The Pros and Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act Essay

The Pros and Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act - Essay Example Yet, along with the greater emphasis put on student performance has come nationwide accountability and the unethical measures that school districts have implemented to meet the new federal guidelines. The NCLB Act was designed primarily to aid poor, minority, and immigrant students by implementing testing standards and assuring no child was falling through the cracks and being left behind. To support this effort, the bill appropriated $650 million to be used by the states to instruct English language learners. This was a 50% increase in funding for these efforts over previous years (Crawford). In an era when education funding has suffered from so many cutbacks, the additional funding was a decided benefit for schools, especially with high immigrant populations. However, the new formula used to distribute the money resulted in the least populated states, such as North Dakota and Alaska, receiving a reduction in funding. This has resulted in fewer English Learner programs for Native Americans that are enrolled in public schools in these states (Crawford). The NCLB Act requires that all students be tested at regular intervals to measure their progress in Math and English. School district funding and administrative control are dependent on acceptable results of this testing. This approach is well intentioned and can benefit the student by holding the schools accountable to their purpose, teaching the students. While the results of this testing have been unimpressive for the general student population, it has benefited students in the lower grades that are enrolled in an English Language Learner program (National Center for Educational Statistics). While forcing the schools to produce results, especially among the most challenged students, the Act has also had unintended consequences in this area. Because school funding is based on these results, districts have been anxious to exploit loopholes that may exempt many students from the testing requirements. During the most recent reporting period it was reported that the scores of two mill ion students were omitted due to technicalities. These were the poorest performing students and it can be inferred that they were minority and immigrant students, the ones that NCLB was written to protect. (Bass, Dixon, and Feller). The NCLB has given the education system uniform guidelines and standards that can be used to compare our past performance and gauge the success of our schools. It helps to identify which programs work and which ones fail. The goal of testing all students fairly is a great advantage if implemented correctly. However, when school funding, bonuses, and school control depend on the results of these tests, it becomes known as High Stakes Testing. Teachers are put in a position to "teach the test" at the expense of other equally important material. Measuring student progress may become meaningless under the current guidelines as Armein and Berliner report, "... the harder teachers work to directly prepare students for a high-stakes test, the less likely the test will be valid for the purposes it was intended". It has also been reported that Latino students have been encouraged to drop out of school to avoid taking the test in a school's effort to raise overall test

Shoes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shoes - Essay Example This paper explores the origin of shoes and some of the most groundbreaking inventions in the shoe industry. The origin of shoes dates back to about 40,000 years ago during the Middle Paleolithic age. Evidence points out that footwear was amongst the things that the ancient man made. The early man was compelled to device a means of protecting their feet from rugged terrains, jagged rocks and hot sand among other things that could hurt their feet (Yue & Yue, 1997). In early civilizations, sandals were the most common footwear among people. However, some communities such as Mesopotamia had shoes. In Mesopotamia, individuals who live in mountains around the boundary with Iran wore some kind of soft shoes made of wraparound leather. There was no marked distinction between the left and right shoes. Even by 1850, both the left and right pairs of shoes remained largely the same with most shoes having straight lasts. According to Yue and Yue (1997), the ancient shoe designs were in accordanc e with the surrounding environment of the inventor such as the conditions that people needed to be protected from as well as the available materials. Fast movement was essential for survival, thus â€Å"shoes needed to be light-weight but still strong enough for adequate protection† (Yue & Yue, 1997, p.9). Shoes needed to cover up the foot and have tight grip. In warm areas, people sought flat materials and tied them onto their feet soles while those in colder climates covered their feet and legs with animal skins tying them with thongs (Yue & Yue, 1997). Many of the shoes that rule the current world of fashion existed in the ancient periods. Different kinds of shoes from thick to thin existed in the antique world. To begin with, sandals are one of the most common footwear among early inhabitants of the planet earth. Sandal still remains common footwear in warm countries. The ancient Japanese had their version of sandal with a wooden sole called the geta. The geta was worn wi th socks known as tabi (Yue & Yue, 1997). Among the Indians was chappli, a tall knobbed sandal that was made from the hide of water buffalo with a wood and metal to keep the foot above the ground. Early Egyptians were associated with sandals that were basically made of plaited leaves of papyrus. Sandal making was a widely acknowledged practice among early Egyptians. The Egyptian sandals were unique in that they appeared as both left and right pair unlike most European shoes that had no differences. In Greece and Rome, the use of sandals was restricted with specific sandals being set for different occasions (Aswad & Meredith, 2003). In cold countries, moccasin was the most common type of shoes. Moccasin was simple and made of one round of leather sewed together and had laces that were also made of leather. Moccasin was common among Native Americans and ancient American pioneers. The ancient Romans have been associated with wooden soled shoes. Peasants across Europe have worn clogs as well as other shoes with wooden soles for a very long period of time. Similar to the Japanese geta, the thick wooden sole protected the foot from road fragments, mud, stones, and cold among others. Klompen were wooden shoes in Holland and still exist today. Pattens were worn until middle ages, during Victorian periods. Among the early French was sabot, a wooden sole shoe for factory employees and peasants. High heel shoes, which commonly rule the women’s fashion world, existed for both males and females in the ancient times. These include

Milk and Formula Essay Example for Free

Milk and Formula Essay There are many different types of formula feed and there are many different factors to take into account before choosing the right formula feed. * Health * Dietary needs * Age * Cost and preparation time of different formula milks. There are three different types of formula: * Cow’s milk-based formula * Hydrolysed protein formula * Soya-based formula Most babies can have cow’s milk-based formula, however there are some who have a health or dietary reason why they can’t. The different range of formula milks are described below. (information obtained from the baby centre website). Cow’s milk-based formula Most baby formula milks are based on cows milk, which is modified to resemble breastmilk as closely as possible. Manufacturers modify cows milk for babies by adjusting carbohydrate, protein, and fat levels and adding vitamins and minerals. There are also special types of formula manufactured for premature babies. The protein in milk can be broken down into curds (casein) and whey. The ratio of casein to whey can vary according to the type of baby formula milk. There are two main types: First-stage formula. These milks consist of mostly whey, with a casein:whey ratio of 40:60, which is about the same as breastmilk. They are suitable for babies from birth up to about a year, and are thought to be easier to digest. Second-stage formula. These milks consist of mostly casein, with a casein:whey ratio of 80:20. They take longer to digest and are often promoted as being for hungrier babies. Nutritionally, babies will only need first-stage formula, although we may decide to move the baby onto second-stage formula as they grow. It is important to be cautious when changing a baby’s milk. Switching from first to second-stage milk too early can give a baby constipation. Although many milk manufacturers market their second-stage milk as suitable from birth, it’s best to wait until the baby is at least four weeks old. If the baby doesn’t seem content with the formula we first started them on, the parents should talk to their health visitor before changing formulas. When the baby’s a year old, we can move them on from first or second-stage formula to cows milk. Cow’s milk is not recommended as a main drink for babies under the age of one because it’s low in iron and vitamin C. But we can use small amounts in cooking for the baby when they’ve started solids, or on their breakfast cereal. Hydrolysed-protein formula This is a formula milk which is specially designed for babies with an allergy or intolerance to cows milk. If a baby has a cow’s milk allergy, the protein in the milk will cause an allergic reaction. And if they have a intolerance to cow’s milk, they will have difficulty digesting the lactose, or sugar, in the milk. Hydrolysed-protein formula milks are based on cows milk and have the same nutritional value as standard formula milk. But the protein in the milk is hydrolysed, which means it is broken down so the baby is less likely to react to it. These milks are also generally lactose-free, so babies with an intolerance to cow’s milk can digest them easily. If you think a baby has a cows milk allergy or intolerance, see your doctor or health visitor. Your doctor will be able to prescribe a hydrolysed-protein formula for your baby. You can buy these from your pharmacy, too. You can also buy special lactose-free formulas, which your doctor may suggest that your baby has lactose intolerance. Soya-based formula Soya-based formula is made from soya beans. It is modified with vitamins, minerals and nutrients to make it suitable for formula milk. Only give your baby soya-based formula on the advice of your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician. Even though manufacturers market their soya formulas as suitable for babies from birth, health professionals dont recommend them for babies under six months. Its not recommended that your baby has soya formula if she has a cow’s milk allergy. Babies who are allergic to cows milk are often allergic to soya, too. There is also no evidence that changing to a soya-based formula can help to soothe your baby if she is unsettled or colicky. Your baby may be colicky because she’s intolerant to lactose, and so a lactose-free formula is best if this is the case. Ask your doctor or health visitor for advice if you think your baby has an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk. There are no particular health benefits that your baby would get from soya formula compared to other formula milks. In fact, soya formula milks can actually damage your baby’s teeth over time, because they contain glucose syrup. If you do give your baby soya milk, you’ll have to take extra special care of her teeth. What kind of formula milk does an older baby need? There are cows milk formulas that are marketed for babies from six months, because they are high in iron which growing babies need. However, these milks are not nutritionally necessary. Your baby will be getting the iron and other nutrients she needs from her solid foods. There’s no need to switch to a different milk if your baby is happy with breastmilk or her usual formula. Milks marketed for older babies include: Follow-on milks These are milks with higher protein and mineral content than ordinary infant formula. They are sold as suitable for babies from six months old. Follow-on milks are advertised as more nutritious than cows milk, because they contain added iron, vitamins and minerals. However, bear in mind that cows milk is not a suitable drink for your baby until she’s a year old anyway. Goodnight milks These are follow-on milks with added cereal, which are marketed at parents as helping babies to sleep better at night. However, there’s no evidence that they help babies to settle at night or that they take longer to digest. Don’t give goodnight milk to your baby if she’s less than six months old because cereal isn’t suitable for younger babies. Also don’t give this milk to your baby if she is overweight. Growing-up milks Growing-up milks are marketed at parents as being better than cows milk because they contain added iron and other vitamins and minerals. They are promoted to be used for babies from about one year old. However, growing-up milk isn’t needed, as once your baby’s a year old she can have full-fat cows milk as her main drink. She’ll also be eating a varied and balanced diet, which should provide her with all the essential vitamins and minerals, without the need for growing-up milk. These extra formula milks are not really necessary at all. Your baby can get all she needs as she grows by having her standard formula milk alongside calcium-rich and iron-rich foods. You can then move your baby onto cow’s milk when she’s a year old. The only reason you may want to change your baby’s milk is if you’re raising her as a vegetarian. When your start her on solids from six months, you may find it difficult to find enough vegetarian foods that are rich in iron. So an iron-rich formula may be a good option.

A Potential Avian Influenza Pandemic Essay -- Biology Medical Biomedic

A Potential Avian Influenza Pandemic Avian influenza could potentially be the world's next pandemic. The virus that causes this disease can be transmitted to other birds and humans by bird secretions. Bird migrations, as well as today?s instant worldwide transportation, can spread the avian influenza virus at amazing speeds. The government would face a disease that could wipe out millions of people. Meanwhile, the economy would crash as money is spent eradicating the disease from the country. Poultry farmers would have to cull their birds to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Perhaps the greatest concern about avian influenza is its potential to not only infect and kill many people, but to be used as a bioterrorism weapon. Avian influenza is rapidly becoming a great concern to health officials worldwide. The pathogen responsible for this disease is the avian influenza virus from the Orthomyxoviridae family. (University of Maryland, 2005) The H5N1 subtype, however, could potentially cause the most harm. Viruses are typically found in their natural reservoir, the bodies of wild fowl, although they do not always cause symptoms or illness in the birds. These viruses can be transmitted by various means to other birds and, as of 1997, humans. The 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong was the first time the avian influenza virus was noted to skip from bird to human. (CBC, 2005) Since then, health officials are becoming increasingly concerned with what avian influenza could mean in the near future. If an avian influenza pandemic were to occur, the government would face a deadly disease that would kill much of the population. There would be a catastrophic effect on the economy as the government must spend millions to erad icate disease and ... ...71805CIP/shtml International Herald Tribune. (2005, July). A flu nightmare. The IHT Online. July 15, 2005: http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/07/14/opinio n/edfllu.php Marwaan Macan-Markar. (2005, March) Bird flu to shake up Asian society. Asian Times. July 19, 2005: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ GC01Ae01.html Stephen Smith. (2005, July) Avian flu found in migrating geese in China. The Boston Globe. July 15, 2005: http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/arti cles/2005/07/07/avian_flu_found_in_migrating_geese_in_china/ University of Maryland. (2005. n/a) Avian Influenza Virus. Avian Influenza Virus Program. July 25, 2005: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/avianflu/ World Health Organization. (2004, January) Avian Influenza- fact sheet. World Health Organization. July 25, 2005: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_01_15/e n/print.html

Johnson and Johnson Executive Summary Essay

The $10,000 investment made into Johnson and Johnson is a good investment to have in your portfolio. This is because of the stable nature of Johnson and Johnson and the growth trend of the company. Based on the JNJ 10-Ks for the last 5 years ended Jan. 1, 2012, the revenue trend is growing. Revenues have trended favorably from $61,095 in the year ended Jan. 2007 to $65,030 in the year ended Jan. 1, 2012. The company is also operating efficiently showing the more stable aspect of this investment by keeping costs of goods sold at an average percent of 29.94% for the five years ended Jan. 1, 2012. The company is also well leveraged for growth. A good measure of this leverage is the Debt Ratio, which is a measure of the total liabilities of a company in proportion to the total assets. The Debt Ratio will also expose the risks in the company’s debt-load by revealing the extent of assets that are financed with debt. The debt ratio for JNJ has trended from 2.00 in the year ended Dec. 28, 2008 to 2.01 Jan. 1, 2012 with an increase in the fiscal years ended Jan 2, 2011 and Jan 3 2010 to 2.22 and 2.15, respectively. These ratios show that the company has two assets for every one dollar of a liability the company has thereby showing that the company is financially stable and able to pay the obligations it has. Johnson and Johnson is also able to generate earnings from it’s invested capital. Return on asset (ROA) is a ratio that describes what earnings are generated from invested capital and is often referred to as return on investment. From the years ended Dec. 28, 2008 through Jan 2, 2011, the company has had a consistent ROA percentage of 15.25%, 12.95%, and 12.96%, respectively. The ROA percentage decreased to 8.51% in the year ended Jan. 1, 2012 because of continued additions of assets through acquisitions that will continue to generate growth in the future. Market perception is also a valuable indicator when determining sound investments. The price to earnings ratio is a valuation of a company’s current market share price compared to its per-share earnings. Generally, a higher P/E ratio suggests that an investor can expect higher earnings growth in the future. The price to earnings ratio has increased substantially to 18.53 in the fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2012 from the 12.75 price to earnings ratio in the year ended Jan. 2, 2011, as shown in the table below. Lastly, most financially secure and stable companies offer dividends to their stockholders. A dividend is a distribution of cash, stock, or property in a portion of a company’s earnings. The cash dividends per share have trended favorably for investors looking to have a return on their investment from $1.62 in the year ended Dec. 28, 2007 to $2.25 for the year ended Jan. 1, 2012. In summary, Johnson and Johnson is continually investing into new consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical device fields which has created a large, well diversified company that is able to stay one step ahead of its competitors thereby creating a strong stable investment option for investors.

Holes Essay

There are many different challenges that Stanley Yelnats (the main character) from the bestselling novel Holes written by Louis Sachar has to over come. Stanley was first seen in the movie when a tilted shot of shoes hit him in the head and he fell on the ground portraying he was weak and a bit stupid. Stanley’s personality was also displayed when his mum was so shocked when the police came around to their house telling them Stanley had stolens, this shows that Stanley had never commited a crime before and wasn’t usually a trouble maker. The movie directed by Andrew Davis portrays everything the book does and it shows nearly all the insight into Stanley’s life that author describes in the book. There are many challenges but the main one is breaking the ‘curse’ that Stanley’s family has been stuck in for more than 100 years. This challenge shows many significant themes in this book like friendship, determination and fate. The main dispute for Stanley was breaking his family curse. Although he didn’t know if it was even real and that he had broken it , it was clear for the audience watching the movie that he had. The curse was put on his family more than 100 years ago when the first Yelnats, Elya Yelnats went to a fortune teller called Madame Zeroni. She made him a deal that he could have one of her small pigs if he carried Madame Zeroni up the mountain when he was done making the pig nice and fat so he could give it to the father of the girl of his dreams. When he noticed that the girl really was stupid like Madame Zeroni warmed him he decided to move from Lativia to America. However he forgot to carry Madame Zeroni up the mountain so she put a curse on his family forever. This was portrayed by a dissolve of Madame Zeroni repeating that she will put a curse on his family to Elya leaving Lativia. The low angle of Madame Zeroni’s face made it obvious that she was not kidding and very serious about the curse. When Stanely carried Hectoria Zeroni (a descendant of Madame Zeroni) up â€Å"God’s Thumb† which was also portrayed with a low angle making it look very commodious, he broke the family curse. This challenge portrayed many key ideas and themes and one of them was friendship. Zero (Hector Zeroni) and Stanley didn’t know eachother at all but due to them both being the ‘outcasts’ of the group they started to get to know eachother and Stanley started to teach Zero how to read and Zero helped dig Stanley holes so he wasn’t so tired and could teach him. These lessons however were then stopped by the Warden, who was introduced by a high angle on her boots which already made her look threating as you could compare it to some movies where the thief or cowboy’s boots got introduced before their face which usually portrayed they were a significant character that usually was there to cause harm. However this didn’t stop Zero and Stanley’s friendship growing, when Zero ran away form the camp as he had enough of it Stanley had to go and rescue his only close friend he had at the camp. This shows Stanley’s friendly love for Zero portrayed by the dissolving of Stanley walking through the dessert and than of the sun showing how hot it was. The soundtrack of mysterious music kept you guessing to see if Stanley would end up finding Zero or not. The orange overalls that all the boys at Camp Greenlake wore made Zero recognizable in the dessert. The audience knew that when the two boys rejoiced both of them were very content due to the soundtrack turning from mysterious to faster more lively music. Another key idea that the challenge portrayed was change. Change for Stanley, his family and Hector Zeroni. There were many unanswered questions that produced tension, secrecy through the entire movie but these questions were all answered when Stanley broke the curse. There was quite a journey to break the curse for Stanley and during this period his character changed dramatically. He used to a gullable, weak , little boy that couldn’t stand up for himself. But he turned into a strong, smart young adult that could even save someone’s life. His weak side was displayed through a high angle of Stanley searching for a camera in the shower, that he got told the Warden of the Camp had installed. This shows how gullable he was and believed everything the other boys in his hut said. As well as giving his findings in a hole to another boy who got a free day off as the Warden though he found it not Stanley. However when he was in the middle of the dessert. He saw â€Å"God’s Thumb† and took iniative. When Hector was to weak he carried him up and saved his life as he found water which the boys definitely needed as they were tired and dehydrated. When Stanley broke the curse it changed many other things mostly for his life and family. His dad finally created a way to make sweaty feet/shoes not smell and Stanley found his treasure that was buried for more than 100 years by Kissing Kate Barlow. This changed his entire lifestyle and he gave half of his treasure to Hector who used that to hire private investigastors and find his mum who he haden’t seen for more than 4 years. As you can see the main challenge definitely portrays some key ideas and themes. It displays the friendship betweeen Stanley Yelanats and Hector Zeroni which is definitely one of the most important friendship. Furthermore it explains how Stanley, Hector and both of their families changed. Stanleys personality changed showed everyone how much you can change due to your circumstances and enviroment around you. He teaches everyone a good lesson and I would definitly recommend this to any person my age.

Learn about the Famous Resort Country of Monaco

Learn about the Famous Resort Country of Monaco Population: 32,965 (July 2009 estimate)Capital: MonacoArea: 0.77 square miles (2 sq km)Bordering Country: FranceCoastline: 2.55 miles (4.1 km)Highest Point: Mont Agel at 460 feet (140 m)Lowest Point: Mediterranean SeaMonaco is a small European country located between southeastern France and the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered the second smallest country in the world (after Vatican City) by area. Monaco has only one official city which is its capital and is famous as being a resort area for some of the worlds richest people. Monte Carlo, an administrative area of Monaco, is the countrys most famous area due to its location on the French Riviera, its casino, the Monte Carlo Casino, and several beach and resort communities.History of MonacoMonaco was first founded in 1215 as a Genoan colony. It then came under the control of the House of Grimaldi in 1297 and remained independent until 1789. In that year, Monaco was annexed by France and was under French control until 1814. In 1815, Monaco became a protectorate of Sardinia under the Treaty of Vienna. It remained a protectorate until 1861 when the Franco-Monegasque Treaty established its independence but it remained under the guardianship of France.Monacos first constitution was put into effect in 1911 and in 1918 it signed a treaty with France which stated that its government would support French military, political and economic interests and that if the Grimaldi dynasty (which still controlled Monaco at the time) were to die out, the country would remain independent but be under French protection.Throughout the mid 1900s, Monaco was controlled by Prince Rainier III (who took over the throne on May 9, 1949). Prince Rainier is most famous for his marriage to American actress Grace Kelly in 1956 who was killed in a car accident near Monte Carlo in 1982.In 1962, Monaco established a new constitution and in 1993 it became a member of the United Nations. It then joined the Council of Europe in 2003. In April 2005, Prince Rainier III died. He was the longest serving monarch in Europe at the time. In July of the same year his son, Prince Albert II ascended the throne.Government of MonacoMonaco is considered a constitutional monarchy and its official name is the Principality of Monaco. It has an executive branch of government with a chief of state (Prince Albert II) and a head of government. It also has a legislative branch with a unicameral National Council and a judicial branch with a Supreme Court.Monaco is also divided into four quarters for local administration. The first of these is Monaco-Ville which is the old city of Monaco and sits on a headland in the Mediterranean. The other quarters are La Condamine on the countrys port, Fontvieille, which is a newly build area, and Monte Carlo which is Monacos largest residential and resort area.Economics and Land Use in MonacoA large part of Monacos economy is focused on tourism as it is a popular European resort area. In addition, Monaco is also a large banking center, has no income tax and has low taxes for its businesses. Ind ustries other than tourism in Monaco include construction and industrial and consumer products on a small scale. There is no large scale commercial agriculture in the country.Geography and Climate of MonacoMonaco is the worlds second smallest country by area and is surrounded on three sides by France and on one by the Mediterranean Sea. It is located only 11 miles (18 km) from Nice, France and is close to Italy as well. Most of Monacos topography is rugged and hilly and its coastal portions are rocky.Monacos climate is considered Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average low temperature in January 47 °F (8 °C) and the average high temperature in July is 78 °F (26 °C).More Facts about Monaco Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries in the world Locals from Monaco are called Monà ©gasques Monà ©gasques are not allowed to enter Monte Carlos famous Monte Carlo Casino and visitors must show their foreign passports upon entry The French make up the largest part of Monacos populationReferencesCentral Intelligence Agency. (2010, March 18). CIA - The World Factbook - Monaco. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mn.htmlInfoplease. (n.d.). Monaco: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107792.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2010, March). Monaco (03/10). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3397.htm