Defining 18th Century Gender Roles

The Renaissance spirit of inquiry renewed the debate about the role of women in society, a theme, which resonated in the visual arts of the era. Traditionally, â€Å"chastity, compliance, delicacy and modesty† were the qualities ascribed to a truly virtuous female, whom was essentially excluded from a real participation in society. Scholars and painters alike glorified male power and achievement in the social sphere, while â€Å"the greatest female accomplishment lay in obedience, rather than intellectual pursuits†. Artemisia Gentileschi, was one of the first female artists to challenge the traditional monopoly over the passive female ideal, as her life and art redefined feminine accomplishment in terms of the conventional masculine standards of achievement. Many have thus interpreted Artremesia as a pioneer of modern feminism; however, the legitimacy of this assertion is questionable. One of her most infamous paintings, Judith Beheading Holofernes, provides insight into the consequences of her bold confrontation with conventional female gender limitations. The piece explicitly depicts two heroic female subjects imbued with traditionally masculine characteristics. The women are thus afforded a position of power, which would have otherwise been inaccessible to them. While, Gentileschi thus succeeds in creating a feminine ‘power outlet', in her depiction of Judith and her maidservant, she markedly fails to acknowledge a feminine virtue which is unique and distinct from the traditional masculine ideal. Artremesia's painting does courageously challenge the conventional societal perception of the feminine role, however, her prescribed solution undermines the validity of the feminine perspective, as it asserts that ‘greatness' is achieved through a possession of solely masculine virtues. In view of the fact that Artremesia's work, undercuts the legitimacy of ‘feminine' achievement, it should consequently be denied recognition as early feminist art. This essay will provide an in depth critical analysis of Atremesia Genteleschi's Judith Beheading Holofernes within the context of the painters particular life circumstances. Firstly, the archetypes of eighteenth century femininity and masculinity will be explicitly defined, in order to determine the influence such social pressures had on women of this era. Atremesia's biography will then be placed within the context of the prevailing gender roles, as an illustration of her unique confrontation with the patriarchal societal structure of her day. Finally, an evaluation of, Judith Beheading Holofernes, will shed insight into Gentileschi's artistic challenge of traditional feminine ideals, as well as her ultimate failure to acknowledge the value of a purely feminine perspective. Defining 18th Century Gender Roles According to Bridget Hill's Anthology of Seventeenth Century Women the characteristics generally attributed to the ideal woman of Gentileschi's era were: â€Å"modesty, restraint, passivity, compliance, submission and most important of all chastity. â€Å"(17) These accepted social views were widely circulated and espoused, and would have thus been tremendously difficult to ignore or challenge. Accordingly, â€Å"The vast majority of middle class women unquestioningly conformed to the role assigned to them†(3) The first significant characteristic of the feminine ideal, worthy of discussion is that of restraint and modesty, as this trait necessitated an alienation of women from the social sphere, and even themselves. Proper ladies were expected to avoid public attention, and conversation in a social setting. Moreover, â€Å"it was indelicate for women to have to view their own naked bodies, just as all references to bodily functions and even pregnancy were taboo. â€Å"(17) The following passage constitutes a primary account of a father's advice to his daughter concerning the importance of modesty to the female temperament: One of the chief beauties in a female character is that modest reserve, that retiring delicacy, which avoids the public eye, and is disconcerted even at the gaze of admiration†¦ When a girl ceases to blush, she has lost the most powerful charm of beauty†¦ That modesty, which I think is so essential in your sex, will naturally dispose you to rather silent company, especially a large one. (19) The feminine ideal of modesty and restraint thus primarily confined women to the private sphere of social relations, allowing them little to no voice in public reality. The influence of women within the private or domestic sphere was also muted by the subsequent feminine virtue of submission and compliance. According to the constraints of this womanly asset, a virtuous wife would have been expected to obey her husband, while allowing him the authority to harmoniously govern his household. She†¦ who marries ought to lay it down for an indisputable maxim, that her husband must govern absolutely and entirely, and she has nothing else to do but please and obey. She must not attempt to divide his authority, or so much as dispute it, to struggle with her yoke will only make it gall more, but must believe him to be wise and just and in all respects best, at least he must be so to her. She who can't do this is in no way fit to be a wife. (20) The preceding passage illustrates the limitation of control, which women of this time period were expected to contend with (even within the private sphere of social influence). As, all of the decisions of the virtuous wife were expected to be in concurrence with her husband's asserted authority. Finally, the most important feminine asset was considered to be that of chastity. The particular significance of this virtue was grounded in the fact that men were considered naturally un- chaste, and unable to control their passions. Women were thus, responsible for the preservation of their innocence, and the up holding of sexual moral values. Additionally, as the following quote explicitly indicates, the social consequence incurred by a loss of honor was often drastic. A woman who has lost her honor imagines that she cannot fall lower, and as for recovering her former station, it is impossible; no exertion can wash the stain away. Losing thus every spur, and having no other means of support, prostitution becomes her only refuge, and the character is quickly depraved by circumstances over which the poor wretch has little power, unless she possesses an uncommon portion of sense and loftiness of spirit (30) Conversely, the eighteenth century masculine ideal, according to John Tosh, author of A Man's Place could be associated with the specific attributes of: â€Å"reason, authority and resolve. â€Å"(47) The public sphere of social relations and intellectual endeavourers was thus designated as the realm traditionally, and justly dominated by the influence of men. The following quote spoken by a women of the time, suggests that this conception of masculinity was embraced by both men and women alike: â€Å"Let men enjoy in peace and triumph the intellectual kingdom which is theirs, and which, doubtless, was intended for them†(47) Biography Artemisia Gentileschi's, life blatantly challenged the passive feminine ideal, as she achieved recognition in the male-dominated world of post-Renaissance art by disregarding traditional gender precepts. Laura York, author of The ‘Spirit of Ceaser' and his Majesty's servant: The Self Fashioning of Woman artists in Early Modern Europe thus, defines Gentileschi as, â€Å"no ordinary artist and no ordinary woman. She is one of handful of female professional painters in Baroque Italy, who created a successful career in the competitive, masculine world of seventeenth century artistic patronage. In the process, she constructed a self identity virtually unknown in her time: the woman artist†(1-2) Atremesia was born in 1593 to Prudentia Montone and her husband, noted painter Orazio Gentileschi. Orazio exposed his daughter to art at an early age, and supported her artistic development by providing her with a formal education normally denied to women of her time. As, she would have been unable to join guilds or study with various established masters, Artremesia's training with her father, was her only chance for a real apprenticeship. Although Orazio kept his daughter confined to the house, according to the custom among respectable Romans of the time, â€Å"the Gentileschi domicile also functioned as his studio, with its constant traffic of models, colleges and patrons. Such company allowed Artemisia contact with many influential male artists, yet it also fueled rumors that marred her reputation. On May 6, 1611, gossip turned to real injury. â€Å"Having entrusted his 17 year old daughter's supervision to a family friend, Orazio was away from the house when his business associate and fellow painter, Agostino Tassi entered the home and raped Artremesia. † At the time, rape was viewed more as a crime against a family's honor than as a violation of a woman. The virtual lack of a legal identity in women, often made it very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain any redress for wrongs committed against them. â€Å"(137) Thus, only when the married Tassi reneged on his promise to marry Atrmesia did Orazio bring charges against him. In the ensuing eight- month trial, Artremesia testified that she was painting when Tassi came into the room shouting, â€Å"Not so much painting, not such much painting. † He ten grabbed the palette and brushes from her hands and threw them to the floor. She fought and scratched to no avail, finally attacking him with a knife. To establish her truthfulness, authorities administered a primitive lie detector test in the form of torture by thumbscrews, a common practice of the time. As the cords were tightened around her fingers, she was said to have cried out to Tassi, â€Å"this is the ring you give me, and these are your promises. † She must have passed the test; Tassi was convicted and sentenced to five- year banishment from Rome (a punishment apparently never enforced). Soon afterwards Artemisia married a â€Å"well born but debt ridden† young Florentine painter named Pierantonio Stiattesi and moved to Florence with him. There in the company of luminaries such as Galileo Galilei and Michelangelo Buonarroti, she entered upon a career that would have been the envy of most male contemporaries. Gentileschi rebelled against the dominant model of passive womanhood by cultivating an image of herself as strong, active, intellegent and powerful. Traits, which would have been considered as masculine to the seventeenth century mind. The following striking statement, uttered by Artemisia herself provides revealing insight into her perception of self. â€Å"I will say no more, except what I have on my mind, that I think Your Most Illustrious Lordship will not surlier any loss with me, and that you will find the spirit of a Ceaser in the soul of a woman. â€Å"(4) Gentileschi's appropriation of Ceaser's masculine spirit, distances herself from all other woman of her time. Artremesia, does not acknowledge any value within her perception of feminity, and thus choses to conform to traditionally masculine ideals.

Effective communication Essay

Describe situations where you have effectively demonstrated each of the forms of communication mentioned Effective communication is an important part of my job role. On a daily basis I need to communicate with various different people. Firstly, I have to collect the information from various parts of our organisation, this is normally done over email, however on some occasions this requires further explanation and this would be done over the telephone or face to face. Once the information is prepared, I distribute this via emails, internally to the managers to review. Once this has been reviewed by the management team, I then distribute this externally to the client. What did you do to help communicate effectively? I send out the ‘raw data’ to the client each week, however I then send out a pack that summarises the figures in a clear and precise format. For the period review, the data is put into a PowerPoint presentation. The client gets a copy of the slides that we discuss. We discuss each meeting whether anything should be changed going forward. There have been occasions we have gone into more detail, and others where we have summarised as the client is happy with the figures behind this. How have your communication skills helped you to improve your performance elsewhere? The effective communication in this particular example has increased my confidence in certain areas. I also think that by asking for feedback regularly, I can ensure I am reporting exactly what people want to see in the formats they want too. I have applied this to other areas of my job role.

My Favorite Teacher Essay

I walked into my Advanced Composition class on the first day of school and was greeted by my peppy, upbeat teacher, Ms. Jorgensen. I knew it was going to be a fun semester just from that first day of class. In Advanced Composition, I had a lot of freedom to write what we wanted, when we wanted to. This helped me mold my papers into perfection with the help of Ms. Jorgensen’s phenomenal editing skills. She taught me how to write a paper that only I could come up with. She encouraged me to do this by using different writing techniques. Then, throughout first semester, my writing became interesting and bold†¦instead of dry and boring. Overall Ms. J, has been my favorite teacher in my high school career. She has always been there to not only help me, but to also help other kids that are struggling, whether she likes them or not. She never does your work for you, but she points you in the right direction. I also had Ms. J for College Strategies. In this class, she helped each student learn what they needed to have a successful college career. We learned about study skills, nutrition, and self-advocacy, sleep, and even how to pick our classes and professors. Throughout the class, she looked to us for ideas. She really wanted us to be learning about what we wanted to know. She helped us write our college essays (which helped me get into my first-choice school). And she even taught us relaxation skills. I use these skills before basketball games—and even before big tests. Ms. J was a person I could relate to—and a person I admired. She rarely wears a frown on her face and her smile rubs off on all her students. This is why I appreciate having Ms. Jorgensen as a teacher so much.

How can Tesco fulfill its need to adapt to changes in its workforce Essay

How can Tesco fulfill its need to adapt to changes in its workforce - Essay Example The company earned revenue of ?64.826 billion as on 2013 from its 6351 stores across the world. In terms of profit it is the second largest player and in terms of revenue it is the third largest after Walmart and Carrefour, who are the main competitors of the brand. For carrying out its operations, Tesco employs people both in store oriented and non store oriented jobs. For the stores it requires staff for a variety of activities like customer care staff, inventory managers, supervisors, stock takers etc (Humby, Hunt and Phillips, 2006, p.39). For successful distribution of products the company needs people who are well equipped with logistic management skills. The corporate office has people performing mainly the senior management roles like Finance Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Accounts Department, Production Control, Information Technology Department and Legal Departments. Tesco aspires to make sure that all functions work in harmony to steer its bus iness goals. In order to do that, the company has to ensure that it employs the right people in the accurate work at the correct time. To accomplish this, the company has structured a method for staffing and selecting employees for managerial as well as operational roles (Argyris and Schon, 1978, p.987). Workforce planning Tesco like every successful organisation is involved in the process of planning which entails an analysis of the prospective needs of the company in terms of staff. They need to analyse how many more staff that they need, what skills they should possess and where should they be recruited from and put into operation (Hackman and Craig, 2008, p.543). It permits the company to map how these wants is to be met by indulging in recruitment and training. Tesco essentially needs to plan ahead of its inception of the work. A dynamic organisation hires new employees on a daily basis for all the variety of activities that the people in the organisation perform. Vacancies are created in the organisation when the company opens up new stores or expands in the present location. Positions are also opened due to employee attrition in the company. They might switch jobs or retire from the company after the end of their tenure of service. When an employee of one department gets promoted to a higher rank the previous position also needs to be filled. New openings are also created when the company changes processes or adapts to a new technology. This entire exercise is done for both management and non management position. The objective behind this is to understand the demand for workforce in a particular year for various departments. The reports at the end of every quarter gives an estimate of how many people would be required for the operations and accordingly Tesco manipulates the needs of staffing as per necessity of departments (Ravasi, and Schultz, 2006,p.654). By this the company can buy some time for planning and flexibility for meeting the demands of the employees. It helps the company in achieving the organisational goals and short terms objectives as well (Cummings, and Worley, p.67). They consider it as Talent Planning which in turn helps in motivating the people to do their work with efficiency and precision. They also encourage the staff to progress in their careers. The job descriptions for the various positions have to be free from any ambiguity and each person needs to understand his work and know his scope of action. The appraisal

The Decline of European Christianity Research Paper

The Decline of European Christianity - Research Paper Example However, the rise of â€Å"religious diversity† at present is challenging the status quo because it allows other ‘non-Christian’ denominations to enter Europe and Asia, for instance, Islam.1 Significant events in history shape the formation of religious pluralism. 2 The 9/11 hijacking permits the flow of migrants from one country to the other. In addition, countries with strict immigration policies now allow people from southern Europe to work or even settle permanently. Those countries with strict immigration policies expectedly shared the same religion and sect until such time that migrants from all over the globe, some of whom were missionaries, also brought with them their religious beliefs, consequently converting Europeans into another religion outside of the realm of Christianity. This essay will explore some of the fundamental reasons why Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism) has declined in terms of popularity. It is noted that secularization is considered as one of the reasons of the â€Å"slow and steady death† of religion. 3 According to some critics, under secularization theory lies issues about religious fundamentalism especially in the Muslim world and the decreasing popularity of churchgoers. These and other reasons will be discussed in this report. 2.0 Reasons for the Decline of Christianity 2.1 Secularization Theory Secularization is defined as deinstitutionalization or a â€Å"decline in the social power of once-dominant religious institutions whereby other social institutions have escaped from prior religious domination.† 4 This observation is evident by the lesser power possessed by the â€Å"once-dominant† religious institutions such as the Catholic priests and bishops and even Lutheran and Anglican bishops. 5 An initial result that comes to mind would be the decline in the patronization of religion. C. John Sommerville interpreted Rodney Stark’s ideas towards secularization as me rely an observation of people’s adoration towards the culture that associates with the religion; in simple terms, secularization meant the cultural interpretation of people towards their religion and not concerning the spiritual aspect that binds them together.6 In another perspective, secularization theory prompted not only the possible demise of religion in the future but also its â€Å"reinvention† and â€Å"resurgence† of traditional religions, as well as the rise of newer religions.7 This is an offshoot to the common notion regarding secularization theory as merely predictive of the future rather than focused on the past and present. Historical events, by the way, pointed out to the significant role of religious denominations in affecting the political state of the country. Among such events were the Christianity’s impact into overthrowing the communist empire in the former Union Soviet Socialist Republic, and the impact brought by the September 11, 2001 attack in the United States. The lack of religion in Europe is primarily being asserted by the secularization theory, particularly with respect to Christianity. Along with modernization comes the discovery of other religions outside the traditional Christian affiliations. Authors of the book Predicting Religion state that there is a continued increase of the number of Christians who are no longer attending church. From 15% church attendance in 1903, the

Using Educational Research as a Lean for the Wire Paper

Using Educational as a Lean for the Wire - Research Paper Example Using education research as a lean for the wire The articles talks about the different in relationship between families and students at various school studying levels. The factors, which regulate the relationship, are also extensively discussed and expounded in the article. The good relationship between schools, families, and the community is the core contributor to the students’ success in many parts of the world. International studies have proved the grave of the school parent relationship to the success of the student at all academic levels. However, as students grow older, the relationship between the school and the parent decline systematically. There are various reasons that facilitate the decline of the relationships between the families and the students.The complexity in the secondary school learning environment also confuses the parents on the areas to be involved. In The Wire, community and parents involvement are less valued in the early child life development. Students squarely rely on their teacher for guidance and counseling during their early school life. Nevertheless, at the advanced school age, the community involves itself fully in the student’s life. At this level, they are regarded as a potential investment in criminal activities. Therefore, the differences in the level of family involvement in the student life between the society discussed by the article and society in The Wire show how different societies value differently the lives of the children and youths. In reference to the article, there are various conditions that control and influence the families’ involvement in the teenagers’ education in high school. The family time and material resources, the nature of the parent teenager relationship, and the family take on the involvement are some of the factors responsible of the parents’ involvement in the student high school education (Simon 186). Additionally, the community way of living has a role in the parents’ involvement in school life. T he excising ties between communities and the teenagers’ determine the magnitude of the parent involvement in high school activities (Todd 17). In this area, the article fits The Wire. In the series, there are intimate relationships between the community and high school students. However, students at this level are negatively involved by the society for community’s self-gain. The similarity is decidedly essential in the contemporary world. In all societies, there is a need for mutual relationship between the teenagers, the families and society. Teenage age is a transitional period in human development and entails a lot of challenges which demand the support of the family and community. Teenagers require social, professional, and developmental guidance and counseling at this time, to necessitate positive development. Therefore, the barriers that disregard the families’Â  student involvement should be overcome for the benefit of the student and the entire society. However, the manner in which community and families are involved in the students life need to be controlled. The immoral relationship between the high school students and the community should be discouraged. Appropriate measures should be agreed upon to necessitate a controlled relationship. The article

Event Evaluation -Netowrking Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Event Evaluation -Netowrking Event - Essay Example How long did planning the event take? Well the answers were explained in the following context. The following factors were help to illustrate clearly how they planned for the big event within the allotted time. The plan is the event! The key aspect that was considered when in the course of planning for the event was its ability to be successful. This is at the very best considered basing on virtual realities and constraints. Obviously, there were a number of hurdles and numerous challenges that would make the entire plan a nightmwere. To be able to truly achieve their target, they should be able to ensure that all elements were managed at various levels whereby it would be easier to control inputs and outputs. The core factor when they were considering time is to establish the goal of the entire arrangement and then proceed to draw the framework for the work to be done. Acquire adequate service orientation:-This would enable them to device the scenarios involved in acquiring the righ t services and it is worth creating a more definite organizational structure and from then they could build a more flexible planning technique (Ramsborg et al. 2008). With substantial inclusion of various requirements such as acquiring accessories, getting logistical information and assembling the necessary themes for the event, all schedules were correlated through the approximated layout scheduling process. Define organization capacity and flexibility: - The obvious approach to their organization is their ability to operationalize and internalize all the activities with due diligence and to easily get the right way towards establishing the right attributes. In that, they were be able to make all important aspects regarding the plan without having to get any difficulty as the entities needed for the events were always listed basing on important interests. Additionally, the planning process is exponentially maintained within the required capacity whereby the energy and interest is e xplained and recreated to enhance optimum arrangements as required by the resources available and the amount of services needed by the client. The good thing here was that in the Performance Hub, there was an ideal venue for the creation of music, dance or drama, as well as being suited to conferences and corporate events. The Performance Hub is a highly flexible venue and this was evident in the way the organisation of the event was tailored to showcase the capacity and organizational flexibility due to its tailor made state of the art facilities especially made for such events. For instance to show how versatile the event organizational capacity was, there was the options of several venues that included the following: The Black Box Theatre: The Black Box Theatre is one of the best-equipped small theatres in the country. Ideally suited to small performances, the theatre features a raked seating area and high quality acoustics. The 108 seat venue is fully equipped with lighting and sound equipment to support your performance. The theatre has double height loading doors allowing you to bring your set directly into the venue. The Performance Hub can also offer support with a functional box office and catering provision on request. Technical support can

Chaucer writes a 'feminine kind of romance' ( Burrow). Discuss with Essay

Chaucer writes a 'feminine kind of romance' ( Burrow). Discuss with reference to 3 canterbury tales - Essay Example n the battles and events of the past, such as the battles of Troy, the conquests of Alexander the Great or the chivalric traditions rising out of the Arthurian legend. Among these stories, the primary focus was typically placed upon the action of the story, the battles and the skirmishes that occurred between characters, and the aftermath of such behavior, such as the winning of the lady, the acquisition of worldly fame or the re-enforcement of nobility. However, not all stories followed this basic formula, especially as the written tradition began to grow through the 14th century. As writers began to experiment with various means of recording the stories that had been passed down through the oral tradition as well as working to develop stories of their own, new modes of expression began to emerge. For example, Colin Burrow assertively states that Chaucer wrote a feminine kind of romance. What is a feminine kind of romance and how does this apply to Chaucer? To answer these questions , the following paper will first define the characteristics of the kind of ‘feminine’ romance Burrow was discussing and then analyze three of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales – the Wife of Bath, the Prioress and the Knight’s Tale – to determine whether this description applies. The concept of the feminine romance has a great deal to do with the underlying structural format of the novel, particularly as it relates to the issues surrounding gender and the differences between the various ways in which the genders relate to others. For example, studies continue to show even today that women place greater emphasis upon the concept of relationships while men place more emphasis upon action.2 It should not be surprising, therefore, to discover that feminine romances, as such, are primarily concerned with the relationships of characters rather than the actions they undertake. This includes a certain focus upon the emotional lives of the characters as opposed to their physical

(GIS) Geographical Information System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

(GIS) Geographical Information System - Essay Example The hardware component of GIS is the central processing unit (CPU) or computer. It also includes a digitizer scanner whose function is to change data for example those found in maps into digital form then send the converted data to the CPU. There are also a tape device whose function is to store programs or data on magnetic tap, and a display device which is used to display data that has been processed. People as a component of GIS include end users and specialists whose function is to design the GIS for the end users. Methods refer to those procedures or techniques used data collection or processing. The functional elements of GIS are data manipulation, data input and output, data retrieval and display, data analysis and modelling and data management. Data input refers to incorporating data into the GIS whereas data output refers to removing data or information from the GIS. Data analysis and modelling involves obtaining an understanding of relationships in the data collected and de veloping a model of the spatial phenomena. Data retrieval entails taking out data from a stored format for use whereas data display is the showing off of the derived or primary data (Delaney and Niel 2006). In GIS, spatial data represent features that are location-specific or geographic in nature. They include cell location like column and raw, and coordinates like longitudes and latitudes. On the other hand, attribute data give a description of feature in a specific location and they can be in numbers or text strings. Unlike spatial data, attribute data can be measured in ratio, ordinal, interval and nominal ratios. According to Delaney and Niel (2006), topology creates an awareness of the surrounding for the GIS by developing a spatial data relationship. It links spatial and attribute data to give information on what surrounds a feature. When representing continuous and discrete geographic features, vector data structure uses points, polygons and lines whereas raster data structur e make tessellation on the representation surface through a repeated use of a square cell or a pixel. However, raster data structures are better at representing a continuous surface. Vector data structure support typology better and are more accurate in representing geographic features compared to raster data structure. Generally, raster data structure requires has a lower processing power requirement compared to vector data structure. On-screen digitising, converting, importing and geo-locating/geo-rectification are the four common methods of incorporating digital data into a GIS. On-screen digitising involves locating features from digital sources for example satellite or scanned images using a computer mouse. Attribute data is entered through computer keyboard. Geo-locating is used to input non-geographic/non-georeferenced data into GIS because it converts spatial data into geographic data. Converting is done if GIS data is in a format that cannot be used by certain software. Imp orting involves obtaining data from other sources like geo-coded textual data, satellite images or digital aerial photographs into the GIS. There exist differences in cost, effort, time, and editing requirements between on-screen digitising, converting, importing and geo-locating/geo-rectification, scanning and vectorisation, table digitizing and keyboard entry as data input methods. Both importing and converting are fast, cheaper, need less efforts and have less editing requireme

Women writers during the Harlem Renaissance Research Paper

Women writers during the Harlem Renaissance - Research Paper Example The name referred to black Americans in the United States who had moved to search for education, job and suffrage during the Great Migration that took place from Southern cities to the Northern. The term was used to describe the African Americans as sophisticated, conscious and artistic despite the stereotypes of them being instinctively servile. It involved a group of different writers and intellects associated with Manhattan district and Harlem. The period was known as having a rebellious edge since it acted a celebration and development of the intellectual gains of the African Americans. Jim Crow also described it as the social uprising and literary movement against racism implementation. The main objective of this period was to recreate Blacks identity in museum, literature, arts and music. This paved way for the New Negro Women in relation to writing poems, novels and other literary works. The women played an important role in the struggle of the minority African American women. They made use of this movement in expressing their opinions on gender and race (Deborah, 2011 pg 89). Thesis Statement: It is evident that Women writers have made a step in the literary world as compared to men writers from the history. Mother of Renaissance According to Edame, (2003 pg 66) in some of his book argues that, the major focus of Harlem renaissance women writer is based on the first three women who were referred to as the mothers of renaissance. They include Zora Neale Hurston, Jessie Redmon Faucet and Nella Larson. These women symbolized different voices of women, styles and vision in New York. Zora’s use of parlance in black folk societal was unpopular as evident in most of the literary works. Huston in her essay titled ‘How It Feels To Be Colored Me’ clearly depicts how she feels to be black woman besides being within the white people colony. Williams, (2007 pg 56) adds that among the three women writers of this period, Hurston had a typical think ing that influenced the modern forms of writing. Her work focused on the northern region of her birth. Most of the writers during her era in literacy had not come across ‘Tragic Negro’, which was her piece of work hence sought to transcend. Faucet during her teaching profession at Fisk University, challenged other writers on the race issue in the coming period. Hurston experience of the black people contributed much to her work since she was born and raised in the black region. The memories of the southern life made most of her work parallel with other women who were within the white States. Hurston was the first woman writer in the canon of Harlem through her recognized value in writing. She opened the door for other women writers and artists in the society of literature despite their contribution being of no importance to the society but later recognized after their death. Faucet was recognized as the mother of Harlem because she was the first woman among the black wo men writers to be matriculated at Cornell University. She helped in selecting various works on the board for publication (Harold, 2004 pg 89). This woman shared most of her expertise and contact with other up-coming young writers whose works could not make it to publishers. She edited they work and help them through publications. This made her novel; ‘Plum Bun’ to be the best in the country. She re-created the climate that produced and sustained the walls of the Harlem renaissance in her chapter. The extensive publication of her work was the innermost figure during this period thus contributed to her advancement of other artists. Laying the Foundation Sacvan & Patell, (2008 pg 120) asserts from their research works that, chapters concerning Larsen and Hurston the entertaining

Writing assignment on a short story titled The Street That Got Mislaid

Writing on a short story titled The Street That Got Mislaid - Assignment Example Marc was in a dilemma whether to let the world know about the obscure street or not but he chose not to do so considering the fact that his one decision can destroy the world of several people who have consistently struggled throughout their lives. It was a very sensible decision and the one which should be lauded. Believing in yourself, is another very important theme in the story, Marc was condoned by his tenants and his subordinates but he kept believing in his knowledge and one day the breakthrough came and it changed his life and perception for the better, similarly it is a lesson for all those who get negative in life. Staying positive has always helped other people and it is also the key to success, Marc found solace by finding accommodating people, his new neighbors were also very kind-hearted and cared for him unlike his former neighbors who never respected his existence. Making informed decisions is also really important; we make the right decisions when we make informed decisions. Marc could have easily let the other people know about the old letter and the same would have had disastrous consequences but he decided to go and see the obscure street, one informed decision of his also changed the lives of several people who were living in that obscure street. â€Å"All of them, it seemed, had had their troubles, their losses and failures, before they found themselves in this place of refuge, this Green Bottle Street. To Marc, conscious of his own unsatisfactory existence, it sounded entrancing. He fingered the card in his pocket uncertainly. "Mr. Plonsky and Mr. Flanagan took a great liking to each other," Miss Trusdale continued. "Both of them have been travelers and they like to talk about the things they have seen. Miss Hunter plays the piano and gives us concerts.† (The Street that Got Mislaid) Marc was particularly kind to these people because they reminded of his

Assignment Final Paper Topic Essay Example for Free

Assignment Final Paper Topic Essay This work contains GEN 499 Week 3 Assignment Final Paper Topic Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography Education General Education Annotated Bibliography Review the Final Research Paper instructions located within the Final Research Paper link. The Final Research Paper is due in Week Five. To help with the preparation of the paper, complete the following and submit it to your instructor for feedback. Topic : Refer to the Final Research Paper guidelines for your topic selection. Confirm your topic, and identify how this selection relates to your academic and professional pursuits. Review the feedback from your topic choice presented in the Week One discussion. How did your argument stand up to the examination of your peers? Thesis : Write a direct and concise thesis statement, which will become the point or perspective you will argue or prove in the Final Research Paper. Refer to the Ashford Online Writing Center for information on how to develop a solid thesis statement. APA Reference Page : For this paper, you will conduct research in peer-reviewed journals or other sources that are considered to have academic information. You will need a minimum of five professional scholarly sources, at least one of which is a multimedia source. For each source, you are responsible for summarizing the source and examining how it will support you in defending your argument. Keep in mind the Academic Research standards for all Ashford University Papers. Academic Research Academic research and papers must meet certain standards of quality recognized by the academic community. What constitutes quality, academic research? Primary sources, which are documents from the time period being discussed Secondary sources supported by research in primary sources Credible sources (experts in the area of study)   Relevant research (materials are p For downloading more course tutorials visit https://bitly.com/1rubFkT If you are returning to college with a kid or more, you might assume that on-campus living is not an option. This is not always true. Alot of colleges provide a place for children to live as well. Colleges and universities have accepted the fact that some students are older and already have families. Be sure to ask early about housing options for families, because it tends to fill up very fast. Education General Education Annotated Bibliography Review the Final Research Paper instructions located within the Final Research Paper link. The Final Research Paper is due in Week Five. To help with the preparation of the paper, complete the following and submit it to your instructor for feedback. Topic : Refer to the Final Research Paper guidelines for your topic selection. Confirm your topic, and identify how this selection relates to your academic and professional pursuits. Review the feedback from your topic choice presented in the Week One discussion. How did your argument stand up to the examination of your peers? Thesis : Write a direct and concise thesis statement, which will become the point or perspective you will argue or prove in the Final Research Paper. Refer to the Ashford Online Writing Center for information on how to develop a solid thesis statement. APA Reference Page : For this paper, you will conduct research in peer-reviewed journals or other sources that are considered to have academic information. You will need a minimum of five professional scholarly sources, at least one of which is a multimedia source. For each source, you are responsible for summarizing the source and examining how it will support you in defending your argument. Keep in mind the Academic Research standards for all Ashford University Papers. Academic Research Academic research and papers must meet certain standards of quality  recognized by the academic community. What constitutes quality, academic research? Primary sources, which are documents from the time period being discussed Secondary sources supported by research in primary sources Credible sources (experts in the area of study) Relevant research (materials are pertinent to the area of study) In graduate work, the use of peer-reviewed journal articles (journal articles reviewed by recognized experts in the relevant field of study) is required.

Controlled But Not Cured Chronic Diseases Nursing Essay

Controlled But Not Cured Chronic Diseases Nursing Essay The life of someone with a chronic medical condition is changed in many ways that a healthy individual cannot understand. There is remarkable impact to the social, recreational and occupational functioning of someone with chronic illness. Relationships are also often compromised and strained as the effects on the family can be as great, but different, than that of the person who is affected. The emotional toll on someone with the challenges of an ongoing illness can be overwhelming. Mood-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, helplessness and hopelessness are emotions that all those with chronic illness will probably experience. One of the most common chronic illnesses is Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterised by high levels of glucose in the blood. This is also known as hyperglycaemia. This results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. (American Diabetes Association (ADA), Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 2003). There are several types of diabetes mellitus; they may differ in cause, clinical cause and treatment. The main classifications of diabetes are: Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational diabetes mellitus and Diabetes mellitus associated with other conditions or syndromes. This report is focused on Type 1 diabetes. The number of new cases of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in younger children (Alderson et al. 2006). Type 1 diabetic patients are usually diagnosed before thirty years of age (CDC, Diabetes Surveillance, 1999) and in fact an alternative name is Juvenile diabetes. Approximately 5% to 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes, in which the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are destroyed by the auto immune process. Consequently they produce little or no insulin and therefore require insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels. The clinical manifestations of type 1 diabetes are immense. These include rapid weight loss, thirst and hunger, frequent urination, lethargy and maybe even diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) Smeltzer, S.C, (2004). If this chronic illness is not managed properly it can result in terrible consequences. These may include loss of eyesight and limbs, coma or even death. All of these complications can affect the persons personal, social, and work life. When diabetes is managed properly, complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy can be prevented (Hernandez Williamson, 2004). This chronic disease has a huge impact on both the patient and the whole family. Parents are continuously concerned about their childs transition through adolescence and often consider this as a stressful period in their life. When individuals are still very young, and thus, depending on their parents or carers there will be a sense of attachment between the two. This situation creates further anxiousness since parents act in different roles simultaneously, the role of a mother or father and the one who pricks her child everyday to check blood glucose levels and administer insulin therapy by injections. Much of the spontaneity of everyday life disappears in a routine of set-meals, blood tests, injections and attention in trying to keep blood glucose levels within a target range. According to Silink (2002) diabetes never takes a holiday. There is no disease in medicine in which parents are asked to make so many daily decisions about a life-saving treatment such as administering of insulin which, in the wrong dose, could cause harm to their child. There is evidence that a grieving period is experienced not only by the child but also by the parents following the loss of their childs health and sometimes parents even blame themselves for their childs disease . At times parents feel helpless in front of the disease and unable to provide the necessary diabetes care for their child. Affected children try to live normal and want to be seen and treated as no-diabetics, even though they know that to cope with their illness, there are things that they have to do that their friends can do without. This situation has a significant impact on the individuals involved and it can lead to loss of confidence and social isolation. Persons having chronic illness are in a constant state of grieving aspects of themselves that they may not get back. According to Stanton, A.L. et. al (1994), coping with the effects of the chronic illness requires a constant reorganizing and redefinition of self based on the changed reality imposed by the illness. The emotions elicited by chronic illness resemble the five stages described by Elisabeth Kubler Ross (1969) as stages of grief. The five stages are Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining and Acceptance. In fact, the individuals feel sad over their lost health and all the ramifications of that loss. Kà ¼bler-Ross originally applied these stages to people suffering from terminal illness, later to any form of disastrous personal loss such as employment. This may also include important life events such as the death of a family member, divorce, drug addiction, the onset of a disease or chronic illness or others. Kà ¼bler-Ross claimed these steps do not come in the order noted above, nor are all steps experienced by all patients, though she stated that a person will always experience at least two. It is a fact that no one can ever be prepared for the despair and disruption that a chronic illness bring about. For some individuals, it creates an inner struggle around beliefs and faith.   The person may feel abandoned, angry and confused and start asking the why questions.   For other people, turning to spiritual practice, meditation or prayer can offer comfort.   One theoretical model that has dealt with how cognitive factors influence illness coping behaviours and its outcomes is the Common Sense Model (CSM) of illness representations proposed by Leventhal, Meyer and Nerenz (1980) (Leventhal et al.,1984). The common-sense model of self-regulation of health and illness was developed in the 1980s by Howard Leventhal and his colleagues    (Diefenbach Leventhal, 1996).  The theory has various titles such as the, Self Regulation Theory, Common Sense Model of Illness Representation or Leventhals Theory (Hale et al, 2007).   The key construct within the Common Sense Model is the idea of illness representations or lay beliefs about illness. These representations integrate with existing guidelines that people hold, enabling them to make sense of their symptoms and guide any coping actions. Leventhal et al (1997) describe five components of these illness representations: The first component is identity. This is the label or name given to the condition and the symptoms that appear to go with it, in this case Type 1 diabetes. When a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness, he experiences a health threat in his life. Type1 diabetes presents itself with different symptoms and these are both experienced as body symptoms and also at an abstract cognitive level. Information about diabetes is provided to the individuals in order to have a clear picture of their disease. Hence the more illness coherence the individual has, the more they are capable to deal with it and create their personal model (Hampson, S.E, 1990). For example, a patient in the study of Huston, S.A Houk, C.P. (2011) who was an adolescent with well-controlled disease, noted that T1D is hereditary à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [text omitted] à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Its when your body attacks your pancreas and it stops producing insulin. You have to give yourself insulin to make your blood sugar level. In cont rast, patient 10, an adolescent with poorly controlled disease, reported that diabetes type 1 is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ ah, actually I really cant explain it. Time line is another domain of the Common Sense Model, this represents the duration of the illness which can be chronic, acute or cyclical. These beliefs will be re-evaluated as time progresses, and it has been suggested that Inside every chronic patient is an acute patient wondering what happened (Brown, F.M., 2002). The vast majority of patients understand their condition as a lifelong one, although sometimes the hope for a cure is mentioned. A few conflate cure with disease improvement or needing fewer treatments. Several timeline models have been put forward to depict the outcome of the interplay between the genetic and environmental factors. Chatenoud, L., Bluestone, J.A., 2007 argue that disease progression in T1D is not a linear process, but rather proceeds at variable pace in individual patients. For example in the study of Huston, S.A Houk, C.P (2011) a patient with good control of T1D, stated theres a honeymoon stage where you dont have it, like-it could go up from, like 2 days to a month, but à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I havent gone through that yet, and I think it can-it can go away. Personal control can also suffer an impact and since diabetes is a chronic disease there is the risk of poor adaption and lack of control. It is comprehensible that at this age children are difficult to control and can struggle with metabolic management at times. These representations will be based on information gathered from personal experience as well as the opinions and discourses of significant others, health professionals and media sources, reflecting issues such as stress, environmental pollution and other pathogens. Although Diabetic patients try to adhere to treatment and diet, they are also likely to cheat. Some of the patients sometimes are glad that their glucose level is low. They feel so not because of the good result but in order to take the opportunity and eat something sugary so that they have a decent blood glucose level. Treatment control represents the perception that following ones treatment is beneficial.. Managing this chronic illness is challenging. Parents of type 1 diabetic patients have to be strict in order that their children are compliant and empowered to control this disease. Although diabetic patients especially adults tend to be very compliant, those who still have high blood glucose results are then put back. They argue that although they are adherent and sacrifice themselves they still do not have the desired outcome. Consequences and emotional representations: the individual beliefs about the consequences of the condition and how this will impact on them physically, psychologically, financially and socially. These representations may only develop into more realistic beliefs over time. Some sort of consequences always exists when having a chronic illness. For example individuals who are diabetics are sometimes ashamed of telling their friends about their condition. Instead they make up excuses that they do not like sweets or they still get some and then they end up with hyperglycaemia. This shows that the individuals have not yet accepted their disease and are still denying the reality. Self-care activities are seen as a consequence by all diabetics, with specific activities varying by disease and age. Diabetic people describe their disease as serious or very serious, with death most frequently mentioned as the worst that could happen, followed by coma, eye sight problems, wounds or amputations re lated to Diabetes and hospitalization. Apart from all these some of the patients are always hiding that they have diabetes as for them it is a great loss in health which is eventually embarrassing. Financial problems and employment complications can be present as well (Marmot, M., Madge, N., 1987). This is probable due to a diminished level of independence which will effect mobility and reduce the working capacity in the advanced stage of the disease. Moreover, children will also fail to attend school due to frequent hospital visits or admissions, and perhaps sickness from secondary diseases caused by diabetes. Another model is the trajectory model which is a nursing model that mostly considers the situation of individuals with chronic diseases. It has been introduced by Juliet Corbin, a nurse and nursing scientist, and by the sociologist Anselm Strauss. This is also known as the Corbin-Strauss-Model and is recognised as a middlerange explanatory nursing theory (Corbin Straus, 1991). This model focuses on the concerned person having the chronic illness who requires support of the health care system during the process of coping with the illness. In terms of the Trajectory Model (TM), a faithful building of a relation between the caring nursing person and the patient should be affected. McCorkle Pasacreta, (2001) explains eight phases of chronic illness trajectory. The first phase is the Initial or pretrajectory phase, this takes place prior signs and symptoms are present whilst the Trajectory onset phase is when there are the first signs and symptoms and diagnosis takes place. The third phase is the crisis phase which takes place when serious situations occur. The acute phase is the stage where the symptoms are normally controlled by a prescribed regimen. The following phase stable phase is when the symptoms are under control and managed well. On the other hand the unstable phase takes place if the symptoms are not controlled with the prescribed management. The downward phase arises when there is development of mental and physical deterioration and the dying phase is the period before death approaches. This report provides recommendations to improve both the chronically ill individual and his relatives quality of life. The goal of these recommendations is to improve the health and hence become more compliant and adherent to treatment. However before blaming a person who is not very compliant, the health care team should assess the individual for any underlying problems which the patient might be facing. Recommendations Treatment adherence difficulties are common in individuals with diabetes, making glycaemic control difficult to attain. Since the risk of complications of diabetes can be reduced by proper adherence, patients who are not compliant should try and cope with some ideal recommendations for diabetes management. The concepts of compliance and adherence to treatment should be discussed and advices for improving adherence should be offered by adopting a more collaborative model of care emphasizing patient autonomy and choice. Ideally, prioritization and a realistic goal setting programme are discussed with both the patient and his carer to facilitate the implementation of self-management care. These targets should be selected on their importance, patient and carer motivation to succeed and the promptness of self-care. Bodenheimer et al. (2002) argues that selecting the wrong target or initiating too many changes at once can overwhelm the patient and lead to poor adherence. Nurses play a critical role in reducing diabetic difficulties through holistic care and education. The health care team can prevent such complications in patients by providing diabetes education especially to newly diagnosed patients. This can include creating a multidisciplinary diabetic control regimen by meeting patients regularly to check upon patients compliance. Through these interventions, nurses can greatly reduce diabetes complications in patients. When diabetes is not managed appropriately, it can put the individual at risk for long-term health and social problems. The role of the nurse in educating children and their families on the management of their care is imperative. Nurses can provide this information in a variety of settings, such as hospitals and schools. Good management of diabetes can be difficult for anyone, but there are special challenges when the effected person is a child. Youth with diabetes have a much higher rate of depression than the general population (Kanner, Hamrin, Grey, 2003). Young children may not understand why they need treatment and have their fingers pricked all the time. The teenagers are usually more interested in fitting in, and doing whatever their friends are doing at the time (Nabors, Troillett, Nash Masiulis, 2005). All of these challenges increase the need for good education to prevent diabetes related health problems. The average hospital stay for newly diagnosed child with diabetes is less than three days (Habich, 2006). This is barely enough time for the child, and his or her family, to learn the minimum skills needed to manage this disease at home. Some basic skills include how to check blood sugar level, what is the normal range, what to do if it is not within the normal range, and how to administer insulin. After being discharged from hospital most children spend a long time of their day at school where the school nurse will play a role in the management of their care. The nurses may also be the only ones at school with enough knowledge about diabetes to educate the students teachers and coaches about their disease. Educating the school staff is important because they need to watch the children for signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia, such as nervousness, shaking, irritability, or blurred vision. They should also know how to check the childs blood sugar if they suspect it is low, and what to give them if it is. This happens especially if the child is still very young and is not yet compliant. When the child goes for a school activity, the teachers or those caring for the students should always have something sugary such as sweet drinks or sweets which can raise the childs glucose level quickly when necessary. Nurses are both educators and managers of care at schools. According to Brown, S.A (1999), physician encouragement can successfully assist patients change their behaviours. They may also organise support groups if more than one child is diabetic, so that the students can discuss among themselves some issues regarding their illness. The more children are educated about their own disease, the better the chance of it being managed properly. According to ADA 2005, it is important for physicians to provide patients with blood glucose goals. To achieve these goals, patients may need counselling on how to appropriately balance their caloric intake, physical activity, and insulin doses throughout the day. This balance requires patients to learn how food, physical activity, and insulin affect their blood glucose levels. Physicians may refer a patient to a certified diabetes educator at the time of diagnosis or if the patient is unable to meet his or her glycaemic goals. Diabetes self-management education is the essential foundation for the empowerment approach and is necessary for patients to effectively manage diabetes and make these decisions. Funnell, M.M. et al. (1991) state that the purpose of patient education within the empowerment philosophy is to help patients make decisions about their care and obtain clarity about their goals, values, and motivations. Patients need to learn about diabetes and how to safely care for it on a daily basis (Anderson, R.M, 1995). It is also essential to give information about various treatment options, the benefits and costs of each of these strategies, how to make changes in their behaviors, and how to solve problems (Arnold, M.S., 1995). In addition, patients need to understand their role as a decision-maker and how to assume responsibility for their care by means of giving appropriate information. The DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, 2001), demonstrated that tight control of blood glucose levels can cause weight gain and even obesity. Patients should be reminded that food portion control and lower caloric intake plus regular physical activity are critical to avoid weight gain. When dealing with diet, diabetic patients should only eat sweets in moderation. To slow the rapidly rising blood glucose levels caused by sweets, patients should eat them with other foods when possible and use rapid-acting insulin (ADA, 2005). Eating at bedtime and eating other snacks are largely needless to raise blood glucose levels if a patient uses insulin. On the other hand they may be necessary if the patients blood glucose level is low. If the patient is still dependant, parents should be aware of the products available on the markets which are good alternatives of the normal sugar-based ones. It is ideal that people should be encouraged to ask more about these foods and where they are available. In England, a structured educational programme (DAFNE) to help people with Type 1 Diabetes exists. This is called Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE). Making use of this programme persons learn how to regulate their insulin dosage to suit their free choice of food, rather than having to work their life around their insulin doses. Similar programmes will be precious for diabetic patients in Malta if they are implemented. The patient or physician should teach persons who have frequent contact with the patient about the symptoms of hypoglycaemia. They should be knowledgeable on how to treat the condition, how to overcome the patients occasional hypoglycaemia, and the importance of remaining calm during an episode. If the patient needs help, they should simply provide him or her with a source of sugar. Patients usually recover quickly and if not, additional sugar can be given. If extreme hypoglycaemia inhibits a patient from eating or drinking safely, a single injection of glucagon (1 mg intravenously or subcutaneously) usually will restore consciousness within few minutes. One should pay special attention when having excessive alcohol consumption. This increases the incidence of hypertension and stroke and inhibits the liver from releasing glucose, exacerbating hypoglycaemia. Patients should limit alcohol consumption to one to two drinks per day and focus on maintaining a normal blood glucose level when drinking alcohol (Whelton, P.K, 2002). Regular physical activity is especially important for patients with diabetes, because inactivity in these patients is associated with a two times higher risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Moy, C.S. et. al (1993), patients should exercise for thirty to sixty minutes daily at an intensity of at least a brisk walk. These people should be counselled on how to accommodate exercises effect on blood glucose levels. Physicians should tell patients that insulin is absorbed and peaks faster during exercise, especially when injected into the leg. Klonoff, D.C, (2005) recommends that patients should assess fingertip blood glucose levels at least three times daily and record the results whenever they notice that it is not within the normal range. In addition, patients should test their blood glucose levels before and after exercising, before driving, and when they are uncertain if their blood glucose is at an appropriate level. Bedtime testing is especially important because nocturnal symptoms may go unnoticed, causing severe hypoglycaemia. Patients should know how rapidly their insulins take effect, when they peak, and how long they are active. Each type of insulin has distinct advantages and disadvantages. People with diabetes have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, which may be why many diabetes specialists regularly include a social worker or psychologist as part of their diabetes care team. One important aspect of the experience of caring for a child with a chronic illness is social support. Social support can be positive when social interactions are advised and these can leave a fruitful impact on health and well-being. On the other hand, certain social contacts can be stressors rather than supportive. This may include creating uncertainty and worry, negative labelling, giving misleading information and creating dependence (Suls, 1982). There are support groups available both online and in person. Although support groups are not for everyone, they can be good sources of sharing of information. Group members often know about the latest treatments and tend to share their own experiences or helpful information. It is well understood that a supporting family background and a combination of medical professionals involving nutritional therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, education supervisors and the diabetic specialist, lead to the successful management of this increasingly common childhood illness. Patients with diabetes should be reassured that they can do almost anything those without diabetes can do as long as they maintain glucose control. Family doctors can significantly influence their patients outlooks on living with diabetes by educating them and encouraging them to take control of their health. The previous recommendations focus on the key educational messages that patients with diabetes need to know. Taking the time to explain these recommendations, instead of simply providing written materials is beneficial to patients. These discussions can increase patients satisfaction and understanding and benefit their future health. The major focus of Diabetes is the need for adhering to treatment. Also it is imperative that individuals follow the dietary requirements in order to help manage the disease and ensures that certain problems like hypo or hyperglycaemia attacks are minimal. Mancuso et al. (2003) emphasises that education of both children and parents is of extreme importance for understanding diabetes and all it is about and subsequently being successful in long term care. Following the previous recommendations ensures that individuals are empowered to improve and hence have the best quality of care possible.

Protecting Your Clients: Financial Case Study

Protecting Your Clients: Financial Case Study A recent survey found 40% of adults in the UK, have less than  £500 in savings, and are reliant month to month from their employment.   (MAS).   With savings alone, a family may quickly face issues. In the event of death, severe illness or injury, the inability to meet basic household bills and liabilities such a mortgage, adds worry, anxiety and uncertainty into an already stressful time. There are products available which mitigate these risks, and they fall into three broad categories; Life Assurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection. This is not an exhaustive list; a wide range of specialist products are available depending on client needs. Whatever a familys financial aspirations, the loss of an income, may cause plans to fail, increasing costs at an inconvenient time, with childcare costs etc. The pyramid below demonstrates the importance of underpinning any financial plan with adequate protection, clearly this is a priority. Throughout this manual, we will explore the needs of a family (in blue); Andrew (27) Amy (24) have their dream home with their daughter, Celeste (4). They have no plans to move, and do not plan on having more children. Andrew is a self-employed sole-trader, an Electrician, with average net profits;  £34,000. During the week Andrew works long hours, but takes weekends off to look after Celeste. Andrews drawings are  £2,800. Amy is an assistant manager in a fashion retailer, she has recently returned to full time hours now that Celeste has started private school. Her salary is  £21,000 per annum. As she has been employed by the company for a number of years, she qualifies for 26 weeks full sick-pay and is enrolled in the group income protection policy which would pay 50% of her salary each month, after a 26-week deferral period. Amys net income is around  £1300. Celestes school fees  £4000 each term, this is likely to remain until 18. Amys store is in a shopping centre, with long opening hours shes able to work flexibly in order to look after Celeste in the evenings. Andrew drops Celeste off in the mornings to a breakfast club at school. They hope Celeste will go to university, where they expect to help with living costs, in line with their existing costs. Their  £130,000 mortgage has 14 years remaining, and costs them  £1100 monthly. They have been able to put some money aside each month and have built up some small savings for emergencies. They have no other debts, and have no existing protection barring Amys employment benefits. They save around  £200 each month, and the remainder of the budget is enjoyed through socialising, entertainment, eating out and treating Celeste. However, recently, Andrews stepfather, in his 50s, who also is an electrician had a heart attack, fortunately he survived, but struggles to do the work he was doing previously. Andrew is concerned at the difficulty his parents have faced in maintaining their lifestyle, and has come to us to discuss protecting his family. He is unsure of what might be right for him, but is happy to spend around  £100 each month, protecting his family. Savings:  £4,200Income:  £4,100 Outgoings:  £3300Disposable budget:  £800 Factors to Discuss and Consider There are a wide range of factors that will impact the necessity, level and term of cover, these include; Dependents This not only applies to the clients own children, but could apply to a spouse, elderly relative or grandchild. The number of dependents, and how long will their need last, i.e. until 18. And whether any expenses, beyond normal upkeep, such as school or university fees would increase needs. Remaining Income In a family where both halves work, the loss of a partner, or their income is likely impact the family income. Often one partner earns a higher salary, losing the breadwinners, income, strains finances. This is equally true if the other partners income was lost. In ensuring a family can maintain their lifestyle, after the loss of a partner or their income, it is important to consider what income is likely to remain, or be available to them afterwards. Benefits A number of state benefits are available to boost the remaining income, or help towards replacing a lost income- i.e. a critical illness prompting payment of personal independence payments or statutory sick pay. These wont replace an income, and critically, the payments, criteria and timescales are set by the government, and arent certain. Employer Benefits Many employers offer employees some protection as part of their employment. Some are dependent on the length of service, or seniority. Including; sick pay, paying full salary for a time, or death in service; usually paying a lump sum- usually a multiple of their salary. Much like government benefits, employer benefits are discretionary. It is also a consideration, that an employee changes employer, with differing benefits. Savings Savings, beyond an emergency fund, are likely to be towards a future need, such as retirement, care, or a large purchase. Currently, savings are unlikely to have any significant growth (Thisismoney.co.uk), if relied upon as income, the funds will exhaust eventually. It would be unwise to rely on savings beyond the short term. Savings can however, reduce the need for an income if they can reduce or eliminate liabilities i.e. credit-cards. Liabilities After considering the needs of the family and dependents, ensuring these are adequately protected, it is important to also consider any liabilities that could then impact the family. These often take the form of debts, but also commitments like school fees. Included here are secured liabilities, such as the home. Often, with the loss of one income, there will be difficulties in sustaining the familys lifestyle, potentially, meeting mortgage costs. Repaying the mortgage is a priority for those seeking life assurance, as it guarantees security of the family home. Life Assurance Life assurance, pays the sum assured, when the insured dies- assuming the policy remains in force. Policies usually take the form; Whole-of-Life, or Term Assurance. Whole-of-Life Covering an individuals entire life, the sum assured is paid, when the policyholder dies. As death is inevitable, the cost is the most expensive. Premiums The premiums are either payable until death, or can be set to last until a certain age or for a limited term. The latter options allow for premiums to be paid up until retirement, yet allow cover to continue. When a limited term of payments is chosen, theyre naturally higher than the alternative. Investment Policies can be arranged with investment elements. This can be Unit-linked, with-profit, non-profit, or universal, potentially combining all three. A non-profit policy provides a fixed sum. With-profit policies allow the insurers underlying investments to generate growth, with bonuses that may increase the sum assured, although inflation beating growth in the long-term, is unlikely. Unit linked policies allow greater growth potential, above inflation, but the underlying capital is risked, jeopardising the sum assured, less risky funds should be a priority. As whole-of-life policies can contain investment elements, some providers offer surrender values, although its unlikely to be suitable as an investment vehicle. Whole-of-Life policies will not be suitable for every client. Care must be taken that there is an ongoing and permanent need, and the sum assured fits this. It may be suitable for a client wishing to protect their family from funeral costs or legal expenses. And can mitigate inheritance tax liability, providing a lump sum to cover the liability due on their assets. Couples can make use of this through a joint life second death policy, since ordinarily, the estate will pass between the couple, and tax only falls due on the second death. Although more appropriate on larger estates where a significant inheritance tax liability arises, compared to those estates that slightly exceed the nil rate bracket, as the ongoing costs of the life assurance may exceed the eventual liability. A whole-of-life policy can also be used to provide an income for dependents. While in later life it is unusual to have child dependents, an income may be required for dependents with life-long care needs. Term Assurance Unlike a whole-of-life policy, term assurance provides cover for a set period, often against a specific protection need, with an expected maturity. Its useful against mortgages, or child dependents, because the time the protection is required for can be estimated. Compared to whole-of-life policies, term assurance is cheaper. As the risk of death is lower over a given timescale, compared to a whole-of-life policy.   Once the policy expires the cover ends, unlike whole-of-life policies, there is no surrender value.   Term assurance can take a number of forms; decreasing, level or increasing term assurance. Decreasing (Family Benefit, Mortgage Protection) Here, the sum assured decreases over time. Its useful against protecting a repayment mortgage. As the term of the mortgage reduces the balance falls, consequently the level of protection needed reduces. This is also useful for dependents, as provision needs decrease over time.   Reductions in the sum assured can be fixed each period, or in line with the interest charged on a mortgage. Decreasing term insurance is also cheaper than other term assurance, as the risk to the provider reduces over time. With a family benefits policy, the benefits are paid as a monthly figure, protecting against the loss of an income until the end of the policy, meaning that the shorter the term remaining, the lower the overall benefit. Gift inter vivos policy This is a special case of decreasing term assurance, protecting against inheritance tax liability from a potentially exempt transfer (PET). In line with the tax liability, the sum assured falls over seven years. Level The sum assured remains constant. It can be useful in order to repay a set liability, i.e. an interest only mortgage, with a constant balance.   They also provide peace of mind to the policyholders family, through the certainty of a lump-sum. It can leave people over protected, paying higher premiums for a need that reduces over time. Increasing- The most expensive form of term assurance. Once arranged, the sum assured, increases over time. At the policies end, the sum assured can be considerably higher than originally. This provides a lump-sum protected against inflation, which over a time, erodes buying. Convertible Renewable- special forms of term assurance, allowing the above policies to be converted into whole-of-life policies, or simply renewed without further underwriting, sometimes allowing the sum assured to increase, in what would be a renewable, increasable term assurance policy. Allowing more flexibility for the insured. Rider Benefits- these are applicable to any of the above policies, they are additional benefits which can be added, or included already. These include; Waiver of Premium, prevents the policy lapsing when the insured is unable to pay premiums through sickness or injury. Terminal illness or total permanent disability cover, providing an accelerated payment when the insured has a very short life expectancy, or is totally disabled, although the criteria for this varies. Accidental death benefit can also be included.   Guaranteed insurability options allow for flexibility within the policy for the sum assured to be increased at key events in the insureds life, without the requirement for additional medical underwriting. All options and additional benefits will increase premiums. Summary Life assurance, ensures that financial needs can be met, often at an affordable cost, regardless of the need, as there are many forms. It does however have restrictions, medical underwriting means that lifestyles increasing the risk of death can impact the cost of the cover, i.e. smoking. While most claims are paid, there are often significant exclusions, including death from; alcohol, drugs, self harm, terrorism, war, or recklessness. If the policyholder is the insured, on their death, the pay-out from these funds will be added back into their estate, where there is potential for an inheritance tax liability. Neither have life assurance, in the event of a death, the remaining family would not be able to maintain their lifestyle. Protecting the mortgage on the family home is a priority. A joint policy allows the home to be protected in the event of either death. As the balance on the mortgage is naturally decreasing as repayments are made, a mortgage protection policy, with an initial sum assured of  £130,000, and term of 14 years would provide the most cost-effective cover. Approximately  £15 monthly. In the event of a death now, the mortgage would be repaid, and the monthly outgoings would fall by around  £1100. However, other costs could increase, childcare may be required, and Celestes education costs would also continue. The approximate cost of her education over the next 17 years will be; 3 Terms x  £4000 x 17=  £204,000. Due to Amys employment, she would need childcare for the weekends and mornings. Andrew would require childcare for weekday evenings. Approximately this is 20 hours a week, and expect she would be mature enough to look after herself for a few hours once in secondary school, aged 12. In addition to term-time childcare there would be around around 16 weeks annually, where fulltime care is needed, 40 hours weekly. Average childcare costs in their area are  £7 hourly. 20 hours x 36 (term-time) x 8 years, 40 hours x 16 (holidays) x 8 years A Total of 10880 hours of childcare would be needed till age 12, at  £7, would cost  £76,160. With a total cost in the region of  £280,160, Its clear itd be difficult for either parent to cover these costs. However, each month, the requirements would reduce. Again, a decreasing term assurance policy would fit their needs, as these are ongoing costs, it would make sense for this policy to be written as a family income benefit policy, providing the average of Celestes care and education costs each month.  £1000 for her education, and  £793 (based on 1360 hours of care each year, divided by 12 months, at  £7 an hour), written on a joint basis over a 17-year term. The approximate cost is  £23 monthly. Income Protection Insurance This provides the insured with an income when, due to; illness, disability or injury, they are unable to work. A provider cannot cancel this policy due to repeated claims, and as long as premiums are maintained, the cover continues. The benefits are paid monthly, and are used to cover normal expenditure. To incentivise the insureds return to work, ensuring claims only last as long as necessary, the level of cover is generally between 50-75% of the insureds salary. Should a condition make it impossible for the insured to return to their work, and instead they return on a lower salary, a proportionate benefit clause found in many policies, allows a portion of the benefit to be paid, to top-up their income. While the cover is permanent, to a normal retirement age, many insurers have a reviewable premium, similar to critical illness cover. To lower premiums, a deferral period, between 4 104 weeks, effectively eliminates short illness, reducing the risk for the insurer. Aligning the deferral period against existing provisions such as an accident, sickness unemployment cover, or employee sick pay further helps reduce premiums. Income protection is important for the self-employed, injury or illness will impact their income earlier. Their deferral period tends to be shorter, as they need the income sooner than someone who receives sick-pay. Amy is fortunate to have employer provided sick-pay and income protection. If she were ill or unable to work, the impact of this would not be felt for 6 months, and then the reduction in her wage by  £650 would allow the family to meet their outgoings, albeit with little left. Andrew, has no protection. If Andrew were unable to work, his income would stop immediately, savings would then be relied upon, the loss of his income means a shortfall of  £2,000 each month (Outgoings;  £3,300, less Amys income of  £1,300). Savings could sustain them for around 2 months (Savings/Shortfall,  £4200/ £2000= 2.1 Months.) Protecting his income with an income protection policy, until his state retirement age of 68, as regardless of his dependents, there will always be household bills (gov.uk), an 8-week deferral, with benefits of  £2100, cost around  £49 monthly, extending the deferral to 52 weeks, reduces costs to around  £33 monthly. (Drewberry Insurance) Intermediate months could be covered by an accident sickness policy, by excluding short illness, Andrew may save money on future premiums on review. Other Protection available There are a wide range of more specialised protection insurance policies available, while they may not offer financial security, they can provide peace of mind. Accident Sickness Unemployment Insurance Offering similar benefits to income protection, with important differences. Its impermanent; the insurer can decline to renew the policy. Benefits are generally provided up to 24-months. Unemployment covers redundancy, and only when the insurer believes that the insured had no foreknowledge, naturally excluding the self-employed. Covering Andrews income using an accident sickness policy here, with a deferral period of 2 months, allowing for their savings would cost them in the region of  £14 monthly (gocompare.com), a small saving compared to the single product. Payment Protection Insurance If the insured is unable to work, through sickness, injury or redundancy, this cover will maintain payments for the liability (credit card, mortgage or loan, etc.) for a period of generally up to 24 months. Health Insurance Dental Plans Private health insurance may provide high quality care, fast diagnosis and short wait times or flexibility for treatment and surgery etc., without the high costs involved in paying for this treatment in a standalone manner. Dental plans are offered in a similar way. There are often exclusions for elective or cosmetic surgeries. Critical Illness Cover Providing a lump sum to the insured on the diagnosis of a critical illness, including but not limited to; most Cancers, Heart Attack, and Stroke. Unlike term assurance, the insured need not die, should they recover, funds wont need to be repaid, as the policy ends on a successful claim. Beyond major conditions, cover can be provided for other conditions; major organ transplant, paralysis, coma, blindness or loss of limbs. Each provider may apply a different definition to a condition. The Association of British Insurers provides definitions as a guide to best practice, which is the minimum definition an ABI insurer can use. For instance; The ABIs blindness definition reads; Permanent and irreversible loss of sight to the extent that even when tested with the use of visual aids, vision is measured at 3/60 or worse in the better eye using a Snellen eye chart. (ABI,2016) LGs definition follows; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the use of visual aids, vision is measured at 6/60 or worse in the better. (LG, 2016) Two similar definitions, with LGs definition benefiting the insured, with a less restrictive definition. The cost of more generous cover may be higher than stricter insurers. Compared to term assurance, the cost is much higher, the risk of dying, is far lower than being diagnosed with a critical illness or condition, this extra risk increases costs. Furthermore, a wide range of underwriting factors are used to tailor premiums to the insureds risk. Adverse family history increase costs, and previous diagnosis makes securing cover difficult, or impossible, at best, an exclusion is imposed (LG, 2016). It is expected that all material facts are disclosed, so a full and informed decision is made, withholding a condition can void cover. (Guardian,2013) With any critical condition, family life becomes pandemonium. The insured may be unable to work, travel to and from medical appointments may be necessary, if provided by a partner, they too may be unable to work. Child care may increase, care may be required, alterations may be required, and of course the usual household expenses will still occur. Critical Illness Cover, when considering these requirements can provide peace of mind, by funding medical or care costs, covering liabilities, and providing funds to cover the cost of equipment, adaptations or general improvements to the insureds quality of life with their new condition. Policies can be arranged in numerous ways, a standalone plan, which works similarly to term assurance, paying out on diagnosis on an insured condition. However, it is commonplace that the insured must survive at least 28 days in order for a valid claim. Alternatively, it can be arranged in addition to a term assurance policy with death benefits. In addition to being covered against death, the policy would cover critical illness. This additional cover can either be arranged so that following a critical illness, or death, the cover will cease, so a single payment is only possible, or, a payment can be made against both illness and death. It can be incorporated into an endowment or into a whole-of-life plan as an option in a similar fashion. Like life assurance, the proceeds can be written into trust, this is not usually needed though, if the protection is to cover existing liabilities. However, if the cover is combined with life assurance, potential exists for an inheritance tax liability; if a critical illness is claimed for, the proceeds will go tax free to the insured, if however, a death claim is required, this becomes part of their estate, creating the liability. It is possible to use a split-benefit trust, which will pay the proceeds of the critical illness payment to the policyholder, and the death benefit to the beneficiaries in the trust deed. Critical illness cover premiums are organised similarly to term assurance, with historically fixed payments. Due to advances in medicine and technology, claims have risen with early diagnosis, more providers are now switching to reviewable premiums, which offer stability of fixed payments for a period, before being reviewed, at which point they may rise or fall. Just like term assurance, a similar set of exclusions apply, and medical underwriting may result in additional restrictions or exclusions, and potentially higher costs overall. Cancelling a policy to take out a new policy is generally not recommended, as comparing cover, benefits and restrictions can be difficult or time consuming. Although Andrew Amy are healthy, after recent events they are keen to have some protection that would allow them to deal with an unforeseen critical illness. As you have seen, Amy is well protected through her employment against her income, Andrew would be well covered by the Accident Sickness Policy, and through an income protection policy. However, they are worried about potential adaptations to their home or care costs being needed. The Money Advice Service suggests that 2 hours each day of care would cost in the region of  £11,000 annually. As the mortgage costs a little more than this, a lump sum to cover this, and provide a buffer to allow for some adaptations if necessary, around  £150,000 of cover over 17 years, each. Written as stand-alone policies, means each is protected in the event of a critical illness. Together, the cost of these policies is in the region of  £65 monthly. Andrew Amys monthly protections costs exceed the budget they wanted to spend. Coming to a total of around  £150 monthly. Although the protection would ensure that whatever happens to either of them, they would have financial security until retirement. Full protection is expensive, and unless they are willing to spend the money to cover themselves adequately, they will need to adjust the level of cover they can afford, or prioritise the policies available to them. Business Protection The death or illness of a partner, key person or sole trader can have significant consequences to a business. While these issues can be as wide and varied as the business that have them, the type of cover detailed in this manual can be tailored to provide effective protection. In Conclusion As can be seen, it is important to take a view of the bigger picture, and use a holistic approach in shaping protection around a clients needs. While the hope is that these policies are not used before their time, they provide the firm foundation for clients to achieve their financial aspirations. A Adviser. References ABI Policy Definitions- https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/Migrated/Medical%20underwriting/2011%20Critical%20Illness_SoBP.ashx (2016) Drewberry Insurance, Income Protection https://www.drewberryinsurance.co.uk/income-protection-insurance (2016) Gocompare.com Accident Sickness cover quote system https://income.gocompare.com/income-protection/ (2017) Gov.uk, State Retirement Age https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age, (2017) The Guardian, Critical illness insurance: The neglected cover that could be crucial https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/dec/07/critical-illness-insurance-bad-reputation (2013) Legal General Policy Booklet- http://www.legalandgeneral.com/_resources/pdfs/life-cover/mylife/LifeInsurance-with-Critical-illness-Cover-Policy-Booklet.pdf (2016) LG Underwriting Quick Reference Guide, http://www.legalandgeneral.com/library/protection/underwriting-literature/GuidetoUnderwriting.pdf (2010) Money Advice Service, Care Costs https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/care-home-or-home-care (2017) Money Advice Service, Press Release. https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/corporate/four-out-of-10-adults-are-not-in-control-of-their-finances-new-strategy-launched-to-improve-uks-financial-capability (2015) This is Money.co.uk, What next for savers. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/saving/article-4070642/What-savings-rates-2017-savers-set-misery.html (2017) Introduction to Simple Linear Regression: Article Review Introduction to Simple Linear Regression: Article Review Simple Linear Regression Introduction to simple linear regression: Article review Abstract The use of linear regression is to predict a trend in data, or predict the value of a variable (dependent) from the value of another variable (independent), by fitting a straight line through the data. Dallal (2000), examined how significant the linear regression equation is, how to use it to draw the best fitting line of the scatter plot and how important the best fitting line is. Introduction to simple linear regression: Article review The use of linear regression is to predict a trend in data, or predict the value of a variable (dependent) from the value of another variable (independent), by fitting a straight line through the data. Linear regression represents a connecting link between the independent (carrier) variable and dependent (response) variable, which if graphed on X and Y-coordinates, results in a straight line. Linear regression shows the straight line which thoroughly represents, or predicts, the value of the response variable, given the noted value of the carrier variable (Frey, 2006). This essay aims at reviewing the article introduction to simple linear regression by Dallal (2000). Problem statement Dallal (2000) assumed a relationship between body mass (independent or carrier variable) and muscle strength (dependent or response variable), the more body mass the more muscle strength. However, this relationship is not without exceptions, which is reflected on the scatter plot of a regression model. Therefore, the author posed the question of how to illustrate the straight line, which accurately portrays the data, or predicts the value of the response variable. Research purpose statement In the given example, most cases would show a perfect regression. However, standardization of the procedure of putting in a straight line is necessary to provide better communication and common grounds for analysts working on the same data. Further, in the example regression equation given (Strength = -13.971 + 3.016 LBM [Lean Body mass]), one can draw two conclusions; first, a predicted muscle strength equals LBM multiplied by 3.016 minus 13.971. Second, the difference between muscle strength of two individuals is presumably 3.016 multiplied by the difference in their LBM. Research questions Research question 1: Why we need to fit a regression equation into a set of data? It is clear from the previous example there are reasons for fitting a regression equation into a set of data. These are 1) to describe the data, and 2) to predict an independent (response) variable from a dependent (carrier) one. Research question 2: What is the underlying principle of calculating a straight line? If the points signaling data in a scatter plot are close to a line, it means the line represents, matches or gives a good fit of data. If not, then the line with most of the points closer to it that any other is the one that gives good fit of data. Further, If the is used to predict values, these values should close enough to the noted ones, in other words, residuals (observed values – predicted values) should small values. Research question 3: How linear regression (least squares) equation is used to illustrate the best fitting line? The standard used, as the name implies, is the sum of squared residuals (observed – predicted values) is minimal for the best fitting line. This applies to a line fitted to a set of sample data to promote generalization to a population from which this sample was taken. Yet for a population, there is a slightly different linear regression equation. The equation illustrates that an output (dependent) variable on the Y-axis can be predicted from an input (independent) variableson the X-axis after adding a random error (si). Research question 4: Is the sample regression equation an accurate estimate of the population regression equation? There is a reservation for accreditation of this statement, which is directed at the confidence bands in relation to the regression line. They are understood as the standard error of the mean (the standard deviation of the mean of the sampling distribution). Yet with one exception that is the sampling mean of the dependent variables amplifies as it adds distance from the mean. Sources of data Dallal (2000), stated in the second part of his article (linked to the main article) are cross- sectional data. This type of data has the advantages of being used if sampling method are not weighted and-or un-stratified. This method can also be used if the researcher is concerned only with minor or small probabilities. The longitudinal data results in more statistical power, however, in repeated cross-sectional analysis, new subjects added per analysis compensates for the inherent decreased statistical power (Yee and Niemeier, 1996). Data collection strategies and methods A good data collection strategy should have two objectives, namely, having motivated respondents (affected by time consuming, trust in statistics, difficulty of questionnaire, and benefit included). The second objective should be having high quality data, which tailored to sample individuals, sampling method and good instruments of data collection (Statistics Norway, 2007). Methods of data collection are many and selection of a particular method depends on the available resources, reliability, resources of analysis and reporting, besides the skills and knowledge of the analyst. Some of these methods are case studies, behavior observation check lists, attitude, and opinion surveys, questionnaires distributed by mail, e-mail, or phone calls. Other methods of data collection include time series (evaluating one variable over a period of time as a week), and individual or group interviews (The Ohio State University Bulletin Extension, 2005). Conclusions Dallal (2000), inferred that simple linear regression means that we can predict a dependent variable from an independent one, so whenever we need to know from the beginning each time we add information. The regression line is important as it makes the estimation of a dependent variable more accurate and it allows the estimation of a response variable for individuals with values of the carrier variable not included in the data. The author also inferred there are two methods of predicting a variable either from within the range of values of independent variable of the sample given (interpolation) or outside this range (extrapolation). The author recommended the first method as it has the advantage of being safe, yet with concerns as regards the way to demonstrate the linearity of relationship between the two variables. References Dallal, G. (2000). Introduction to simple linear regression. Retrieved January 14, 2008, from http://www.tufts.edu/~gdallal/slr.htm. Frey, B. (2006). Statistics Hacks. Sebastopol, CA: OReilly Media Inc. Statistics Norway (2007). Strategy for data collection. Retrieved 04/07/2008, from http://www.ssb.no/vis/english/about_ssb/strategy/strategy_data_collection.pdf The Ohio State University (2005). Bulletin Extension Step Four: Methods of Data Collection. Retrieved 04/07/2008, from http://www.ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu Yee J L. and Niemeier D (1996). Advantages and Disadvantages: Longitudinal vs. Repeated Cross-Section Survey-A Discussion Paper. Project Battelle, 94, 16-22. Weberian Model Of Bureaucracy: Criticism Weberian Model Of Bureaucracy: Criticism Bush (2006) defined Educational management as a field of study and practice concerned with the operation of educational organizations. He has also claimed several times that educational management needs to be essentially concerned with the purpose or goals of education since they give the fundamental sense of direction needed for effective management of educational organizations. He concluded that a singular all-inclusive theory of educational management does not simply exist as educational institutions are so diverse and even similar schools and colleges have to deal with completely different problems, which necessitate diverse approaches and solutions (Bush 2006). 2.0 Management, Administration and Leadership. The concept of management often intersects with two parallel terminologies, namely leadership and administration. The difference is mainly regional according to Bush (2006).The term Management is commonly used in Europe, and Africa, where as administration is favored in the United States, Canada, and Australia. On the other hand the term Leadership is much more contemporary and it is of great interest in most developed countries (Bush 2006). However other authors have differentiated these three concepts by claiming that they have opposing definitions. Cuban (1988) has provided a distinction between leadership and management namely leadership is influencing others actions in achieving desirable ends and Managing is maintaining efficiently and effectively current organizational arrangements. He also added that both managing and leading are equally important and he confer no special value to either as they are both needed in different situations and at different times in order for schools to function effectively and meet their goals (Bush 2006). Bolman Deal (1997) also talk about the importance of both leadership and management. He maintained that leading and managing are distinct. The objective perspective of the manager as well as the flashes of vision and commitment-wise leadership provides are what is needed by modern organizations (Bush 2006). Furthermore Dimmock (1999) claimed that school leaders [experience] tensions between competing elements of leadership, management and administration. According to him leadership is the higher order tasks designed to improve staff, student and school performance, where as management is the routine maintenance of present operations and administration is the overarching term, which incorporates both leadership and management. 2.1 Leadership Leadership has been defined by Chemers (1997) as a process of social influence in which one person is able to enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task (Chemers 1997). From this definition we can understand that leadership involves a social influence process in which one individual exerts intentional influence over others to structure activities and relationships in a group or organization. Bass and Stogdill (1990) added that leadership is the process of in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uencing others to attain common aims. Spillane, Harvelson and Diamond (2004) defined Leadership through another angle. They claimed leadership is not simply a function of what a school principal, or indeed any other individual or group of leaders, knows and does. Rather, it is the activities engaged in by leaders, in interaction with others in particular contexts around specific tasks. Education researchers agreed that effective leadership is a key element to achieve school improvement. According to Harris (2002), research findings from diverse countries and different school contexts have revealed the powerful impact of leadership in securing school development and change. A further important aspect while practicing leadership is the level of power and control which schools and other educational institutions assert/maintain on their in-house management and operations (Bush 2003). However, effective leadership styles in education can be as varied as the large number of schools. Therein lays the difficulty in providing accurate definitions of leadership. Accordingly, Fiddler (1997) pinpoints two main characteristics of leadership: a sense of purpose and confidence is engendered in followers and followers are influenced towards goal achievement. He continued explaining that there are various factors determining the appropriate leadership approach that need to be adopted at any particular point in time, namely : the context and its pre-history; the nature of the followers; the particular issues involved; in addition to the predispositions of the leader (Fiddler 1997). Accordingly different leadership styles may need to be adopted to deal with specific circumstances. Leithwood, Day, Sammons, Harris and Hopkins (2006), as cited by Crum, Sherman and Myran (2010), have summarized four core practices for successful school leadership as follows: (1) Setting directions. (2) Developing people. (3) Redesigning the organization. (4) Managing the instructional (teaching and learning) program. 2.1.1 Leadership theories Scholars have come up with different leadership theories throughout history. It all started with the Great Man theory which implies that leaders are born and is not made (Hoy and Miskel 2004). The idea that leadership is inherited further resulted in the trait approach of leadership. In 1927, Bowden carried out a significant study which associated leadership with personality. Hoy and Miskel (2004) cited the explanation of Bass and Stogdill (1990) concerning this leadership style: Leaders were generally regarded as superior individuals who, because of fortunate inheritance or social circumstance, possessed qualities and abilities that differentiated them from people in general. After a thorough research, Stogdill (1948) concluded that leadership is not gained solely by some inherited traits or characteristics since different situations have great influence on the impact of traits. So he came up with the theory of situational leadership (Hoy and Miskel 2004; Turner, 2005). Hunt and Larson (1977) came up with the behavioral model of leadership which implies that leadership can be taught and learned by way of teaching and observing leadership behaviors (Northhouse 2010). Behavioural theories are centered on the belief that great leaders are made, not born. The focus of this theory is the actions of the leaders, and it is not the qualities or states of the leaders (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Spillane, Harvelson and Diamond (2004), Hemphill and Coons (1950), Kunz and Hoy (1976) and Mouton and Blake (1984) among others investigated on the concept of leadership as a series of behaviors. Their studies resulted in defining various taxonomies of behaviors, including monitoring, consulting, and delegating as Hallinger and Hausman (1993) pointed out. Others like Lewin, White and Lippitt (1939) have identified other styles of behavior, such as autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Mouton and Blake (1964) named their findings on behavioral styles as employee-oriented and directive where as Likert called his as task-oriented and relationship-oriented and he has discussed about the relationship between these behaviors (Spillane et al. 2004). More recently Yukl (2002) developed three fundamental classes of leader behavior and he described them as Task-oriented behaviors, Relations-oriented behaviors and Change-oriented behaviors (Hoy Miskel 2004). In 1964 the contingency theory of leadership was developed by Fiedler (1967). According to him, leaders must complement the situation to his leadership behaviors for greater effectiveness (Spillane et al. 2004). The evolution of leadership theories continued with the transactional and transformational theories in the early eighties and Burns (1978) is often accredited to be the father of these concepts. Transactional theories, concentrate on the role of supervision, organization and group performance. These theories establish leadership on a scheme of rewards and punishments (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Transformational theories of leadership are considered as recent leadership theories and according to Bass (1990), this theory is an expansion of the transactional theory of leadership. Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others by helping the followers to see the importance and good side of the task. These leaders focus on the performance of group members, but they also encourage each individual to meet his or her full potential. Leaders having this style are often highly ethical and have moral standards (Hoy and Miskel, 2004; Turner, 2005) 2.2 Management As Dimmock (1999) has stated, managing means being in charge of the day to day running of the school and it is the maintenance of the system. Dash and Dash (2008) define management as the primary force within any organization which coordinates the activities of its various systems in relation to its objectives. According to them, management can be considered not only as a theory but also as a process. The theory part comprises of the philosophy, Knowledge, art, concept, objectives, functions, principles and practices, models. The process part comprises of human relations, managing physical and financial resources, planning, organizing, decision-making, executing, directing and controlling people in order to meet the objectives set. 3.0 School and Structure The School is a complex open social system. In this system the structure is a key element in transforming inputs into outputs. The structure, also called the bureaucratic expectations, defines our role and responsibilities (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Hoy and Miskel (2004) explained the transformational process of a school using the diagram below: Inputs Outputs Cultural System (Shared Orientations) Transformation Process Political System (Power Relations) Individual System (Cognition and Motivation) Learning Learning Teaching Teaching Environment Structural System (Bureaucratic Expectations) Figure 1Social-systems model for schools They explained the five key elements within the transformational process. Structure is the bureaucratic expectations designed and organised to fulfill organisations goals. The Individual provides energy and capacity to achieve organisations goals and he is viewed in terms of needs, goals, beliefs, understanding of work roles (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Mintzberg (1994) defines the structure of an organization as the sum total of ways in which it divides its labor into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination among them. Hoy and Miskel (2004) have focused on structure since it is considered as the backbone of any organization, which is the framework under which we are all doing the necessary operations. The structure monitors operations at operational level of any organization. Within a structure, we are expected to make the whole machinery work. Structure provides order, cohesion and coherence. All schools do not follow the same structure; some have an enabling or productive structure whereas others have a coercive or hindering structure (Hoy and Miskel 2004). 3.1 Enabling and Coercive bureaucracy Lawsons made a distinction between an enabling and a coercive bureaucracy. According to him, an enabling bureaucracy promotes creative, informal relations among all the employees irrespective of the levels of hierarchy. The more an organization has an enabling bureaucracy, the larger the benefits to workers and clients. In this type of bureaucracy, the workforce is considered to be an asset or a resource on which the leaders capitalize. To this end, the latter encourage and endorse professional norms and standards as they know that the workers want and need their work to be pleasant and significant. Leaders also provide training and supports to the workers to foster expertise and mastery, thus they could be trusted to make good and solid decisions. This kind of proficient and cooperative supervision is regarded as a supportive one for the workers. Moreover, workers participation is also solicited as they are aware that working conditions will determine the workers efficacy, effective ness, and their loyalty. In a coercive bureaucracy, norms and rules are not variable or open to alteration. Such a bureaucracy is considered as mechanistic since the whole organization functions, generally, on automatic pilot where there is a small number of people at the controls. All emphasis is on the respecting the norms and regulations and on the dutiful implementation of the appropriate procedures .Only the people at higher levels of the bureaucracy have a clear picture of the work needing to be performed and its relation to societal expectations and needs. Indeed the main function of the leadership hierarchy such as commissioners, managers, and supervisors is to secure submission from the workers via a strategic system of supervision and sanctions. The workers are expected to perform so as to secure their salaries and benefits which are their only incentives to be effective. Furthermore, in a coercive bureaucracy the workers are not trusted enough to participate in decision making and they are not pro vided with the appropriate expertise to give their superiors, thus the latter conduct close supervision on a daily basis. If the workers are suspected to not following the rules, the supervisory and managerial grip tightens. Consequently coercive bureaucracies become more and more hindering as in a vicious circle, bringing together a deterioration of the organizations climate (Lawson). 3.2 Weberian Model of Bureaucracy and Its Criticism Throughout the ages, many scholars have developed different organizational structures. But among them, the Weberian model of Bureaucracy is the most popular and is the theoretical basis of most contemporary study on structure. This model of bureaucracy was developed in late 1940s by Max Weber and all formal modern organizations, as well as schools, enclose aspects of the Weberian model of bureaucracy. This organizational structure comprises of five characteristics namely the Division of labour and specialization, the impersonal orientation, the hierarchy of authority, the rules and regulations and the career orientation (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Despite being largely utilized, the Weberian model has quite some limitations. Weber describes organisation as a non-living thing which can be easily moulded, but open-social system involves people and cannot be viewed as non-living. Moreover people are not all rational and well structured. Weber is describing an ideal situation, not made up of reality and on the other hand organisation is made up of people and people change, not everybody wants to attain the highest level of efficiency. Hence, there are bound to be major dysfunctions in Weberian model since this bureaucracy is made up of people and not everybody is rational, abiding and cooperative, complient, disciplined. His theory does not deal with internal contradictions of elements in the model (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Concerning the Hierarchy of authority its dysfunctions is about the distortion and blockage in communication. Every level in hierarchy is a potential communication block if subordinates are reluctant to communicate anything that will make look bad in the eye of their superior. The main dysfunctions of rules and regulations is the goal displacement, rules become ends in themselves and administrators focus too much on rules and consequently ignore certain important goals. Moreover rules and regulations can engender legalist attitude. Another critics of rules is that they are either punishment centred or representative (Hoy and Miskel 2004). Career orientation has also dysfunctions. Rapid promotion of high-achievers might produce discontent of loyal, hard working senior employees who are not as productive or creative. The Weberian model of bureaucracy also suffered from Feminist critique such as qualified women do not receive equal treatment or compensation. The feminine side is often suppressed and devalued by bureaucracies. Last, the Weberian model is criticized for having not taken into consideration the informal organization. Informal social exchanges produce differences in social relations and new networks of communication emerge. Informal organisation is not an enemy to be suppressed but rather a useful vehicle for improving efficiency (Hoy and Miskel 2004). 4.0 School Management As stated above, schools are social organizations with set objectives and their human, financial, material and physical resources (Dash and Dash 2008). The one responsible for managing all these resources is the principal or the head-master. Here is a list of his expected duties: find the best and cheapest way to achieve the objectives, careful planning, organization of human resources and materials, using the physical resources in the best way, controlling and monitoring all the different school activities, decision-making and the evaluation of the progress and achievements. In short, school management means the use of people and other resources to accomplish the objectives of the school. Such was the definition of Kutz and Boone (1984), quoted by Dash and Dash (2008). School management is divided into two parts: internal management and external management. Internal management comprises of managing the administrative works and the human, financial and material and physical resources. On the other hand, the external management is the relationship with the community, department and other external stakeholders of the school (Dash and Dash 2008). Decision-making in many schools is also split into different lines of work and the four main domains are the personnel management, the financial resources, the student policies and the curriculum and instruction. School decision-making also consists of other domains such as the development of Infrastructure, maintenance and security (Economic note 2007). 5.0 School Leadership School leadership is to identify, to acquire, to allocate, to co-ordinate, and to make use of the social, material, and cultural assets which are essential for establishing the appropriate environment in which teaching and learning will be possible. Leadership also implies the mobilization of the human resources such as the school personnel and clients so as to spot, handle, and assume the duty of changing instruction. Adding to that, they should harness and mobilize the resources required to sustain the transformation in the teaching and learning process (Spillane 2005). 6.0 Reforms in School Management From the time that schools have been recognized as formal institution, it has known numerous changes in different spheres and it is continuously being subject to change and transformation. Recently both teachers and schools have experienced an unprecedented rate of change having both positive and negative outcomes (Aspinwall 1996). Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell (1991) define the learning organisation as: an organisation that facilitates the learning of all its members and continuously transforms itself in order to meet its strategic objectives. (Coldwell, Williamson and Cameron 2007). Caldwell (2005) defined Transformation as significant, systematic, sustainable change, securing high level achievements in all settings. 6.1 How to become A Great School? Hopkins (2005) explains how a school can become great and he suggest various strategies, known as the key drivers in order to meet this end. These key drivers are personalised learning, professionalised teaching, networking and innovation and intelligent accountability. He argues that every school a great school is not just a slogan, but an aspiration for the next stage of educational reform, in which each student has the opportunity to reach their potential. Hargreaves (2003) affirmed that school as a learning organization has to motivate teachers and create new professional knowledge. School has got the responsibility to ensure that teachers have got high morale, they are given continuous development, they are provided with the appropriate platform to engage actively in innovation so as things can be done differently. To be a great school requires strategies such as capacity building of and by the key actors, providing access and opportunities and transformation. Capacity development is important and great school will need to have further resources and see how these are being developed (Hopkins 2005). Hopkins (2005) in his explanation on the key drivers, mentioned that the activities should be decentralized and the school should provide greater freedom and authority from the centre to the periphery for the school to work effectively. The re-tooling of school structures will certainly help to keep the strength of the school system (Hopkins 2005). Access to best practice and quality professional development will help to improve performance and achievement. Transfer of best practice is not the easiest; sharing of experience is an important barrier. Alliance is important- should borrow the best practice, modify it and implement it in our own way. The element of flexibility in utilization of best practice is important. Schools as a learning organization have to motivate teachers and create new professional knowledge at the level of the school. This is important in order to help to motivate the teachers keeping a high morale and not to become disgruntled. Professional development should go side by side with leadership development (Hopkins 2005). Senge (1990) defined a learning organization as one à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn together (Johnston and Caldwell 2001). To make optimum use of its human resources, an organization must make sure that everyone should be prepared to learn at every opportunity. Organizations will only succeed when learning will be seen as a continuous need for each individual. However, the learning organization will not become one by a sudden and remarkable transformation, rather it should proceed by developing gradually each of the five disciplines, namely, systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision and team learning (Johnston and Caldwell 2001). Intelligent accountability will only be possible if there is close monitoring of every aspect of school life. Monitoring of performance data is crucial and eventually it leads to the development of a framework for effective, ongoing self-evaluation of the level of the school (Hopkins 2005). 7.0 Decentralization of School Management In the 1980s and 1990s, a new international trend emerged in many developed countries throughout the world, that of decentralization of their education system. It was obvious that large, centralized bureaucracies didnt possessed the necessary qualities to keep pace with the rapidly changing economic realities. According to Levacic (1998) and Raab (2000), the step was to decentralize the decision-making from the central government to the local school level and to share the decision-making among the principal, teachers, parents, community members and students at the school level (Ng and Chan 2008). Accordingly, many schools adopted the school-based reforms, with a goal to upgrade the quality of education, which is expected to sustain the state competitiveness internationally. Ng and Chan (2008) further enumerated various examples of such school-based reforms. These are In the UK, the Educational Reform Acts of 1988 and 1993 introduced the reforms of Local Management of Schools and Grant-maintained Schools. In the USA, there were similar reforms of Site-based Management and School-based Leadership. In Australia, the Schools of the Future and Better Schools were also based on a school-based reform approach. According to School-based Management published by the United Nations Educational, Scienti ¬Ã‚ c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (Abu-Duhou 1999), many other examples could be found in Europe, Asian and Latin America countries (Ng and Chan 2008). They further interpreted such a collective shift as a means to enhance the education quality, responding to globalization and to develop the knowledge-based economy. This decentralization archetype is expected to provide greater freedom and responsibility to principals, teachers, students and parents, in domains like the school decision making about budgets, personnel and the curriculum. Such a freedom will enable them to establish more effective learning environments for the students (Ng and Chan 2008). The Economic Note (2007) also examined this particular form of market-based education reform known as decentralization of school management which has become more and more popular during the recent years. Also known as school-based management, the decentralization of school management can be in various modes and has emerged in many forms in different countries. The main argument brought to support decentralization is that principals, teachers and parents are best placed to make decisions about how a schools resources should be organized to meet the needs of students and the wider community (Economic note 2007). 7.1 Criticism of Decentralisation Many advantages have been observed such as an improvement in educational outcomes due to the enhanced management and accountability of schools and examples of that are: an increase in the test scores and a decrease in drop-out rates. Another advantage is a more effective organization as an autonomous school had the strongly influences the overall quality of the school organization (Economic Note 2007). Other prospective benefits from decentralization are an increase in efficiency and innovation in the teaching and learning process of education, a reduction in the educational bureaucracy, schools become more receptive to the needs of the local communities, the accountability is reinforced and an increased commitment with the schools, thus increasing the financial support. Increased self-management for schools is a key element in whichever strategy to provide greater choice in education (Economic note 2007). In World Bank (2007b), the authors provide a comprehensive analysis of case studies in some countries where the process of decentralization of authority to the local-level is in force from the past decades. Among the various strategies brought by Governments around the world for the improvement of financing and delivering of education services and more recently to improve the quality and to increase quantity of enrollment rates, is the decentralization of educational decision-making. Defenders of this strategy argue that such type of decentralization encourages demand and it guarantees that schools now echo priorities and values of the local communities (World Bank 2007b). In conferring the freedom to voice out and the decision-making power to local stakeholders, who is more knowledgeable about the local education systems than the chief policymakers, decentralization can bring greater progress to educational outcomes thus increasing the clients satisfaction (World Bank 2007b). The decentralization of decision-making in education has various definitions and names but it is most commonly known as School-based Management (SBM). However they are all relevant in decentralizing authority from the central government down to school level (World Bank 2007b). 8.0 School-based Management or Self Managing School Caldwell (2005) has observed that the governments of every country aim at transforming their schools. Transformation is only attained when significant, systematic, and sustained change has occurred, thus improving outcomes for every students in whichever settings and contributing socially and economically to a country. One of the strategies invariably proposed to meet this goal is the School-based management. The management of a school is in no way a simple task, the head of school alone will not be able to attend to all these duties. As Dash and Dash (2008) have rightly said School management is a cooperative human endeavour. They further continued by explaining that for an effective school management, teachers, parents, students and even the community members have to cooperate with the head of school even if he is the manager of this human enterprise. Through the literature, we have come across several definitions of school-based management where one complements the other. Some of them are worth noting: The Economic Note (2007) defined School-based management as the systematic decentralization to the school level of authority and responsibility to make decisions on significant matters related to school operations within a centrally determined framework of goals, policies, curriculum, standards, and accountability. In the World Bank (2007b), two main definitions were quoted. First, Caldwell (2005) definition SBM is the decentralization of authority from the central government to the school level. Secondly the definition of Malen, Ogawa and Kranz (1990): School-based management can be viewed conceptually as a formal alteration of governance structures, as a form of decentralization that identi ¬Ã‚ es the individual school as the primary unit of improvement and relies on the redistribution of decision-making authority as the primary means through which improvement might be stimulated and sustained(World Bank 2007b). Bush and Gamage (2001) quoted a definition of school-based management given by Caldwell and Spinks (1988) as a self-managing school as one for which there has been major and steady decentralisation to the school level of authority to make decisions related to the distribution of resources. Decentralization of school management is another way of calling the above mentioned cooperation. Decentralization or school-based management varies from country to country and it can take different shapes (Economic Note 2007). School-based management has many shades of meaning. It has been implemented in different ways and for different reasons and at different rates in different settings, as Caldwell (2005) pointed out. A large number of countries in the world have adopted the school-based management in different forms of self-governance according to their specific context. However each of them revolves around the same central idea that greater autonomy will lead to improved educational outcomes (Bush and Gamage 2001) and that there has been an increase in authority and responsibility at the school level, but within a centrally-determined framework that ensures that a sense of system is sustained (Caldwell 2005). The authority is typically delegated to the governing bodies at school level which consist of representatives of significant stakeholders, at the same time as the delegation of the operational management to the principal. The concept of self-governance is centered on the idea that decision-making concerning groups of individual within the educational system should be in the hand of those within the schools in