What is succession planning?

Succession planning can be considered a company’s passport to ensuring its sustainability and business continuity. Organisations, big or small, have their competent and hardworking people as their backbone. Without them, their success will not be possible even if they put in a lot of investment in high technology and advanced machineries. It’s one thing, though, to have a pool of qualified and high-potential talent; it’s another thing to ensure that they are in the right positions to maximise their talents and sustain their motivation. The problem comes in when an employee who is currently occupying a critical function becomes unable to perform his or her duties for whatever reason. The company must then be able to identify a key talent from within the organisation who can fill up the void, and this is where succession planning comes into play. Succession planning is an exercise that companies do to ascertain that they have strong, experienced and knowledgeable senior managers who can serve as mentors to promising junior officers who can (and will one day) take on more critical roles and hopefully lead the company to greater success. Succession planning is about making sure that there is a qualified and competent manager who can assume greater responsibilities as the need arises and at any given time. Like in any sports team, the coach relies on a deep bench of â€Å"second team† members to replace a â€Å"starter† player when necessary. In addition, succession planning is anchored on the company’s strategic goals. For instance, if the company decides to expand its business beyond its current service area, top management needs to identify qualified talents who can occupy new posts as a result of a new deal closed or replace senior managers in the parent company who will be seconded to the subsidiary. This means that top management must constantly be on the lookout for possible changes within the organisation and quickly identify the manpower implications of these developments. Organisations that have successfully institutionalised succession planning in their organisation have integrated it into their day-to-day business operations. Succession planning is a continuous activity and not just a periodic thing. Key Elements of Succession Planning The first step to a successful succession planning is having a comprehensive and effective talent mapping and assessment system. Here, the company needs to define the skills set and competencies required for a particular rank and / or function in order to evaluate if all its employees are placed in the position that is most suited for them. Moreover, the company should be able to identify and provide development opportunities and growth areas for each key employee. Furthermore, the company should classify an employee as a high-potential talent, average performer or one that is unreliable and unmotivated. This is to make sure that the company allots more time and resources to develop the right people for the job. This means that a high-potential talent will be given more training and development programs and will be exposed to more growth opportunities compared with an average performer. Another key element in succession planning is to ensure that there is a regular performance evaluation system in place especially for key and emerging talents in the organisation. For most companies, this is done annually; for some semi-annually or even quarterly. Whatever the case is, the company should set clear, quantifiable, measurable and realistic targets against which an employee will be evaluated. Through this, top management will be able to see who among their employees are performing well against their deliverables. If there is a nonperforming employee, the company should find out the underlying cause for this because it might be a case of mismatch between the employee’s skills set and the role that he or she is being asked to perform. The company then should be quick to rectify this problem by moving that employee to a more appropriate position for him and find a more suitable talent who can take his or her place. Companies should also establish a mentoring mechanism and encourage their senior managers to always have an understudy who they think can assume their roles in the future. This understudy or apprentice will shadow the senior manager and help him or her perform critical tasks to develop the needed leadership and management skills. Moreover, companies should foster a working environment where there is flow of information from senior to junior managers and vice-versa. Talent retention is also an important element in succession planning. Companies should invest in making their employees happy and satisfied by providing financial (e. g. rewards and incentives) and non-financial â€Å"gifts† (e. g. employee recognition programs, good healthcare plan, training and development programs, safe and healthy working environment, etc. ). This, then, allows more time for seasoned managers to transfer their knowledge and share their experience to their younger colleagues so that when the time comes, junior officers can step up to the challenge. Benefits of Effective Succession Planning An effective succession planning can bring about benefits both to the company and the employees. First, the company can be assured of a stable business anchored on a strong senior management team and an equally-reliable pool of second stringers composed of trained and groomed junior employees. This, in turn, will make investors and shareholders more confident about the future of the company, which hopefully leads to increased shareholder value. On the part of the customers, they will also be assured that their service provider is in good hands and will be able to cater to their long-term needs. Moreover, good succession planning will save the company time and money in externally sourcing the talent who can best fill in the vacant position. External talents, no matter how brilliant they are, need ample time to understand the business and blend with the organisation. In the same manner, employees will benefit from an effective succession planning system as this will meet their career development requirements and make their existing and future roles clearer. High-potential employees will also appreciate the company’s taking notice of them and providing them with more top-level training and development programs. They will surely feel that they are given importance to by the company. Finally, succession planning gives employees a sense of stability, knowing that they have a long-term career path with the company. This, in turn, will make the employees more motivated, optimistic and forward-looking.

Compare and Cotrast the Characters of Gabriel Conroy and Michael Furey in “The Dead.”

Michal Furey loved Gretta so much that he, a (probably) tubercular worker in a potentially carcinogenic workplace (the gasworks) risked his already fragile health to come stand in her back garden in a cold rain. He is so desperate to see Gretta before she leaves that he says â€Å"†¦ he did not want to live. † Gretta believes that he died for her, and it may well be the case. There is no mention of whether or not he wore galoshes, but if he did it didn't save him. He died a week after that last time he saw Gretta.Gabriel, however, is fond of the newfangled galoshes, and he is careful about his and his wife's health. Unlike Michael Furey, Gabriel seems to relish being alive. He is in love with his wife, but he also does not seem to harbor romantic notions about her. â€Å"He did not like to say even to himself that her face was no longer beautiful but he knew that it was no longer the face for which Michael Furey had braved death. † It's hard to imagine Gabriel Conr oy braving death for anyone, and certainly not for romantic love.He seems too self-satisfied for that, but he also has, as many smug and contented people have, an element of self-loathing â€Å"A shameful consciousness of his own person assailed him. He saw himself as a ludicrous figure, acting as a pennyboy for his aunts, a nervous wellmeaning sentimentalist, orating to vulgarians and idealising his own clownish lusts, the pitiable fatuous fellow he had caught a glimpse of in the mirror. † It is difficult, in this last respect, to compare Michael Furey and Gabriel Conroy.Michael Furey died as a teenager, in all the passion of ill-health coupled with immaturity and intense romanticism. Gabriel is a grown man, a teacher, a father and husband, with all the cares, maturity, satisfactions, and even dashed illusions that that status conveys. Michael, the passionate lover of Gretta who sang, with a beautiful voice, the maudlin tune of â€Å"The Lass of Aughrim† had none of G abriel's life of solid — and, perhaps, stolid — respectability and responsibility. Such circumstances change personalities.But, it is suggested by Joyce's text, Michael and Gabriel shared little except their love for Gretta. Michael is headlong, talented, in ill-health, but also careless of life. Gabriel is, by comparison, careful, steady, respectable, and bent on the enjoyment of his possessions (especially Gretta) and his raised status compared to many people around him. They seem to be of very different dipositions, and, at the end of the story, Gabriel and the reader are left to think whether Gretta would have been happier with Michael Furey, had he lived.

Application and development of relevant business management knowledge Essay - 1

Application and development of relevant business management knowledge - Essay Example The top management of the organizations who were accustomed to the existing process and their know-how found it tough to assimilate the changes due to e-business and manage the effects of this new e-factor. Thus the only way to cope up with the changes brought about by the e-business processes were to know in detail about the business processes and the e-business driven changes as the important impacts of the new factor. An in-depth knowledge of the e-business and the wholesome changes brought about by the useful tools of e-business would help the senior managers to analyze the newly structured business processes and bring about necessary changes in approach and measures to cope up with the business processes and manage the changes. Thus the knowledge on the e-business tools and its functions, the potentials of the e-business processes, the benefits, costs and the impacts on the overall process is extremely essential in managing the changes in the business process. This leads us to t he problem development stage and the problem has been developed as follows. â€Å"What is the importance of knowledge management in e-business driven changes in operating process of companies?† In order to address this problem, the various areas of business operations need to known in detail and the difference between the e-business driven changes and the earlier business processes need to be understood. This would help in identifying the changes that are brought about by the e-business processes in the overall organization culture and business. The understanding of the impacts of e-business on the organization and an analysis of these changes to design ways for managing these changes to the benefit of the organization could be done with the help of management of the knowledge on the changes business processes or the e-business. The scope of knowledge management in e-business lay in the areas of product development, supply chain management, customer relationship and the overa ll business processes. It is thus important to know the organizations that engage in the management of latest business knowledge for timely and efficient development of their products, to bring about necessary changes in the supply chain management to cater to the customers with the products and services through e-business in an efficient manner and to establish strong relationship bonds with the customers through efficient and timely delivery of customer service. It is also important to know about the ways in which the changes in the business management are affected with the help of knowledge on e-business (Malhotra 34). This includes a study of the various tasks that are assigned to the executives in order to cope up with the pace of the system that is driven by the e-platform and the latest technologies. The rationale behind performing these tasks and the application of knowledge management is clearly understood by the senior management and the employees to whom the work is deleg ated in order to reach the maximum level of performance. The process of management of business knowledge is commonly referred as knowledge management by companies aimed at developing the stock of knowledge on the various business processe

Amidst stiff resistance from most actors, the Indian government Essay

Amidst stiff resistance from most actors, the Indian government approved Foreign Direct Investment in retail last year. Discuss how this will impact the development in the country - Essay Example well as implementation of pioneering technological advancements and internationalisation have compelled the respective governments of dissimilar nations to formulate along with execute effectual policies for progressing the economies (Hirst et al., 2009). With regard to this aspect, it has been viewed that the government of India felt the urgent need of progressing its economy through approving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in recent years particularly in the retail sector. By taking into consideration the aforementioned decisive factors, the government of India has decided to implement such a significant approach with the sole motive of developing its economy at large. In this similar concern, the Indian government previously adopted this significant approach but failed to implement owing to the reason of facing stiff resistance from both the allies and the opposition parties by a greater level. The government strongly believes that the introduction and the implementation of this important approach i.e. FDI would certainly help in advancing Indian economy by a significant extent (Nexia International, n.d.). FDI is fundamentally regarded as an invaluable source of private capital especially for developing nations which plays a decisive role in making deliberate efforts towards both national along with international development. Generally, FDI is typically described as a cross-border investment which is made by an organisation based in one particular nation into a business entity based in another country with the motive of strengthening its financial position by a greater level (Peng, 2009). The approach of FDI is principally regarded to be an imperative tool for the financial development of any particular nation through standardising advanced technologies, effectively utilising valuable resources and developing innovative techniques (Moghe, 2008). It has been apparently observed that the governments of various countries desire to adopt and execute this

The informal relationship between leader and subordinate and its Research Proposal - 1

The informal relationship between leader and subordinate and its effect to increase the performance through trust - Research Proposal Example Performance has a lot to do with the perfect and correct accomplishment of a certain task or project. If an employer or employee does their job well, they are termed as good performers because their performance was satisfactory. The three terms related to each other in different ways, Amirkhani, Zavari, and Piri, (2013), Gonzalez, Claro, and Palmatier, (2014), Harvey, Harris, Kacmar, Buckless, and Pescosolido, (2014) and Karahanna, and Preston, (2013). The extent to which employees and employers reinforce their informal relationship highly affects both parties’ performance through trust. In most organizations, ethics is what defines good business. However, there is more to ethics than is defined for most organizations. Ethics should entail treating other people, both employers and employees, in a fair and proper manner. This is where the issue of informal relationship comes in. when there is a good informal relationship with the employees, employers will definitely treat the employees well and that there will be trust and understanding among the two parties. Trust increases in that the employees are sure that their employer is honest about their relationship. In return the employees feel confident with their job hence have a satisfactory performance. Employees also need to understand that they need to treat each other well. This is especially where performance is measured through team work. If employees do not practice team work trust, then working will not be easy. Line managers, especially should uphold a good relationship between their followers and among the followers themselves. Performance through trust is also important in that employees treat the customers well. This means that if the employer treats employees well by having trustworthy informal relationship, they will eventually treat the company’s customers in a more friendly way. This way the employees perform their duties well as a way of

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20

Reflection paper - Essay Example I assumed complete responsibility to come up to their expectations and prove myself before other students in general and those who were willing to replace me in that post in particular. As the editor of the college magazine, I was responsible to ensure that all content was free of plagiarism and was original, that the events and facts being reported were factual, to eliminate any kind of bias in the information, to structure the college magazine with respect to its content and make it organized, to make the features aesthetically appealing for the students and the readers, and keep track of the quality of the magazine as a whole with a view to improving in every successive edition. Understanding my responsibilities and taking care of all these things, I remained very conscious and mentally fully awake while editing the college magazine. One job that I loathed was the one in which I was employed by the police and was involved in different kinds of social services including working directly with the community and dealing with their complaints. This job was so loathsome because people came up to me with so petty complaints and expected me to assist them with overturning the accused parties. They did not understand much that my job was just to take notes and serve as a link between them and the police. I more served as a platform through which they could raise their concerns and have them conveyed to the police. My editing skills formally gained in the college helped me organize the work in this job too, but the main problem was the attitude of the complainants as well as the sorts of complaints they filed. For example, one man came to me and asked me to file a case against his neighbor because his cat had eaten one of his chicks, and even before the case could be filed or any legal proceedings could be made, he said t hat he would have nothing less than $30,000 as a compensation for this loss. Similarly, every single

Implementing the Risk Management Process in New Kitchen Heaven Retail Essay

Implementing the Risk Management Process in New Kitchen Heaven Retail Store - Essay Example The intention of this study is risk as the probability that a chosen action or activity including the choice of inaction might result into a loss or undesirable outcome. This implies that a choice has an element of influence on the outcome. Risk management process is therefore the systematic application of the policies, methods and practices of management to the tasks of establishing the context, analyzing, evaluating, monitoring, treating and finally reviewing the inherent risks. Risk management process is therefore an ongoing process that aids in identifying potential problems that could emerge when new projects are undertaken within a business. A solid risk management process facilitates the smooth running of a project. By identifying and addressing a list of project risks which are also part of the larger project or business management system, many disclosures and roadblocks are eliminated. Consequently the risk management process is an essential factor that should be considered in an organization so as to enable its business to effectively run. It ensures that a well structured a framework for more effective strategic planning to enable maximization of opportunities and minimization off losses is put. It equally promotes greater openness in decision making and improves communication in an organization as well as providing an effective and systematic approach which enhances the management focus on areas of risk concentration in their operations. Moreover, risk management widens the management’s perspective and encourages initiative and proactive behavior that improve the level of accountability in an organization. Identifying the Risk Factors Considering the compilation lists of the NKHRS project risks, it is realized that the major risks are concentrated in three sections, that is, in areas of Information Technology, Facilities and Retail. In the area of Information Technology there is the risk of getting a professional contractor to install the Eth ernet so as to enable effective operations. Similarly, there is the risk of getting the Point of Sale and server hardware in time for the smooth operations .In the area of facilities it is noted that there is a risk in obtaining the right and desirable location bearing the right price range This location might as well be risky in terms of the availability of the goods and the products accessibility to the consumers. In this case a plan should be developed to decide on whether to find the right location for a high producing store to avoid great loss in sales or to consider a different alternative that can generate good profits (Culp, 2006). Consequently, in the Retail category there is the risk of the availability of the products at the right time to the customers and that the shipment date for the

History of U.S. up to JFK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History of U.S. up to JFK - Essay Example After WWII, United States embraced capitalism at its best. During this time, change was an inevitable factor throughout the country. War bonds worth hundreds of billions of dollars matured, which gave the country the so much needed financial resources to kick start the economy. Using these and other government-provided resources, the country moved towards the realization of an economic boom. People’s quality of life improved, setting a desirable path for social, economic, and political prosperity. With massive investments already executed, the American workforce became the next point of focus. Among the most outstanding actions in this regard was the implementation of the G.I Bill. The G.I Bill accorded war veterans many different benefits, most of which played the role of financing education and training of workers for the realization of a knowledgeable, skilled, and reliable workforce (Chafe 107). Another key observation of the post WWII era was the emergence of labor unions in America. The 1950s marked the peak of labor union membership, and this allowed low-income workers to migrate from the countryside to towns and cities in search of better job opportunities (Chafe 168). By 1960, this migration process had allowed majority of Americans to hold employment positions that were better paying compared to previous couple of decades. Consequently, the growth and development of suburbs became vibrant across the U.S. Most importantly, U.S culture changed significantly between 1945 and 1963. Following the WWII, both the South and the West became important political regions as power shifted away from the Northeast and Midwest (Chafe 119). During this time, U.S had not only addressed major social issues, but also nurtured a cultural and social belief of international control. American people were convinced that they had a primary role to play in maintaining global peace and political order. A critical look at the global political economy revealed that the U.S

Legal Process Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Legal Process Paper - Essay Example 06(b)[3] of the statute, the notice must include the date, place and the circumstances of the alleged unlawful employment practice so that the employer may be apprised of the nature of the charges against it. However, the name of the charging party need not be included. If the EEOC totally fails to notify an employer of the charges, the courts, as the District Court did in EEOC v. St. Annes Hospital of Chicago, Inc.,have ruled that the EEOC could not bring a suit on that charge. The Supreme Court in Shell Oil Co. v. EEOC held that notice was adequate, even while not technically perfect. The legislative history of Title VII is clear that untimely notice by the EEOC should not be an absolute bar to court action by the aggrieved party. Also under Section 706(b), the EEOC is required to investigate the charge of discrimination to determine if reasonable cause exists to believe that the charge is true. If no reasonable cause exists, the EEOC shall dismiss the charge and promptly notify the charging and charged party of the dismissal. If reasonable cause exists, the EEOC â€Å"shall endeavor to eliminate any such alleged unlawful employment practices by informal methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion.† If those efforts fail, the EEOC may bring a civil suit against the employer in federal court under Section 706(f). If the EEOC does not bring suit within 180 days of the filing of the charge either by choice or because it dismissed the charge, the charging party may request notification, commonly referred to as a â€Å"right to sue† letter. Upon receipt of that letter, the charging party has 90 days to sue. Thus, a charging party may not sue until she received a notice of dismissal by the EEOC or a right to sue letter. The charging party may demand a right to sue letter, even before the EEOC has made its reasonable cause determination, so long as the demand for the letter is 180 days after the EEOC charge is filed. However, the right to sue letter can be

Review of manuscript Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Review of manuscript - Essay Example Previous studies had suggested that many pests show an increase in population growth in a host crop which is nitrogen enriched. The current research was done in an area measuring 150m by 32m in New South Wales. It used four different treatments which were applied to the trial plot by means of broadcasting methods. I hereby confirm that this particular manuscript has not been published anywhere or considered by any other journal. I have approved the manuscript and agreed to its submission. I would like to thank the editor and the reviewer for the informative and instructive comments they made. The comments have greatly improved the manuscript. I look forward to the journal’s response. In the study that was carried out, it was quite apparent that the statistical power was dependent on factors that included the statistical significance criterion, the management of the effect of interest and the sample size used. In order to limit the Type I error, which may result from these factors, the data was collected in five transects with each being divided into four replicates. By creating transects and replicates, it was possible to limit the occurrence of type I error while at the same time ensuring that the reliability of the data was enhanced. The higher the number of transects, the lower the probability of Type I occurring in the study. In the ANOVA analysis, the main assumptions made were related to the normality and the homogeneity of the data collected in the study. It was assumed that normality and constant variance would be present in the data. To check the assumptions, a classical parametric procedure involving the detection of the outliers was used. Since outliers have the potential of impacting on and influencing the homogeneity of the data variance, it was checked to ensure that the assumptions made were inherent in the data. The method for checking

The Great Depression Essay Example for Free

The Great Depression Essay In a Bull Market, the stock market experiences a general rise in prices and stock trading volume for shares over a period of time. While in a Bear Market, the Stock market experiences a general decline in prices of stock. Not all stocks experience a decline in value, but most do. 2) Stock Market Crash- (1929) Plunge in stock market prices that marked the beginning of the Great Depression. 3) New Deal- the historic period (1933-1940) in the U. S. during which President Franklin Roosevelts economic policies were implemented. Three components of the New Deal. The first R was the effort to help the one-third of the population that was hardest hit by the depression, ; included social security and unemployment insurance. The second R was the effort in numerous programs to restore the economy to normal health, achieved by 1937. Finally, the third R let government intervention stabilize the economy by balancing the interests of farmers, business and labor. There was no major anti-trust program. 4) 100 Days- FDR began sending bill after bill to Congress. Between March 9 and June 16, 1933 which came to be called the HUNDRED DAYS. Congress passed 15 major acts to meet the economic crisis setting a pace for new legislation that has never been equaled. Later became known as 1st New Deal. 5) Bank Holiday- closing of banks for four days during the Great Depression, March 6-10. Roosevelt declared this holiday to prelude opening banks on a sounder basis. 6) Dust Bowl- Late in 1933 a prolonged drought struck the states of the trans-Mississippi Great Plains. The resulting dust storms were caused by drought, wind, and dry-farming techniques and mechanization. Tens of thousands of refugees fled their ruined acres. ) Brain Trust- Group of expert policy advisers who worked with FDR in the 1930s to end the great depression. 8) Social Security- guaranteed retirement payments for enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the handicapped, and public health 9) Court Packing- Roosevelts proposal in 1937 to reform the Supreme Court by appointing an additional justice for every justice over age 70; following the Courts actions in striking down major New Deal laws, FDR came to believe that some justices were out of touch with the nations needs. Congress believed Roosevelts proposal endangered the Courts independence and said no. 10) NRA/ â€Å"Blue Eagle†- The National Recovery Administration was designed to assist industry, labor, and the unemployed. Labor, under the NRA, was granted additional benefits. Workers were guaranteed the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing. A blue eagle was described as the symbol of the NRA. 11) SEC- In 1934, Congress took further steps to protect the public against fraud, deception, and inside manipulations. It authorized the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was designed as a watchdog administrative agency. 12) WPA- New Deal program that provided relief to the unemployed in fields such as theater, literature, entertainment, and art. One of the largest alphabet agencies. 13) Herbert Hoover- President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. Republican candidate who assumed the presidency in March 1929 promising the American people prosperity and attempted to first deal with the Depression by trying to restore public faith in the community. 4) Franklin Roosevelt- He was president from 1933-1945 and was elected four times, he led the countrys recovery from the Depression and to victory in World War II. He died in office, however, just weeks before Germanys surrender. He is generally considered the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln. 15) Eleanor Roosevelt- FDRs Wife and New Deal supporter. She was a great supporter of civil rights and opposed the Jim Crow laws. She also worked for birth control and better conditions for working women. 16) Huey Long- Senator of Louisiana, who was said to have more brass than a government mule. He used his abundant rabble-rousing talents to publicize his â€Å"Share Our Wealth† program, which promised to make â€Å"Every Man a King. Every family was to receive $5000, supposedly at the expense of the prosperous. Fear of Long’s becoming a fascist dictator ended when he was shot by an assassin in the Louisiana state capitol in 1935. 17) Isolationism- Abstention from alliances and other international political and economic relations. American foreign policy. It’s what America strives to do in order to keep out of European problems and wars. 8) Appeasement- Policy pursued by the Western democracies towards Nazi Germany, consenting to concessions in which Hitlers demands to annex the German-inhabited Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia were acquiesced to in hopes of achieving peace in our time; although Hitler promised the Sudetenland would be his last territorial claim, he broke this vow only a few months later. 19) Fascism vs. Communism- Fascism is a political s ystem headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition. Communism is a political system characterized by a centrally planned economy with all economic and political power resting in the hands of the central government. 20) Blitzkrieg- Tactics used by Germany in invasion of Poland in 1939. Also called lightning war. Involved a surprise attack, and then overwhelming with force! 21) Pearl Harbor- was the site of an unexpected attack on an American naval fleet by Japanese bombers on December 7, 1941. The United States suffered 3,000 casualties and the loss of several naval and aircrafts. And Congress declared war on Japan the following day, and Italy and France soon after. 2) Midway- (battle) It was a U. S. naval victory over the Japanese fleet in June 1942, in which the Japanese lost four of their best aircraft carriers. It marked a turning point in World War II. 23) D-Day- June 6, 1944 Led by Eisenhower, over a million troops (the largest invasion force in history) stormed the beaches at Normandy and began the process of re-taking France. It was the turning point of World War II. 24) Japanese Internment- Carried out through Executive Order 9066, which took many Japanese families away from their homes and into internment camp. Motivated (somewhat) by racism and fear of spies. 5) Hiroshima/Nagasaki- The first dropped on August 6, 1945 and the second dropped on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only active deployments of nuclear weapons in war to date. For six months, the United States had made use of intense strategic fire-bombing of 67 Japanese cities. US clued for surrender of Japan in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945. The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum. By executive order of President Harry S. Truman, the U. S. dropped the nuclear weapon Little Boy on the city of Hiroshima on Monday, August 6, 1945, followed by the detonation of Fat Man over Nagasaki on August 9. 6) Occupation of Japan- Occupied by American army under MacArthur, he carried out his program for the democratization of japan with stunning success. Top Japanese war criminals were tried in Tokyo . The Japanese cooperated to astonishing degree when they saw that good behavior and the adoption of democracy would speed the end of the occupation. a MacArthur-dictated constitution renounced militarism and introduced western-style democratic government paving the way for a phenomenal economic recovery that within a few decades made japan one of worlds mightiest industrial powers. Occupation of Germany- Four zones France in the southwest, Russia in the east, us in the south, and UK in the northeast. Likewise, berlin was split into east and west. This maintained that Germany would be nonaggressive while rebuilding and under allied and Russian control. 28) Douglas MacArthur- (1880-1964), U. S. general. Commander of U. S. (later Allied) forces in the southwestern Pacific during World War II, he accepted Japans surrender in 1945 and administered the ensuing Allied occupation. He was in charge of UN forces in Korea 1950-51, before being forced to relinquish command by President Truman. 29) Dwight D. Eisenhower- Supreme Commander of the US Forces in Europe during World War II; became president and during his two terms presided over the economically prosperous 1950s. He was praised for his dignity and decency, though criticized for not being more assertive on civil rights 30) Admiral Yamamoto- Japanese admiral who planned Pearl Harbor Attack. Japan stealthily came in from the North.

Climate Change Impact On Agriculture In Pakistan

Climate Change Impact On Agriculture In Pakistan Climate change is a phenomenon that arises due to emissions of greenhouse gases from fuel combustion, deforestation, urbanization and industrialization, resulting variations in solar energy, temperature and precipitation. (Upreti, 1999). It is a real threat to life which largely affects water resources, agriculture, coastal regions, freshwater habitats, vegetation, forests, snow cover, and geological processes such as melting, land sliding, desertification and floods all of which have long-term affects on food security and human health. (G.Malla.2008). Climate change is a global issue; debated on at all fronts whether its political, economic or scientific. Climate must be prevented from further damage. Before the end arrives, there is a need on all levels of society to understand climate, the factors behind change and its impact on our agriculture and economy. It is a well known fact that agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan. Agriculture and agri-related activities form 80% of the countrys economy. Agriculture is comparatively more sensitive to changes in climate, and can be impacted severely due to events such as untimely rainfalls, extreme temperatures and carbondioxide concentrations. A need arises to closely observe the environment and take up necessary measures for tackling these challenges. This research work is an attempt to address the issues and problems faced by Pakistans agricultural sector and find the necessary solutions. 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Pakistans economy and prosperity is closely linked to its agriculture. Pakistans economic activities relate directly or indirectly to agricultural sector. Agricultural sector is dependent on nature. The uncertain changes in nature i.e. changing in precipitation pattern, extremely high and low temperatures, cyclones, thunderstorms, variation in water level, impurification of air, water and soil, have made agriculture and agri-production a challenging issue. Unusual heavy rain storms in 2010, which resulted in floods and distortion of agriculture and property, are an example of climate change. The loss to the economy and the people sufferings are still remembered and unforgettable. It is the need of the day to carefully observe climate change, the causes of extreme weather events and find the necessary solutions to the problems. Issues regarding susceptibility to extreme climate conditions should be addressed with seriousness to save Pakistans agricultural sector and consequently the national economy. This research study is an attempt in addressing and ultimately solving the problems faced by Pakistans agriculture sector due to uncertain climate revolutionization. 3. OBJECTIVES: Considering the importance of agricultural sector for the economy and food requirements of Pakistan, there is a need for reliable estimates of major crop production under varied climate change provisions and circumstances. Although climate is an immeasurable fact that is affected by various factors i.e. Carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere, temperature variations, precipitation rates, water level, soil erosion, salinity etc. The factors that are directly effecting crop production are temperature and precipitation rates. This research study will analyze crop production with temperature and precipitation rates. The core purposes of this research study will be as under; 1. To observe the trend of climate change from the last three decades i.e. from 1980 to 2010; 2. To analyze temperature and rainfall, as the key factors effecting agricultural production, with the major cash crops and food crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa; 3. To investigate the probable impacts of recent and predicted future climate change on different crops production; 4. To scrutinize different adaptive strategies in coping with the catastrophic conditions of environment and improving the total crops yield; 4. SIGNIFICANCE: Pakistan is an agricultural country; climate change impact on agricultural sector is a serious issue that demands immediate attention. This research study mainly focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural sector of Pakistan such as untimely rainfalls and temperature variations that ultimately results in either prolonged droughts, unalarmed floods, increase in soil erosions and decrease in land productivity, which ultimately results in the migrations and desertification. The countrys socio-economic setup suffers the most that leads to a weak nation. The most recent impact of climate change was seen in July 2010, when floods destroyed thousands of villages all over Pakistan. The greatest hit among them was Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK). The core purpose of this research study is to analyze the temperature and precipitation effects on agricultural produce in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Major crops will be taken up in this regard, to analyze them in relation with temperature and precipitation from 1980 to 2010. Predictions of temperature and precipitation will help us adapt in the future with extreme cropping and harvesting seasons. Prevention can be done before disaster strikes to safeguard the interest of a poor farmer. 5. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: This research study will strive towards finding answers to the following questions; 1. Is there any potential damage caused by climate change to Pakistans economy as a whole and agriculture sector in particular? 2. What are the impacts of 2010 floods on the production of major crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa? 3. Are there any adaptative strategies to climate change that can help rural communities strengthen their capacity to cope with disasters? 4. What should be the future land-management skills of farmers to climate change? 5. What measures should be taken in the future to diversify the livelihood of the poor farmers? 6. METHODOLOGY: The methodology to be adopted for this study will be as under; Major factors effecting climate change on agricultural sector are temperature and precipitation rates. According to the plant physiology literature, plant development is a linear positive function of temperature, within a range of temperature between minimum and maximum thresholds (Ritchie and Smith, 1991). Keeping this in mind, the econometric model used for analyzing the climate impact on agricultural sector will employ both maximum and minimum temperatures, which are positively related to crops yield. Moreover, precipitation rates effecting crops yields will be captured by the relevant econometric and mathematical equations. The data regarding the temperature and precipitation variables will be obtained from Pakistan Metrological Department. The data for the total yield of various crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) will be attained from the Pakistan Federal Bureau of Statistics. Climate change trend will also be observed by engaging different econometric and statistical techniques and procedures. The econometric model used in the research study will be analyzed with the help of econometric software; SPSS or SAS. The detailed analysis of the econometric models will be explained and conclusions will be drawn from it. The socioeconomic impacts on people as well as on the development of country will also be addressed. Future recommendations as well as the adaptive strategies for copping with extreme environment conditions will also be given. 7. PROVISIONAL CHAPTER STRUCTURE: The proposed chapter structure of the study will be as under; CHAPTER I; Agriculture sector and its importance to the economy of Pakistan. CHAPTER II; Climate change and its impact on Pakistan agricultural sector. CHAPTER III; Agricultural production in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa as affected by the change in climatic conditions; Review of the major crops over the last three decades. CHAPTER IV; Analysis and investigation of the major crops of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa with climate change factors, using Econometric techniques. CHAPTER V; Concluding the study; various adaptability and compatibility strategies in relation to climate change will be discussed. 8. LITERATURE REVIEW: Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Higher temperatures ultimately reduce yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest production. Changes in precipitation patterns elevate the short-run crop malfunction and declines long-run productions . Although there will be an increase in some crops production in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, intimidating global food security. International Food Policy Research Institute (2009) conducted a study that concentrates on various agricultural sector issues in Asia and the Pacific. It presents indicators of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of agriculture sector in the region. Those indicators underline the vulnerability of the agriculture sector as a source of livelihood and food security for many people. This study also represents vast heterogeneity in farming systems across Central, East, Southeast, and South Asia and the Pacific Islands. It also highlights many other aspects of vulnerability to climate change across the region that includes undernourishment, poverty and slow productivity., all of which are aggravated by the effects of climate change. Neil Leary and Jyoti Kulkarni, (2007), work is based on a combination of case studies from different regions of the world. These studies have debated climate vulnerability to impacts from climate variation and change. The potential outcomes from exposure to climate hazards and climate change are identified as high-level concern in these studies.. It includes water scarcity that retards progress towards development goals, losses of entire ecosystems and their species, more frequent and greater loss of life in coastal zones, land degradation, food insecurity and famine, loss of livelihoods and increase in infectious disease epidemics. All of these are possible outcomes of exposure to climate hazards. It is a source of greater information as it has addressed climate change impacts on all fronts of life whether it is social, economic or political. Santiago Olmos (2001) provides an outline of adaptation issues, subject to climate vulnerability literature and climate discussions. This paper covers assessments of climate vulnerability in various regions of the world and developing countries in particular. The paper also discusses some of the existing resources that can be used to conduct climate vulnerability assessments and adaptation work. The current research work is unique in the sense that it will point out the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector of Pakistan. More specifically, major areas of concern will be the climate impact on crops yields in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa over the last three decades. The direct and indirect social and economic impacts of climate change will also be analyzed in this study. Adaptive and preventive measures in copping with extreme climate conditions will also be given in this research study.

Effects Of The Learning Together Model Education Essay

Effects Of The Learning Together Model Education Essay CHAPTER 1 1.1 Introduction Cooperative language learning has been proclaimed as an effective instructional approach in promoting the cognitive and linguistic development of learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) (Kagan, 1995; Kessler, 1992; McGroarty, 1989, 1993). These researchers, among others, have established the theoretical relevance of cooperative learning (CL) in second language (L2) instruction based on the premise that CL provides maximum opportunities for meaningful input and output in a highly interactive and supportive environment. CL also integrates language and content learning, and its varied applications are in harmony with the pedagogical implications of the input, socialization, and interactive theories of L2 acquisition. This is because CL enhances the motivation and psychosocial adjustment of L2 learners (Cohen, 1994; Dornyei, 1994, 1997). According to Olsen and Kagan (1992), CL increases interaction among learners as they restate, expand, and elaborate their ideas in order to convey and/or clarify intended meaning. This interaction is important because it contributes to gains in L2 acquisition (Long Porter, 1985; Pica, Young, Doughty, 1987) and in academic achievement (Bejarano, 1987; Ghaith Yaghi, 1998; Kagan, 1989). Furthermore, it has been established that CL enables learners to process information beyond the level of receptive understanding by offering redundancy and multiple venues of information access and tasks (Olsen Kagan, 1992; Webb, 1989). Likewise, CL may be especially useful for ESL/EFL learners based on the assumption that it provides a variety of flexible ways for organizing instruction and integrating language and content learning into various discourse and instructional contexts (Olsen, 1989). In addition, CL encourages active participation in genuine conversations and collaborative problem-solving activities in a class climate of personal and academic support. It also empowers learners and provides them with autonomy and control to organize and regulate their own learning (Clifford, 1999; Thomson, 1998) As Cooperative Learning advances into the nations classrooms, the benefits of reading strategies increase greatly. Reading strategies suggested in Diversified Teaching, though strong in themselves, gain more power as we put the steps into the hands of students. For many learners, active participation is the key to mastery. In the past, teachers have done most of the action with students passively observing. Now, after carefully modeling the steps of a strategy, teachers can direct the activities to small groups of students. When students become actively involved in the learning process, the following occur: 1. Motivation increases/boredom decreases 2. Mastery improves for kinesthetic learners 3. Responsibility of learning shifts to the students 1.2 Background of the Research Problem The social and school context of the present study is a bilingual environment where Bahasa Malaysia, the native language, is predominately used in the media and for daily communication and English is taught as second language, valued for their educational and cultural significance. However, ESL instruction in the context of the present study remains competitive in nature and does not provide opportunities for active learning and meaningful communication among learners because learners are expected to perform better than their classmates in order to attain higher grades and achieves the approval and success. There is a need to examine the theoretical relevance and efficacy of cooperative learning as an instructional approach in a bilingual and traditional school context such as this one based on the assumption that it would promote active learning and meaningful interaction in the target language of English among learners. 1.3 Statement of the Problem It has been said that students learn to read by reading and to write by writing. If, in fact, this is true, it is reasonable to assume that students develop feelings of worth by experiencing small daily successes. Success in school, particularly in reading, has a strong impact on students feelings of worth and accomplishment. True reading requires both the ability to break down the code and the ability to understand the meaning intended by the writer. Collaboration is required between left and right brain visual skills in order to be a strong reader. Fortunately, students who are weak in either area can be assisted by using specific strategies Cooperative learning is a philosophical shift from the teacher as primary conveyor of information to teacher as facilitator. Student works together in groups of two to five as they teach one another, problem solve and develop appropriate social skills. Cooperative learning provides a way for students who are weak in academic skills to actively participate in the learning opportunity by contributing their own strengths and by receiving peer assistance. However, research indicates that the strong student who helps the weak one actually benefits more. 1.4 Conceptual Framework This research is to determine the effects of the Learning Together Model of Cooperative Learning on English as a Second Language in Reading Comprehension Achievement and Academic Self-Esteem to improve students scores on reading comprehension tests within a particular primary school setting.  The experimental group of students from the upper primary level is the sample for comparison in the form of quantitative and qualitative instruments. Before and after achievements will be taken into consideration for analysis. During the pre test a specifically design test will be given for the purpose of the present study is administered to all participants 1 week prior to the treatment. This test is based on a reading text and included 12 items that measured participants literal comprehension of ideas directly stated in the passage and higher order comprehension that required inference and interpretation. Finally, the same post test is administered to the participants in the control and experimental groups at the conclusion of the treatment. This test is a domain-referenced test that covered the learning outcomes and competencies targeted during the period of investigation. The post test is based on a selection reading text that is previously read by the participants and included nine multiple-choice, three short answers, and eight sentence-completion items that measured the outcomes and competencies under investigation. Outcomes of the tests, the questionnaires, the feedback on the techniques and observation of the self-esteem of the sample will be taken into consideration for further evaluation. The conceptual framework of this research as below: Figure 1: Conceptual Framework of Research PRETEST CLASS B CLASS A EKSPERIMENTAL GROUP CONTROL GROUP POST- TEST Questionnaires (Self-Esteem) STUDENT STUDENT F M F M RESULT Murid) 1.5 Purpose of the Research The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of the Learning Together Model of Cooperative Learning on English as a Second Language in Reading Comprehension Achievement and Academic Self-Esteem to improve students scores on reading comprehension tests within a particular primary school setting.   ESL learners found reading for information easy in their first language but more difficult in a second or foreign language. Reading comprehension tests caused anxiety and a sense of failure for students who did not have the skills to cope with the tests. Reading in a second language was not easy but taking tests made it even more difficult. 1.5.1 Research Objectives This research intends to find the following objectives: To examine whether the Learning Together CL model more effective than conventional class instruction in promoting the ESL reading comprehension achievement. To examine whether the Learning Together CL model more effective than conventional class in promoting achievement within male and female students. To examine whether the Learning Together CL model more effective than conventional in increasing the interest for the experimental group. To examine whether Conventional Method can increase the students interest among the control group students. 1.5.2 Research Questions Specifically, the study addressed the following questions: a) Is the Learning Together CL model more effective than conventional instruction in promoting the ESL reading achievement? b) Is the Learning Together CL model more effective than conventional in promoting achievement within male and female students? c) Is the Learning Together CL model more effective in increase the interest for the students in experimental group? d) Is Conventional Method can increase the students interest among the control group student? 1.5.3 Hypothesis Null a) There is no significant difference in achievement mean score on post test of students in experimental group compare to students in control group. b) There is no significant difference of achievement score in English Lesson within male and female students who had been taught using Learning Together Model. c) There is no significant difference in interest for the students in experimental group using the Learning Together Model. d) There is no significant mean score in English Reading Comprehension Test in Interest for the Control Group Students Using Conventional Method. 1.6 Significance of the Research Its clear that reading comprehension is a complex cognitive process that depends upon a number of ingredients all working together in a synchronous, even automatic way. Vocabulary clearly plays a critical role in understanding what has been read. The reader must also be intentional and thoughtful while reading, monitoring the words and their meaning as reading progresses. And the reader must apply reading comprehension strategies as ways to be sure that what is being read matches their expectations and builds on their growing body of knowledge that is being stored for immediate or future reference. . In conventional classrooms, ESL students receive less teacher and peer communication and communication at a lower linguistic and cognitive level than in cooperative learning classrooms. One of the main advantages of group work for second language learners is that it offers students the chance to hear more language and more complex language during interaction. In discussion with others, students may hear more complex language from their peers than from the teacher in conventional class discussion. Consequently, at least some of the input will be at an appropriate level. In one study, students participating in group-based investigation made more high-level cognitive gains than those who took part in peer-tutoring or whole-class methods (Holt, 1993). Most observational research indicates that the speaker is the teacher 60 to 70 % of the time during teacher-centered interaction. In comparison, in cooperative learning, one fourth to one half of the students can speak at any given time, depending on whether pair work or group work is being used (McGroarty, 1993). This is important to language learning because it give students more opportunities to practice using language skills. In addition to increasing the number of opportunities available for verbal expression, cooperative learning methods promote use of a wide range of communicative functions. This is important to language learning to expose students to a variety of language skills. Through teacher modeling and pre teaching exercises, students are given specific instructions in such skills as paraphrasing the ideas of others, asking for explanations, summarizing, clarifying, indicating agreement or disagreement, and interrupting politely, all verbal skills, which are beneficial to the language acquisition process. 1.7 Limitations of the Research Some problems which may arose when research is conducted. They are: The outcomes may only cover the sample and may not necessarily be concluded all the groups in the general. However, samples with similarities of culture, background and also environmental factors may result in similarities of outcomes and problems. Differences in approaches and styles of the teachers, the interest of the students, the studying environment and other factors also need to be addressed in order to have more valid and reliable results. Reading techniques are focused on the reading comprehension and could not be generalized for other aspects of the language. 1.8 Definition of Terms Definition of Reading True reading requires both the ability to break down the code and the ability to understand the meaning intended by the writer. Collaboration is required between left and right brain visual skills in order to be a strong reader. Fortunately, students who are weak in either area can be assisted by using specific strategies. Reading Comprehension   Ã‚   Its clear that reading comprehension is a complex cognitive process that depends upon a number of ingredients all working together in a synchronous, even automatic way. Vocabulary clearly plays a critical role in understanding what has been read. The reader must also be intentional and thoughtful while reading, monitoring the words and their meaning as reading progresses. And the reader must apply reading comprehension strategies as ways to be sure that what is being read matches their expectations and builds on their growing body of knowledge that is being stored for immediate or future reference. Definition of Cooperative Learning Cooperative learning is a philosophical shift from the teacher as primary conveyor of information to teacher as facilitator. Student works together in groups of two to five as they teach one another, problem solve and develop appropriate social skills. Cooperative learning provides a way for students who are weak in academic skills to actively participate in the learning opportunity by contributing their own strengths and by receiving peer assistance. However, research indicates that the strong student who helps the weak one actually benefits more. 1.9 Summary The research is an attempt to investigate the effects of the Learning Together Model of Cooperative Learning on English as a Second Language in Reading Comprehension Achievement and Academic Self-Esteem. Reading comprehension is a complex cognitive process that depends upon a number of ingredients all working together in a synchronous, even automatic way. Vocabulary clearly plays a critical role in understanding what has been read. The reader must also be intentional and thoughtful while reading, monitoring the words and their meaning as reading progresses. Cooperative Learning advances into the nations classrooms, the benefits of reading strategies increase greatly. Reading strategies suggested in Diversified Teaching, though strong in themselves, gain more power as we put the steps into the hands of students. Effects of the Learning Together Model of Cooperative Learning on English as a Second Language in Reading Comprehension Achievement and Academic Self-Esteem CHAPTER 2 Literature Review: 2.1 Introduction : Cooperative Learning(CL) Currently, CL is perceived as a generic term for a number of instructional techniques and procedures that address conceptual learning and social development. It encompasses the following instructional models: the Structural Approach (Kagan, 1989), Group Investigation (Sharan Sharan, 1992), Student Team Learning (Aronson, Blaney, Stephan, Sikes, Snapp, 1978; Slavin, 1995), Curriculum Packages (Slavin, Leavey, Madden, 1986), and Learning Together (Johnson, Johnson, Holubec, 1991, 1992, 1994). The Structural Approach is based on using content-free ways of managing classroom interaction called structures. Structures are relatively easy to implement and can be categorized into team and class building, communication, mastery, and critical thinking structures. One example of a structure is Numbered Heads Together. Kagan (1989) describes the procedure of Numbered Heads Together as follows: Step 1: Students number off within teams. Step 2: The teacher asks a high consensus question. Step 3: Students put their heads together to make sure everyone on the team knows the answer. Step 4: The teacher calls a number at random, and students with that number raise their hands to be called upon to answer the question and earn points for their teams. Group Investigation divides work among team members, who complete specific tasks and then reconvene to prepare a group presentation. Student Team Learning includes the Jigsaw method and its variations and the Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD) method. The Jigsaw method has five major components: reading, expert group discussion, team report, testing, and team recognition. Meanwhile, STAD is organized around the components of teacher presentation, team study, individual quizzes, individual improvement scoring, and team recognition. The main difference between Jigsaw and STAD is that Jigsaw is well suited for teaching material in a narrative form such as a story or chapter, whereas STAD is useful in teaching materials that require single correct answers such as language rules and mechanics. Curriculum Packages are specific programs for teaching math and language and include the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition program. The Learning Together model organizes instruction according to the principles of positive interdependence, individual accountability, promotive face-to-face interaction, social and collaborative skills, and group processing. Specifically, positive interdependence means that the success of students is linked with the success of their team members and may be structured through mutual goals, joint rewards, shared resources, complementary roles, and a common team identity. Individual accountability means that the performance of each member is assessed and results are given to the team and the individual so that team members cannot get a free ride on the efforts of their teammates. Yet, team members still help, share, encourage, and support each others efforts to succeed through promotive interaction within their groups. Furthermore, they use and develop their interpersonal and small-group skills of leadership, decision making, trust building, and conflict management. Finally, the team members perform group processing to reflect how well the team is functioning and how its effectiveness may be improved. As such, the main difference between the Learning Together and other CL models is that this model is less discrete and less prescriptive than the Structural and the Student Team Learning models that employ specific steps in lesson planning and some what prepackaged curricula, lessons, and strategies in a prescribed manner (Johnson Johnson, 1998, p. 226). Rather, the Learning Together model provides a conceptual framework for teachers to plan and tailor cooperative learning instruction according to their circumstances, student needs, and school contexts. (For fu rther description of the various CL models, see Kluge, McGuire, Johnson, Johnson, 1999.) 2.2 Review of Previous Studies Previous research involving students who spoke English as a first language and who learned content in English has suggested that CL may encourage higher self-esteem and lower feelings of alienation at school (Johnson, 1979). For instance, Norem-Hebeisen and Johnson (1981) reported that self-esteem was positively related with cooperative relationships among 821 White, middle-class secondary school students in a mid western suburban American community. These researchers further reported that competitive and individualistic patterns of social interdependence reflected lower self-esteem and greater concerns regarding success and social approval. However, Johnson, Johnson, Scott, and Ramolae (1985) found no significant differences between the Learning Together CL model and individualistic and competitive forms of instruction in improving the self-esteem of 154 fifth- and sixth-grade students of science in suburban Minnesota. Along similar lines, Oickle (1980) studied the effects of team reward and individual reward structures on the English achievement and self-esteem of 1,031 students from diverse communities enrolled in four American middle schools. This researcher reported positive effects in favor of the team reward structure in promoting achievement in the four schools and in improving self-esteem in only one of the schools. Similarly, Madden and Slavin (1983), who studied the development of self-esteem among regular and special needs elementary school children in Baltimore, Maryland, reported greater general self-esteem effects for STAD but no differences in academic and social self-esteem between STAD and the control group. Conversely, Allen and Van Sickle (1984) reported no differences between STAD and the control group in improving the general self-esteem of 51 ninth-grade students after 6 weeks of experimentation in rural Georgia. Finally, while some researchers found that the Jigsaw method had positive effects in improving students general self-esteem (e.g., Blaney, Stephan, Rosenfield, Aronson, Sikes, 1977), Gonzales (1979) reported no such effects. In the context of ESL/EFL, previous research suggests that CL promotes positive attitudes among learners (Gunderson Johnson, 1980), intrinsic motivation and satisfaction (Clement, Dornyei, Noels, 1994; Szostek, 1994; Ushioda, 1996), and active pursuit of group goals (Nichols Miller, 1994). It also leads to gains in social support for academic excellence (Daniels, 1994), expectancy of successful task fulfillment (Douglas, 1983), and increased self-confidence and less anxiety (Deci Ryan, 1985). More recently, Ghaith and Yaghi (1998) reported that the STAD method is more effective than individualistic instruction in improving the acquisition of L2 rules and mechanics. Likewise, Calderon, Hertz-Lazarowitz, and Slavin (1998) reported that a bilingual Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition intervention improved third-grade achievement during transition from Spanish to English in comparison with control classes that used traditional textbook reading methods. Similarly, Bejarano, Levine, Olshtain, and Steiner (1997) reported that small-group cooperative practice of modified interaction and social interaction strategies improve EFL learners communicative competence. In like manner, Thomson (1998), in her study of a group of third-year Australian university students in a Japanese language class, found that cooperation among teachers and students increased interaction opportunities among learners and promoted autonomous learning. Finally, Ghaith (2002) reported that the Learning Together CL model positively correlates with a supportive L2 climate and with learners perceptions of fairness of grading and academic achievement. The aforementioned studies underscore the value and potential of CL in the L2 classroom. However, there is still a need to investigate the efficacy of various CL models in promoting gains in the cognitive and non-cognitive domains of ESL/EFL instruction across different languages and cultures. 2.3 Summary Consequently, the present study set out to investigate the effects of the Learning Together CL model on the achievement, academic self-esteem, and feelings of alienation among ESL learners studying in a situation characterized by competitive schooling and limited opportunities for meaningful social interaction in English, the target language. Effects of the Learning Together Model of Cooperative Learning on English as a Second Language in Reading Comprehension Achievement and Academic Self-Esteem CHAPTER 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Study Design The study employed a pre test-post test control group design and focused on the variables of academic self-esteem and alienation from school as well as achievement based on the proposition that interacting positively with other people to achieve common goals tends to increase academic self-esteem and to decrease school alienation (Johnson, Johnson, Stanne, 2000). Academic self-esteem and psychosocial adjustment at school are of critical importance because they enable learners to withstand the disappointments of life, be confident decision makers, and ultimately be happy and productive individuals (Slavin, 1995). Likewise, the Learning Together CL model was selected as the form of intervention in the present study because it encompasses all the CL elements of heterogeneous grouping, positive interdependence, individual accountability, social and collaborative skills, and group processing. Furthermore, there is at present a need to examine the efficacy of this model in The context of teaching ESL in general, and in the context of the present study in particular, due to the scarcity of previous research. 3.2 Populations and Sample Participants in the study are 60 upper primary students from a primary school in Kulim. The learners are from families with low to medium socioeconomic and educational backgrounds enrolled in the primary school in Kulim. There are 34 males and 26 females, and their ages ranged from 11 to 12 years. The participants will be selected from the primary school and will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups; the study will last for 10 weeks. The experimental group included 30 participants who will study together in seven teams of four members each according to the dynamics of the Learning Together CL model as described in the Study section. Meanwhile, the 30 participants in the control group will study the same material according to procedures in their textbooks. FIGURE 2: Populations and Sample Male Female Experimental Group 16 14 Control Group 18 12 3.3 Research Instruments Academic self-esteem was defined in the context of the present study as the self perception of one as being a capable, competent, and successful student (Johnson Johnson, 1996, p. 67) and measured by a five-item Likert subscale adapted from Johnson and Johnson (1996). Likewise, an eleven-item Likert subscale also adapted from measured school alienation Johnson and Johnson (1996) In addition, an achievement pre test specifically designed for the purpose of the present study is administered to all participants 1 week prior to the treatment. This test is based on a reading text and included 12 items that measured participants literal comprehension of ideas directly stated in the passage and higher order comprehension that required inference and interpretation. Finally, the same post test is administered to the participants in the control and experimental groups at the conclusion of the treatment. This test is a domain-referenced test that covered the learning outcomes and competencies targeted during the period of investigation. These outcomes and competencies included utilizing context Clues (syntactic and semantic) and using reading strategies such as previewing, skimming, and scanning to achieve literal and higher order comprehension of printed discourse. The post test is based on a selection reading text that is previously read by the participants and included nine multiple-choice, three short-answers, and eight sentence-completion items that measured the outcomes and competencies under investigation. The content validity of the test was established by the researcher, the program coordinator, and the teacher who implemented the study, using a specification table as suggested by Sax (1980). Consequently, it is determined that four items measured literal comprehension, eleven items measured higher order skills, and five items measured the use of context clues to aid comprehension. 3.4 Procedure for Data Collection The study consisted of two phases. The first phase involve a teacher who agreed to participate in the study by applying the elements of the Learning Together CL model (heterogeneous grouping, positive interdependence, individual accountability, social skills, group processing) in her teaching of ESL. This phase focused on specifying academic and collaborative skills objectives, dividing students into groups, arranging the room, assigning roles, and planning materials. Furthermore, the participating teacher will receive training in explaining academic tasks, structuring positive goal interdependence, individual accountability, and intergroup cooperation. The teacher will also learn how to specify and monitor learners desired behaviors and enable students to process and evaluate how the group functioned. The purpose of this first phase was to maximize experiment fidelity through careful training of the teacher-experimenter who would implement the second phase of the study. The second phase of implementation involved working with the program coordinator and the teacher who agreed to participate in the study in order to determine the content and learning outcomes and competencies to be achieved during the period of investigation. In addition, detailed lesson plans were designed in order to teach the same content and skills to the experimental and control groups. The lesson plans for the experimental group were based on a checklist of teachers roles and lesson templates designed by Johnson, Johnson, and Holubec (1987) . Specifically, the plans included lesson summaries, instructional objectives, and a list of materials needed as well as specifications of time required, group size, assignment to groups and roles, and arranging the room. The lesson plans also included an explanation of tasks, procedures to structure positive interdependence and individual accountability, and criteria for success. In addition, the plans specified the social skills and expected behaviors, and included procedures for group monitoring and processing to see how well the group functions. Meanwhile, the lesson plans for the control group focused on reading the same material according to the instructional procedures (activities) suggested in their textbook. These procedures were organized into three stages of lesson planning: opening, instruction and participation, and closure. These stages provided opportunities for working on various language objectives in the written and oral domains in an integrated matter, using a wide variety of instructional techniques such as whole-class brainstorming, discussion, question and answer, comprehension checks, crossword puzzles, and graphic organizers. Both the experimental and control group lesson plans addressed the same instructional objectives and will be based on the same reading selections and exercises. However, the experimental plans provided opportunities for small-group interaction and for sharing resources among team members. There was also an emphasis on social and collaborative skills and on developing team spirit and collegiality. Conversely, students in the control group worked individually and shared their answers with the class. As previously noted, one of the teachers who had received training in Phase 1 of the study had agreed to participate in Phase 2. In order to avoid any potential bias in the implementa

Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Daniel Ellsberg, and the Vietnam

Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Daniel Ellsberg, and the Vietnam War Daniel Ellsberg once believed in the need to contain Communism, in America’s military supremacy, and in the sanctity of those who governed America’s democratic institutions, yet decades of American involvement in Vietnam changed these beliefs for him. The nature of the Vietnam War forced Ellsberg to revise his earlier faith in America’s ability to win any war and his faith in the trustworthiness of America’s leaders. By 1971, this former Defense Department official had so completely altered his thinking that he leaked classified documents to the press in order to encourage public scrutiny of American foreign policy decisions in Vietnam and of the integrity of those who made such decisions. Although Ellsberg is an extreme example, he illustrates the way the Vietnam War called into question many widely accepted beliefs that were shaped by American experience in World War II and in the Cold War. The reassessment of these World War II and Cold War assumptions, however, was not universal within the nation nor within the government elite. As some leaders revised their thinking because of Vietnam, and others held tightly to their initial assumptions despite contradictory evidence, dissent and confusion increased in the higher echelons of government. This high-level dissension mirrored the differences of opinion in the nation and was often responsible for ambiguous, inconsistent policies in Vietnam. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried reveals how the lack of government consensus and clear purpose in policy, as indicated by an analysis of Ellsberg’s intellectual conversion, translated into confusion, purposelessness, and futility for those who a... ...for reconsideration. It seems that if any consensus was left intact after the Vietnam War, it was one of cynical distrust, critical questioning, and ideological confusion. Works Cited Chafe, William H. The Unfinished Journey 3rd edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Ellsberg, Daniel. Papers on the War. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1972. Herring, George C. America’s Longest War: the United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996. Hodgson, Godfrey. â€Å"The Ideology of the Liberal Consensus† in History of Our Time. Ed. William H. Chafe and Harvard Sitkoff. 4th edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Schrag, Peter. Test of Loyalty: Daniel Ellsberg and the Rituals of the Secret Government. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974.

Essay --

Nhat Ha Nguyen Michael Downs Hist November 27 2013 The Fiery Trial During and following the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln is widely known as the Great Emancipator. This title, however, has been the subject of much controversy, and many people believe he does not rightly deserve it. But there does not seem to be enough support for this argument, and there are many reasons why he should maintain the nickname. First of all, according to the book, the definition of Emancipate is to free from constraint or control. As a Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln completed his job excellently.During his serving time, Abraham Lincoln showed great political and moral courage. He eliminate the slavery issue from the arena of government. As he campaigned, multiple times, for the Presidency, he did not bend. He believed in freedom for all people, both black and white and bond and free. It is obvious that Lincolns environment bred some of the same prejudices against blacks that were common in the region of the United States into which he had been born and raised. These Lincoln comments should make the basis for a lively class discussion on Lincolns racial attitude. In addition to the influence of environment there is also the difficult question of Lincolns personality. Conflicting with opinions on how to deal with Civil War’s issues, laid many different factions in the United States. There are varying results on biographical work done on Lincoln. However, all biographers seem to agree that Lincoln was throughout his whole life a very moody person. On page 37 of The Fiery Trial, the author tells a story about how Lincoln stood oppose his father. Even on the last day on bed of his fat... ...2 and implemented in 1863. Although this Emancipation Proclamation is more about convincing the European nations not to help the south because this was a war to end slavery, and less about freeing southern slaves, however, Lincoln had good intentions on it. Though he wasn't alive when the 13th amendment was ratified, he helped create it. Lincoln played a part in the creation of it. His feelings on slavery changed during the war. In the beginning, he just wanted to stop spreading it, but in the end, he knew that he had to get rid of it. Lincoln emancipated not only the slaves. He emancipated all American citizens by reuniting our nation so that we could all live free today. There is no doubt that he deserves the title of â€Å"The Great Emancipator.† And like too many great men, Lincoln sealed his life’s work with his blood, dying as a martyr to the cause of freedom.

Solar Energy and the Energy Crisis Essays -- Energy Power Global Warmi

Solar Energy and the Energy Crisis Abstract The energy crisis is a major problem in the United States. Solar energy can help alleviate this problem. Enough solar panels to fulfill the energy needs of the entire United States would take up 27,347 km2 and cost almost 17 trillion dollars. Therefore, although there is enough space for all those solar panels, the economic cost is far too great. However, solar power can be phased in gradually. Solar Energy 3 Solar Energy: Can It Solve the Energy Crisis? The world's supply of fossil fuels is dwindling. The amount of power generated from renewable energy sources needs to be increased, as there is little chance of power consumption decreasing. Solar power is a relatively untapped power source which could contribute to solving the energy crisis. Solar power plants can operate as long as the sun continues to give off light and heat, and it will continue to do so for billions of years. However, solar power plants cannot be the only power source, for they do not operate at peak efficiency at night or when the sun is obscured by dense cloud cover. Solar power accounted for only 0.064% of US energy consumption in 2003, while fossil fuels accounted for 85.973%. Also, solar power production in the United States has been decreasing since 1996 (see Figure 1) (Annual Energy Review, 2003). The most common way to convert solar radiation into electricity is the use of photovoltaic cells, also called solar cells. These cells are grouped together in solar panels. Solar cells are made of thin wafers of silicon (Si) with a few other elements added. The efficiency of these cells is around 12%, so that a panel with an area of one square meter placed in direct sunlight will generate ... ... new plants are required or to replace old, barely-working power plants. Also, more investigation should be done into alternative ways of gathering solar energy (such as satellites and â€Å"power towers†). Solar Energy 5 References Parfit, M. (2005). Future power. National Geographic, 208(2), 2-31. Annual Energy Review. (2003). Retrieved August 01, 2005, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/. Solarbuzz. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2005, from http://www.solarbuzz.com/. Solar Cell. (July 20, 2005). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 01, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Cell. Solar Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 01, 2005, from http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter15.html. United States. (July 28, 2005). CIA - The World Factbook. Retrieved August 02, 2005, from http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html.

Childhood Constructions

Childhood is the period of time stretching from infancy to adolescence (teenage) stage of life. Issues, theories and concepts have been put forth attempting to put some meaning to childhood. For instance the modern society perceives children as passive and surviving at the mercies of the wider society. Adults do not seek to learn anything from the children and they assume that childhood is a period meant to transform kids into dependable adults. There is a need to view childhood differently to be able to respond positively to their needs and to understand the stage as crucial in helping us understand adulthood and humanity in general. As a matter of fact, childhood experiences, plays a vital role in shaping the later stages of life. Childhood is perceived as a social structure, which determines the ideal institutions where proper childhood development would be ensured. Generally, social structures offer both opportunities one is exposed to and limitations are determined by a child’s socio-economic background and its physical endowments (Stearns, 2003). A child in ideal situation is expected to have two parents who provide everything and ensure moral uprightness. The child is given enough time to relax and has siblings. The parents are expected to provide security and facilities for play. Parents commence preparations for the infant long way before the mother delivers the kid. However, in terms of childhood development, from a historical perspective, the early American society never celebrated infancy. Childhood was characterized by missing parental care, high rate of infant mortality. There was not time for taking the kid through all the stages of growth and development. Where parents were missing due to reasons like death, young children were charged with the task of taking care of the others. However, good morals were upheld all through. Child labour was prevalent as well as early marriages. In the late 1700s and early 1800 there was growing concern on childhood. Between 1840s and 1900s socio-economic changes taking place revolutionized the ideal of child upbringing. Parents became more concerned about children; they started emphasizing on child education. A scientific aspect was incorporated in child rearing whereby child development was closely monitored. Racial concerns arose. Industrial development led to improved standards of life and reduced childhood deaths. However, some children especially of immigrant families were still in slavery. These children were poorly treated subjected to much work and not allowed to go through formal education. Some children ended up in orphanages where proper care was ensured. Other children went missing and still others would end up dying. In the twentieth century children were regarded as of economic value. They offered cheap labour earning highly needed wages in the family. There was a rising need to occupy the kids with work to discourage laxity. In the contemporary society children are perceived as of less economic value. Infact childhood is regarded as an economic liability. Children, spend more of parents’ financial resources than they contribute to the same. Young children’s perception of things in the US and the world at large has been subjected to a number of influences. Their access to information materials and gadgets like TV, video and computer exposes them to a wide field of knowledge. These triggers and stimulate a mental process that generates a diversified perception of issues to do with life. For instance, programmes on TV and videos showing modern family life would touch issues like children rights. Children acquire knowledge on family issues like the role of parents in a family, career, and family conflicts among other issues at a very tender age. It is not amazing to realize that some programmes highlighting crucial family issues like divorce, separation, child abuse appear on screen long way before the kids succumb to sleep. As a matter of fact, the media has made the children to feel like they are their own caretakers. It is worth noting that in some programmes, adult voices and perceptions have been superimposed on very young children. Romantic movie clips and actual programmes are not rare on TVs in the early evening hours. This most assuredly influences children’s perception of issues to do with sexuality, love, hate and social conflicts. In some movies, a character commits suicide, murder or causes chaos in their attempt to either express themselves or to get out of trouble. All these happenings are bound to model the character and personality of children since they are also exposed to similar circumstances in this world. No wonder cases of young snipers have been reported in the recent past in our society. The greatest challenge and risk is that parents and guardians cannot exercise full control over what their children go through and their exposure to information materials. Children can virtually access any information anywhere even if they are denied access at home. Due to social-economic problems some parents have ended up in serious conflicts. A man and his wife settle scores physically when reason fails to avail solutions for their pressing issues. This has exposed many children to utter violence and most of them perceive this world as a harsh and chaotic place and some develop aggression in their bid to conquer life’s challenges. Other end up violent when their tactics fail to work. Children face challenging and conflicting situations both at home and away from home. With increasing social-economic challenges, children of the world are exposed to situations that influence their character and personality very early. Many parents who are especially keen on child development are very anxious and rather troubled due to the deteriorating morals and social values. Evil is inculcated in children’s lie s at very early stages of child’s development and some caretakers are simply watching desperately as their children vanish in the mire of moral rottenness. Parents and guardians are increasingly concerned about the eventualities given the direction the current (modern) society has taken. For instance, drug use and abuse at childhood stages. Drug use is a commonplace thing in schools. It is a matter of great concern since a drug addicted young generation spells doom to the future of the society. Lack of sobriety among the youths would result to stagnating social-economic systems. The other nagging issue is about the dwindling interest in schooling. Children seem to pursue entertainment and quick money earners at the expense of a formal system of learning, which incorporates all aspects of human growth development. This produces a dull; dump and unrealistic clique that would lack the remotest idea of how to progressively run the socio-economic aspects of our society. Fun centers are always congested. Youngsters are pursuing fame and money (wealth) at all costs in some instances with dire consequences. The young generation seems to be dragging the entire society into Hades. Learning institutions seem to design their programmes to suit the whims of the learners this basically being a result of constant expression of fear and anxiety by parents whose children’s performance grow dismal. The fear by the parents is that the children are bound to develop disinterest in education if their performance worsens. There is an increasing desire to score high grades and join better and highly ranked higher learning institutions. Those who fail to measure up resort to entertainment parlors. A mention of physical growth, fitness or posture would cause some emotional tremor. This is an issue of great concern among Americans. High economic development rate has made many young people afford high calorific foods. Eating habits have changed and cases of obesity have been increasing day after day. However, the increasing concerns about the issue of body size, weight, posture and fitness is the reason behind the fast rate of growth of the fashion beauty and modeling industry. This raises a myriad of questions about the extent to which the children should be allowed to make decisions about their physical and emotional development. Most parents are extremely anxious about the developments that may arise during the course of growth and development of their children. Streets trodden by youngsters struggling to bear massive weight are commonplace in America. The issue of physical development among other social challenges affects a child’s self esteem. For instance, an obesed child is likely to develop low self-esteem. Poor academic performance would also have similar effects on the self-esteem of a child. Parents are especially concerned about eating habits of their children but it still remains an evasive issue since many eateries are being put up offering high calorie and very attractive foods. What leads the youngsters to such eating habits and poor dietary programmes remains a very tricky puzzle. As the parents battle with the issue of food, one would point an accusing finger at them since some abandon their duty as mothers at very early stages of child development. For instance, some due to careers quit breastfeeding a couple of days after delivery. The responsibility of feeding the child rests squarely on baby sitters, some of who might either lack crucial knowledge on proper diet or others out of defiance dump unhealthy foods into the child’s tummy. A child graduates to teenage with the same problem. Boredom is a feeling that would quite well describe the emotional orientation of most youths in our society. Every formal system seems to be a bore to the young generation. Schoolwork is boring and many are reluctant to pursue higher education. Parents are very much concerned about the amount of homework assigned to the children. On one hand the children feeling bored by the too much task given by the teachers to be tackled at home by the children; on the other hand, the parents feel that too much homework denies them control over the activities performed by their children during their time with them at home. Teachers still feel that they have an obligation to steer learning among the children to greater heights. How a compromise would be struck given the above situations remains a hard nut to crack. This concern revolves around not only the issue of homework assigned by teachers to children but also around other chores both at home and away from home. The government is on very high alert concerning issues to do with child labour. The problem is how to determine what amounts to child labour. Determining how much work a child should be given at home and elsewhere is an issue to be debated upon. With the growing enlightenment on children rights is bound to be a bone of contention. However, hiring of children to work in the manufacturing and processing industries remains out of question and punitive measures should be meted on whoever commits such a disorderly thing. A great deal of anxiety rests in the hearts of parents and guardians when an issue of special needs arises. How such children are handled matter a lot. There is a need for more schools that can handle such cases. But parents are more concerned about their welfare. Children with both physical and mental disadvantages are not easy to cater for and the number and capacity of the institutions handling such might not be adequate and this has been the essence of parental concerns. Another issue arises when a consideration is made on whether to surrender the disabled children or other children with special needs full time to such special institutions or part timely. With the busy parent schedules this becomes a big issue. Children are also exposed to traffic risks. How roads and streets are manned determines how safe or unsafe children can be on the roads. Children use roads frequently on foot either from schools or other events and occasions. Road safety for children is an issue of concern among parents. Issues range from delays in traffic snirl-ups to accidents both in public service vehicles or private cars. Though rare, parents are also afraid in case a child sneaks a car out of the homestead. Concerns about children safety do not only arise on the roads but also at home and elsewhere. Safety in the house, on the compound and away from home arouses great concern among parents. Parents strictly and keenly monitor the activities of the children whenever they are around them. At times they are concerned about the punitive measures taken by teachers against the children. Another issue about safety arises when a babysitter comes into the scene. Fear engulfs parents concerning the level of safety a babysitter would ensure on children. Babysitters might not have a deep emotional attachment to the child. Negligence by a babysitter would pose a safety risk and also physical and psychological anomalies. There is also a risk of child abductions. Parents are afraid of situations whereby after allowing their children to move around freely, they end up under the custody of strangers who later turn up demanding hefty amounts of cash before they release them. This is not uncommon with the escalating crime levels. Other concerns include infant sexual exploitation. There have been a number of cases of infant sexual exploitation in the American society. The worst is when a close relative is implicated in the vice. Children are constantly exposed to such dangers, especially with the weakening social ties and parents busy schedules which rob them of the opportunity to constantly and consistently monitor their children’s activities. Many self-confessed victims of sexual harassment have brought to our attention the looming danger. The society has almost reached a state of moral decantation. Some people seem to have lost their sense of reason. Children below five years of age have fallen victims. Other concerns that leave parents torn between issues touch the areas of toilet training. How it is conducted at that tender age determines the psychological development of the child. Some parents lose their patience when the child turns out to be a slow learner. This according to psychoanalysts tends to behavioral maladjustments later in a child’s life. This again raises the issue of whether or not the mother is the one charged with the responsibility of conducting the exercise. Babysitters are known to be harsh especially when the children are unco-operative. However some mothers subject their children to harsh toile training. Many parents are usually anxious about how fast their children learn to control their bowel movements. Another issue of paramount concern is breast-feeding. The stage of growth and development at which an infant is weaned (or stops breastfeeding) contributed a great deal to the physical and psychological development of the infant. A child who stops breastfeeding early than expected is likely to develop poorly physically and psychologically. This also tampers with the emotional attachment between the child and the mother and the child is likely to develop defiant behaviour later in life. Parents are afraid and anxious about future development of their children given their early administration of bottled foods. The changing social structures coupled with the negative publicity carried out by the media have also caused too much anxiety among parents. Family ties are weakening and many parents are opting for divorce or separation. Children are majorly the sufferers. Media never ceases to feature movies that uphold violent behaviour and crime. Infact movie stars are perceived even by youngsters, as heroes who murder many and commit the vilest things. Children have their role models in movies. Romantic movies are filled with scenes portraying hatred, jealousy, obscenity, murder, suicide and revenge. The young children are adopting the same negative traits and some are living out the characters they see in the movies. Family feuds are not rare occurrences in our society. To sum up, childhood development and child upbringing are issues that parents are very much concerned in America. Parents face numerous anxious moments in their efforts to bring up their children in the most ideal conditions and ways. Readership of publications highlighting issues concerning childhood is growing tremendously as parents battle with the challenges they encounter in control over their lives of their children. The wider society on the other hand has a major role to play in shaping the character of the young. There is a tag of war as the two scrambles for control. Parent’s concerns and anxiety is genuine and valid. Every adult in the US should feel responsible for the upbringing of the upcoming young generations. The media should be instrumental in promoting proper childhood development by designing programs that uphold acceptable childhood behaviour as well as educating all childhood social institutions on the most ideal ways of bringing up children. And the government should provide structures that promote proper childhood development. A central issue that has been raised over time is about childhood innocence. In the earlier times infants were perceived as innocent. However with the emerging issues in the society and exposure of sexual materials by the media, children are exposed to sexual issues and abuse at tender stages of growth and development. One would wonder whether children are innocent as earlier perceived or not. The society, including media should feel responsible for shaping childhood. The fashion industry should be more responsible to admit the right ages. A fairer comparison should be drawn between children and adults. Children should be enlightened on their right, and the dangers and risks they are exposed to. Much light should be she on the existing opportunities available for the children to fully exploit their talents.