Introduction to Early Childhood Education - Assessment Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment Essay Identify THREE quality indicators relevant to early childhood education and discuss why they are important for children, parents, and/or society. 300 words. The first quality indicator relevant to early childhood education would be people. Letting your child learn in an environment where the teachers and assistants are expert, well-trained and the majority of them hold qualifications in the area. They should be able to fully understand your child’s needs, communicate well with them ensuring they make your child feel safe and comfortable being around them. They should also be trusted and respected by staff, parents and children. The ‘place or environment’ would be the second indicator. The learning environment should make all children feel welcome regardless of the cultural, ethnic or language background. They should be able to provide a variety of, materials, equipment and play activity arranged to encourage children to learn. A stimulating outdoor environment that challenges and motivates children to explore, run and play is also important. An environment where they feel safe, and where parents can see their child, and feel comfortable knowing they are there. They should be able to feel secure in the environment they are in and to know their children can only benefit from being there. ‘Programme’ the third indicator. A quality learning programme should provide lots of learning opportunities in a wide range of different areas (reading, water play, sand play, dress-up, science, social play). A variety of activities either working in small groups or individual interactions with teachers. Parents should be able to BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 2 to understand themselves about what their child is learning, having good communication with the centre employees, knowing what is going on and understanding their ways etc. an eye out being a parent and understanding the centres way. Teachers should always build trusting relationships with parents while always respecting and supporting different families cultures and languages. Reference List (ASPECTS OF QUALITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Valerie N. Podmore and Anne Meade With Anne Kerslake Hendricks, 2000) (Collins Concise Dictionary, 2001, p. 1224). (Gibbs, C. (2006). To be a teacher: Journeys towards authenticity. Auckland: Pearson Education. ) BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 3 Identify TWO early childhood services in your community. Briefly explain their history and then compare and contrast their philosophies, educational goals and the strategies employed to achieve these goals. 450 words. Montessori is a philosophy and method of education pioneered by the Italian educationalist Dr Maria Montessori (The first Montessori school opened in 1909, the first Waldorf school in 1919 and the first Playcentre in the 1930s) Montessori casa dei bambini or childrens house was first opened in San Lorenzo, Rome, Italy. Dr Maria Montessori recognised that the first six years of a child’s life are the most important. Dr Montessori, trialled many materials and activities, but kept only those to which the children were spontaneously and repeatedly drawn. Playcentre began in 1941 primarily as a support service to women left raising children alone due to partners being away with the Second World War. Lack of transport and low family incomes were the reality for many women. Playcentres original aims were â€Å"to provide leisure for mothers and opportunities for the social development of the pre-school child† (Stover, 1998, p. 3). Playcentre is a stimulating environment, they provide a diverse and rich range of experiences, unlimited free play across all 16 areas of play, and a child initiated curriculum. Montessori has a certain structure and is based on their own philosophy unlike playcentre. Playcentre is a parent run co-operative it relies heavily on parental input, participation and support. Montessori aim is to provide an environment with structure and activities that meet the needs of the children and by giving them freedom to move and act within it, it was said that Dr Montessori had revealed the â€Å"true nature† of the child. Their philosophy is aimed for Children to be encouraged to be firmly grounded in reality before being exposed to fantasy. Montessori classrooms are very BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 4 quiet, as children are deeply absorbed in their work. They input this by managing the classroom materials into six areas (Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial Material, Art, Mathemartics, language, cultural subjects, and also physical is brought into their daily routine). Playcentre however is marked by a stimulating environment, providing a diverse and rich range of experiences, unlimited free play across all 16 areas of play, and a child initiated curriculum. Their views and goals are to promote children’s learning through play, Family involvement ( based on the importance of parents as educators of their own children) They like to View children as people who are strong and capable and can make their own choices about how and where to play (childinitiated play). Playcentre teachers are trained parents who take quite a hands on approach and implement learning, using a lot of open ended questions to extend children’s thinking. Montessori and playcentre have different methods. Both focus on the wellbeing of children, and help promote them to learn and grow through many different approaches. The key difference between Playschool and Montessori is that at playschool the whole family joins, rather than it just being a provider of education for the child. Reference List (Pre-schoolers: Preschool Education: Types of Early Childhood Care KYLIE VALENTINE 2010) (Stover, 1998, p. 3). May, H. (2002, Winter). Early childhood care and education in Aotearoa – New Zealand: An overview of history, policy and curriculum. McGill Journal of Education BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 5. Discuss THREE of the following significant factors which were covered in this course and that promote health and safety in early childhood centres and explain the role of the early childhood practitioner in promoting and implementing these factors: 1. Providing a safe environment 2. Providing a hygienic and clean environment 3. Identifying and responding to childhood illness ‘Providing a safe environment’ Being a teacher, means constantly observing children and setting safety rules for them to create a safe centre. This is only part of the process. Teachers must always watch for hazardous situations. Toys, equipment, electrical appliances, hot water, and cleaning supplies can pose danger to children. Centre vehicles and the building itself can also be hazardous to children. As well as outdoor activities, certain heights and lengths of equipment need to be suitable for the environment as these pose a danger to children also. â€Å"Exploration is an important part of a child’s growth and development, and increased independence. However, that exploration should take place in an environment that is as free of hazards as possible† (MoH, 1997, p.71). ). The teacher’s role in identifying and removing or minimising potential hazards is vital. (See Moe, 2008, HS12-16, p. 19) A teacher’s first job should be to look at the environment where the children are going to play first thing in the morning, if there is anything unusual, broken or out of place that could be risk. Toy safety is another, choosing the items correctly the item itself, size, if it is appropriate for their age, etc. Picking safe toys and materials greatly reduces the risk of serious injury. Small things can cause serious harm, e. g. choking. However as a teacher, you must supervise children at all times when using BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 6 the toys/playing. Creating rules for the children helps implement the importance of safety to them as well. ‘Providing a hygienic and clean environment ‘ In an Early childhood centre it is essential that all equipment is cleaned daily/weekly/monthly everything is to be sanitised/disinfected especially With children having access to all sorts of equipment daily (putting toys in their mouths, several hands touching the toys etc. ) It is very important for learning environments to be clean and safe as Germs can easily spread fast among children who play together. (Air, coughing, sneezing, Body waste and fluids, faeces, urine, saliva, mucus, skin, wounds, parasite, Blood, viruses and bacteria). Teachers should encourage children to also get involved with personal hygiene, getting them to blow their noses on tissues, washing hands before and after eating, or using the bathroom, this shows them how to help stay clean. â€Å"The importance of effective hand-washing for educators and children cannot be over-emphasised. Hand-washing is essential following animal handling, rubbish removal, outdoor activities, nose blowing, toileting and preceding food handling and consumption (MoH, 1997)† There are more strategies teachers influence to keep a safe healthy environment such as when a new child starts they talk about immunisation (immunisation charts) and excursion if a child is ill. These hygiene practices can likely reduce the spread of germs or uncleanliness in learning settings and it is essential to have a cleaning schedule. ‘†Identifying and responding to childhood illness† Early childhood teachers should be able to tell the signs and symptoms of an ill child . They should provide appropriate care for a child who is unwell. Sick children are usually have no interest in play, have BEd111: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Assessment 20120778 Tourmaline Munday- Cooper 7 little energy, short tempered and upset, may want to be held and comforted, fever, vomiting or diarrhoea. Parents should be notified, so they can come and collect their child. It is important to isolate the child from the group to prevent infecting others. A staff member must supervise the child closely, as a young child’s condition can change rapidly and they may need urgent attention. Children should always be reminded to also help stop spreading illness, they need to be given an idea, they may not understand the detail but as simple as reminding them to put their hand over their mouth when they sneeze or cough, grabbing a tissue when needed etc. Staff must always enforce hygienic care. Staff with Appropriate first aid should be administered to help with a situation where a child needs tending too e. g. If they are hurt, and need wounds cleaned and banded. The Ministry of Health (1997) advises that children should stay away from early childhood services when they are ill. Depending on your childcare provider they to have their own policy towards the issue. Teachers are not expected to diagnose conditions, that is what the doctors are for. However, having knowledge of how certain illnesses manifest, spread, and incubate is very important. Having a first aid certificate is a positive in the childcare industry having the knowledge of what to do in certain situations, it benefits the children and the centre. Reference List Auckland Regional Public Health Service. (May 2010). Health safety guidelines for early childhood centres. Retrieved 19th September, 2011, fromhttp://www. arphs. govt. nz/Portals/0/Health%20Information/PDFs/ECC_HealthSafet yGuidelines. pdf Childcare illness from http://www. careforkids. com. au/articlesv2/article. asp? ID=71 (Ministry of Health, 1997).

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure Expenditure means a payment made by a business to obtain some benefits, i.e., assets, goods and services (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 1.2 Meaning of Capital Expenditure or Asset Capital expenditure is that expenditure which is for future benefits. It means expenditure for gaining an asset. Asset is a resource controlled by an organization as a result of past event and for which future benefits are expected (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 2. Revenue expenditure 2.1 Meaning of revenue expenditure Revenue expenditure are expenditures for ordinate repairs, maintain ace, fuel , insurance or other item needed to maintain used building, and plant and equipment. They go to the expense account and reduce the income of period in which they are incurred, because benefits from these expenditures dont last beyond that period (NARAYANASWAMY, R, 2008). 3. Differentiate between Capital and revenue Expenditure Investment Appraisal What is an investment? Specifically, an investment is the current commitment of dollars for a period of time in order to derive future payments that will compensate the investor for (1) the time the funds are committed, (2) the expected rate of inflation, and (3) the uncertainty of the future payments(BROWN, Keith and Reilley, Frank, 2005). Method of investment Appraisal A companys shareholders prefer to be rich rather than poor. Therefore, they want the firm to invest in every project that is worth more than it costs. The difference between a projects value and its cost is termed the net present value. Companies can best help their shareholders by investing in projects with a positive net present value (BREALEY et al., 2001). We start this material by showing how to calculate the net present value of a simple investment project. We also examine other criteria that companies sometimes consider when evaluating investments, such as the NPV projects payback period IRR Net Present Value (NPV) Suppose that you are in the real estate business. You are considering construction of an office block. The land would cost $50,000 and construction would cost a further $300,000. You foresee a shortage of office space and predict that a year from now you will be able to sell the building for $400,000. Thus you would be investing $350,000 now in the expectation of realizing $400,000 at the end of the year. You should go ahead if the present value of the $400,000 payoff is greater than the investment of $350,000. Assume for the moment that the $400,000 payoff is a sure thing. How much would you have to invest in it in order to receive $400,000 at the end of the year (BREALEY et al., 2001). Thats easy: you would have to invest $400,000 ÃÆ'- 1/1.07 = $400,000 ÃÆ'- .935 = $373,832 Therefore, at an interest rate of 7 percept, the present value of the $400,000 payoff from the office building is $373,832. NPV = PV required investment = $373,832 $350,000 = $23,832 In other words, your office development is worth more than it costs-it makes a net contribution to value. Internal Rate of Return Instead of calculating a projects net present value, companies often prefer to ask whether the projects return is higher or lower than the opportunity cost of capital. For example, think back to the original proposal to build the office block. You planned to invest $350,000 to get back a cash flow of C1 = $400,000 in 1 year. Therefore, you forecasted a profit on the venture of $400,000 $350,000 = $50,000 (BREALEY et al., 2001). Rate of return = profit/ investment = C1 investment/ investment = $400,000 $350,000/ $350,000 = .1429, or about 14.3% The alternative of investing in a U.S. Treasury bill would provide a return of only 7 percept. Thus the return on your office building is higher than the opportunity cost of capital. This suggests two rules for deciding whether to go ahead with an investment project: 1. The NPV rule. Invest in any project that has a positive NPV when its cash flows are discounted at the opportunity cost of capital. 2. The rate of return rule. Invest in any project offering a rate of return that is higher than the opportunity cost of capital (BREALEY et al., 2001). PAYBACK PERIOD These days almost all large companies use discounted cash flow in some form, but sometimes they use it in combination with other theoretically inappropriate measures of performance (BREALEY et al., 2001). Inflation and capital investment decisions Inflation can have a serious effect on capital investment decisions, both by reducing the real value of future cash flows and by increasing their uncertainty. Future cash flows must be adjusted to take account of any expected inflation in the prices of goods services in order to express them in normal (or money) terms, i.e. in term of actual cash amounts to be received or paid in the future. As an alternative to the nominal approach to dealing with inflation in investment appraisal, it is possible to deflate nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation in order to obtain cash flows expressed in real terms, i.e. with inflation stripped out (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). (1+real cost of capital) = (1+ normal cost of capital) / (1+ inflation rate) For example if the nominal cost of capital is 15% and the rate of inflation is 9 %, the real cost of capital will be 5.5 %. Investment appraisal and risk involved In the context of investment appraisals, risk refers to the business risk of an investment, which since it derives from a companys capital structure is reflected in its weighted average cost of capital. Risk is tusk distinct from uncertainty, which increases proportionality with project life. A risk-averse company is concerned about the possibility of expected, i.e. with downside risk, and will therefore want to asses the risk of an investment project. There are several methods of assessing project risk and of incorporating risk into the decision making (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity analysis is a way of assessing the risk of an investment project by evaluating how responsive the NPV of the project is to change in the variables from which it has been calculated (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Types of risk Credit Risk Market risk Equity Risk Liquidity risk Financial Analysis Financial performance analysis using financial ratio Categories of Financial Ratios Analysts find it useful to classify ratios into broad groupings, based on the characteristics that particular ratios are intended to measure. In this section, we discuss ratios under four major headings that are widely employed by analysts: liquidity, profitability, capital structure, and investor ratio (STICE et al., 2002). Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate the short-term solvency of the firm. They also indicate how effectively the firm is managing its working capital (STICE et al., 2002). Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are the second major focus of analysis for any investor. Without profits, there will be no return to the investor or no one will want to invest (STICE et al., 2002). Gross Profit The gross profit percentage is the first source of profitability for a manufacturing or merchandising firm. The data for the gross profit margin are found in the first sections of the income statement. These data indicate the level of profits earned from buying and reselling goods (STICE et al., 2002). Operating income ratio The operating income ratio is the second indicator of profitability because it includes All the other normal and recurring operating costs. Increasing or stable levels Of operating income indicate sustainability of the firms profits (STICE et al., 2002). Financial Statement Analysis, Wendys International, Inc. In this section, we apply our financial statement analysis framework to Wendys International, Inc. Liquidity Analysis Profitability Analysis Summary, Wendys International, Inc. Our analysis of Wendys financial statements is cautiously positive. The primary weak indicator is in the area of profitability (based on accrual-based earnings), and this result may be due to transitory effects that may not persist in the future. There were significant positive trends in liquidity, and stability in investor ratios. Further examination of supplementary information, as well as subsequent quarterly results for 1998 and 1999, could be used to support or challenge these conclusions (STICE et al., 2002). Non-Financial Analysis Using Balance score card Balance Score Card The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a technique developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) that helps organisational decision makers to navigate the organisation towards success. The technique enables organisations to translate their mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provide the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. Organisations have used the Balanced Scorecard to; (1) clarify and translate vision and strategy, (2) communicate and link strategic objectives and measures, (3) plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives and (4) enhance strategic feedback and learning, and succeed in realizing both tangible and intangible benefits of their investments (Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1996, 2000). The Balanced Scorecard measures organisational performance, with emphasis on financial objectives. But, it also includes the performance drivers of these financial objectives, and measures organisational performance across four balanced perspectives; (1) financial, (2) customer, (3) internal business processes and (4) learning and growth (DARSHANA SEDERA, Guy Gable and Michael Rosemann). Framework of Balance Score Card.

Families And Sibling Abuse Understanding The Unthinkable

Families And Sibling Abuse Understanding The Unthinkable Abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, or sexual, can infiltrate a family setting and alter the dynamics greatly. Within a family there are different relationships and bonds, and each one of those relationships may have a different motive and form of abuse within it. A type of abuse within a family that does not receive much attention from society is abuse by siblings. In general, abuse within a family is thought of as a parent abusing a child and asserting their authority in such a way, but the matter of abuse by a sibling is also very important to understand and there are many implications of such abuse. This research paper will address the importance of sibling relationships to further understand the implications that come about from abuse within them, what healthy sibling relationships should look like, the commonality of different relationships of siblings having incest, types of family configurations where sibling abuse is present, and the treatments of siblings that abuse a nd are victims of abuse. Four articles will be used to understand the issue, Sibling Family Practices: Guidelines for Healthy Boundaries (2009) , Sibling Incest: Reports from Forty-One Survivors (2006), Making Sense of Abuse: Case Studies in Sibling Incest (2006), and Treating Sibling Abuse Families (2005). Abuse is a very powerful word that comes with many connotations. The actual definition of abuse has problems with it because it is not universally accepted and the perceptions of abuse from individual to individual vary greatly. Everyone has their own personal opinion on what abuse consists of and in general it is typically thought of as causing harm to another person. Abuse is an issue that has many intersecting factors and many layers that are rooted deep in relationships. One type of abuse that is of great importance, as are the others, is sibling abuse. Sibling abuse is abuse that is perpetrated by one sibling to another and may be physical abuse or sexual abuse, known as incest. The importance of this type of abuse is that it is not given much attention in society and it is difficult to comprehend. Society does not recognize sibling abuse as easily as it will recognize abuse between intimate partners or even abuse between parents and their children. Due to the lack of awareness it is very important to understand what a healthy sibling relationship is, cases of sibling abuse, and treatments of the siblings. By looking at four articles, a view of the issue will come into focus and some light will be shed on the issue of sibling abuse. In Johnson, Huang, and Simpsons research, Sibling Family Practices: Guidelines for Healthy Boundaries, (2009) surveys help conclude what is socially acceptable and what is not within a family. The survey was taken of five hundred people and their opinions generally corresponded. The research showed that when it came to hygiene, bathing together is acceptable for children younger than five if they are of the same gender. If the children are of different genders, the research shows that it is acceptable for children younger than four to bathe together. Showering is a similar issue, being acceptable for same gendered siblings that are younger than six and acceptable for different gendered siblings younger than four and a half years. The data also reflects adults opinions regarding affection, with the statistics on kissing being 37% saying siblings should never kiss on the mouth and 23% of people saying they should kiss at all ages. (Johnson, Huang, Simpson, 2009). Hugging is widely acce pted between siblings. Caffaro and Caffaro address healthy sibling development in Treating Sibling Abuse Families (2005). Caffaro and Caffaro lend a look at the development of sibling relationships, explaining that sibling ties begin in childhood with parents writing the script. (Caffaro Caffaro, 2005). It is common for parents to assign roles for their children without actively meaning to do so. Siblings are often raised being in a natural competition with their sibling and trying to live up to the label that has been placed upon them by their parents. An example would be labeling a child as the smart one and their sibling as the polite one. These two children would compete against each other to keep their title from the other and would also strive to maintain their title, forming it into their self-identity. Carlson, Maciol, and Schneider conducted research in Sibling Incest: Reports from Forty-One Survivors (2006) in order to get a concise picture of sibling sexual abuse. The research was conducted using thirty-four women and seven men and the majority of the forty-one participants were of white. The study conclusions found that three of the males initiated sexual behavior with their sisters and the other men were victims of sibling incest that was brought on by brothers of theirs. Four women of the study were victims of sibling incest because of their sisters and the other thirty women were sexually abused by brothers. The research from this article clearly shows that males are the most common perpetrators of sibling incest and women are more likely to be the victims, but men are also sometimes the victims of sibling abuse brought on by brothers. Corresponding with this data, Caffaro and Caffaro found that sixty-three percent of the women in their study were victims of incest due to th eir brothers sexual assault. In contrast to the prior study, Treating Sibling Abuse Families (2009) found that the second most common form of sibling incest is from one brother to another, the next most common being sisters sexually abusing their brothers, and the least common form being sisters sexually abusing their sisters. (Caffaro Caffaro, 2005). As discussed earlier, it is difficult for society to see all of these cases as abuse and incest because of the difficulties there are in defining abuse and there are also different views between families of what is acceptable and normal. In Making Sense of Abuse: Case Studies in Sibling Incest (2006), Bass, Taylor, Knudson-Martin, and Huenergardt discuss the possibility of abuse being seen as normal within a family. The research done in the article is case studies that follow two Latin American families where sibling incest was present. One of the families viewed abuse as normal and used secrecy as a way to maintain the abuse. Also, the family did not see outside systems as positive and held the opinion that the systems were invading their personal lives. The second family in the research differed from the first in the way that they viewed abuse as a mistake and unacceptable and they used secrecy to protect rather than perpetuate abuse. The second family also differed in seeing outsi de systems and legitimate and, although the systems caused some hardships, they saw them as appropriate and not intrusive as the first had. (Bass, Taylor, Knudson-Martin, Huenergardt, 2006). Treatment for sibling abuse may begin with what is referred to as a Sibling Abuse Interview, or SAI for short. (Caffaro Caffaro, 2005). The SAI functions by asking questions of all family members about the relationships that are currently between the siblings and also the history of those relationships. The SAI asks questions that deal with abuse and trauma and also points out areas of family resilience. Treatment is usually similar to treatment of other forms of abuse, but the therapy is slightly modified. There are two different perspectives when it comes to sexual abuse of children and they are the Child Protection Movement and the Feminist Movement. The Child Protection Movement holds the philosophy that the child victim is the most important at that time and that the entire family is responsible for protecting that child and providing them safety. The ultimate goal of the Child Protective Movement is to reunite the family with a healthier way of living. The Feminist Movement fa vors advocacy over all others. This perspective feels that it is necessary and most beneficial for the victim to have an advocate on their side that is determined to establish protection for that child in the present and the future as well. The Feminist Movement supports family reconciliation, but it does not hold it as a top priority. (Crosson-Tower, 2010). These two theories produce different forms of treatment and have different strategies for treating the victims of incest. Both hold the victims protection above all else but they differ in terms of what is best for the child, whether it be healthy family practices or advocacy for the victim. The four studies discussed help to give a broad understanding of sibling incest, from the healthy sibling relationships that are used as basis, what sibling incest can be interpreted as in terms of common types, family influences on sibling incest regarding their mindsets, to the treatment and outcomes of sibling incest. The studies were largely consistent and all painted pictures that corresponded with one another. There were some minor discrepancies in findings, such as the commonality of different forms of sibling incest, but in general the larger messages were all the same. The implications of the research presented is a better awareness of sibling incest and the ability to recognize red flags when they are present. Sibling incest is more prominent than society likes to think and without understanding sibling incest, it is difficult to prevent it from happening. With understanding, family structures that allow for incest can be recognized and sibling incest can hopefully be dimin ished.

The Pros and Cons of Free Trade Essay -- Free Trade Tarriff Duty Tradi

The Pros and Cons of Free Trade Free trade is exchange of goods and commodities between parties without the enforcement of tariffs or duties. The trading of goods between people, communities, and nations is not an innovative economic practice. Nations are however the main element within a free trade agreement. By examining free trade through three different political ideologies: Liberal, Nationalistic, and Marxist approaches, the advantages and disadvantages will become apparent. Theses three ideologies offer the best evaluation of free trade from three different perspectives. The fundamental component for a liberal political economy is the concept that there be no interference from the government or any other outside source. It is this ‘laissez-faire’ approach that enables the liberal political economy to create what is known as a division of labour. Within this division of labour there are individuals who manufacture goods and those who manage goods. It is the latter however, that end up with the most capital in the long run. The advantage of free trade from a liberal perspective is the ability of the minority controlling the goods to ascertain more wealth than the majority manufacturing the goods. What Smith’s perspective does not take into account is why nations with more low-level workers are less prosperous than nations with more advanced means of production. Nations that have advanced technologically are better off because their means of production allow for more production from less workers, but cost more and are less appe aling to those in control. This element relates directly to the disadvantage of a liberal perspective. While the rich become more affluent and cheaper workers are available in struggli... ...ne is treated equally. The advantage within free trade from a Marxist perspective is poorer nations are allowed the same opportunities as the richer nations. The disadvantage is that no matter how much one nation produce’s (their effort), they are entitled to the same opportunities. The wealthy and perhaps more productive nations would view this as unfair to them. Free Trade is a beneficial idea if all parties involved, that is, the workers, the state, and the private sector, could be represented equally and justly. Until all three ingredients are given the same chances, each perspective will allow for different advantages and disadvantages. By examining the liberal, nationalistic, and Marxist perspectives individually and in contrast with one another, free trade can be seen as a completely different political economy from one region or nation to the next.

The United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (

The United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program Introduction The United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program was introduced on January 5th, 2004 at all air and sea ports of the United States of America. This program, as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, aims to increase the level of security in the U.S. while allowing it to remain a multicultural land with people from all parts of the world. Specifically, the US-VISIT programs goals are to:  ·Ã¢â‚¬Å"Enhance the security of United States Citizens, permanent residents and visitors†[1]  ·Ã¢â‚¬Å"Facilitate legitimate travel and trade†[1]  ·Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ensure the integrity of the immigration system†[1]  ·Ã¢â‚¬Å"Safeguard the personal privacy of visitors† [1] US-VISIT utilizes biometric technology[i] to digitally photograph and scan the two index fingers of all non-immigrant visa holders entering and exiting the United States. This means that U.S. citizens, most Canadians, and citizens of the 27 countries[ii] whose people are not required to have a visa, if staying for 90 days or less, are exempt from this program. Using this technology the government hopes to create a database to monitor the travel of foreign citizens, assuring that they do not overstay their visas, and to protect citizens and visitors by refusing entry to known or suspected criminals.[2] The US-VISIT program raises the ethical issue of how much intrusion on the personal privacy of select individuals the world is willing to allow in hopes of combating terrorism and making our daily lives more secure. Collecting and storing information about a person and their movements infringes upon their rights to move freely. It also c... ...s Arab Groups, 2002, 10 February 2004, [11] Fox News, U.S. Begins Foreign Visitor-Tracking Program, 2004, 10 February 2004, [12] Associated Press, Fast Facts: Countries Exempt From US-VISIT, 2004, 10 February 2004, [13] Associated Press, Visitors Reactions Vary on New Tracking Program, 2004, 10 February 2004, [14] Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, 2003?, 10 February 2004, [15] MichNews.com, Sartre, Do Foreigners Have the Right to Enter the United States?, 2004, 10 February 2004,

Moral Theory: Cultural Relativism

In a fast shrinking world there is very little that a society can do to hide from the scrutiny and judgmental eyes of others. The media and the Internet make it very easy for the rest of the world to know of any indiscretion or any wrongdoing committed by a person or a group of individuals. The problem with judging others though is not as simple as it may seem. There is simply no universal rule to be followed when it comes to some of the more complex ethical issues such as euthanasia, abortion, recreational drug use, etc. Determining what is right and wrong, in this modern age, has been simplified to a moral relativism never before seen since the Western World accepted religion as a standard for living right.The idea that no one can judge others – especially those coming from a different culture – is also known as cultural relativism. This is rooted, in a more general sense, to a concept called moral relativism. This makes the discussion more complicated because accordi ng to Timmons, relativism, â€Å"†¦ is used as a label for a quite a variety of views and ideas that differ in important ways† (2002, p. 38). Timmons adds, that relativism should be understood from the following perspective, â€Å"†¦rightness or wrongness of actions ultimately depends on the moral code of the culture to which one belongs† (2002, p. 38).The PositiveBased on the above-stated definition the proponent can glean at least three ideas that can go in support and against cultural relativism. When it comes to those in favor of relativism then the following are easy to adhere to:1.Cultural relativism allow other groups of people to experience a degree of freedom that they so crave without the interference of outside forces who may not have a clear understanding of what they are doing.2.Cultural relativism makes a person outside the cultural sphere to give the insiders the benefit of the doubt which in some cases is needed to give other people room to ex plain themselves or to execute a plan to its completion.3.Cultural relativism allows for healthy boundaries. This means that other nations or other people groups would do well to mind their own business.The NegativeNow when it comes to the other side, one can also easily find that there are two sides to every idea. When it comes to cultural relativism the negative connotation is ambivalence that at best leads to instability and at worst will lead to chaos as explained in the following:1.Cultural relativism allows for excuses when in fact what is needed is responsibility.2.Cultural relativism allows gross misbehavior that can often lead to violence, violation of human rights etc.3.Cultural relativism can be the cause of misunderstanding that can escalate to war and other international incidents.Expounding on the ideas described above it is better to begin from the positive side of cultural relativism. It is a common contention that cultural relativism is a position that one should ta ke when discussing the evils of legalism – the familiar scene when those who are in a position to demand conformity abuses their power and forces others to follow. The dogmatism and legalism that came from religion is a painful reminder that without a proper view of cultural relativism then there are interest groups who will impose harsh laws and statutes that would make it impossible for others to follow.With regards to the second point, there are cases wherein people groups and even individuals need the benefit of the doubt from others in order for them to fully express themselves or even to execute a plan to perfection. The Western mindset can criticize the oriental mindset but there are times in history when the Western World could have benefited from the wisdom of some Asian practices if they just took the time to give them the benefit of the doubt. Americans for instance ridiculed some of the business practices of post-war Japan and later found out that their way of doi ng things allow them to produce quality products that even surpassed the competition.With regards to the third point, there is no need to look further and begin examining U.S. foreign policy and the way it has been criticized all over the world. There can be good reasons why the mighty United States of America is meddling with the affairs of other countries. But the reaction is already evident in the now infamous September 11 and the Iraq debacle.Understanding, the positive side of cultural relativism would do well to heal conflicts between two different groups but at the same time too much of a good thing can also backfire. Moral looseness can spell chaos, disaster, and tyranny. With regards to the first idea as to why cultural relativism must be opposed a case study was presented by the sociologist James Q. Wilson in sharing an experience he had with his class. Details are shown in the following pages.According to Wilson, he had an interesting and somewhat disturbing discussion wi th his students in the subject of relativism. He said that the students in reaction to the issue of the holocaust asserted an extreme form of relativism in that they refused to acknowledge that the evil that was the holocast.This is very serious for Wilson and the proponent of this study agrees with him. There is clearly a demarcation line between allowing room for cultural relativism and simply turning a blind eye towards something as significant as the murder of six million people. This is an example as to how cultural relativism can be taken too far.Furthermore, the two points raised concerning the negative aspect of cultural relativism can also be seen in the case study presented by Wilson. Cultural relativism can result in behavior that is destructive and harmful for the general public. In this case a group of people – the Nazis – were given blanket authority to harm fellow Germans, who happened to be Jews. This is the disturbing thing about relativism. The Jews w ho were massacred were not people belonging to another nation. They were in fact Germans, with valid citizenship who happened to belong to a particular heritage or to a particular religion. Yet, the Nazis did not consider this and instead went on to murder their own.On the third and last point, cultural relativism can be allowed but only on certain terms. If cultural relativism is allowed without boundaries, it can result in something as serious as a world at war. And the Nazis rise to power is the case in point. The German people allowed this group of radicals to dictate their politics and their moral code. So at the end they were forced to pay a steep price for it. Even today their history is tainted with the blood of six million Jews and it is more jarring that some of them are trying to erase the stigma by using cultural relativism, an idea that was seen in full bloom in Mr. Wilson’s class.ConclusionCultural relativism, an idea rooted in moral relativism is a view that in essence encourages respect and creating boundaries in dealing with people coming from a different social background and culture. This simply means that relativism allow for a more understanding environment, a world where people learn to be more gracious and open minded when it comes to other people’s actions. Those who agree with cultural relativism points to the necessity of first understanding the other person’s social background, culture, and the details of the circumstances that made him or her do something even as disturbing as the holocaust.This view plays an important role in creating a world more open to discussion and less prone to hostility. But there is another side to cultural relativism that can create the same set of problems that it hoped to solve. Those who are espousing cultural relativism aims for a global society that is more humane, more forgiving and more open to discussion. The opposite can happen as seen above.The explanation can be partly seen in the analysis of Catherine Wilson who remarked that in order to perform, â€Å"†¦just and benevolent actions, to approve just and benevolent actions in others, and to attribute merit to those who perform them †¦ requires a social system that regards actions as items for judgment and criticism† (2004, p. 4). In other words this world cannot function having only cultural relativism as a guide. Humanity requires something more stable than just a simplistic answer such as relativism.Relativism is like a band-aid to something as serious as gangrene. One can simply patch up a festering wound denying the fact that something is rotting underneath hoping to show that everything is fine will not solve the problem. The sociologist James Wilson was right to be appalled by the naivete and simplistic formulations of his class. Six million people murdered not including millions more who suffered in death camps could not be simply be dismissed as part of freedom of expression bas ed on the unique circumstances surrounding the event.It is the height of hypocrisy for the students to turn a blind eye from the suffering of Jews in Word War II and yet become so livid when others are violating their own freedom. How come they can easily allow the Nazis to trample the rights of the Jews when they could not stand their own parents telling them what to do. This is simply inconsistent and goes against human nature. Cultural relativism can be allowed in areas where cultural preferences and highly debatable issues are at stake but not when lives are on the line and especially when heinous crimes were committed. ReferencesDreier, L. (2005). Contemporary Debates in Moral Theory. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.Posner, R. (1999). The Problematics of Moral and Legal Theory. Boston, MA: First HarvardUniversity Press.Soccio, D. J. (2004). Archetypes of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy. 5th Ed. Belmont,CA: Wadsworth.Sorell, T. (2000). Moral Theory and Anomaly. Malden, MA : Blackwell Publishers.Timmons, M. (2002). Moral Theory: An Introduction. Maryland: Rowman & LittlefieldPublishers.Wilson, C. (2004). Moral Animals: Ideals and Constraints in Moral Theory. New York: OxfordUniversity Press.

Youth Homelessness in Australia

A homeless person is without a conventional home and lacks most of the economic and social supports that a home normally affords. She/he is often cut off from the support of relatives and friends, she/he has few independent resources and often has no immediate means and in some cases little prospect of self support. She/he is in danger of falling below the poverty line, at least from time to time. There are many causes for youth homelessness. Some youths become homeless because they ran away from an abusive parent or caretaker. They will feel upset/depressed or angry and end up running away. Some youths become homeless because they become involved in drugs and they get kicked out and have nowhere to go. They will still have an addiction to drugs and will struggle to pay for things. Some youths become homeless because they have a mental disorder or illness that isn’t treated properly by his/her family. These youths will often not want help and end up being alone and without help There are many myths about homeless youths and many of them are incorrect. The myth that homeless people are older men is wrong, about half those who are homelessness are between 12 and 34. (In Victoria). That all young homeless youths are male – nationally, 55 percent of homeless youths are female. Another myth is that the youths choose to be homeless. This is incorrect as they would probably prefer to be in a warm house, without having to worry about food, drugs, money or abuse. Youth off the streets could get their message across much easier if they publicised more and showed how they are transforming/helping young people’s lives. Have fundraisers where people know they are helping the youths, have banners, try and get a day all about youths off the streets every year where it’s a big deal and business will donate, advertising around streets, on the television, pamphlets and news segment to get people’s attention and help.