Week 1_development of US intelligence organizations and missions from Assignment

Week 1_development of US intelligence organizations and missions from the revolution to WWI - Assignment Example His intelligence was so superior that it assisted in the surrender of General Lee. His intelligence was obtained through a secret agent’s network. Following the assassination of President Lincoln, reward money was placed for the heads of those who conducted the act. The culprit was then caught by the Lafayette Baker’s National Detective Bureau; this led to the promotion of the Bureau (Andrew 1995, 22). The aim out of which BMI was created was to support and provide proper and adequate intelligence to armed forces. Following the need of the Civil War, the first intelligence agency was created and was named as Secret Service of the Treasury Department and during the Pacific War; the first intelligence agency to support the army as well as the navy came into being. During the session of 1882, the President Arthur promoted the thought of reforming US naval forces and this led to the establishment of ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence) (Andrew 1995, 26). The aim behind the creation of ONI was to lead the Western Hemisphere of the world and project a powerful image of US and it did so by gaining victory during the war in Spain . After the three years of the creation of ONI another intelligence organization which was similar to ONI was created for the army and was named as Military Intelligence Division with the objective of obtaining intelligence at the local and the international level to support the department of war and army. Later the President Roosevelt used intelligence in the most active manner, he first used intelligence with the aim of inciting a revolution with the region of Panama and then intelligence was used to figure out the development of military of Japan. The start of the 20th century witnessed the use of intelligence by US for domestic purposes as during the era of 1908, Bureau of Investigation of the Justice Department was established as it was believed that the agents of the Secret Service were

The Great Depression - Main Causes Essay Example for Free

The Great Depression Main Causes Essay Introduction Like us, many of you had a loved one that lived during the Great Depression. Many of us have heard stories from our parents or grandparents of the horrific times of the depression; stories that told us how hard it was to find a job, put food on the table, and to provide shelter for the family. Learning how to live without things was a battle all by itself. Hearing the stories made me grateful to be born in a different era. However, each era has its own battles to fight that will change the direction of the economy and maybe the world. Many people feel that we are in a depression. Unemployment rising, business closing its doors, and poverty in the United States on a rise, would make you think that we are in a depression. However, after careful research from articles, books, videotape, and previously conducted surveys, on the main causes of the depression, we realize that the recession that we are in is far from the Great Depression. Our research also uncovered the impacts of the depression that played a role in reforming the economy. Also, our research will show us how Franklin D. Roosevelt solved the depression and got the economy rolling again. Finally, there were many lessons learned by banks, business owners, and the government. We hope that the details of the Great Depression will enlighten you with comparisons on our current recession. Main Causes The main causes for the Great Depression were a combination of unequally distributed wealth, the stock market crash, and eventually the bank failures. The unequal distribution of wealth existed on many levels. Money was distributed unequally between the rich and the middle class, between industry and agriculture within the US, and between the US and Europe. This imbalance of wealth created an unstable economy. The excessive speculations kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually lead to large market crashes. These market crashes, combined with the unequal distribution of wealth, and bank failures, caused the American economy to collapse. The distribution of national income became increasingly skewed in the 1920s. The nations total realized income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929. However, the prosperity was not divided evenly amongst all Americans. According to a study done by the Brookings Institute in 1929, the top .1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%. That same top .1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of Americans had no savings at all. While the disposable income per capita rose 9% from 1920 to 1929, those with income within the top 1% enjoyed a staggering 75% increase in per capita disposable income. A major reason for this gap between the rich and the working-class people was the increased manufacturing output through this period. Thus, wages increased 25% as fast as productivity increased. As production costs fell quickly, wages rose slowly, and prices remained constant. In fact, from 1923-1929 corporate profits rose 62% and dividends rose 65%. The large and growing gap in wealth made the US economy unstable. For an economy to function properly, total demand must equal total supply. In the 1920s there was an oversupply of goods. It was not that the surplus of products was not wanted, but those who really needed them, could not afford them. The federal government also contributed to the growing gap between the rich and middle-class. Andrew Mellon, Coolidges Secretary of the Treasury, was the main force behind tax cuts that lowered federal taxes such that a man with a million-dollar annual income had his federal taxes reduced from $600,000 to $200,000. Our textbooks would indicate that the purpose behind this would be that $400,000 would be spent, thus stimulating the economy. Instead, they invested it into the stock market, and lost everything. The federal government favored the new industries (radio and automotive) as opposed to agriculture. During World War 1, the government subsidized farms and paid higher prices for what and other grains. Because the government was feeding the US and Europe, they encouraged farmers to buy more land, invest  in modern methods, and to produce more food. However, when the war was over, the US stopped helping farmers. During the war, the government paid $2 a bushel for wheat, but by 1920, wheat prices fell as low as 67 cents a bushel. Farmers fell into debt; farm prices and food prices tumbled. The federal government left American farmers in the cold. The problem with having large concentrations of wealth and dependence upon two industries is the economy relies on those industries to expand, grow, and invest in order to prosper. At the time, the main problem with the automotive and radio industries was that they could not expand because people could and would only buy so many cars and radios. When those industries went down, they took the American economy with them. In 1929, 1,124,800,410 shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange. From 1928 to 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose from 191 to 381. This profit was attractive to investors. Company earnings were not important as long as stock process continued to rise, and huge profits could be made. Through the convenience of buying stocks on margin, one could buy stocks without money to purchase them. By mid 1929, the total of outstanding brokers loans was over $7 billion, in the next three months, that number would increase to $8.5 billion. Interest rates for brokers loans were as high as 20%! Prices had been dropping since September 3, 1929, but people were still optimistic. Hopeful investors continued to flock the market. Then on Monday October 21, 1929, prices started to fall quickly. The volume was so high that the ticker fell behind. Finally, investors were afraid! Knowing that prices were falling but because the ticker was behind, they could not tell how far they had fallen, so they started to sell quickly. This caused the collapse to happen faster. The market stabilized for a few days, and then on Monday October 28, 1929 prices started dropping again. By the end of the day, the market had fallen 13%. On Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, 16.4 million shares were exchanged. Although many were disturbed by the stock market crash, few realized that the  Great Depression was ahead. The Bank Failures would make the near future of the US economy clear. Trying to benefit from the investment boom, like many investors, banks tied their money (customer deposits) up in the stock market. When the market collapsed, brokers began calling in margin accounts, many banks were forced into bankruptcy closing their doors to depositors. Failures of individual banks generated runs on other banks as depositors became nervous about the security of their accounts. A high rate of insolvencies hit the banking industry and the nations stock of money in circulation plummeted. These developments prompted a rapid tumble of the GNP that was the defining characteristic of the Great Depression. This speculation and the resulting stock market crashes, acted as a trigger to the unstable US economy. More jobs were lost, more banks went under, and more factories closed. Unemployment would grow to almost 13 million by 1932. The Great Depression had begun. Impact of the Economy There were many psychological, cultural, and political repercussions of the Great Depression. These impacts played a major role in reforming the American economy for the future that was to come. During the horrific times of the depression, everyone in America got a glimpse, whether short or prolonged, to how the United States would be under an economic crash. As you can see from the main causes of the depression, numerous amounts of people lost their jobs, the prosperity rate significantly increased, businesses failed, and the overall condition of America was faced with pure turmoil and suffering. Among each major impact that the depression had on the American economy, the most extravagant circumstance was the rapid decrease in overall business. For instance, there were more than 100,000 businesses that failed as an impact of the depression. By 1933, more than 5,000 banks had failed. Not  only did this affect the government, but the general public and the entire economy felt the hit also. Within every bank that closed, there were public savings and checking accounts that were also demolished. With no type of security in place to protect their investments and or savings, peoples money and sometimes even life savings, were gone. This decline created a continuing affect that spread throughout the economy. As a result, the national income fell by 54 percent. Close to 90 percent of industrial production ceased. The foreign trade decreased by 70 percent, and new investment in plants and equipment had plummeted by 98 percent. Hundreds of thousands of home and farm mortgages foreclo sed, and there was no decent food, clothing, or shelter to be purchased. Obviously, due to the circumstances, business was put on hold for what seemed like forever to the American economy. Consequently to the many business failures that occurred during the depression, along with the steadily decreasing income and tremendous rise in unemployment, many people were forced to live in horrible, strict, confined, and discouraging circumstances. People were living on the streets of America striving to survive. As a result, starvation and malnutrition was a major factor that affected the general public. Thousands of people starved in the streets while unsold food piled up or went bad on the nations farms, due to the need for profit. More than 2 million Americans moved from cities to farms in the hope of being able to at least feed themselves. Despair overcame millions of people who survived the distress but could not find work for months or even years. Others were forced to work in fields in order to make the little money they could. Family tensions increased as many people lacked jobs, resulting in a major increase in mental health problems, and family violence. The loss of money and personal belongings resulted in the number of relatives in one household or apartment, doubling within a short amount of time. These situations developed very confined living conditions resulting in unhealthy and unhappy circumstances. Many children had to leave their schools because they lacked clothing or the local school boards simply could not afford to maintain buildings or pay teachers. Children were forced to provide for themselves,  and their family. Uncertainty and unhappiness increased over the years. The overall living conditions of the depression were very unstable and unsatisfying to the American public. Feelings of distrust towards the government and the economy emerged from every single individual. The depression had a major impact on not just the current situation, future thoughts and actions were affected as well. Along with distrust from the public towards the economy, grew an extreme realization of poverty and distress for American society. The experience brought about a change in the viewpoints toward many aspects of life and business. Everyone was forced with making critical decisions that would forever change life situations. Ultimately, there was not one industry, bank, agricultural, or government aspect that was not noticeably affected by the depression. The impacts were felt at home in our society as well as across seas in other countries. Everyones living standards and situations suffered due to the depression. There was no true understanding of how these circumstances could have begun, and no knowledge of when it would end. Solving the Depression During the early years of the depression in the United States of America, President Herbert Hoover and his administration believed, as did many bankers, economists, and financial leaders, that left alone, the economy would eventually right itself. Business leaders operating through the spirit of competition would restore Americas prosperity and economic vitality. When the economy, during the depression, did not improve during Hoovers administration, Americans began looking for a new leader, a leader who would take decisive action against the economy. The people found a new leader in Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, when they elected him president in a landside election. Roosevelt believed that the federal government should take bold steps to improve the economy. He blamed financial leaders and big business for Americas economic (depression conditions) and recommended government regulation of banks and industry. President Roosevelt had many accomplishments during his term of president during the time of the depression. Some of his accomplishments were:  ·Social Security Act provided for state-administered, federally funded unemployment insurance, welfare benefits, administered old age, and survivors pensions. Prior to this passage few states provided old age pensions and un-employment insurance.  ·Relations Act (Wagner Act) gave new life to the National Industrial Recovery Act. That act gave workers the right to collectively bargain and established the National Labor Relations Board to supervise union elections and investigate unfair labor practices by companies.  ·Revenue Tax Act increased income taxes on the wealthy and on corporations.  ·Banking act of 1935 gave the federal government additional control over the Federal Reserve System.  ·Public Utility Holding Company Act placed power, water, and other utility companies under the regulation of the newly created Securities and Exchange Commission.  ·The Farm Act came in three stages. First the administration was empowered to adjust farm production to effective demand as a means of restoring the farmers purchasing power. Second was an accompanying authorization to refinance and readjust farm mortgage payments. Third the part of the act was the power for controlled inflation.  ·Emergency Farm Mortgage Act (1993) funded loans for farmers in immediate danger of losing their farms.  ·Wagner-Steagal Housing Act gave 500 million in loans for low-cost housing.  ·Youth Administration was established to equalize opportunity for youth. It  was setup to give economically disadvantage youth opportunities that were previously denied them.  ·Tennessee Valley Authority Act Aubrey Williams stated Major Problems in the Rehabilitation of the South, address to the Southern Tenant Farmers Union and the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America, Memphis, Tennessee, September 26, 1937. This act provided federal funding for the development of the Tennessee Valley.  ·Rural Rehabilitation Division of FERA later called Resettlement Administration funded work-study jobs, teachers salaries, free lunch program and construction of new schools.  ·Works Relief Act provided immediate increase in employment and corresponding stimulation to private industry by purchase of supplies.  ·Works Progress Administration (WPA) put 3.5 million jobless Americans to work on roads, parks, and public building. Moreover, the WPA provided jobs for artists, writers, musicians, and authors as well as laborers.  ·National Recovery Act encouraged business leaders to work together to create codes that would control wages and prices.  ·Gold Reserve Act was signed on Roosevelts birthday. This gave the Treasury greater control of credit and currency. In 1933, Roosevelt pushed toward a three-month period called Hundred Days when Congress enacted the most sweeping program of reform. Fifteen major laws went on the books; they dealt with banking, the gold standard, relief, mortgages, hydroelectric power and regional planning, the stock market, and reorganizing industry and agriculture. Roosevelt throughout his term during the depression years encouraged cooperation and optimism with his speeches, fireside chats, and press conferences, which made a powerful impression on many Americans. Lessons Learned The Great Depression caused enormous hardship for virtually the entire industrialized world. As we look back over the many causes of the Great Depression, there were many lessons to be learned. The depression started because of the unequal distribution of wealth and the extensive stock market crash. The economy was affected by the failure of a large portion of the nations banks, businesses, and farms. There were many lessons learned in the financial aspect of the depression. First, there was massive government protection to banks in the form of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This was brought on by the turmoil that was felt in the banking sector. By implementing government protection the banking institutes were insured against withdrawals and the suspension of convertibility. In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations main benefit was having the central bank as the ultimate guarantor of the insurance system. As a result, during a pending financial collapse the bank removes any element of discretion about the behavior of its policymakers. Therefore, the central bank learned lessons regarding the function of the lender of last resort for short-term stabilization of the financial system. The reasons that stemmed government protection was noticeable bank weakness, poor depositor discipline, the unwilling of private associations to protect solvent banks from the threat of unwarranted runs, and the favorable agreement to have deposit insurance on economic grounds. Second, there was failure of the interwar gold standard. There were certain countries that caused the world money stock to decline substantially and rapidly. This brought about the fixed exchange rates and full currency unions. The gold standard of the interwar was referred to as a gold exchange standard and its main purpose was to establish and maintain a system of fixed exchange rates. Third, there was international trade and tariffs. Trade and payment policies were becoming very close and began to intertwine. In addition, when tariffs began they usually ended with trading blocs, bilateralism, and exchange controls. The lesson learned in this situation implies that deflation effects international trade through its impact on the real value of tariffs. Another lesson learned involved worldwide catastrophes. There was the use of cheap foreign labor to lower cost and improve profits, which drove imports of foreign made products and pushed labor offshore. There was a decline in domestic employment and it intensified the problems of the depression to the point in which caused a backlash. Then that is when the start of labor-union protectionism began. The lesson in this situation indicated that the 1930s protectionism assisted in the destruction of globalize. Eventually, the depression transformed national politics by vastly expanding government, which was increasingly expected to stabilize the economy and to prevent suffering. In order to create a stabilized economy, new plans, and policies for Social Security, unemployment insurance, and federal family assistance were established. In sum, the Great Depression was caused by the stock market crash, in which led to a poor banking system, causing low interest rates, brought on by an ineffective Federal Reserve policy. Therefore, knowing and understanding these lessons listed and many others, it is safe to say that as far as our current policies today, deflation is extremely costly and a gold standard is very dangerous. Conclusion The experience of the Great Depression brought about change in how we conduct business. For many people the depression brought on distrust in banks and our government; a trust that our government set out to regain in many years to come. Our government implemented federal laws and banking regulations  that would stabilize the economy for many years. Reorganizing industries, the stock market, and agriculture provided stability that lead to trust. Each era has had its own battles that has shaped and reshaped America into what it is today. Learning from battles such as racism, terrorism, and recessions will continue to form America into a better place. Works Cited Bender, David L. The Great Depression Opposing Viewpoints, 1994 Greenhaven Press, Inc. San Diego, CA Gerdes, Louise I. The Great Depression, Great Speeches in History, 2002 Greenhaven Press, Inc. San Diego, CA Gustmorino, Paul A III. Main Causes of the Great Depression. Gusmorino World. May 13, 1996. Online. James, Harold. The End of Globalization: Lessons From The Great Depression. Cambridge; London: Harvard University Press, 2001 Jeffries, John W., Nash, Gary B., Segrue, Katherine L., The Great Depression and WWII, 1929-1945. Encyclopedia of American History. Kutler, Stanley I. Dictionary Of American History. Third Edition. Charles Scribners Sons, Inc. May 2003. Kutler, Stanley K., Dallek, Robert, Hollinger, David A., McCraw, Thomas K., Kirkwood, Judith. The Great Depression, 1929-1939. Encyclopedia of the United States in the Twentieth Century. Volume III. Watkins, T.H. The Great Depression America in the 1930s. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1993.

Nelson Mandela: Leadership Skills

Nelson Mandela: Leadership Skills Nelson Mandela has been one of the best examples of what a leader is. If I were to describe Mandela in one word, I would say that he was, in everything that he did, a fighter. Throughout his life, he fought a lot of battles to bring freedom to his people in South Africa against the apartheid government. Mandela was born, and grew up, in the Xhosa society in Transkei. It was during his childhood when he first saw the troubles of his country like land deprivation and racism (Limb, 2008). At his time white settlers controlled and owned most of the land in South Africa. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), an underground political movement, in 1942 and became one of the youth leaders in the organization (Boehmer, 2010). In 1948, the National Party implemented the apartheid government, wherein races were forcibly segregated (Boehmer, 2010). At that time, Africans (or the black people) were obliged to bring a passbook with them all the time, which has all of their identifica tion. They were not allowed to participate in the elections and were forced to live in places away from the white (Magoon, 2008). In short, they were forced to be the underprivileged ones and suffer inequality in their own native land. Mandela believed in fighting for freedom through non-violent ways. However, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 (Limb, 2008). Nevertheless, even in prison, he became the beacon of hope for the people who continued to fight for freedom. When he was released from prison after 27 years, he told his people in his speech that he was disappointed by the troubles of urban black life. He was against those who were harassing innocent people and burning vehicles, pretending to be freedom fighters. He said, Freedom without civility, freedom without the ability to live in peace, was not true freedom at all (Mandela, 1994). South Africa had their first multi-racial elections in 1994 and Nelson Mandela won, therefore, becoming the first black president of South Africa. Mandelas attitude should serve as an inspiration for a special education administrator. In spite of the trials and problems he faced, he stood his ground, believed in his principles and kept on fighting. As a special education administrator, one will encounter challenges along the way. One has to set standards and policies for special education programs and make sure that these are complied. He will be the one who will fight for the students under the special education program and assure that they get to have all they need in terms of education. It will be a never-ending fight. People will be critical to students with disabilities and they will often be discriminated. However, the special education administrator, as a leader, must be an inspiration and a strong motivator of equality. With this I end with Mandelas famous line during one of his trials: I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die (Mandela, 1994, p. 181). Special education administrators must depend on positive relations with local community agencies and other forms of social support (e.g., homeless shelters, foster care agencies/DHHS) in order to provide integrated transitional services for adolescents with disabilities. As such, special education administrators must promote, implement, and sustain effective collaborations. Identify how and with whom you should collaborate as a special education administrator responsible for the promotion of adolescents with disabilities and their independent living needs and self-determination. A fight fought by a united front is more successful than a fight fought by one. Just like Mandela in his fight for freedom, he was surrounded with people who he had inspired and continued to fight for their ideals. In special education, the fight for a brighter future for the children is not placed solely on the special education administrators shoulder. It is a collaboration of people, gathering for a purpose. People usually rely on family and friends for help but sometimes, their supports are limited and there is a need to search for additional help within the community. For most people, the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, as the administrator of public mental health aid in Oakland County, links this gap by giving assistance to those who need it (Community Housing Network, n.d.). The OCCMHA is in charge of providing services and support to adults with psychological illness, children with severe emotional disturbances and people with developmental disabilities (Oakland County Michigan, n.d.). The OCCMHA Board checks and assesses Oakland Countys mental health needs, regulates public and private services that are required to satisfy those needs, and surveys and recommends the annual budget and implementation of plans (Oakland County Michigan, n.d.). The OCCMHA does not directly provide the services, but it provides funding to a number of different agencies that provides direct services accessible to those who needs help (Community Housing Network, n.d.). It gives extra support for people with disabilities for them to expand their chanc es of relating, learning, working, playing and contributing their best to society. Aside from the OCCMHA, the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc. (MORC) believes that persons with disabilities are members of the society (MORC, n.d.). The MORC helps the differently-abled and the mentally-challenged to accomplish their dreams and desires. The MORC does an extensive service, education and training, and support. Throughout the years, the MORC has supported many children and adults leave from nursing homes and different institutions and integrate themselves into the community once again (MORC, n.d.). The ideas of Gentle Teaching, founded by John McGee, Ph.D., are being used by MORC since 1986. This teaching is founded on the principles of training the individual to feel safe, to feel loved, to be able to love others, and that it is all right to interact with others (MORC, n.d.). Another one is the Community Living Services (CLS), which is an organization that encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in the community and learn to live on self-reliance in order to have a more fulfilling life (Community Living, n.d.). The mission of CLS is to help each person practice making decisions for themselves, to help them learn to have and maintain relationships with family and friends, and to help them become full citizens of the community (Community Living, n.d.). Scenario: your districts special education rule waivers for resource room caseloads are set to expire in 12 months. You are the new Special Education Director for the district. The Superintendent tells you soon after you were hired that he wants the next round of waivers to be developed behind closed doors, with little of no publicity or involvement from the teaching staff or parents of students with disabilities. He also said that the district needs to save more money from the next round of waivers than the first approved waivers. Should you be concerned about anything? What kind of issues (legal, moral, ethical, practical) can you anticipate ahead in accomplishing this task? Certain problem might arise in this situation. The Superintendent has to be really careful what he puts on those waivers because in the end, his name goes on the signature line below the waivers and if something is wrong, he will get in trouble and that will cost his job. If the waivers are to be developed without the involvement of the teaching staff or parents of the students with disabilities, the school might not get the right resources that can help the students with disabilities with their education. Without sufficient preparation and conceptualization from consultation with the involved parties (the teaching staff and the parents of the students with disabilities), there might be serious complications (Huefner, 1988). According to Huefner (1988), insufficient preparation might lead to the following risks: Ineffective caseload management Any local education agency (LEA) would keep on looking for ways to lessen expenses. The first solution would always be to ask the consulting teachers to handle a bigger caseload than what he or she can effectively carry (Huefner, 1988). In the system of special education, a teacher could usually take on a maximum of fifteen students only for both indirect or consulting and direct or resource services (Lilly, 1977 as cited in Huefner, 1988). If a special educator is doing consulting services only, he or she could handle thirty-five students at most, according to the National Task Force on Teacher Consultation (Idol, 1986 as cited in Huefner, 1988). However, the Teacher Consultation Task Force argues that the number of caseload an educator could carry would be based on his or her experience and collective discernment (Huefner, 1988). Nevertheless, changes in student performance are insignificant with bigger caseloads (Haight, 1984 as cited in Huefner, 1988). Unreasonable and inaccurate expectations with the effectiveness of the program Special educators have a habit of jumping from one bandwagon to another. They use what is currently popular and when it does not deliver the intended results, they tend to jump to the next one (Huefner, 1988). They are just adding more problems to a series of problems, which could have been avoided. Insufficient funds Wang, Reynolds and Walberg (1986 as cited in Huefner 1988) have proposed the use of experimental waivers to allocate funds for integrated categorical programs. Their proposal could include the allotment of funds for consulting special educators that might risk the children in a regular classroom, whether they are special education students or not (Huefner, 1988). To avoid consuming all the accessible special education funds on students who are seriously handicapped, regular education should allot a portion of its funds for the fees of carrying out consultation services (Huefner, 1988). The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), as applied to the schools physical space, technology, and instruction, should insure access to the curriculum for all students. How would you design your schools physical space, technology, and instruction to meet the principles of UDL? Please be sure to address the principles of multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement when you are discussing classroom instruction. Providing the educational facilities should always be one of the top priorities. These facilities provide an effective and well-organized learning environment that would be a medium for quality education. The design should effectively suit the users of the facility. The environment must be constructed in a way that it contributes to the complete development of the individual mental, physical, and spiritual potentials (Perkins, 1957). When designing a school building, these considerations must be included: Accessibility The designer should bear in mind that access must be equally provided to all of the facilities. Ramps should be provided whenever there is a change of level, so people on wheelchairs or crutches will not have a difficulty. Other examples of these are the use of visual and audio signage and tactile strips. Aesthetics Buildings should be visually appealing and should blend well with the surroundings to foster a sense of belongingness to the community that it is part of. Exterior and interior spaces should be clearly defined to avoid confusion to the students. Keeping it simple and straight to the point helps in nurturing a sense of place. Cost-effectiveness In looking for ways to lessen the construction and maintenance costs, quality of construction should never be sacrificed. Giving up quality over quantity has negative domino effects and would greatly affect the quality education the students deserve. Functionality The designers should create a learning environment fit for the students that would help in their learning process and provide them with a quality education. Productivity in order for the school building to be productive, it should provide a comfortable and healthy environment in order to support the quality education provided by the school. Security Safety would always be the most important factor in designing any building. Factors for safety includes fire protection system and resistance to natural hazards like rain, Sustainability It should be taken into consideration when planning for the school building to avoid high cost of construction and maintenance of the building. The use of local and energy-efficient materials should be incorporated into the design of the building. Community-centered Create social spaces to promote a sense of community among the students. Social interaction plays an integral part in maintaining quality education. A student learns in two ways: books and people. Special education administrators are in a pivotal position for influencing and leading policy initiatives that cross general and special education, at a variety of levels. You have been asked to provide policy recommendations to a foreign government about how to include students with disabilities in general education classrooms. Based on your research and knowledge of US law and regulation, what would you recommend? The number of high school dropouts has gradually increased over the years, especially with students with disabilities. The rates when it comes to high school graduation, acceptance to college, and success in career or employment are very low compared to those students without disabilities (National Council on Disability, 2004). The American government has noticed that there was a decline in the quality of education in the country; so in 2001, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was passed to improve students academic performances. The law requires schools to gather data on how the students are performing by giving out tests which will be sorted out by race and other aspects like native language and disability (National Council on Disability, 2004). Such legislation will aid a foreign government in the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms. The NCLB helps states and schools prepare their students, as well as those with disabilities, to be able to stand on their own, academically and financially (National Council on Disability, 2004). President George W. Bush signed it into a law in 2002. This act focuses on four basic principles for education reform: (1) greater accountability for outcomes; (2) adaptability and local control; (3) more options for parents; and (4) gives importance on teaching techniques that works (National Center on Educational Outcomes, 2003 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). The NCLB is related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which controls services for students with disabilities and gives individual accountability by using Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that are developed based on the individual students unique needs (National Council on Disability, 2004). The IDEA protects students with disabilities from discrimination and assures them that they will acquire services that are made to meet their needs in special education (American Youth Policy Forum Center on Education Policy, 2002 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). The National Center on Educational Outcomes believes that the NCLB complements the provisions of IDEA by giving public accountability to state, district, and school levels for every student with disability (National Council on Disability, 2004). The NCLB, in relation to IDEA, requires students with disabilities to participate in the assessment of states and districts through the tests given (National Center on Educational Outcomes, 2003 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). One of the main requirements of IDEA is to allow children with disabilities to be taught in the least restrictive environment as much as possible (National Council on Disability, 2004, p. 16). This means that students with disabilities are to be taught in regular or general education classrooms (National Council on Disability, 2004). The inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms has garnered support from different organizations and this has proved to be doing well in terms of social and educational aspects (Loiacono Valenti, 2010).

A Poetic Tragedy Essay -- Literary Analysis

Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, accepted to have been in written between 1599 and 1601. Perhaps the most famous tragedy ever written, the plays is about Prince Hamlet’s revenge for his father’s murder which eventually leads to his own death. The central character of the play is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Hamlet becomes the tragic champion who successfully makes his reprisal for his father's death by murdering the antagonist, monarch Claudius, but he furthermore misplaces his own life as well as the inhibits of those dearest to him in the end. At the opening of the play, Hamlet’s dejected for his father's death and the quick remarriage of his mother and King Claudius motives his attempt to find out the truth, and furthermore, his dead father informs him about his murder as a ghost, which determinants him to revenge (Edwards 52). Hamlet’s madness, hesitation to action, demand for visual proof, and final revenge are conventions of a dramatic form called revenge tragedy. All through the play, from searching the killing to justifying the truth, and finally revenge, Hamlet is bent on avenging his father’s death. Claudius is in alignment to come to his aid of revenge, which is the principal theme all through the play. The play, focused in Denmark, explains how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for killing the historic King Hamlet, Claudius's own male sibling and Prince Hamlet's dad, and then marrying Gertrude, the King Hamlet's widow and mother of Prince Hamlet. The play vividly journals the path of natural and pretended madness—from swamping failure to seething rage—and discovers topics of deceit, revenge, incest, and lessons in fraud (Hoy 99). Throughout the play, Hamlet has numerous opportunities’ to ave... ...William. Literature for Composition. Longman, 2011. Print. 908-1011 Edwards, Phillip. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. New Cambridge Shakespeare ser. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985. 52-63. Hoy, Cyrus. Hamlet. Norton Critical Edition ser. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1992. 99-111 Lott, Bernard. Hamlet. New Swan Shakespeare Advanced ser. New ed. London: Longman, 1970. 72-88. Ronald Knowles. Renaissance Quarterly. Vol. 52, No. 4 (Winter, 1999). 1046-1069 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article Stable : http://www.jstor.org/stable/2901835 Spencer, T. J. B. Hamlet. New Penguin Shakespeare ser. London: Penguin. 1980. 67-81 Wells, Stanley, and Gary Taylor. The Complete Works. By William Shakespeare, The Oxford Shakespeare. Compact ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press, 1988, 231-241.

The main aim of hazard management should be to reduce the effects of hazards, not manage their cause

Hazard management ultimately aims to reduce the risk that a hazard can bring to humans. This can be done through the four steps of modifying the cause, event, vulnerability and loss. I believe that the cause of many natural hazards, such as geophysical and meteorological hazards cannot prevented, thus the management of the cause of a hazard is irrelevant in the management of many hazards. As such, it should be the case that the main aim of hazard management should be to reduce the effects of hazards rather than manage their cause. The issue of reducing the effect of hazards would be discussed in the four parts of the hazard management framework. I agree with the statement to a large extent that hazard management should not be centered on managing the cause. The few ways in which the cause of the hazard can be modified will be discussed. Although the most ideal method would be to prevent the occurrence of the event in the first place, to stop a hazard from occurring entirely is a feat that usually would be only be feasible in terms of small scale, isolated phenomena, taking the example of a flood. Floods are examples of small scale hazards that can be prevented through technological means. Often, levees can be built to prevent a river from overflowing, such as the levees built along the Mississippi River in North America, or the Scheldt River in the Netherlands. Also, dams can be built to retain water in a lake, and can be used to control the water flow, thus preventing rivers from overflowing too quickly. A good example of a dam that has prevented repeated flooding occurrence is the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River. It is recorded that before the building of the dam, there was frequent flooding at the low lying areas of the river during spring. While physical methods can be employed to prevent the occurrence of these isolated hazards like floods and landslides, large scale hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and wind storms cannot be prevented. As such, modification of the cause is highly limited to a few hazards, thus making it more feasible to consider other approaches in reducing the effects of the majority of hazards which will almost inevitably occur. While technology cannot be used to prevent the causes of all hazards, technology can also be used to modify the event. Earthquakes is a good example of a hazard where the earthquake itself does not usually cause the loss of lives, rather, it is usually its effect on other structures that causes the most destruction, such as the toppling of buildings or causing landslides. As such, a good method of earthquake management would be to equip buildings with the ability to withstand the impact of earthquakes, using various architectural designs. A famous example of an earthquake resistant building is Taipei 101, which foundation is reinforced 80 metres deep into the ground and has a steel ball known as a tuned mass damper which balances the building. During its construction in 2002, Taipei experienced a 6. 8 magnitude earthquake, and yet the skyscraper did not topple and experienced no structural damages. Sometimes, such as in certain Japanese house designs, the houses are not built to withstand earthquakes but such that it moves along with the earthquake, using grooves rather than nails to fit the house together. Furthermore, the light wood has lower probability of killing people if it topples. These different designs show how it is possible to use knowledge of engineering and architecture to reduce the impact of hazards. Modifying vulnerability is another approach to hazard management which aims to increase preparedness of people themselves to tackle the hazard when it occur, including methods such as increasing community preparedness, planning, developing warning systems, and changing perceptions. Community preparedness is essential in all communities where hazard occurrence is frequent, to train and educate people as to how to respond to a hazard and drawing out evacuation plans, and stocking up emergency supplies of food, water and medicine. Also, people can be trained in first aid, search and rescue, and firefighting, etc. In some cases, this is much more feasible than using technology, when the cost is too high. A case study of Norway, where avalanches are frequent, is a good example. Due to the fact that neither relocation nor retrofitting buildings was a feasible option, the most cost effective plan would be to decrease vulnerability. This was done mainly through setting up a warning system, and coming up with a plan to organize an evacuation, by appointing a group of representatives from each community and training the people on how to react. The plan was highly successful, showing the merit in proper planning and preparedness. In many ways the perception and awareness of the community to hazards is very important. Changing the perception of people is also essential in reducing the impacts of hazards, for negative perception by a group of people can ultimately lead many deaths, in cases where communities, especially in LEDCs, are resigned to the fact that nothing can be done to prevent hazard occurrence and that hazards are unavoidable and look upon them as a way of life. Even in MEDCs, perceptions can cause problems. There is a case where, during the evacuation for Hurricane Katrina, some of the elderly did not want evacuate, because of fear of new living conditions, or that they do not want to leave their home. This contributed to the majority of the deaths being the elderly in these events. Thus, changing the perceptions of various peoples in different cultural contexts plays a large role in hazard management, ensuring that the community would want to save themselves in the first place. In all, modifying vulnerability can ultimately lead to people knowing how to react to hazards and thus reduces the negative effects of them. In many cases, managing the cause of natural hazards may bring certain disadvantages, for most natural hazards, while posing a threat to humans, are actually only natural phenomenon, and at times have benefits to us and the environment. A very good example is the case of a flood, where people have tried to create physical barriers to contain the flood water such as levees and dams. While this may be applicable to MEDCs, for many agricultural communities, such an approach is inapplicable, for they depend on the floodplain where there is a high amount of nutrients, deposited by flooding, and supply of water. In these contexts, such as in Bangladesh, where the people depend on these floods, the prevention of the â€Å"hazard† would uproot their way of life. In this way, floods need not always be treated as negative phenomena, causing damage in only certain contexts. In my opinion, modifying the vulnerability, not the cause should be the main aim of hazard management. This holds since there are two factors contributing to risk: hazard and vulnerability. Since eliminating the hazard is totally unfeasible in many large-scale hazards, the best thing to manage should be human vulnerability. Since the main aim should be centered on that can be applicable to all communities, it should be something feasible in contexts where there is lack of economic and technological resources, thus ruling out modifying the event as a potential main aim. As such, hazard management should not be centered on technology, such as the retrofitting of buildings, but rather something like education, which is more cost effective. In all, the main aim should be to increase the resilience of the people themselves to tackle the hazard. For example, in the case of Bangladesh, people adapt to the floods and learn to use it to their own benefit, neither seeing it as a negative phenomenon, nor something they should fear. After changing any negative perceptions of hazards in communities, community preparedness is essential. A bottom up approach equips people with the ability to save their own lives rather than being dependant on others. In fact, it has been shown that this approach works much better than international aid or rescuers from the military. For example, the rescue efforts to the floods in Mozambique in 2001 was a success, not because of anything else, but more of the fact that the people were trained in how to respond, and that there was a clearly drawn out evacuation plan and appointed leaders in the community. Mozambique, though being one of the poorest countries in the world, has managed to increase community preparedness, thus showing how this approach to hazard management, may just be the most universal method of tackling hazards, which works regardless of affluence. In conclusion, it is true that hazard management should be primarily about reacting to the hazards and reducing the damage it brings, rather than trying to prevent it. Still, as technology continues to develop, we cannot eliminate it as an essential part of hazard management, for what may not be possible to prevent now, may be in the future. So, both sides of the equation must be considered to tackle risk effectively, depending on the context.

Monopolistic Competition

Monopolistic Competition When discussing different types of market structures, monopolies are at one end of the spectrum, with only one seller in monopolistic markets, and perfectly competitive markets are at the other end, with many buyers and sellers offering identical products. That said, there is a lot of middle ground for what economists call imperfect competition. Imperfect competition can take a number of different forms, and the particular features of an imperfectly competitive market have implications for the market outcomes for consumers and producers. Features Monopolistic competition is one form of imperfect competition. Monopolistically competitive markets have a number of specific features: Many firms - There are many firms in monopolistically competitive markets, and this is part of what sets them apart from monopolies.Product differentiation - Although the products sold by different firms in monopolistically competitive markets are similar enough to one another to be considered substitutes, they are not identical. This feature is what sets monopolistically competitive markets apart from perfectly competitive markets.Free entry and exit - Firms can freely enter a monopolistically competitive market when they find it profitable to do so, and they can exit when a monopolistically competitive market is no longer profitable. In essence, monopolistically competitive markets are named as such because, while firms are competing with one another for the same group of customers to some degree, each firms product is a little bit different from that of all the other firms, and therefore each firm has something akin to a mini-monopoly in the market for its output. The Effects Because of product differentiation (and, as a result, market power), firms in monopolistically competitive markets are able to sell their products at prices above their marginal costs of production, but free entry and exit drive the economic profits for firms in monopolistically competitive markets to zero. In addition, firms in monopolistically competitive markets suffer from excess capacity, which means that they are not operating at the efficient quantity of production. This observation, together with the markup over marginal cost present in monopolistically competitive markets, implies that monopolistically competitive markets do not maximize social welfare.