, condition which created conducive environment for artistic and academic advancement. The emergence of renaissance can also be linked to the relative positions of some I talian cities like Venice. These cities were great trading centers and this made them intellectual crossroads. Merchants who came to these cities brought with them ideas from their countries spread over the globe, especially the Levant. Venice was a producer of glass and the gateway for trade between Europe and the East while Florence was the capital of textiles. This brought in much wealth which led to more private and public artistic commissions and people having more leisure time for study (Cronin, 1969). Between 1348-1350, Europe was hit by the Black Plague/Death in Florence. This resulted to a shift in the way the world viewed people and life in general in the 14th-century Italy. For example, familiarity with death caused thinkers to focus more on their lives on earth instead of spirituality and afterlife. The Black Death therefore led to the sponsorship of religious works of art (Clare and Millen, 1994). There was also an unusual social climate in Italy which motivated the dev elopment of rare cultural efflorescence. This situation was more pronounced in Florence because it had a unique cultural life which is though to have caused the emergence of renaissance as a cultural movement (Turner, 2005). In 1453, the Byzantine Empire fell and this was accompanied by the closing of higher learning institutions by the Ottoman Turks. This caused the immigration of many

Overcoming the fear of speaking in public Essay Example for Free

Overcoming the fear of speaking in public Essay I heard several stories of how it was like speaking in public for the first time. While some would be tongue tied for the first few moments and stare in to a blank space, others knees would simply give way to the painful fact that no force would blow them away or hide them from the drowning gaze of their audience. My experience was in no way different from theirs. I had resisted and vehemently opposed every attempt to bring me to speak before the congregation of my local church. ‘I am not good at debating,’ or ‘I got the information late, so I could not prepare’ were among the several excuses I would bring up whenever I was enlisted for any debating competition in the church. But this day, I was ‘shoed’ to the front by my mother to give a testimony on my escape from a deathly road accident. At first, my buttocks felt like they were glued to the seat. I went blank and no words would form in my head. Standing before the congregation, I felt like running away. I searched for what could distract me and then I found the shape of the pulpit attention drawing. I slurred on the first few words, but I later gained confidence. Right there and then, I was completely discharged of all stage fright. I delivered my first public speech, if I may call it that. Ever since then, I find it easy and less disturbing to address the public, their number notwithstanding. I joined a freelance writing company recently. I used to have problem with meeting deadlines, customers were always sending back my works for revision and I was losing my earning with the company. I was frustrated and I felt like leaving. But I decided to take it as a challenge and to resist giving in to frustration. I have been doing fine ever since. I also learnt how to relate well with customers. I acquired also professional writing skills.

Tourism And Economic Growth Of Sri Lanka Tourism Essay

Tourism And Economic Growth Of Sri Lanka Tourism Essay 1. Tourism is a good business in modern world to attract foreign currencies and it gives a large number of occupations to the people. Modern tourist industry develops with various requirement or purposes of tourists like pleasure, business, education requirement, research and many some more other visit foreign countries during their vacations or winter seasons of their native countries. Because they expect to reduce their expenses and difficulties due to seasonal changes. 2. Thailand, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Maldives and Indonesia are the most famous tourist destinations in modern world. Sri Lanka is also a world famous tourist destination and known as a Paradise Island in the world. Country size, geographical variation, climatic condition, cultural and heritage sites, natural environment and tourists expenses are the key facts to attract tourists to the country. 3. But this paradise Island suffered with a thirty years conflict situation and during that time tourist industry collapsed. Tourists rejected this Island with conflict environment because there have been many explosions in Colombo and suburban areas. As well most states labeled this country as non tourism destination for safer visits. As a result most tourists were attracted to other destinations like Fuket Island, Maldives and Thailand. 4. Tourist industry of Sri Lanka regenerated after the end of crisis environment of the country and started a new economic development programme since 2009. Giant infrastructure resources invested to boost the economy of the country. This miracle was started after the dawn under sustainable peace and political environment of the country. Foreign money is very important for these developments because economy development highly expects to attract foreign currencies under many ways like Foreign Direct investments, Aid, foreign occupations, tourism and loan facilities. 5. Sri Lanka is expecting to develop this country as a major tourist destination in Asia. Sri Lanka has various opportunities to achieve that goal like pleasure tourism, eco tourism, cultural and heritage sites, religious base tourism, business, education and facilitator as a centre of international transportations. But tourism sector need wide range resources and facilities to develop that as the main economic sector contributor. Present infrastructure development programme concerns to develop tourist sector requirements like international standard roads, hotels, urban areas, aviation and harbor sector developments. 6. International tourism is a giant business because it consists with large number of services and requirements. Tourists visit to take new experiences and pleasure from their visits. They do not expect complex legal procedures and restrictions from their destination places. In contrast tourist industry gains some big troubles to host country as sexually transmitted diseases, illegal drugs and social challenges. Therefore Sri Lanka needs to concern balance economic development through tourism in the future. AIM 7. The aim of this paper is to discuss the development of tourism industry and its contribution to develop the economy of Sri Lanka. IMPORTANCE AS A TOURIST DESTINATION 8. Tourist destination needs stronger opportunities to attract tourism easily because tourists expect different environments than their home or states. Natural splendour, scenic beauty, tropical climatic condition and historical sites increased the value of this island to tourists in all over the world. Also they can travel from different climatic conditions within 3 to 4 hours travel from any part of the country with the geographical size of the island. These factors are gaining additional value to their tours and to Sri Lanka to improvise tourism and countrys development. NATURAL VALUES OF SRI LANKA 9. Sri Lanka is a humid tropical island lying in the South Asian region to southwest of the Indian peninsula in the Indian Ocean. When considering the geography and topography of the island three height levels or erosion levels are recognized by their height and slope features. The first level is the largest of the three and extends from sea level to 270m above mean sea level. The Uplands or the second level extends from 270m to 900m above mean sea level and the Highlands or third level at 900 to 2420m. These height levels illustrated very valuable scenic beauty and climatic difference to the country. Most tourists attract this variation and they enjoying with these values during their visits. 10. The island has also been divided into four climatic zones based on rainfall. The Dry zone occupies less 60 per cent of the total land area of the country. Its annual rainfall is between 1250-1900 mm and its mean annual temperature ranges 27 to 30Â °C. It is characterized by monsoon forests and thorn scrublands. The Wet zone which covers approximately 23 per cent of the total land area, receives a rainfall of 2500-5000 mm per year. It consists of lowland evergreen forests, montane rain forests and semi evergreen rain forests. 11. The transition zone between the above two zones is known as the Intermediate zone where the annual rainfall varies between 1900-2500 mm. The two semi-arid zones in the South-east and North-west receive less than 1250 mm of rainfall per year. Climatic difference made wider environmental difference in the country. Therefore tourists can visit various natural environments with high variation of biodiversities. 12. Another most important natural value for tourism industry development is land portion of Sri Lanka because our motherland is small in size with only 65,610 square kilometers of land. Its significant variation in climate, topography and soil properties has given rise to a striking variety of forest types. It provide habitats for a wide diversity of faunal and floral species. In fact Sri Lanka is one of the eight Hottest Hotspots out of the 25 Biodiversity Hotspots of international significance and is ranked among the highest in Asia in terms of biodiversity per unit area. Tourist can visit through these environments because Sri Lanka provides enough facilities to watch sanctuaries, wildlife parks and forest reservoir areas after taking appropriate permissions to visits. This is a big experience for tourists because they can take most natural experiences from this tiny island. 13. Fifteen floristic regions have been recognized within the country and these diverse habitats have given rise to a corresponding wide range of natural vegetations including forests like Tropical wet evergreen forests, Tropical moist semi-evergreen forests, Tropical dry mixed evergreen forests, Tropical thorn forests, Savannahs, Riverine forests, Tropical lower Montana forests and Tropical Montana or cloud forests, grasslands, Dry Montana grasslands, Lowland grasslands, Wet villu grasslands, inland wetlands and coastal and marine habitats. Such natural values enhance the value of the country and this island world famous as one of the natural treasure of the world. HERITAGE VALUES 14. Sri Lanka is a rich country with heritage values with over 2500 years modern history and millions of years pre historic era. Most cultural and heritage values developed in the country with the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism. Sri Lanka consisted with big treasure of heritage sites and ancient constructions like Load Buddhas statues, stupas, tanks, other statues, wall paintings, cave paintings, stone carvings and religious places. Sri Lanka provides facilities to visit these heritage sites and tourists can take interesting experiences from these tours. 15. Tourists can visit ancient kingdoms like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Sigiriya and Kandy. As well Sri Lanka has number of colonial era constructions and architecture in various places and they can also see indigenous groups and their life styles if they travel to Dambana areas. Sri Pada or Adams peak, Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Temple of Tooth relic are most important religious places of Sri Lanka and tourists can visits all these places with their interests. CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL VALUES 16. Sri Lanka is a multi ethnic country and world most popular religious groups are living in the country. Therefore they can take experiences about the cultural and traditional differences of these communities. They can take experiences about customary food of Sri Lankans like rice and curry, hoppers, milk rice, roti, string hoppers, pittu, and kottu. They can take these experiences much easily because most local restaurants, hotels and smaller hotels provide wide range food for everyone. Furthermore tourist can buy any other cuisine from most tourist restaurants and hotels with their interests. 17. Sri Lankans celebrate various religious and cultural festivals throughout the year therefore tourists can take these experiences with seasonal celebrations like Sinhala and tamil new year, Wesak, posson and Esala festival, Christmas and new year celebrations when they visit to Sri Lanka. Esala procession and various other processions can be seen in Sri Lanka and it gains good experience for tourists because they can watch these cultural and traditional events without any payments. OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS 18. Visit to Sri Lanka provide various entertainment opportunities to tourists. They can enjoy their holidays with various attractive things like beach parties, club parties, music, bright sunshine, sea bathing and Ayurvedic treatments. Furthermore they can visit to watch whales, corals, diving events, boat trips, elephant orphanage, zoological and botanical garden. Tourist can visit to local shopping and they have opportunities to buy various attractive things like gems, handicrafts, dresses, duty free equipments and most local market items like fresh fruits, meats, fish, instant food and packet items. TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AND EFFECTIVENESS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH 19. Tourism industry is still developing after crisis environment. But large number of tourists attracted to this country after the crisis environment in 2009. Therefore tourist industry is boosted again with high potential in income ways and infrastructure development ways. Tourism sector development helped to develop countrys economy and economic development rate and it represents as a major foreign currency earning way of the country. a. Earn Foreign Money. Tourism sector directly helps to flow foreign money into the country. Tourism industry is a giant foreign income way because we can earn foreign money through providing tourist sector services to the guests and sale other type of goods and services to them. Sri Lanka earned over 213 million US dollars in 2001 from direct tourist sector services and it increase as 350 million US dollars in 2009 and 575 million US dollars income in 2010 and 645 million US dollars income in 2011. b. Develop Local Business and Tourist Sector Facilities. Tourist sector facilities also developed after the war. Large number of hotels and restaurants were closed and others depended with very low incomes during past two decades. Sri Lankan tourist sector survived in 2001 with 414 accommodations places included with 13,626 room facilities. This environment increased up to 783 accommodations with 14,714 rooms in 2010. This development helped to boost countrys economy as well we could provide food, spa services and other essential facilities to tourists through this industry and developed all these sectors during past few years. c. Attract Foreign Direct Investments. From the end of 2008 Sri Lankan economy displayed some positive attitudes again after few years. The FDIs inflow to the country in 2010 reveals that about 59 percent came into infrastructure development projects, manufacturing sector attracted 30.9 percent, service sector attracted 8.6 percent included with 2.7 for tourist sector and agriculture sector attracted 1.3 percent. China invest a large amount of financial in Sri Lankan land in tourism sector and Sri Lanka expects US dollor1.5 billion foreign direct investments through its first tourist city project. d. New Job Opportunities. Tourist industry consisted of wider job opportunities to Sri Lanka as direct and indirect job opportunities. This sector includes hotel field job opportunities, spa and saloon, guide and field services and transport sector job opportunities. Employment in tourist industry is represented 80,904 persons in 2001 and it increased up to 134,250 in 2011. Category 2001 2010 2011 Accommodations for Tourist 414 783 824 Employment of tourist Industry 80 904 132 055 134 250 Gross Tourist receipts (US dollars Million) 213 575 645 Annual room occupation rate (per cent) 42.1 70.1 71.8 Table 1: Tourism sector development 2001 to 2011. Source: Annual report 2011, Central Bank of Sri Lanka. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AT PRESENT 20. Tourist industry has re-emerged after two decades under peaceful environment. Now most countries have removed their barriers for their citizens to visit Sri Lanka and they accept the present environment in Sri Lanka as an ideal country for tourism. Most tourist sector magazines and websites guaranteed our security environment and tourist sector services. As a result 654,476 tourists visited Sri Lanka during the year 2010 and it increased up to 855,975 arrivals in 2011. The tourist arrival has increased by 30.8 percent in 2011 than year 2010. 21. Nearly 85,874 tourists have visited in January 2012 and this trend continued until April 2012. Large numbers of tourists have arrived to Sri Lanka from European nations. They have been elected this country for their seasonal vacations after a very long time. Most of them highly appreciate about our hospitality, accommodations, our charges and new innovations in the industry. Sri Lanka could earn 830.3 million US dollar income through tourism industry in year 2012 and expect to increase tourist arrivals up to 1 million in this year. 22. Around 78.9 per cent of tourists arrived Sri Lanka to spend their holidays and most of them represent the middle income earners. Therefore, they spend little for additional purposes than their major purposes. Nearly 12.7 per cent visited Sri Lanka for business requirements and 5.4 per cent visited to met their relations and pals. Most tourists visit Sri Lanka to take more opportunities in visiting sites and engage in entertainments under effective budget. They have been attracted by our Ayurvedic treatments and spa services because they have to pay large amount in their countries for such services. Item 2001 2005 2010 2011 Tourist arrival for pleasure 300,545 382,321 516,538 Tourist arrival for business 22, 677 92,879 83,270 Tourist arrivals for other 13,572 74,108 54,668 Total Tourist arrivals 336,794 549,308 654,476 855,975 Table2: Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from 2001-2011. Source: Annual report 2011, Central Bank of Sri Lanka. GOVERNMENT EFFORT 23. Sri Lankan government has identified the requirements of tourist sector developments and has given priority to develop this country as a tourist destination. Under this programme the government has provided various facilities to tourists, tourist sector entrepreneurs and employees. Government has given much stronger support to these programme because it can use as major income of the country. a. Government has arranged giant hotel development programmes and attracted world largest hotel sector entrepreneurs to the country. b. Introduced new tourist destinations like Nilaweli, Arugam bay, Mirissa and reopened Kumana and other sanctuaries to tourists. c. Conducted international level promotion campaign to give publicity about Sri Lanka. This program conducted through diplomatic relationships. This programme was named as Visit Sri Lanka. d. Government has launched urban development programmes to construct major cities of the country to enhance tourism. These projects enhance the infrastructure facilities, tourist information premises, standard accommodations, leisure areas and important places of the each region. 24. Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority are operating under the authority of Ministry of Tourism and these organizations helped to develop tourism in the country. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority was formed under Section 2 of the Tourism ACT. SLTDA has provided several facilities to develop tourism in Sri Lanka. Ministry of tourism organized programmes to protect tourist industry and national values of the country with: a. All tourist sector services registered under the Tourist board and arranged limitations and standardization methods to enhance accommodations, restaurant, transportation and tourist guide facilities of the country. b. Manage and maintain tourist development programmes with the support of ministry of cultural and heritage. c. Banned illegal drugs, prostitutions and some alcohols in the environment of tourism industry. Sri Lanka police provide essential service and support to this program. Sri Lanka police has established special police unit to handle tourism related cases of the country. d. Tourist Board and Municipal Councils maintain Tourist information centers in all major cities of the island. 25. Sri Lanka expects to enhance tourism industry as the main contributor of our economy. Therefore we expect to attract 2.5 million tourists in 2016 and it will use to develop the economy of the country. Most infrastructures development projects help to enhance tourism sector of the country. Today our road network upgraded as international levels and local aviation systems also started to provide good service to tourists. Sri Lanka Air force and civil aviation authority provide good service to boost this programme. CHALLENGES AND THREATS FOR FUTURE TOURISM 26. Tourist industry of the country is developing with a rapid growth rate at present. Most accommodation and restaurant facilities comprehensively renewed to enhance tourism of the country. But we have been faced several issues in this sector with higher tourists arrivals. Comfortable accommodations and tourist board approved restaurants are not enough to handle the capacity of tourist sector. Number of new hotels and motels are constructing in everywhere of the country but we cant reach the goal in 2016 without expedited programmes in this sector. Our economic development goals are illustrated through these objectives, therefore we should be needed to catch these goals in correct time. 27. New tourist destinations need more accommodations, sanitations and restaurant facilities. Accommodations and restaurant facilities are very poor in northern region and new constructions are going under way. Therefore foreigners still do not visit to these areas. Sri Lanka is a maritime nation and most tourists like to spend in beach areas but our lifeguard services are not enough to provide good security to tourists who use our beaches and sea areas. As well Sri Lanka has beautiful inland water reservoirs but these resources cannot be used by anyone under lack of trainee personalities around those areas. 28. Prostitution and drug usage are other key issues in Sri Lanka. As well some tourists find sexual pleasure during their tours therefore these businesses are secretly arranged in Sri Lankan environment. Gay sexual participation is higher than female prostitutions because this method can be used without major problems under present legal process. Over 40,000 prostitutes and around 150,000 secrete prostitution members engage in this business. 29. Tourism industry is widely spread in most countries and numbers of regional countries provide remarkable facilities to foreigners. Thailand, Maldives, Singapore, Vietnam and India are key competitors in this region and they provide prostitution services to tourists and they have given relatively low cost packages to visitors. But we have faced big issues in this matter because Sri Lankan law enforcement, social environment, religious environment and health environment do not allow for prostitution in this country. Especially HIV infection is widely spread with prostitution, therefore this matter is a big challenge to the Sri Lankan environment. Sexual transmitted diseases and gambling have wide spreaded in tourist destinations and it will expand with new tourist destinations too. 30. Large number of persons engage to this massive business as Tourist guides or transport agents. But most of them engage in this giant industry without any professional qualification and it affected to gain many adverse results to Sri Lanka. This industry need professional persons in many fields like multiple language users, professional chefs, waiters, tourist lecturers and musicians to develop tourism in Sri Lanka. We can earn additional income through our cultural events and Ayurvedic treatments but the problem is most of these sector professionals are very rare in modern environment. SUMMARY 31. Sri Lanka is a great tourism destination and it is popular among Europeans since 12 Century. This industry developed in this country with three key factors like Sri Lanka is an authentic tourist destination, the country is a compact Island of 65610km and biodiversity and heritage spread is in a very widen range than other countries. As well this country is situated in a key position in international naval trade route and it can use to develop tourism industry. 32. Sri Lankan people, culture, spices food, gems, handcrafts, festival features, religious environments and adventure events increase the value for real tourism sector development. Sri Lanka is a key maritime nation and now we need to develop this country as economically developed country. Therefore we need to find suitable income ways and tourism industry is very important for that. Tourists highly interest to visit this island therefore we need to provide essential facilities and effective packages to enhance tourism industry. 33. Past dark years conflict environment adversely affected to tourism industry and it vigorously affected to decline economic development of the country. Sri Lanka survived with agriculture Corps since ancient history but now we need to develop with much stronger economic strategies. Therefore Sri Lanka needs to enhance tourism sector development with proper government mediations. 34. Over 800,000 tourist visited this country in 2011 and it continued in first quarter of 2012. In 2011 Sri Lanka earned 830.3 million US dollars through tourism and government expect to increase up to 1 million tourists visits in 2012. With the current accommodation facilities we can manage this target and now we need suitable expedited programmes to enhance tourist industry infrastructure developments in next two or three years. RECOMMANDATIONS 35. Government should be needed to mediate to solve tourism sector issues, especially in Sri Lanka tourism sector need large number of professionals in each fields. Therefore government should be needed to implement training and development programmes or standardization method to categories tourism sector employees as standard level. 36. Tourist Board can implement training programmes for tourist guides who work as beach boys or guides at present. This programme should be included registration system and need to issue standard identity card for them. This process is helping to increase talented job opportunities and it is effective to enhance the economy of the country. 37. Sri Lanka expects to earn foreign currencies through tourism therefore we need to standardize tourism sector price ranges and service values because tourists expect effective service during their visits. a. We can introduce proper billing method for accommodations. Under this we can implement suitable range of prices for each hotel classes. b. We can introduce proper local taxi services and tourist transport process to enhance countrys transport facilities for tourists. c. Ayurvedi spa services and medical facilities should be need to categories with proper ways. 38. Sri Lanka need 40,000 to 50,000 accommodation facilities to enhance tourism in next few years. Therefore government should be needed to provide additional facilities to attract new local and foreign investment to his sector. 39. Harbor and airport development programmes directly support to enhance our economy but we can earn additional foreign income with the development of tourism industry. Most international mariners and aviation industry professionals need accommodation facilities during their journeys therefore we can develop new tourism environment among these people. 40. Sri Lanka needs new law enforcement to develop tourism industry because most tourists visit this country for pleasure or joining with various entertaining events. We should be needed to provide some essential services like gambling and some alcohols to tourist under new formations. 41. Sri Lanka has a beautiful natural environment therefore we can market this resources through eco tourism development. Most foreigners are interested in spending their leisure with the natural environment. 42. Ayurvedic medicines and treatments are very important to enhance tourist attraction. Therefore we should be needed to introduce proper framework to provide correct ayurvedic treatments to tourists. B M A N V GUNATHILAKA CR Lieutenant Student Officer

Rec Project :: essays research papers

Introduction The NWS Yorktown sponsorship agreements follows the BUPERS guidelines on sponsorship and this guideline is our Bible. We adhere to it strictly. NWS Yorktown special events offer a unique avenue for the corporate sector to meet their business objectives through sponsorship opportunities. MWR events offer specific target markets of all ages including both military and civilian communities. In order to become apart of corporate advertising budgets, a certain message about NWS Yorktown special events and the many benefits they offer to potential sponsors must be conveyed in a timely and effective manner. There are more events than are supported by sponsorship dollars. Sponsorship proposals are being more carefully assessed to select opportunities which offer the most consideration and highest potential of measurable sales increases for budgeted promotional dollars. Once an event has been proven to deliver corporate benefits, sponsors will seek out more event opportunities and possible increase existing involvement. Establishing Excellence in Programming and Execution NWS Yorktown MWR special events compete with special event programs throughout the Hampton Roads area. These programs typically have large operating budgets and the ability to charge high ticket prices to patrons. MWR is becoming increasingly more effective in doing more with less and thus providing events equal to, and sometimes better than events on the outside for nominal fees. Consistency in excellence event programming is a goal of MWR. Communicating this idea to Hampton Roads military is an even greater goal. An established special events program with consistent high attendance records in a specified target market is a prime arena for a company looking to coordinate their promotional dollars efficiently. Understanding Corporate Objective of Event Participation Today, more than ever, event marketing must be designed to fulfill specific business objectives. By determining these distinct goals, we as event organizers can assist corporations in satisfying their projections through sponsorship of our events. Once sponsorship agreements have been signed, a personalized advertisement and promotional package can be tailored to specific business needs. For the event organizer, being in tune with the event means being able to offer creative marketing ideas to participation sponsors. It is just as important for the sponsor to receive a measurable, positive result as it is for MWR to obtain the sponsor’s dollars. Looking at the entire picture from both ends of the spectrum is the key to successful event marketing program. Commercial Sponsorship vs Donations Commercial sponsorship is the exchange of cash, goods, and/or services for marketing opportunities at an event.

Baseball Versus Lacrosse

Baseball Versus Lacrosse Baseball is a sport that is known around the world. Lacrosse is not as popular, but it is still a fun game to play. Although baseball and lacrosse are very different they have some similarities. Baseball is a very fun game to play. While playing the sport the idea is to hit the ball and score a run the more runs you score the better. Baseball is a nine inning game, one inning is when a team hits and plays in the field. When playing baseball try to hit the baseball on offense and on defense try to catch the ball or tag the person out. I know this sounds hard but after a while it gets easier and more fun to play. Baseball and lacrosse have many similarities. Baseball and Lacrosse both involve catching and throwing. These two sports both use a round ball that is thrown to a teammate. These two sports are very fun to play. Lacrosse is a very fun game to play. When playing this sport the idea of this game is to try to score points by throwing the ball into the net. Lacrosse is a sixty minute game, two fifteen minute half’s. While playing this game use the stick and try to throw the ball to a teammate to score or shoot the ball into the net. This game is very dangerous but fun. Baseball and lacrosse have many similarities. Baseball and Lacrosse both involve catching and throwing. These two sports both use a round ball that is thrown to a teammate. These two sports are very fun to play. Baseball and lacrosse are very similar and different. They both involve catching and throwing, but they are played very different. I like baseball more than lacrosse because I have been playing baseball since I was a kid. These two sports are very similar and different

Reflection on the History & Systems of Psychology Essay

Pre-modern, modern and postmodern frames of reference have all helped shape important, contemporary psychological theories and issues. In this paper I will attempt, in a reflective manner, to walk through and revisit the areas we covered in course, the end aim being to gain a measure of insight into where the field of psychology stands today, particularly with regard to oppressive forms of ethnocentric monoculturalism. In terms of pre-modern perspectives, in the course we first discussed historical issues concerning the mind-body problem. I stated the nature of the relationship between body and mind and whether they are one and the same or two distinct substances, which is the center of the debate between monists and dualist. Descartes, the most well known dualist, argued for a separation of mind from soul and body. Also an interactionist, Descartes held the mind influenced the body as much as the body impacted the mind (Goodwin, 2009). Plato, his predecessor from antiquity, was also a dualist and an interactionist arguably, and believed the body and soul/mind were temporarily at one during life; each came from a completely different place, the body from the material world and the soul from the world of ideas. At the moment of death, the body withered away in time and space, the soul or mind returning to the world of forms and there realizing universal truths (Wozniak, 1992). Delving deeper into pre-modern views of the mind-body problem I touched upon Spinoza. Spinoza, a contemporary of Descartes, dismissed Descartes’ two-substance view in favor of what is called double-aspect theory (Wozniak, 1992). Double-aspect theories hold the view that the mental and the physical realms are varying aspects of the same substance. For Spinoza, that single substance is God, perceived as the universal essence or nature of everything in existence. In Spinoza’s view, there is no partition of mind and body, therefore. Instead they are of a single substance, in a pre-established coordination, reflecting the divine essence. In reflection, I continue to side with Spinoza and double-aspect theory in terms of pre-modern perspectives. I do believe that there is a pre-established coordination between mind and body that is reflective of the divine creation. â€Å"I am therefore I think† is my continued response to Descartes. In terms of modern perspectives in the course we examined the origins of psychology as a subject discipline. During the course I stated that psychology first appeared as a subject discipline in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt started a psychology lab in Germany at the University of Leipzig. The laboratory devoted itself to the analysis of conscious thought in its basic elements and structures, which was uncovered through a process of introspection (Gross, 1996). What differentiated this ‘new psychology’ at the time from philosophy was its use of measurement and control as well as its emphasis on the scientific method to study mental processes relevant to human consciousness. Due to his influence on Edward B. Titchener, Wundt’s frame of reference arguably helped give birth to structuralism. Indeed Wundt’s disciple, Titchener, is credited with developing and labeling structuralism in an 1898 paper called â€Å"The Postulates of a Structural Psychology (Goodwin, 2009). In the paper he compared and contrasted structuralism with functionalism, which he claimed infested most US universities, save Cornell where he was cultivating what would come to be  called the â€Å"the Cornell school of psychology.† Notwithstanding, Goodwin (2009) has stated that Titchener and the Cornell view of psychology was extremely narrow largely because of its insistence on introspection and due to Titchener’s attitude that his way was the only way, a position that often does not bode well in academia. In this vein and perhaps arrogantly so, Titchener, likened structuralism to anatomy, its purpose being analysis he surmised — whereas functionalism he likened to physiology, stating that functionalists examine how the mind is able to adapt one to his or her said environ ment, which to Titchener was a waste of time without a deep understanding of structure. As one needs to know the ins and outs of human anatomy before being able to fully delve into physiology, so thus was the  functionalist at a loss, in his view, without the ability to outline the structures of human consciousness via a highly difficult process of systematic, experimental introspection as stipulated by him in almost cult like exclusivity, which spawned criticism. Accordingly, his movement never gained the momentum it needed to win American hearts and minds, falling into the dustbin of history in favor of functionalism. Nevertheless, in spite of Titchener’s unpopularity in the US, his enduring contribution is that he helped create a place for the lab and experimental psychology in all colleges and universities with programs in psychology. While functionalists were also interested in looking at mental processes such as consciousness in so far as assessing human behavior in terms of how it aided people in adapting to ever-changing environments, they did not, unlike followers of Titchener, emphasize introspection (Goodwin, 2009). Psychologist James R. Angell, a follower of John Dewey, the founder of functionalism in America, became its most outspoken spokesperson, criticizing Titchener and drawing a sharp contrast to him in a 1907 popular paper called â€Å"The Province of Functional Psychology.† It was a damning response to Titchener’s 1898 paper. For Angell, the structuralist was  interested in the â€Å"what?† of conscious thought, whereas the functionalist psychologist wished to know the â€Å"how?† and â€Å"why?† of it, asking what is consciousness for? (Goodwin, 2009). This way of viewing psychology in terms of its practical applications, became an important influence in modern times, because it led to the study of topics such as developmental and abnormal psychology, in addition to examining the individual differences of mind, (which Titchener and the Cornell school remarkably had no interest in). When asking how psychology can be used to solve everyday problems in a practical way, we are taking from the functionalists and their movement. Perhaps the most prominent movement in the field of modern 20th century psychology was behaviorism. Behaviorism began essentially due to the work of Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov who did not consider himself a psychologist, but, rather a physiologist interested in the process of digestion in dogs, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1904 (the year B. F. Skinner was born) in Physiology and Medicine. In the course of his research, Pavlov observed that the dogs would often start salivating before any food being given to them, when they would see the food or the food’s container, or when they heard the footsteps of the lab assistant who was on his way to feed them. His observations led to the study to what we now call classical conditioning (Gross, 1996). The first attempt to apply Pavlov’s findings on conditioning to humans was made by John B. Watson in a dubious and arguably unethical experiment on a small boy named Albert, showing that the fear of rats can be deliberately induced (Watson and Rayer, 1920). The experiment served to popularize a new behavioral approach to psychology that would within a decade become the dominant force in America, Watson its founder, propagator and publicist (Goodwin, 2008). To the modernist Watson (1913), psychology is an objective natural science,  its theoretical goal the prediction and control of behavior. Wundt and Titchener’s view on introspection has no place in its methods, nor is consciousness addressed or studied. There is no marked borderline between people and animals. Due to Watson’s input and influence cats, dogs, rats, and pigeons became the major source of psychological data. As ‘psychological’ now meant ‘behavior’ rather than ‘consciousness,’ animals that were easier to study and whose environments could be more readily controlled could replace people as experimental subjects (Gross, 1966). B. F. Skinner, also a behaviorist and modernist, went steps further than Pavlov and Watson, casting behavior in a more interactive light. He made a distinction between respondent and operant behavior and argued that most animal and human behavior is not brought about in the way Pavlov and Watson indicated and surmised. Skinner, like Edward Thorndike before him, was interested in how animals operate on their environment and how this operant behavior brings about particular consequences that can determine the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In experiments he used a variation of Thordike’s puzzle-box, a Skinner box, which was made for a rat or a pigeon to do things in, rather than escape from. Fundamentally, Skinner saw the learner as much more actively involved than did Pavlov or Watson, for whom behavior was due to stimuli, unconditioned stimuli before learning and conditioned stimuli after learning. In addition to behaviorism, modern views of psychology took twists and turns. As a reaction to both Titchener’s structuralism and Watson’s behaviorism, the Gestalt psychologists of the 1920s and 1930s in Germany and Austria were primarily concerned with perception and held that perceptions could not be deconstructed in the way that Wundt and Titchener wanted to do with thought, and that behaviorists had sought for with behavior. Their belief could be  succinctly stated as follows: ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ (Gross, 1996, p.3). The whole is essentially destroyed when you break down perception and behavior into parts, the Gestalt psychologists held. There are organizing principles of perceptual organization which were voiced by Gestalt’s founder Max Wertheimer. These principles are frequently highlighted in units on perception in general psychology textbooks and are as follows: the principle of proximity, the principle of similarity, the principle of continuation. All of the organizing principles have in common what is called the law of simplicity or what Gestaltists term Prà ¤gnanz. This refers to the tendency for perceptions to mirror reality as closely as possible (Goodwin, 2009). In the course I gave an example of gestalt thinking, which in reflection I would like to return to as it clearly remains in mind. I used the example of a bus stopping at a bus stop in one’s neighborhood. On a given day the bus stops at the same corner the person is accustomed to, and is recognized to be that bus. The person gets on, but has made a mistake. She did not realize that there was a route change that morning and the bus she took was numbered differently. What gives? Is it only a matter of not paying attention? In Gestalt inspired, top-down conceptually driven processing, we begin with one’s prior knowledge, motivations, expectations and beliefs. In the bus example, the inability to see and decipher or register a different number on the bus and get on it, means it was recognized it to be the customary bus due to top-down processing (Danner, 2009). If one were to notice the different bus number, however, that would entail bottom-up processing, because such processing is data driven. The different number is perceived in terms of information in the sensory input, in conjunction with top-down processing, revealing to the person that it is not the customary bus. Perhaps after realizing her mistake, the person in  the example will be more careful next time, thereby exercising more bottom-up processing. If Austria was home to some of Gestalt’s most prominent members and adherents, it was also home to Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Freudian psychoanalytic theory was the first to state the significance of innate drives and define abnormal and normal behavior in relationship to the role of the unconscious mind. Its importance is that the theory of personality popularized contextualizing human behavior in terms of the id, ego, and superego, notating development in five psychosexual stages. Each stage was marked by shifts in what Freud believed were the underlying modes of gratification: oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital (Glassman, 2000). In reflection, I continue to find merit in Freud’s concept of stages for sure. I would still prefer to call them development stages, however, and not necessarily put a sexual meaning on them, as Freud and his supporters have done and continue to do. There is no need to detail the well-known limitations and criticisms of Freudian theory, which according to Glassman (2000) are its falsifiability, the great deal of emphasis put on case studies, and its cultural bias towards women. Regardless of such naysaying, his supporters would passionately argue for and be adamant about such a sexual narrative of the human person, which if not fodder, certainly has entertainment value. In fact, Freudian theory is fascinating to me largely due to the dramatic (almost cinematic) conflicts and challenges that mark each psychosexual stage. Perhaps the most well-known of these is the Oedipal conflict (which occurs in the so-called phallic stage). It was interesting to read that some analysts calle d the female variant, the Electra conflict, but Freud himself did not use the term (see Freud 1924). Perhaps the most attractive modern theory of personality, in my view, would belong to Carl Rogers. In Carl Roger’s theory, a person is the source of his  or her basic needs such as food and water. He or she is also the source of a growth motive which he called an actualizing tendency, which is an innate drive that is reflective of the desire to grow, to develop and to develop one’s capabilities (Glassman, 2000). It is the actualizing tendency that stimulates creativity, causing a person to seek out new challenges and skills that motivate healthy growth in one’s lifetime (Gross, 1996). According to Rogers (1961, but originally proposed in 1947): Whether one calls it a growth tendency, a drive towards self-actualization, or a forward moving direction tendency, it is the mainspring in life†¦ It is the urge which is evident in all organic and human life – to expand, extend, become autonomous, mature and develop. In reflection, I continue to feel that Roger’s influence and continuing popularity in the psychotherapeutic community give his theories merit. APA members have been asked which psychotherapist they believe to me the most influential figure in the field (Smith, 1982). In 2006, this survey repeated in the Psychotherapy Networker. In both surveys, Carl Rogers was the â€Å"landslide† choice. While this does not prove Rogers to be correct, certainly it gives his theory of motivation more credence than not, increasing its believability. Certainly, I feel influenced by Rogers as I move forward in my career. While Roger’s theory of an actualizing tendency and the overall nature of the client-centered approach may be controversial due to its allowance to let the client call the shots and as stated by Goodwin (2009) for its overemphasis on the the self at the expense of the importance of the community, in addition to being clearer what it was against than what it was for, it is nevertheless, a credible postulation in terms of its application in therapy and remains my preference over Freud. Accordingly, I continue to feel that all clients  innately wish to be successful in life and to be praised as contributors to their own selfactualization. They wish to expand their knowledge and achieve  higher levels of success beneath all the guises that seem otherwise. When clients are not performing to their fullest potential, praise and support can help ignite the actualizing tendency in a manner that would otherwise have remained dormant. When exploring postmodern views of psychology we have to inherently speak about cultural narratives and meta-narratives. What is psychology today and who defines it? What is psychology’s story, who told that story historically, and who gets to tell it today? When we look at psychology as a practice, historically and today, is important to bring to the fore the ethnocentric monocultural aspects that were oppressive to women and continue to be to minority groups in reinforcing white male Euro-American culture as the normative and desirable culture. Indeed, therapists and helping professionals should try to help deconstruct and unveil monoculturalism whenever it rears its despicable head. When oppressive forms such as heterosexism, ageism, gender and sexism come to the fore in therapy, for example, therapists should not reinforce them but try to encourage reflection on such prejudices with the aim being for the client to indentify for what it is – and to grow accordingly. The field of psychology itself is not immune but remains at risk to the debacle of monoculturalism. According to Yutrzenka, Todd-Bazemore and Caraway (1999) even though the data forecast that by 2050, ethnic minorities will make up over 50% of the US population, this quickly changing demographic has minimal effect on the number of ethnic minority psychologists. This is particularly true for Native Americans, who are far more underrepresented than any other ethnic body. Though the APA as stated by Goodwin (2009), is vigorously addressing this entire issue at present, with such efforts to be praised, still the legacy of ethnocentric monoculturalism is a stain on the profession, and will remain so until  significant numbers of minority psychologists abound. In spite of the barriers confronting them, women and minorities have made many notable, valuable and vital contributions to the field of psychology. During the course I discussed Eleanor Gibson who received the National Medal of Science in 1992 for a lifetime of research on topics dealing with the development of depth perception to the fundamentals involved in reading, faced discrimination while at Yale from psychologist Robert Yerkes who wanted no females in his lab (Goodwin, 2009). While she was able to get her PhD there under the guidance of the neobehaviorist Clark Hull, she unfortunately went on to experience difficulties at Cornell (where her husband had gained a position) forced into an unpaid research associate position in spite of winning competitive and prestigious research grants. As a result of these grants, however, she was able to carry out pioneering studies on depth perception with Richard Walk. When Cornell, home to Titchener’s legacy, removed its nepotism rules in 1966, only then did she become a full professor. Furthermore, as discussed in the course, African-Americans have also made outstanding contributions to psychology. Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark again come to mind in terms of their best known research titled Racial identification and preference in Negro children (Goodwin, 2009). In this research it was shown that black children showed a preference for white dolls over black ones when asked which they would like to play with and looked more like. The Clarks concluded, according to Goodwin (2009) that one insidious effect of racial segregation was its negative influence on African-American self-esteem. As a result of this research, in part, the Supreme Court was compelled to do the right thing and reverse the racist separate but equal doctrine in Brown v. Board of Education. The Clarks’ contribution to psychology and the contributions of other AfricanAmericans preceding them were not without struggle. Their mentor at Howard University, Francis Sumner faced huge obstacles when attempting to get a graduate degree and gain employment in academia. African-Americans have often had their basic intellectual abilities questioned (Goodwin, 2009). The legacy of white racism and of the field of psychology’s complicity by not taking a firmer stand until only recently is without question a significant reason why African-Americans remain heavily underrepresented in the profession, in spite of the gains made for women. 60 percent of doctorates in psychology are awarded to women today, while Native Americans as we discussed and African-Americans continue to be awarded a paltry percentage in turn. Such dismal figures have nothing to do with intelligence. We know that early intelligence tests were normed on just Caucasian, middle-class populations and only recently has such bias been addressed and perhaps abated. This also was the case for the MMPI personality tests as well. In the case of the MMPI, many of the original items became dated and according to Kassin (2008), to bring the test up to the 21st century and more postmodern views, new items were written in, and a more diverse cross-section of the US was sampled. The result of that updating is the newer 567-item version called the MMPI-2. In reflection, my guess is that similar advances have been made or are being considered in IQ testing as well; otherwise we would have to call into question whether biased IQ tests are valid for minority groups. Accordingly, great care should be taken when formulating test questions as well as interpreting the results of test-takers from different cultural groups and urban tribes. Fundamentally, it is crucial that test makers be made aware of cultural differences when putting together IQ test questions, as recommended for the MMPI (Church 2001). Exercising caution does not mean  minority groups are treated with kid gloves, but rather that a lens of understanding is in place — and that can come about as a result of the test makers and assessors informing themselves. Otherwise an IQ test’s validity for minority groups is at issue. Pre-modern, modern and postmodern frames of reference have all helped shape important, contemporary psychological theories and issues. Accordingly, I have attempted in a reflective manner to revisit the areas of psychology’s history we covered in course. If psychology as a profession is to continue to grow and develop, it will occur through a similar process of reflection, followed by action. It is important for psychology to know its origins, its history and respective story. However, in realization of the depth of ethnocentric monoculturalism, its leadership, particularly in the APA, must act on the call to bring about the inclusion of more minorities. Otherwise, the oppressive stain of monoculturalism shall abound and continue to blemish the profession we hold dear. References Angell, J.R. (1904). Psychology. New York: Holt. Church, A.T. (2001). Personality measurement in cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Personality, 69, 979-1006. Danner, N. (2011). Psychology: ORG5001 survey of psychology I. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions. Freud, S. (1924) A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis. New York: Washington Square Press (reprinted 1952). Glassman, W (Ed.). (2000) Approaches to psychology. Philadelphia: Open University Press. Goodwin, C.J. (2009) A history of modern psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Gross, R. (Ed.). (1996) Psychology, the study of mind and behavior. London: Hodder & Stoughton. Kassin, S., (2008). Psychology in Modules: ORG 5002 Survey of psychology II. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing. Rogers, C.R. (1961) On becoming a person. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Smith, D. (1982) Trends in counseling and psychology. American Psychologist, 37, 802–809. Watson, J.B. (1913) Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20, 15877. Watson, J.B. & Rayneer, R. (1920) Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 1-14. Wozniak,R. (1992) Mind and body: Renà © Descartes to William James. Retrieved from http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%206%20MindBody/DUALISM.htm. Yutrzenka, B.A., Todd-Bazemore, E., & Caraway, S.J. (1999). Four winds: The evolution of culturally inclusive clinical psychology training for Native Americans. International Review of Psychiatry, 11, 129- 135. ProQuest: 43479524.

January Holidays Printables

January Holidays Printables January is often the time when cabin fever sets in. After the festive holiday season, the cold, bleak days of winter can seem to stretch infinitely before us. Keep the holiday spirit alive by celebrating a holiday or special day every day in January. Youre likely familiar with many of these holidays and famous firsts However, youre sure to discover some quirky celebrations and not-so-famous firsts in this list that provides something fun for every day of the month. January 1: Start the year off right by celebrating the start of a fresh new year with these  New Years Printables. Will you make any resolutions?   Did you know that the first day of January is  Betsy Rosss Birthday? Spend some time learning about this famous American  woman who may or may not have made the first American flag.   January 2: On January 2, 1788, the state of Georgia ratified the Constitution of the United States. Celebrate by learning more about Georgia. It was also on this date in 1974, that President Nixon signed a national speed limit into law. January 3: Its National Drinking Straw Day! The drinking straw was first patented on January 3, 1888. In 1959, Alaska was admitted as a state. Learn more about the state and celebrate  Alaska Admission .Day. January 4:  Sir Isaac Newton was born on January 4, 1643. One of this scientists biggest contributions to the field was Newtons Laws of Motion. January 5:  January 5 is  National Bird Day. Learn about the birds in your area. Make a simple homemade bird feeder by coating a pine cone with peanut butter and rolling it in bird seed. Hang the cone from a nearby tree branch and see what kind of birds it attracts. January 6:  New Mexico  became a state on this day in history in the year 1912. Its also the date that George  Washington  and his wife Martha were married in 1759. January 7: The  first U.S. Presidential Election  was held on this date in 1789. George Washington was elected the first President of the United States. His opponent, John Adams, became his vice president. January 8: Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, died on this day in history 1825. Learn more about this famous inventor whose invention revolutionized cotton production in the United States. Its also National Clean-Off-Your-Desk Day, so celebrate by tossing that junk! January 9: There are two quirky holidays today,  National Static Electricity Day and  National Apricot Day. Try an interesting static electricity experiment like bending water with static electricity or making a dancing ghost. January 10: January 10th is  Volunteer Firemans Day and Bittersweet Chocolate Day. Celebrate by learning about one of Americas favorite sweet treats with free printables about chocolate. Then, take some chocolate goodies to your neighborhood volunteer fire department. January 11: On January 11, 1973, baseballs American League adopted the designated hitter rule. Its also National Milk Day, so enjoy a tall glass of milk while you brush up on facts  about baseball. January 12: The first x-rays were taken in the United States on January 12, 1896. It was also on this date in 1777 that the  Santa Clara Mission  was founded. January 13: James Oglethorpe arrived in the New World in January 13, 1733. In 1942, during World War II, German pilot Helmut Schenck  made the first successful use of the ejection seat. January 14: On January 14, you can celebrate Bald Eagle Day or national holidays such as Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day and Dress Up Your Pet Day. January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. His birthday became a federal holiday on November 3, 1983, It is celebrated every year on the third Monday in January.  Ã‚   The date is also  National Hat Day and  National Strawberry Ice Cream Day. January 16:  John C. Fremont   was appointed Governor of California  on this date in 1847. In 1870, Virginia became the first state readmitted to the Union after the Civil War. January 17: Michelle Obama, wife of the United States 44th president, Barack Obama, was born on this date, as was U.S. Founding Father,  Benjamin Franklin. January 18: The New York Metropolitan Opera House held its first jazz concert in 1944. Learn about jazz instruments and other musical instruments today. On this date in 1778,  Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands. January 19: Today is  National Popcorn Day  and  Archery Day. Its also the day that Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809. January 20: Today is  Penguin Awareness Day  and  Basketball Day. January 21:  Civil War leader, Thomas Stonewall Jackson was born on this date in 1824. Its also  Granola Bar Day,  Squirrel Appreciation Day, and National Hugging Day. January 22: On this date in 1997, Lottie Williams of Tulsa, Oklahoma became the first person to be hit by space debris. Commemorate the day by learning about the solar system. January 23: Today is  National Pie Day and  Handwriting Day. Bake your favorite pie and practice your handwriting by writing a letter to a friend or relative. January 24: Gold was discovered in  California  on this date in 1848. Its also  National Peanut Butter Day. January 25: On this date in history, 1924, the first  Winter Olympics  games were  held. January 26: Michigan was admitted to the Union on this date in 1837. Its also Australia Day, the official National Day of the country. January 27:   Today is National Geographic Day and Chocolate Cake Day. Thomas Edison patented the light bulb on this day in 1880. January 28: Today is  National Blueberry Pancake Day and  National Kazoo Day. Enjoy some pancakes and make your own kazoo-style instrument.   January 29: On this date in 1861,  Kansas  became the 34th state of the United States. The ice cream rolling machine was patented in 1924. Its also  Carnation Day and  National Puzzle Day. January 30: January 30th is  National Croissant Day and the birth date of U.S. President,  Franklin D Roosevelt. January 31:  Jackie Robinson was born on this date in  1919. Have fun learning about Americas favorite pastime, baseball. If youre looking for more educational ideas for the month, try some fun January writing prompts.

Markstrat Final Management Report Essay Example

Markstrat Final Management Report Essay Example Markstrat Final Management Report Paper Markstrat Final Management Report Paper In Sonnet market was to create sustainable profit to scuffs sustainable growth with high margins, market share and enough budgets for Votive Entry. In order to achieve our objective, inspired by focusing on competition and Consumer focus, our strategy was to differentiate our brand upgrade our products based on our target segments? needs. To achieve our objective, although we had a new market Votive where there was a huge opportunity of being a market leader by spending considerable amount of budget, we allocated some of our reserves to Sonnet market as It was a such bigger market compared to Votive. Mainly, we focused on customer expectations. From conjoint analysis and semantic scales marketing research data, we analyzed the customer perceptions, ideal levels for product attributes, product features and modified our existing products or developed new products. We tried to be the product leader by offering the best product to each segment targeted. We targeted SAM for Others, ASANA for Singles, SAIL Tort Pros Ana HI Earners Ana or outs. Meanwhile we 010 cost reaction projects for all brands to use cost advantage and sell with higher margins. We set the price mostly again based on customer perceptions and tried to lower the price or keep price increase at feasible levels. Based on the distribution panel surveys, we allocated the sales force to sales channels according to the shopping habits of segments and total sales figures. First we decided on the total number of the sales force to be allocated to brands and then by weighted average, we divided them in between the distribution channels as shown on Appendix 2. We also continued to invest our budget on advertisement in Sonnies, by not ignoring our penetration tragedy with heavily advertisement and sales force for the new market Votive. In our initial management report as our Votive market strategy, we stated that our main objective was to be the market leader by being Pioneer comparing our RD budgets with our competitors. But firm with the highest budget and targeting lowest product features entered market in the 13th period. Because of our budget constraint and better product improvement target we were late but we did not give up. With other two firms we decided to use the advantages of being ? such as rather than being replacement or substitute or the pioneer, we choose to position ourselves as variety enhancers with different product features. Based on market researches, we defined the needs of the targeted customer segment and we tried to improve our product according to defined segment requirements. In our initial management report, we stated our strategies according to be the Pioneer in Votive market. Our stated objective was to become the market leader in the Votive market and benefit from higher margins. Committing our above stated objective, we adapted some of our strategies being an ? Follower?C,-1?0 as firm became Pioneer in the Votive market. Making a leapfrog action with our positioning strategy, we mostly targeted optimal cost and relatively high product features instead of imitating pioneer? VODKA. We determined positioning of our brands with and earning from our competitor mistakes. As market researches shown ? and had the highest relative importance for most of the customer segments, we tried to focus on those attributes with the right consumer segments; AVIVA for Adaptors?C,-1?0 and ? and VAST for and By the end of period 6, the leader of the Votive market which is Firm E is overcome by drowsiness therefore we went up to second place with our increasing net contribution, we had seen that our implementation of our strategies succeeded. Continuing to analyze the steps of our competitors what they can do, incorrectly analyzing our company opportunities how we can increase our sales, to increase our net contribution we tried to increase our market penetration. Based on our past experiences we were aware that to increase sales our competitors would decrease the retail prices. We were ready for these scenarios; we invested on cost reduction in period 7 in order to be able to decrease our retail prices and not to decrease our profit margin. Competing in overcrowded market, prospects for profits and growth reduced. As a result of this decrease at period 4, increased competition of price turn the water bloody (? Ocean?C,-1?0 as Chain Kim and Renee Unbroken); with all of our competitors we had the same budget (at that period we were in 4th range). It was an excellent opportunity for us. With the same budget capabilities we got the chance to use same amount of RD, Sales and Advertisement opportunities in total. We focused on RD for Votive while it was our chance to get into a ocean?C,-1?0 of uncontested market to untainted competition. The most unexpected situation was to lose the chance of being Pioneer in Votive market. But this unexpected situation which seems negative at the beginning, turned out a positive taxation with the mistakes of firm They did not allocate enough budget for RD to enter first in the Votive market; they missed the importance of advertisement to create brand awareness and the product features in long term. With their low product features they did not believe in their product so they gave a rower II price exclusive AT null ease cost. Other unexpected case is related with the entering strategy of other early followers. Firm E entered the Votive market with a low cost low price strategy with a better product than O. Although we were expecting this move we did not think that such low price. Firm I is also entered Votive at the same with us but with a huge price that a market cannot ignore. This was the positive competitor move for us. With the higher profit margins comparing to Sonnies market, there were ample opportunity for growth in Votive market. With our strategy of simultaneous pursuit of differentiate our products and reduce our base costs with RD projects we decided to change our product features. But we failed to predict the production volumes precisely for some brands, SALE, AVIVA etc. Especially in the last periods; we missed the opportunity to sell more and the increase in our market share and margins.

EXCHANGE RATE REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EXCHANGE RATE REPORT - Essay Example America’s economy is largely service based, and its currency generally strengthens when the economic activity in the country is strong. If economic activity slows, dollar weakens. Compare to USA, the economy of the European Union which represents euro focuses more on manufacturing sector which represents a greater percentage of GDP. Euro strengthens when the economic activity in the European Union is strong, and weakens when the economic activity slows. It also weakens if disagreements arise regarding monetary policies among the members of the European Union (â€Å"CURRENCY: USDEUR’’). From many decades US dollar is serving as a major international reserve currency and is one of the major reasons of the status of the United States as a global super power. But, in recent years it faced increasing pressure from European currency, euro. In its early days of introduction, the euro remained weaker than the dollar. Later it shows a stable upward trend and getting stronger against dollar. But, from the last one month US dollar is getting stronger against euro. On December 24th exchange rate of 1 US dollar was 0.763417 euro. On 23rd exchange rate of 1 dollar was 0.765462, and on November 25th, it was 0.750694 euro. On November one, exchange rate of 1 US dollar was 0.718081 euro. If we take the trend of exchange rate for the last one month, we can notice that US dollar is getting stronger against euro on the average basis (â€Å"CURRENCY: USDEUR’’). Many factors played their role in the strengthening of US dollar against euro since last one month. From the past few months U.S economy is growing faster as the investors considered USA as a safe haven for their investment. Demand increased for dollar exports contribute to strengthen dollar. On December 16th, the USA central bank cut interest rates to an all time low, a move aimed at reassuring financial markets and stimulating banks to lend money. American dollar is the currency

Real Estate Development Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Real Estate Development - Coursework Example Financing bodies in the central Manhattan promotes real estate development because they provide support to the investors. It is an expensive endeavor to pursue that discourages many investors and developers. However, financial assistance from organizations such as Meridian Capital Group and Hiro Real Estate enables people to invest in the industry. The paper discusses factors that drive commercial property development in Central Manhattan for the last six years. It also explains how bids play a significant role in acquiring and developing commercial buildings in the area. Capital is an important factor in real estate development because it supports various activities. It is difficult to succeed in the real estate business without adequate finance. Inadequate capital keeps many people away from the business because they cannot finance different operations effectively. High demand for land in many areas increases its prices, which hinder many people from affording it. This shows the need to obtain financial support in order to acquire land develop a real estate. An essential factor drives the development of commercial property in central Manhattan. Interested parties can obtain loans and mortgages from financial institutions such as banks in order to invest in real estate (Blosfield, 2015, p. 1). Land prices in the city are very high because of high demand, which makes it difficult to invest in the business. However, financial support such as mortgages and loans encourage many people to develop the property, which is a long-term investment. Financing bodies such as Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings, Meridian Capital Group, Hiro Real Estate, and Eastdil Secured provide support to people (Kalinoski, 2014, p. 1). They encourage the public to invest heavily in the business because they give financial assistance to aid in implementing their projects. The business has fewer risks, which encourage them to seek financial support because they can repay the

Operation Anaconda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Operation Anaconda - Essay Example This operation was to eliminate the Al Qaeda group after they were overpowered by the group three months earlier. The mission used modernized method where the US military and friendly Afghanistan in the valley was to assail the terror group. This was not the case, as the enemy was so controlling and organized, while the sociable Afghanistan’s did not cooperate, hence leaving the Americans to fight alone. The soldiers were able to succeed as they called for air reinforcement because their original ground plan to overpower the enemy was not effective.2 The mission was expected to be completed in three days, but it extended for a month. The US army was considered successful because they were able to eliminate eight hundred Al Qaeda men. These men run away from the valley leaving the United States soldiers in control. The success was established using sophisticated material and the soldiers adapting to diverse fighting methods. This is because it was unable to cope with the environment in the mountains and they were not able to combat the heavy machine guns and grenades that were used to neutralize them by the Al-Qaeda. The operation did not have tactical gears that would neutralize the Al-Qaeda group who camouflaged in the mountains. There were many accidents as many soldiers died from bombs dropped by American aircrafts. Others were killed from helicopter crashes, while a few suffered heavy equipment accidents, inadvertent falling from shipboards, and accidental shootings.3 Anaconda operation has been among the most complicated missions in US warfare history. This is because they were unable to eliminate their enemy in the first account, typically because the soldiers underestimated the enemy and thought that it was an uncomplicated mission. Success was realized after requesting for reinforcement from Delta Force and Seal Team

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example CSR is also known as Corporate Conscience or corporate citizenship. It basically refers to the responsibilities that companies have to the locals within the communities they operate. Companies incur short term costs by engaging in CSR activities with no guarantee of immediate financial benefits. Nevertheless, CSR promotes positive environmental and social changes in the society, which lays a good foundation for further business activities for the businesses. Another significant component of CSR policies is the self-regulation mechanism. CSR grants companies the freedom to regulate themselves in terms of monitoring their business activities to ensure they comply with the legal framework in place as well as adhering to accepted ethical standards and international norms for doing business. However, some CSR models allow firms to go beyond the regulatory frameworks by engaging in actions that promote social good in the community (Glac, 2014, p. 66). Essentially, the main objectives of CSR are embracing responsibility for corporate actions and encouraging organizations to create a positive impact on the environment and various stakeholders in the business activities such as consumers, investors, local communities, and employees. CSR is the commitment that companies have in creating policies that integrate their responsible business operations with responsible practices, as well as timely reporting on the progress made towards implementing the outlined CSR policies. Initially, CSR strategies only focused on philanthropy as the main means of relating with the community (Hiller, 2013, p. 299)). However, the expansion of the concept of CSRS over the years has led to broadening of the scope of corporate responsibility to include commitments to improving the quality of lives of the community as well as other key stakeholders in the company, and contributing towards a

Child Development Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Child Development Reflection Paper - Essay Example ction accorded to the child determines the child ability to adapt to the social environment and determines the child’s ability to self sustain emotionally. As presented by Mary Ainsworth, a child reacts to strangers in various manners. If the child feels secure, he will interact with the stranger. If he does not feel secure, he will either avoid the stranger or resist any attempt by the stranger to make contact vehemently. Such a child requires close monitoring and encouragement in social matters. Adjusting to situations by an individual is easier when a caregiver satisfied a child emotionally. Neglect of a child’s concerns alternatively results in an adult who lacks the ability to handle occurrences in life. The later will experience suicidal tendencies and antisocial behavior while his counterpart, who had ‘better’ upbringing will be outspoken. The development process through the eight stages depicted by Erik H. Erikson becomes very troubling for this individual due to unresolved childhood conflict. Forming secondary attachments such as finding a spouse forms a platform that is beyond childhood. As John Bowlby indicates, this gives the individual a second chance of developing social skills. However, this becomes difficult for personalities not fulfilled emotionally as child. Child assessment as discussed by Pucketh helps a parent determine the special needs for each child and act appropriately. The caregivers must fully understand the child in order to guide him through challenges. A child will create a connection to the mother depending on how much the parent (caregiver) encourages him. This early relationship should be a two-way relationship. Involving the child in activities that improve the child’s confidence ensures smooth life for the baby later. The concepts discussed present certain challenges to the learner. Many things that people take for granted characterize the human social life. Children sometimes seem annoying. Their cries for

Decision making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Decision making - Assignment Example 2. You are on the team which was assigned to make the decision about whether or not to stop current production and fill the rush job order which has come in. The team is currently leaning toward telling the â€Å"big customer† who wants the rush order that the company will be unable to fill the job. Your role on the team is to stimulate dialectical inquiry. What will you point out to the team as you fulfill this role? [Remember that your job is to force â€Å"group members to ‘think outside the box’ and look at new ways to analyze the problem.†] -- In the spirit of lgical argumentation, I would encourage the team to look at the possible pitfalls of shifting production at this crucial point in time. Would it be worth the trouble on their end as prinary workers, to complete the requirements for the shift in production. What kind of problems will the large scale client face if we were to shift production mid-stream? Then, I would ask them to consider if they would actually be able to meet the deadline set by the big client for their order even if we suddenly change directions with the machines . 3. What would be your decision if you, alone, were presented with the dilemma? How would you come up with a decision? Are there questions you would want to ask before making a final decision? If so, what are those questions? --If it were all left up to me, I would turn down the mid sized order order or at least try to delay its completion until after my regular run has met its required number of orders. I would come to this decision after asking myself the

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example CSR is also known as Corporate Conscience or corporate citizenship. It basically refers to the responsibilities that companies have to the locals within the communities they operate. Companies incur short term costs by engaging in CSR activities with no guarantee of immediate financial benefits. Nevertheless, CSR promotes positive environmental and social changes in the society, which lays a good foundation for further business activities for the businesses. Another significant component of CSR policies is the self-regulation mechanism. CSR grants companies the freedom to regulate themselves in terms of monitoring their business activities to ensure they comply with the legal framework in place as well as adhering to accepted ethical standards and international norms for doing business. However, some CSR models allow firms to go beyond the regulatory frameworks by engaging in actions that promote social good in the community (Glac, 2014, p. 66). Essentially, the main objectives of CSR are embracing responsibility for corporate actions and encouraging organizations to create a positive impact on the environment and various stakeholders in the business activities such as consumers, investors, local communities, and employees. CSR is the commitment that companies have in creating policies that integrate their responsible business operations with responsible practices, as well as timely reporting on the progress made towards implementing the outlined CSR policies. Initially, CSR strategies only focused on philanthropy as the main means of relating with the community (Hiller, 2013, p. 299)). However, the expansion of the concept of CSRS over the years has led to broadening of the scope of corporate responsibility to include commitments to improving the quality of lives of the community as well as other key stakeholders in the company, and contributing towards a

Decision making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Decision making - Assignment Example 2. You are on the team which was assigned to make the decision about whether or not to stop current production and fill the rush job order which has come in. The team is currently leaning toward telling the â€Å"big customer† who wants the rush order that the company will be unable to fill the job. Your role on the team is to stimulate dialectical inquiry. What will you point out to the team as you fulfill this role? [Remember that your job is to force â€Å"group members to ‘think outside the box’ and look at new ways to analyze the problem.†] -- In the spirit of lgical argumentation, I would encourage the team to look at the possible pitfalls of shifting production at this crucial point in time. Would it be worth the trouble on their end as prinary workers, to complete the requirements for the shift in production. What kind of problems will the large scale client face if we were to shift production mid-stream? Then, I would ask them to consider if they would actually be able to meet the deadline set by the big client for their order even if we suddenly change directions with the machines . 3. What would be your decision if you, alone, were presented with the dilemma? How would you come up with a decision? Are there questions you would want to ask before making a final decision? If so, what are those questions? --If it were all left up to me, I would turn down the mid sized order order or at least try to delay its completion until after my regular run has met its required number of orders. I would come to this decision after asking myself the

British North American colonies prior to 1700 Essay Example for Free

British North American colonies prior to 1700 Essay The New World was first established because a group of people in England did not agree with the religious and political ways of life advocated. Different religious groups left England to pursue more religious freedom in America. As they moved to the New World, the three different regions of the North American colonies greatly impacted not only their lifestyles but also the extent of religious freedom allowed prior to 1700. The first arrivers in the northern colonies were Puritans who came to America because they didnt agree with the Anglican Church. These early colonist yearned for a place where they could indulge in religious freedom as opposed to the extreme contrast to the strict religious persecutions they experienced in England. But the Puritans had very strict rules regarding membership into the Protestant Church and religion was viewed very strictly. The Puritans believed that they were a city upon a hill and were to be a model of a holy society for humankind. Thus they were very rigid in thought and were also very prejudiced against other religions. This group who had come seeking religious freedom soon became the most religiously intolerant group in the Americas. Quakers, who denied the authority of the Puritan clergy, were persecuted with fines and banishment. Sometimes they were even hanged. Dissenters like Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were banished and Rhode Island was established by Williams as the first colony to have complete freedom of religion. In his sewer colony, Jew, Catholics, and Quakers were all sheltered and treated equally. The Middle Colonies was an extremely religiously mixed region because of the amount of diverse people who settled there. The first to settle the region were the Dutch, in New Netherlands which would later become New York after the English took control. The Dutch practiced the Dutch Reform Church which was basically a branch of Lutheran. South of the Dutch were the Swedes practicing their own branch of Lutheran known as the Swedish Reform Church. They were later defeated and absorbed by the New Netherland colonists. But the English regarded the Dutch as the Dutch regarded the Swedes; as intruders and in 1664, Charles II granted his brother, the Duke of York, a squadron that defeated the Dutch. Although the English were now in control of the region and brought with them the Anglican Church, they did not seek  to enforce it because the Dutch made up almost half of the population. Then the establishment of Pennsylvania allowed German, French, Dutch, and English colonists entry into the New World under William Penns broad view of religious tolerance. With so many ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse groups in the region, there can be nothing but immense religious toleration. The Southern Colonies, were the earliest colonies to be settled, but didnt strive for the religious haven the New England Colonies desired. The only settlers in the South were from the Church of England so that was the predominant faith. But because the souths economy was based on agriculture and farming on large plantations and most things were business-oriented, there were few towns which meant few churches. Poor white farmers with small land areas did not have the money or resources to build churches and the large plantation owners did not have churches on their plantations so they basically did whatever they wanted. Religious tolerance was not high but the dominant religion itself was not rigidly enforced. In the midst of such religious indifference, the evangelist religions were born. Although immigrants to the New World all came with intentions of pursuing religious freedom never experienced in their native countries, the regional differences and religious views soon spread them far apart from each other. The New Englanders were mostly Puritans who believed in tight communities and so they remained as they were, fervent worshippers of God and intolerant of other religions. The Middle Colonies, with its wide range of races and the fact that it was established for business and trade ventures, dealt with immense religious diversity and thus immense religious tolerance. The South, preoccupied with the large-scale planting of tobacco had no time to enforce the Anglican Church. Such diverse thoughts of religious tolerance in the three regions that made up America before 1700 greatly impacts the America that we know today.

Family Involvement In Early Education

Family Involvement In Early Education The purpose of this research paper is to examine the effects family involvement has on the success of children and the ways families can get involved in their childs education. My literature reviews defines family involvement is when families get personally involved in education, their children do better in schools, get better grades, and grow up to be successful in life. Family involvement is one of the most overlooked aspects of American education. Today, many programs are designed without recognition of the role of families, and consequently many families remain unaware of the significance that their role can have on their childs education (NASA, 2009). Family involvement means that families work together with care givers and teachers to create an atmosphere that strengthens learning both at the program and in the home. Family involvement is an important component of the United Sates of America educational programs. The purpose of the family involvement component is to engage families as partners in the educational process. Family involvement programs was developed to give families, regardless of their own educational experience, the tools needed to become more actively involved in their childs day-to-day education (Knopf Swick 2008). Significant research over at least 25 years has demonstrated that family involvement is critical to the educational success of children (Bricker Casuso). To give more detail on the findings: When schools acknowledge the relevance of childrens homes and cultures and promote family involvement, they can develop a supportive environment for learning through meaningful activities that engage and empower families (Bricker Casuso, 1979). As our schools and programs become more diverse, that relevance of home and culture takes on greater importance and expands teachers responsibilities for collaboration with families. Families can get more involved with their childs education by, talking with their children, enhancing their childs self esteem, modeling social and educational aspirations and values and monitoring out of school activities (supervising homework etc.)(Battle, 2004). Activities parents can be more involved at school consists of: attending events, such as open house and school fairs, working in the school in support teachers such as helping with activities in the classroom, on trips and with sport activities, assisting with the governance of the school and meeting with teachers to discuss their childrens progress are all ways parents can get more involved with their child education while in school (Battle, 2004). I have seen a lack of parental involvement in Head Start due to lack of communication. I have volunteered for Head Start every since my son went there in 2006. I am a former parent and I have done four internships there. I have done two for Social Work and two for Early Childhood. Most families I have talked to use work, or they do not get grades or I am too tired to sit with those bad kids as an excuse but I try to let them know that if they dont get involved in their child education now they will regret it in the long run. When I lived in Chicago I went to a Head Start program called the Child Parent Center (CPC). My mom worked nights and had three other children to take care of. She made it her job to volunteer at my school at least three days a week. She assisted the teachers, she was even the President of the PTA. My mom got involved in what I was learning because she was a concerned parent. Parents today are not concerned about their childs education. Parents who are involved in their childs education develop more confidence in the school, and about helping their children learn at home and often enroll in continuing education to advance their own schooling (Measuring Up, 1999). Parents tend to be less involved in their childs education as their child get older. The United States Department of Education found that nationwide, as children grow older contacts between families and schools decline both in number and in the positive nature of such contacts. Although 52 percent of interactions are positive and 20 percent are negative in the first grade, by seventh grade positive contacts drop to 36 percent and negative increase to 33 percent (Measuring Up, 1999). The importance of family involvement is the environmental, social, and economic factors have the most powerful effect on student performance. The greatest factor of a child underachieving in school is growing up in poverty, inadequate learning opportunities, and exposure to drugs, lack of after school care, dysfunctional families, and inadequate health care, run down schools, neighborhood distress, few role models, poor nutrition and teen pregnancy (Measuring Up, 1999). Parents cannot always change these factors; they can always have great influence over many of these challenges. Epstein defines a school, family and community partnership as an approach that gives families and community members greater opportunities to determine options for school involvement, to participate in the wide range of involvement activities, and to assume key role and responsibilities in school-improvement efforts, including participation in the schools decision-making processes. If a partnership is to succeed, it must be based on mutual trust and respect, an ongoing exchange of information, agreement on goals and strategies, and sharing of rights and responsibilities. Schools must be willing to involve parents, families, and communities at deeper levels and to support their participation (Epstein 2002). Epstein six types of involvement consist of: Type1: Parenting: Assist families establish home environments to support children as students. Type 2: Communicating: Implement effective home to school and school to home communication practices. Type 3: Volunteering: Encourage families as volunteers in a variety of ways. Type 4: Learning At Home: Involve families in supporting learning activities at home. Type 5: Decision making: Include parents in school; decisions, developing parent leaders and representatives. Type 6: Collaborating With the Community: Coordinate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices and student learning development. The problem with families not being involved in their childs education is laziness. A lot of younger generation parents have too many excuses on why they can and cannot get involved. The most common one is transportation problems. If you can get a ride to go clubbing on Friday and Saturday you can get a ride to visit your child Monday thru Thursday for a couple of hours. Majority of the younger generation families just dont care. Their children are being raised by a grandmother, aunt or a caregiver. They do not understand how critical parental involvement is and the effects it has on a child. From my own personal observations parents just do not understand why they need to get involved. It is my job as a professional student to address these concerns to all parents young or old. Teachers are very frustrated trying to involve parents and getting little to no response. Teachers complain that parents do not come to conferences or school open houses, check homework, or answer take home notes. This leads teachers to feel that parents just do not care about their childs education (Brown, 1989). There are many reasons to consider why parents do not get involved. For many parents, a major obstacle to getting involved is lack of time. Working parents are often unable to attend school events during the day (Brown, 1989). Evenings are more convenient and the only time they can be involved. Parents rather spend that time with family than be at an open house, which is understandable. Parental involvement during prekindergarten can promote childrens school readiness and is associated with higher academic achievement and fewer behavior problems through adolescents, at least in low income families (Basile Henry, 1996). It can also lead to greater parental involvement in elementary school, which is associated with higher achievement for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds (Basile Henry 1996). When families do not get involved in their childrens education they are more at risk of being exposed to drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy and inadequate learning opportunities. The benefits of families who get involved in their childs education their child will get better grades, better attendance, and higher graduation rates, less or no drug or alcohol use, better self-esteem, and less violent. Parental involvement is important because it improves cognitive and social development in early years of education. Evidence indicates that parental involvement continues to have a significant effect on achievement into adolescence even adulthood. A survey in 2007 has found a variation in levels of parental involvement among different ethnic groups. African American parents are more than twice as likely as White parents to say they felt very involved in their childs education. Parents from non-White ethnic backgrounds are more involved in their childs school activities (including homework). Parents from non-White backgrounds are also less likely to say that a childs education is the school responsibility rather than the parents (17% of African American and Asian parents compared to 27% of White parents said that it was the school responsibility) (Harris Goodall, 2007). Parental involvement is easy as pie says McReynolds she came up with the pie program based on research and many years in the classroom. McReynolds states family involvement is a critical part of high quality education, a safe and disciplined learning environment, and student achievement. McReynolds PIE program actively pursues and involves parents as true and equal partners. She offers them five ways in which they can become involved. Decision making. McReynolds encourages parents to set goals for their children and for the teacher goals that reach beyond those goals she has already set. The goals are stated at the start of the school year in a contract between parents, teachers, and students. That contract lists everyones responsibilities and is signed by each of the participants. A parent is free to add to the contract specific goals for their child. The goal of the contract is a very simple one: Helping children to learn, says McReynolds. The contract is a tool to meet that end. It can change from year to year and even sometimes from child to child. If parents feel a need, we do whatever we have to do to meet that need as long as it helps the child learn. Supporting. Parents support their children in many ways, McReynolds says. They provide shelter, food, clothing, protection, and love. They also need to support the work that goes on in the classroom. McReynolds shares with parents the research that supports the need for their involvement in their childrens education at home and at school. Showing children that school is important can be done in many ways, and McReynolds offers parents many options and tools for doing that. Her next goal is to establish a parent library, a place in the school where parents can find and check out materials that will help them to help their children learn. Teaching. Parents are teachers too, says McReynolds, adding, Lets face it, children learned a huge amount from their parents before they even entered school. And a parents role as teacher doesnt end when the child enters school. McReynolds points to a number of ways in which teaching continues to be a parents responsibility and part of a parents daily routine. Providing time and a place for doing homework, reading with a child, making sure homework is understood and finished, talking about what is being done at school, and continuing to learn how to help are just a few of the ways in which parents teach. In addition, parents can get actively involved in the classroom as volunteer tutors, as lecturers sharing their own expertise, and in many other ways. Last year, McReynolds says, a small group of parents got kids interested in participating in the Valentines for Veterans program. That was just one example of a wonderful learning experience that came directly from parental involvement and it was proof that If its important, parents will help to get it done,' says McReynolds. Kids got to see their parents in action and, more importantly, they got to see themselves as contributors to the larger community. Learning. The more parents learn, the more they are able to help a child learn, McReynolds says. That means getting actively involved in finding out what is being taught, how it is taught, and how children learn and develop. Parents can take classes (offered through adult education programs, community colleges, etc.) on their own to demonstrate to their children how important learning is. Or they can take classes with their children; computer classes or hobby classes are two possibilities. McReynolds offers additional help and suggestions. She provides ideas for field trips that parents and children can take together to support classroom learning. And she holds a monthly in-service session for parents. In one recent session she focused on the childrens math curriculum. The sessions goal was to familiarize parents with the curriculum and to relieve the parents anxiety about it. Other sessions have included a science fair preparation night (where McReynolds familiarizes parents with th e scientific method through a fun airplane-making family activity); a session that explains the school grading system; and a field trip to a dinosaur exhibit at a nearby museum. Communicating. An open-door policy allows parents to come into the classroom at any time. In addition, McReynolds offers regular communication through two newsletters. Those newsletters include information about the concepts that are being taught, how those concepts can be reinforced and practiced at home, a schedule of after-school help sessions, and news about a special citizenship program in which kids earn points for positive behaviors. The newsletters also include news of upcoming in-service sessions and special projects parents might want to get involved in. Parental involvement programs, if they are to be effective, must include parents in all aspects of a childs education, Parents must be involved as teachers, learners, supporters, and advocates for their children (Hopkins, 2004). Families can get involved in their childs education by just overseeing their childs homework (time), Limiting time spent watching T.V., Providing support for educators and taking advantage of opportunities to become more involved with school administrations and policy development. Suggestion for teachers to get parents involved is to help parents understand why it is so important to their children school success. Give parents specific thing they can do to be involved. Take time to assess current practices in your school before embarking on a program for parental involvement. Develop a long term plan for a parent that includes evaluations of their childs success. Teachers need to communicate with parents and encourage parents to provide inputs on policies that affect the education of their children. 1) Teachers need parents help! Teachers are over worked and overwhelmed and in need of our help. Even if it is the smallest amount of help. 2) All parents should volunteer at least five times in a school year. 3) Parents also need to know school is a learning environment and not a day care. Parents need to remember even when their children are at school they are still your children, take responsibility in their education. 4) The more parents volunteer, the more educated you are about what is going on in the school. Parents should be an example to their children, show them the importance of education through your actions, not just your words. 5) Kids copy what they see you do, show your children how important it is to be involved parent by being one yourself. 6) All parents should know the old saying It is better to give than to receive. Giving always feel good. 7) Majority of the schools budgets are being cut, as parents we can help schools save money by donating our time, talent and treasures. 8) Parental involvement also gives you the opportunity to voice your opinions on school matters. Who said it is better to be seen and not heard? 9) With all the violence in school today being an involved parent will allow you to keep up with the issues and problems. Parents need to keep their ears and eyes open while at school and you will be surprised at what you will find out. 10) Lastly, parent need to know that their children are only young once. Do not miss out on the opportunity to create memories that will last a forever. Children will not remember that toy you gave them but they will remember all those times you became involved in their education. In conclusion, the most important person in parental involvement is the child. Anything that the parent can do to assist their child is worth it all. Special importance should be on producing ways of helping children, families, and schools work together to supply students with the advantages to put their best efforts forward. It is very clear that parental involvement is very profitable to a child learning environment.