Euro Zone Economic Crisis and its Impact

Euro Zone Economic Crisis and its Impact Introduction The EU was formed in 1957 and efforts to coordinate the currency into single formidable currency took place later in 1992 through the Maastricht Treaty that was later launched in 1999. This led to the introduction of rules that were to be followed the EU members so as to be allowed to use the euro.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Euro Zone Economic Crisis and its Impact specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The condition came to be known as the Convergence criteria of which low and stable inflation, stable exchange rate and sound public finances were to be followed strictly (Rossi and Aguilera 8-11). The introduction of the Euro lead to its adoption into the national central banks of each member states as a monetary measure. This led to the formation of an independent European Central Bank (ECB) to serve this purpose. The formation of the EU has facilitated international trade among the member states (Rossi a nd Aguilera 12). However, this picture has not been the way it is found in the strategies of EU Commission. The global recession that hit the world in years 2007 and 2008 and other financial crises have led to deep problems in the economies of Euro countries. The Euro zone crisis requires a serious study to understand the cause and the strategies needed to restore the Euro into normalcy. This paper will thus focus on these issues revolving around the Euro crises. Background Information Causes of Euro Zone Crises According to the Stability and Growth pact stipulated in the heart of European Union Economic integration, it was agreed that the member states should not borrow more than 3% of their economies. The problem seems to stem from large debts held by some of the member countries hence producing a spiral effect to other members. The problem probably is as a result of structural maladjustments as IMEMO observes in their report of the crisis. Member countries like Spain, Italy, Fran ce, Germany and Greece have witnessed the fall of the euro against the dollar by 15 percent in the year 2010. The crisis has seen the euro plummet to below the 1.20 dollar benchmark forcing foreign efforts to intervene to save Greek on the verge of collapsing. According to IMEMO, the crises have four key features. In the first feature as already mentioned, there exists the problem of structural and economic gaps between member states of the EU. An analysis of these inconsistencies reveals that Southern European member countries are not as advances as the leading European countries. This is reflected by the low quality education statistics that fall behind the framework of the EU.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These gaps reveal that disparities between the EU countries contribute to differences in the purchasing power of the low performing countries. These souther n countries have backward moving and uncompetitive economies with constantly low GDPs. The average purchasing power indicator shows that the following nations have below the average 108% value of more than half of the Euro Countries, Greece 95%, Slovenia, 86%, 78% for Malta and Portugal and Slovenia 72%. Therefore, the problem lies in their grouping as members of the Euro countries yet they remain behind in term of competitive advantage. In the ensuing effect, these nations have the attitude of approaching the EU as a forum where they improve the standards of living. Further, the strategies they use in this effort is only geared toward maintaining international standards as per the EU without working on the details of internal production, increased sale and cross border production. They have low labor productivity compounded by low levels of human capital that lags behind serious in the information knowledge technology economy (IMEMO para. 3-6). Their R D is almost absent, and the private business sector reveals lack of involvement leading to the backward trend. When compared with the leaders’ these countries will take time to get at par with the developed and advancing countries in Euro zone. This led to countries living beyond their means since the wages grew fast at the pressure of trade unions and the need to maintain the standards of welfare at the expense of poor social security system, ineffective administration hence the need to borrow more for sustenance. Efforts to devaluate the credit and monetary policy in different structured countries can only lead to varied results that are not feasible. This is because this measure leaves out the structural consideration needed to boost such economies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Euro Zone Economic Crisis and its Impact specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second problem lies in the systemic and institutional nature of the Union. Th e member nations have handed the monetary power to the Commission which through the ECB has done its bets to maintain the inflation rate at 2.5 percent, kept prices stable and the exchange rate between the dollar reflecting long term trends. However, the lack of inclusion of other key economic policies in the hands of the Union leaves the national members states with the option of dictating their one course. In the long run, there arises an uncoordinated guideline in the nations. These economic situations have worsened especially in individual member states. The situation is made worse with the lack of economic coordination. This had led to conflicts with ECB. This is because of the emerging issues and disagreements regarding individual governments’ economic problems, which spreads to the whole economic policy of the Euro community. The third problem lies in the fiscal nature and abilities. All the euro states have breached the Maastricht criteria that stipulate that borrowin g should not exceed 3 percent of the states budget of GPD. The reform brought by France and Germany in 2005 fuelled the problem by eliminating the measures designated to check the flouting of Maastricht criteria. Countries like Britain had not been in this excessive budget deficit due to the concern of the pound. Therefore, when the world financial and economic crisis hit, Britain was not affected. The European nations at this time went overboard in borrowing in order to revive, restructure and rearrange their economies for effective energy use at the expense of diminishing budget revenues. This had the effect of increasing budget deficits to unimagined magnitudes. In this case, the euro zone governments spending rose to 50.7 percent in 2009 from 46 percent in 2007 as budget revenue decreased from 45.4 to 44.4 percent in a span of two years. This resulted to a deficit of 6.3 percent (IMEMO, para 5). This debt problem is explained by unjustified growth backed by borrowing. This probl em was compounded further by the previous surge in household debts base on mortgage and consumer debts that read about 99 percent in the make up of GPD in 2007. I other countries like Spain, this had shot up to 125%; however, when compared to 134% recorded in the US, these were lower.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This had a serious effect on the Euro zone debt problem just like the increased foreign debts of the euro zone bank’s liabilities. This was indicated by high financial leverages of 21 to 49 in European Banks s compared to 12 and 17 in US banks. Also, the problem of bank cross border integration led to some banks becoming more vulnerable from the operations of foreign others in the Euro zone (IMEMO, para 8). This problem is also compounded by leading behaviors of banks and especially the German and France banks. This forms the fourth feature of the Euro crisis know as the credibility gap of the financial institutions, in the member states as well as the Euro region governance as a whole. This was compounded by the need and insistence for integration against the least effective anti crisis measures by some member states. The crisis in each member countries has had various effects due to these problems. In the export oriented countries, GDP has gone down like in Germany 2009 bei ng overtaken by the productivity values of south European countries like Greece and Spain. The rising unemployment rate has compounded the problem in Euro nations rising to two folds in nations like Spain and Ireland. This forms the basis for social protests that hinder the implementation of anti-crises measures. This results to state problems like those of Greece. Greek in the Middle of the Crises Greece faces debt from the external and internal point of view. For internal debt, the public sector has for a long time run one budget deficits. In the case of external debts, deficits have been caused by too much current account deficits hence an illustration of living beyond its means. The international crisis has affected the Greek economy in a severe way since the last quarter of 2008. Hellenic Statistical Authority noted that in the last quarter of 2008, the increase in GDP was only 0.7%, compared to the rest of the year in which it was over 2 per cent. This trend started 2009; and since then, the economy has deepened into economic recession. According to Hellenic Statistical Authority; In 2009, the annual decrease in GDP was 2 %. In addition to this, the Greek economy has faced the problem of fiscal disorders. Indeed, in 2009, the deficit was 12.7 % of GDP [whereas] the public debt was estimated at 113.4% of GDP (p.20). The IMF report noted that the Greek economy enjoyed a period of considerable growth (1994-beginning of 2008). According to the IMF, in 2009, the Greek GDP was decreased by 2 %; in the last quarter, the reduction in GDP was 2.5%. The IMF predicted that the 2010 Greek GDP to be 2% (p.19). Also, predictions about the economies reveal a gleam picture. The IMF also predicted that during 2011; the Greek economy would remain in depression and that the GDP would continue to decrease by 1.1%. On the other hand, the Euro region would go to an increase of 1.5% (IMF, 20). There is a prediction by economists that public debt will reach 150% of GPD by 2014. Table 1: Important Statistics Greece’s: 2009 2014* Change Nominal GDP (Euro in bn) Debt(%of GDP) Interest Payments (% of GDP) Debt (euro in bn) 237.5 113.4 -12.7 5.0 269.3 225.6 149.2 -2.9 7.2 336.7 -0.5+ 35.8++ 9.8++ 2.2++ 67.4 * Economist Projection +Per cent ++Percentage Points Source: The Economist, para 6. Table 2: Competitiveness Index 2006 2002 1994 Greece Spain Portugal Ireland -0.502 -0.213 -0.211 0.215 -0.498 -0.128 -0.195 0.247 -0.382 -0.068 -0.198 0.118 Source: Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 169. Of all the members’ nations of the Euro Zone, Greece is the worst hit country. Other nations like Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ireland face the problem of domino effect. Greece is the leading nation in government finance problems. The debt has risen to 300 billion euros, which translates to over 100 percent of the states GPD. This is mirrored in other states that have poor financial strength amid rapidly growing national debts. Greece has been unable to meet the anti-crisis program targets due to different social economic positions when compared to other nations. Greek’s strength on information technology is poor as compared to Ireland, and its mortgage sector contributed largely to the crisis. The reduction of exports has hurt most economies Germany included. The problem of Greece has been noted by many, and IMEMO indicate that Greece is on the brink of default. However, it is worth noting that Greece was not the first to get in the deep circle of crises. Countries like Ireland and Portugal had to work hard to get foreign assistance in order to avoid default (IMEMO, para. 9). First recent news that Greece doctored its statistics to a favorable image for EU zone explains a series of problems back at home. Also, massive corruption and lack of private investment regulation has led to the process that has put Greece at the center stage of the Euro Zone crisis. The Greek debt is further compounded by serious streets protest tha t hinder anti crisis measures to help alleviate the brink to bankruptcy. The in the last two years the government has received two bail outs from the Members of EU circle but these have not solved the problem. Today Greece faces a daunting task of reducing wages at the cost of street protest. The government contemplates on imposing austerity measures in spending that will help in the overall plan of hoisting from the pit. Many businesses in Greece are facing challenges while others have collapsed due to the weight of the repercussions. Greek’s problem of tax evasion and the governments inability to collect taxes crowd the country with more than it already has. Also, its membership to EU requires that the country does not devalue its currency to make exports cheaper hence more quagmires (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 173). Solutions for Greece crisis problem The problem with Greece’s debt crises started in the 1980s; therefore, simple strategies meant to help the nation can only suffice for short periods. The path to the future does resemble interventions recommendations that can be suitable for other economies like France, or UK. Greece specificities allow for structural changes in order to stabilize the fiscal sector. These must be accompanied by development incentives. The government must seek ways to stabilize the public economies and the fiscal sector hence the need for stable leadership as this may take long. Greece would be able meet the Lisbon’s treaty requirements and increase market trust by doing this. This would become a firm base upon which sustainable economic growth can be based. In the short term, Greece must make macroeconomic policy cuts and increase taxes tough at the face of mass street protest. In the long term, structural changes in public expenses and revenues are needed in order to stabilize the public economies without choking the developmental perspective (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 171). Greece’s condition allow s many possibilities, but they must be evaluated on the feasibility and effectiveness bearing in mind the serious problem in the country. The only option that Greece has is to adopt actions that will guarantee stability. This lies in structural reforms that are backed by austere measures. Greek has to follow its Stability Program which needs EU supervision on issues like fiscal transparency and national statistical agency. The need for massive bail out is required; however, this must be coupled by a determination to grow slowly. This should focus on strict measures that will involve recession in order to correct the imbalances and help the public finance become strong again to exude credibility (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 174). The goal is increase production base through sustainable growth. This should be done through appropriate planning of the best development model that should emphasize on competitiveness and extroversion. This has a long term advantage in stabilizing public situ ation. When fiscal stabilization and fiscal consolidation test the economic development the creation of appropriate economic environment allows investors to prosper (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 175). Therefore, key stabilization structures can encourage economic growth through private initiatives and entrepreneurs taking risks in order to avert depression by other measures like public expense reduction or reduction of public investment (Batten and Szilagyi, 29). The existing resources in the public sector as measures in structural strategies have to be used. These resources, when used in competent ways, may lead to sustainable reduced public expense. The evaluation of public infrastructure works should guide the policy and decision making process that would help in examining financial and human resources. With this line, the process of rationalizing the public resources should help in actions that lead to evaluation and appraisal of public managers. This should be done to determine co mmensurate rewards through independent processes and criteria. Secondly, evaluation of the civil servant and thirdly record and assess job positions duties and their required qualifications. Also, reforming the public servant regime to ensure flexibility and reconstruction of public-staff transfer framework should be done to allow public servants moving from one service to another. Finally, lifelong education and training processes should be focused on public servants in order to realize public resource management. Increasing tax collection should be the next solution not just as a reason for the crisis, but as a requirement for economic and structural interventions. Tax collection in Greece is one dimensional. It targets the over burdened tax payer group those who are salaried and pensioned as well as those who have invisible income. This forms about 79% of the tax revenues, and thus there is a need to increase tax payers. Out of the 5.5 million tax returns, 4.1 million (74%) do no t pay taxes or get tax rebates leaving a paltry 26 % as the tax revenue yearly contributors. Therefore, there is a need to record real estate electronically and analytically, expand the control of new real estate purchases and to direct this to some groups of people should be the way forward in tax revenue management. There is the need to control suspects who evade taxes and at the same time take measures against the off-shore company transactions. The need to exercise a fair tax system for real estate properties should allow inclusion of specificities in the income of such properties to the owner. Lastly, Greece should carry out high value commercial exchanges by only debiting and crediting professional bank accounts. These accounts should be accessible to the revenue services. In this case, fiscal stabilization, consolidation, and competitiveness for sustainability in economic growth should be the measures necessary for the Greece economy in the face of crisis and a weak economy. This should set the exit strategy out of the financial problem and form the basis for long term sustainable economic development (Batten and Szilagyi, 12). Solutions and strategies to EU crisis The solutions for Euro zone crises lie in timely mobilization of economists and leaders towards anti crisis measures. The design of anti crisis measures involves the implementation of reduction of the budget deficit to less than 3 percent. Before carrying out of these measures, there is a need to establish whether they can work in socio-political countries should be done to assess the viability. The solution to timeliness and sufficiency should help nations in the future to avert serious problems like those already in the zone. The precision to provide Greece with help as already done should be as a temporary measure. Since Greece is about to be bundled out of the EU membership, serious strategies should work to help Greece and other nations get rid of the crises (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 16 7). The issue of aid euros to Greek first solves only problems in the political process like the referendum issue at hand. The real solution lies in improving the productivity of the country. This means that Greece should focus on increasing the value of exports to other nations whether members of EU or not. At the same time, the need for South Europe countries to cut public spending should take foremost backing by the member states and the states themselves. The idea that Germany should help the crisis is far-fetched. This is because each nation is endowed with experts who have to help the country forge forward in hard and good times. Although German is the leading economy in the Euro zone, it has its fair shares of problems to handle. Therefore, depending on it may be disastrous (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 168). The ECB policies have been right so far; however, the question that should be asked is how well it does its work. The fact that Greece and other nations like Bulgaria have falsified their statistics leaves the position worrying. However, this may be a case of tied hands as already noted. The powers to dictate about structural and other economic policies in a nation rest within the nation’s capability and policies. Notably, if the integration in Monetary and Market policy has to be effective; then there is a need to develop strategies to ensure that member states economic and other fiscal policies are coordinated. These strategies must be outlined on supranational forum. In this case, the most advanced countries can have the chance to train and guide the lowest performing nations on measures to attain the outlined measures. In the heat of the moment, political comments suggest the implementation of procedures that ensure nations reach certain requirements needed to join European Commission. These include administrative, structural and financial aspects (Ker-Lindsay 74). If the EU leaders strongly advocate about Stabilization Fund as a long term solution, then the problem of debt will never end. Nations sell their debts to private investors where reasons for debt are not serious like in the Euro zone. For long term solutions to work, normalization of government finance in the countries experiencing the problem is critical. These economies need to become competitive in terms of the economy, which should be backed by strong institutional changes. A total change in the economic models pursued by such countries, which have a restrictive impact on anti-crisis measures, is also critical. Such measures must be based on a number of factors. The political condition of member states should be ready to execute and adopt anti-crisis solutions which must be based on available knowledge and competencies. The need also for preparation of the public in order to agree on reforms meant to prevent rolling back in anti crisis measures. There is also the need for political stability in to guarantee the stable functioning of the government in th e decision making processes during a crisis. Within the EU powers, there is the need to support a nation that is undertaking the anti crisis efforts. The need for conditional support package within the EU policies should be based on the criteria of demonstrative show of support, which indicates confidence in the future of the euro zone. Impact of the Crisis to European integration The Euro crisis has had serious effects to integration and enlargement of the euro zone. The notable increase of the euro zone in the recent past has dwindled due to the current issues. In other aspects, it was considered that the noted increase was a politicization effort to influence states to join the EU (Savona, Kirton, and Oldani, 56). From the crisis point of view, it can have positive and negative impacts. Positively, the requirements of nations to fulfill certain requirements before being accepted in the EU makes nations engage in hard work that guarantees success and viability. The requirement for political stability puts the states on toes, and this improves the EU member states. It is important to note that member states are faced with the issue of never withdrawing from the EU. If withdrawal happens, the state risks an undervalued national currency and difficult and costly legal obstacles. This would place the whole region in an image that is not desirable (Sklias and Galatsidas, p. 176). Positively, the EU will keep on checking the quality changes happening in economic forums of individual nations hence improving the overall economic development of the EU. In terms of cultural integration, countries wishing to join the EU need to be at par with the leading EU members. This prospect allows advancement of cultures on to desirable welfare levels in order to benefit from the economic integration. This is positive in that nations may utilize this option to produce and export for better profits. Negatively, this notion assumes that weak nation’s cultures may face foreig n mixing and eventually fade which may be a source of discomfort to conservative nations (IMEMO, para. 11-13). In terms of technology, there is a need to improve basic sending, receiving, and manipulation of information for nations to work at par with the leading EU countries. In the event that integration of technology happens between member states, this means a more advantageous position to members against other non member states. The chance to improve technologically is placed as an ambitious program which can get funding from the EU guidelines hence leading to improved employment. Integration brings advantages to nonmember states, as well as advantages. The EU policy on foreign policy for non member states must strive to help nations to come to terms with emerging issues. In this context, it can help to secure financial support for such nations from large financial institutions. This is because the performance of such states affects the EU directly and indirectly (IMEMO, para. 1 4-16). The issues with border relationships are also impacted by EU between countries that are interested in joining the EU. Nations can make border issues peaceful or conflicting depending on the treatment from EU. The member states fee and funding from EU creates sustainable fund for processes and administration. However, the crisis at hand has reduced this fund, and in case of any conflicts, there may be serious problems (Savona, Kirton, and Oldani, 59). On another front on integration, reforms in existing guidelines may help to create contingency fund to a nation in case of difficulties that cannot be addressed by the country. This may be a result of the amendment of Lisbon Treaty. The EU may seek to support the G-20 efforts aimed at reforming the global financial institutions. This is aimed at gaining advantage for harmonization of economic policies in the EU states. This will help the EU to shape the economic policy of the region. At the same time, it will help in progress tow ards to innovative economy in the southern members’ states. This will give the chance to help solve the problem of structural inconsistencies between nations as well as the low GDP. The crisis has put Germany back in the leading role of economic integration in the European region due to its favorable and stable economy. Germany has become an important partner in upgrading European Integration. Conclusion The intervention of other EU countries in helping PIIGS members is a strong indication of the future force of this association. Although viewed by many as a one that may not offer the world with solutions, the management of the Euro zone crises will restore the world confidence in the EU. The crisis is a big learning lesson to the EU PIIGS, other EMU nations and the world at large in the process of public and fiscal management. This serves a lesson in the collection of taxes and the insistence of stable and accountable management budget revenues as well as expenditures. The E uro Crises has not subsided, and in the wake of new calls, it is going to improve other policies between nonmember and member states. The force of economic integration allows the Euro to have a voice on the world stage to join hands with G-20 in discussing issues that affect the world. The resolution of this crisis should allow the world to have a view that even the environmental problem is achievable if serious strategies are put in place. Therefore, global warming as an international crisis can also be tackled. Batten, Jonathan and Peter G. Szilagyi. The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Emerging Financial Markets. Bingley, U.K: Emerald, 2011. Print. Hellenic Statistical Authority. Latest Statistical data. 2010. Web. International Monetary Fund. World economic outlook April 2010: rebalancing growth. 2010. Web. IMEMO RAN. Eurozone crisis: causes and consequences for the Euro-Atlantic Region. Moscow. 2010. Web. Ker-Lindsay, James. Crisis and Conciliation: A Year of Rapproche ment between Greece and Turkey. London: I. B. Tauris, 2007. Print. Rossi, Vanessa and Rodrigo Delgado Aguilera. No Painless Solution to Greece’s Debt Crisis. Chatham House, International Economics. 2010. Web. Savona, Paolo, John J. Kirton, and Chiara Oldani. Global Financial Crisis: Global Impact and Solutions. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2011. Print. Sklias, Pantelis and George Galatsidas. The Political Economy of the Greek Crisis: Roots, Causes and Perspectives for Sustainable Development. Middle Eastern Finance and Economics. Issue 7 (2010): 166-177. Print. The Economist. Greece’s sovereign-debt crisis. 2010. Web.

Classroom Strategies for Improving Behavior Management

Classroom Strategies for Improving Behavior Management Behavior management is one of the biggest challenges that all teachers face. Some teachers are naturally strong in this area while others have to work hard to be an effective teacher with behavior management. It is crucial to understand that all situations and classes are different. Teachers must quickly figure out what works with a particular group of students. There is not a single strategy that a teacher can implement to establish better behavior management. Instead, it will take a combination of several strategies to create the desired atmosphere of maximized learning. Veteran teachers often use these simple strategies to maximize the time they have with their students by minimizing the distractions. Establish Rules and Expectations Immediately It is well documented that the first few days of school are essential in setting the tone for the remainder of the year. I would argue that the first few minutes of those first few days are the most critical. Students are generally well behaved, and attentive in those first few minutes giving you the opportunity to captivate their attention immediately, lay the foundation for acceptable behavior, and dictate the overall tone for the remainder of the year. Rules and expectations are two different things. Rules are negative in nature and include a list of things a teacher does not want students to do. Expectations are positive in nature and include a list of things that a teacher wants students to do. Both can play a role in effective behavior management in the classroom. Rules and expectations should be simple and straightforward covering the essential aspects of behavior management. It is essential that they are well written avoiding vagueness and wordiness that can be counterproductive by creating confusion. It is also beneficial to limit how many rules/expectations you establish. It is better to have a few well-written rules and expectations than a hundred that no one can remember. Practice! Practice! Practice! Expectations should be practiced several times throughout the course of the first few weeks. The key to effective expectations is for them to become a habit. This is done through prioritized repetition at the beginning of the year.  Some will see this as a waste of time, but those that put in the time at the beginning of the year will reap the benefits throughout the course of the year. Every expectation should be discussed and practiced until it becomes routine. Get Parents on Board It is crucial that teachers establish meaningful, trusting relationships early on in the school year. If a teacher waits until there is an issue to reach out to a parent, then the results may not be positive. Parents must be as aware of your rules and expectations as the students are. There are many ways to establish an open communication line with parents. Teachers must become adept at utilizing these different forms of communication. Begin by making contact with the parents of those students who have a reputation of having behavior problems. Keep the conversation entirely positive in nature. It is likely that this will provide you with credibility as they are probably not used to hearing positive comments about their child. Be Firm Do not back down! You must hold a student accountable if they fail to follow a rule or expectation. This is especially true at the beginning of the year. A teacher must get their bluff in early. They can lighten up as the year progresses. This is another vital aspect of setting the tone. Teachers who take the opposite approach will likely have a difficult time with behavior management throughout the year. Most students will respond positively to a structured learning environment, and this begins and ends with consistent accountability. Be Consistent and Fair  Ã‚   Never let your students know that you have favorites. Most teachers would argue that they do not have favorites, but the reality is that there are some students that are more endearing than others. It is essential that you are fair and consistent no matter who the student is. If you give one student three days or detention for talking, give the next student the same punishment. Of course, history can also factor into your classroom discipline decision. If you have disciplined a student several times for the same offense, you can defend giving them a tougher consequence. Stay Calm and Listen Do not jump to conclusions! If a student reports an incident to you, it is necessary to investigate the situation thoroughly before making a decision. This can be time-consuming, but ultimately it makes your decision defendable. Making a snap decision can create an appearance of negligence on your part. It is equally essential that you remain calm. It is easy to overreact to a situation, especially out of frustration. Do not allow yourself to handle a situation when you are emotional. It will not only diminish your credibility but could make you a target from students looking to capitalize on a weakness. Handle Issues Internally The majority of discipline issues need to be addressed by the classroom teacher. Consistently sending students to the principal on a discipline referral undermines a teacher’s authority with students and sends a message to the principle that you are ineffective in handling classroom management issues. Sending a student to the principal should be reserved for serious discipline infractions or repeated discipline infractions for which nothing else has worked. If you are sending more than five students to the office a year, you likely need to reevaluate your approach to behavior management. Build Rapport Teachers who are well-liked and respected are less likely to have discipline issues than teachers who are not. These are not qualities that just happen. They are earned over time by giving respect to all students. Once a teacher develops this reputation, their job in this area becomes easier. This type of rapport is built by investing time into building relationships with students that extend outside what happens in your classroom. Taking an interest in what is going on in their lives can be endearing in developing positive teacher-student relationships. Develop Interactive, Engaging Lessons A classroom full of engaged students is less likely to become a behavior issue, than a classroom full of bored students. Teachers must create dynamic lessons that are both interactive and engaging. Most behavior issues originate out of frustration or boredom. Great teachers are able to eliminate both of these issues through creative teaching. The teacher must be fun, passionate, and enthusiastic while differentiating lessons to meet individual needs in the classroom.

Budgetary Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Budgetary Planning - Essay Example In the meantime, if the employees find it difficult to attain the targets then it might instead be de-motivating for them (University of Gothenburg. â€Å"Budget-A Perfect Management Tool†). Organizations can allocate certain percentage of budget in order to motivate the employees when they are performing well in an organization. For instance, the company can arrange for travel program for the sales support team that attains the target on a stipulated period of time. In such cases, the company will bear the complete expenses of the employees sent for travelling along with the family (University of Gothenburg. â€Å"Budget-A Perfect Management Tool†). Such kind of budgets can assist in motivating the employee to a great extent and thus can assist the organization to attain its objectives within a short period of time. It is to be remembered that such budgets help to augment the performance of the employees and thus increase their productivity as well. Budget is one of the significant sources of motivation for the employees. Hence, it is crucial for an organization to plan budgets in a way so that it can be utilized for the purpose of motivating the employees. It is to be remembered by the employers that the budgets will have no motivational effects unless they are accepted by the managers involved as their own personal target. In such circumstances, the employer needs to make the managers involvement compulsory in such activities. It is a well known fact that the demanding budgets are seen as more applicable in comparison to less difficult targets. However, negative attitudes can result in if they are viewed as too complex. Therefore, in such circumstances, allocation of budget needs to be done properly so that it serves as a motivational tool. Acceptance of budgets is facilitated when good upward communication exists. The use of departmental meetings can be quite helpful in encouraging the managers to accept

Mesoamerican culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mesoamerican culture - Essay Example Over countless years, the Mesoamericans designed their beliefs and customs of life. This accumulation of millennia of proficiencies could be what permits Mesoamerican concepts to live on today. This paper will explain the aspects of Mesoamerica still manifest in present say Mexico Culture. One of the major aspects of the Mesoamerican culture that has been retained is the calendrical system. Some of the different types of the calendars that have been maintained is 260-day cycle, 360 and 365 days cycles of the year. Names that are given to different months, and years emanates from animals, flowers or even heavenly bodies. In addition, another aspect of Mesoamerican culture that exists up-to-date is Mesoamerican script. These include logosyllabic which is the combination of logograms and syllabary. The scripts are referred to as hieroglyphic. People can learn about the environment via Mesoamerican language. The observable fact of ethnic blend and de-Indianization is not happening homoge neously all over Mexico and the communal organization has permitted Indian personalities to keep art in particular zones, and has resulted in preservation of culture. Hence, the continuance of biological indigenous qualities permits for continuance of Mesoamerican tradition and culture through language (Coe 16). Mexico does not bear an assorted mode of life. Diverse regions have dissimilar values, and much further, cultures in any area cannot be oversimplified; Indians still subsist and some have been chased out of Mexico. Non-Indian communities are not standardized either. Â  Country peasant communities are in existence and bear an Indian culture, however they lost the distinctiveness that runs with it. Farming ideas, philosophies about the ecological realm and Indian systems of eating and designing they still manifest in Mexico. Nevertheless, communal association in the farming world is somewhat altered. The farmers still execute matters in the Indian manner; nevertheless, they n o longer see themselves as Indians Coe 46). The essence of community inside the Oaxacan hamlet of San Andres is incredibly striking. The community functions together in countless distinct ways. A structure of titled 'tequio' runs as a consolidating body. Every family in the community has a responsibility to aid work and give a fee to the tequio. The tequio convenes monthly to perform stated developments that help the village or a commune member. It strengthens unity and functions as the community authority. Due to reliance on one another, the Chicahuaxtla community remains strong. Additional activity that fortifies the commune goes down annually- the entire community marches around the frontiers of the village. This aids to evade conflicts with neighboring communities by commencing peaceful relations. The Tequio structure, annual feasts and collective dances, ceremonies all add to and refurbish the distinctiveness of the communal. Various affiliates of the communal might not be cons cious of the implication of their everyday actions in the culture conservation. Actions are simply understood as rewarding a pledge or entertainment (Dierhl 45). Conclusively, most Mexicans are pondered believed to be Catholic however, in Mexico Catholicism assumes a distinctive custom different from the

Conan Doyle Essay Example for Free

Conan Doyle Essay The final villain we are introduced to is Irene Adler. She is introduced during The Scandal in Bohemia and is a very unusual villain compared to the others. Conan Doyle presents her differently mainly because she is a woman. However Doyle was writing a head of his time as during his era women were looked upon as inferior to men yet she is the only villain to successfully outwit Holmes. She is also the only villain of the three who never uses aggression. She relies entirely on cunning and intelligence and manages to outwit Holmes very skilfully. She also completely changes Holmes opinion. Holmes originally believes her to be no different to any other villain. However by the end of the story she has gained his respect and In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. This shows Holmes lack of respect for women and how he sees himself as superior. This is clear because he considers outwitting him an extremely impressive thing meaning he thinks himself better than other people. But Adler changes this. With her cunning she is able to defeat Holmes at his own game. And at the same time as being so good at what she does she hides it from everyday people with her appearance which makes her seem innocent. She was a lovely woman, with a face a man might die for. From that last bit a face a man might die for we can interpret it to mean she is very good at manipulating people. And we know that although she is beautiful she is ruthless. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men As well as showing her two different images of how she can be very clever and ruthless but also alluring this shows the contrast of men and women at the time. Showing how men were considered to be more resolute and cunning. We also know that her skills are enough to impress anyone even royalty. This is clear when the king says What a queen she would have made. On the other hand the king feels this from the beginning but Holmes is always unwilling to deem anyone to be equal to or greater than him does not change how he feels until the end. Holmes himself is quite different throughout the stories. In the speckled band he is a true hero. Not caring about personal gain working for the love of his art rather than the acquirement of wealth showing dedication to his work. And how he feels the feeling he gets from solving the mysteries is a better reward than any amount of money. However even here we see some of his darker side as he was able to see deeply into the manifest wickedness of the human heart. This suggests he has perhaps been there himself and is able to understand wickedness so well that there could be a side to him which is quite different to the hero presented to us. However no matter how dark he may seem sometimes, there is no denying his brilliance as a detective. His faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis mean he is always one step ahead. We also know that he is very observant and notices the smallest things. I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your glove. You must have started early and yet you had a good drive in a dog cart along heavy roads. This shows he notices and observes everything and works things out that no one else could. However in the Copper Beaches he has become less of the helpful hero who would help anyone and anything. He considers himself better than others. His friend Watson was repelled by the egotism. Showing a completely different side of Holmes. He is egotistical and believes the rest of the world to be beneath him. The public, the great unobservant public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his thumb. This shows that he believes himself to be better than anyone else and that the public are ignorant. Overall I think all the villains posses similar qualities but with key noticeable differences. They are all cunning and intelligence with Roylott being the only physically villainous one. And Adler being the only one successful in outwitting Holmes. Conan Doyle was writing ahead of his time by show Adler as equal to Holmes as women were looked upon as weaker at the time. As for Holmes himself we see he is not perhaps the true hero who can do no wrong he would appear in the Speckled Band. And even venturing in the worlds of drugs, which gives him darker apparel and make him more of an anti-hero.

Trauma and Adult Learning Essay -- Adult Education Learning Essays

Trauma and Adult Learning Effects of Trauma on Learning Adults experiencing the effects of past or current trauma may display such symptoms as difficulty beginning new tasks, blame, guilt, concern for safety, depression, inability to trust (especially those in power), fear of risk taking, disturbed sleep, eroded self-esteem/confidence, inability to concentrate, or panic attacks (Mojab and McDonald 2001). Some people may manifest no symptoms; at the other end of the spectrum is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, characterized by flashbacks, avoidance, numbing of responsiveness (including substance abuse), persistent expectation of danger, constriction (dissociation, zoning out), and memory impairment (Isserlis 2001). It may not be readily apparent that a learner is experiencing the effects of trauma. Instead, such manifestations as missing class, avoiding tests, spacing out, and having what may be interpreted as inappropriate or extreme reactions to class discussions or activities may actually be responses to trauma. It is true that learning may be impeded by fear, anxiety, poor concentration, and the enormous energy involved in hiding abuse or struggling with immediate survival needs. However, interpretations of trauma and its effects on learning are shaped by education discourses (Horsman 1997, 2000b; Isserlis 2001). A deficit perspective suggests that the learner, not the social system, must change. A medicalizing discourse emphasizes that healing, "getting over it," must take place before learning is possible. Discourses of educational practice may view dropping out, stopping out, or spacing out/dissociating as lack of motivation or persistence rather than survival mechanisms. Discourses focu sed on outcomes and account... ...all/fob/2002/morrish.html Pearce, C. E. "Informal Learning of Homeless Women: A Feminist Study of Surviving the Everyday." In 40th Annual Adult Education Research Conference Proceedings, compiled by Amy Rose. De Kalb: Northern Illinois University, 1999. (ED 431 901) http://www.edst.educ.ubc.ca/aerc/1999/99pearce.htm Rosenwasser, P. "Tool for Transformation: Cooperative Inquiry as a Process for Healing from Internalized Oppression." In AERC 2000: An International Conference, edited by T. Sork, V.-L. Chapman, and R. St. Clair, pp. 392-396. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 2000. (ED 452 417) http://www.edst.educ.ubc.ca/aerc/2000/rosenwasserp1-web.htm Williamson, B. "Learning in Extremis." In Lifelong Learning inside and outside Schools. Collected Papers, vol. 2, edited by P. Alheit et al., pp. 676-697. Roskilde, Denmark: Roskilde University, 2000.

Dear God Essay

Kalina, Presented to: Mrs. G December 20th, 2012 Dear God Movie Ethical Consideration The film â€Å"Dear God† directed by Garry Marshall is about a young man named Tom Turner who is a specialized con man. However, once he gets caught by the police, he has the choice to either go to jail or find a real job. He chooses the job. Tom finds himself working at a post office, sorting dead mail. In all likely turn of events, Tom finds himself answering â€Å"dear god† letters and helping those who are in desperate need to uncover the happiness they deserve.Faith plays a role in this film because even though nobody can physically see God, they continue to pray and write letters to him, hoping someone will hear their prayer. Justice also plays a role because justice is about empowering people who need it the most and doing what is right. Take the old man who wrote a letter that he was going to commit suicide. It is justice that out of all the letters that could have been picked, his showed up and a life was saved. He wrote that letter in some hope, someone would read it and save him.His faith and honesty in God led him to be saved. The world is anything but a perfect place. And even though so many of us live in luxurious houses and have access to so many technologies, there are always going to be people who need help. Whether it be money, taking to someone or saving lives. There are so many problems and issues people can have. It can be a large country as a whole, like third world countries who struggle to find water and food for themselves or someone battling depression. People have faith because they need to believe something good can happen for them.They need to know that someone is watching over them and that they are not alone. I think having faith in something or someone can give people the confidence to even start making their own choices and actions. I think it is so difficult for people to reach out and help others because we live in a world where there are so many complications, expectations and pressures. People have so much going on in their own life; they think they have no time to help others with theirs. We are so caught up in our own roblems we forget that so many others are faced with the same challenges and may even have it worse. Some people we also feel resent towards helping others because no one has helped them when they needed it. I feel like more people have become selfish and if they haven’t gotten something then they shouldn’t help someone else receive it either. Nowadays, people will only help others if they get something in return, but in my opinion that still doesn’t count as helping someone if you’re doing it for yourself. I think society is already on the path of self-absorption.And if continues to in the same way it is going, I think it could lead to a massive amount of deaths that are unnecessary. Take Egypt, Syria or even Greece for example, all these countries have major conflicts that have lead to protests and deaths. I think society will continue to behave selfishly if they continue on this path and nobody will appreciate the true meaning of life, all they will care about is money. I believe that a large amount of people in the world care more about money and possessions than they do about loved ones or people.However, I also believe that there are also many people who still possess a kind heart and do want to help others without their own benefit. If more people start to look at things from different viewpoints and put themselves in other people’s shoes, they can make a difference, just like Tom Turner. People need to start believing in the more positive aspect instead of the negative and have a little faith that sometimes people will do nice things for others without getting anything in return.

Bmw Films Case Essay

In 2001, BMW came out with its latest innovative marketing strategy titled BMW Films. In partnering with Fallon and Anonymous Productions, who connected with A-list directors, actors, and production value, created a series of five films collectively called â€Å"The Hire† that generated 2. 5 millions viewers with over 24,000 more unit sales than the 2000. And the question now rise to what should BMW’s next move be. ANALYSIS It took the firm about 50 years from its first automobile in 1929 to be firmly established in North America. But right when other Japanese cars entered the market in in the late 1980s, BMW went from one of the most brought luxury car to falling behind Lexus who became the number-one luxury import in the country. The brand had an outdated image and U. S sales went from 96. 8 (thousands) in 1986 to 53. 5 (thousands) in 1991 supported by Exhibit 1 and 4. But after taking drastic measure of reinvigorate itself in North American by introducing newer models and series that were more suitable for the North American market, a new brand image arose and BMW sales rebounded reach records level from 1996-2001. In 2001, BMW was definitely in its maturity phase where it has enough brand awareness amongst its target market that it didn’t’ need an extravagant marketing budget. In Exhibit 2, out of the luxury brands top 5 highest total sales, BMW was the second most selling brand while only spending half (62. 4 million) of its competitors (134-215 million). BMW attracted a different psychographic than its competitors. It looked for highly educated affluent person who wants to have a great driving experience. Exhibit 7 shows BMW’s Customer Base vs. the Competition where the highest percentage of its target age group is 30-44 compared to everyone else. Besides Volvo, BMW customer base is predominately married men. BMW has one of the highest numbers of customers under 45 with no children and the lowest number over 45 with no children. Compared to other luxury brands in Exhibit 3, BMW is right in the middle with pricing its Sedans. Its neither has the highest or the lowest price, which is right in line with its target market who’s income is also in the middle range from the other’s. (See Appendix 1 for SWOT analysis). ALTERNATIVES The different options for BMW is summarized by: 1. Make the films available to a wider audience by distributing in places like the theatres 2. Develop 3-5 more short films in relations to it’s current series 3. Develop a full length movie that would showcase in theatres 4. Do nothing and simply move on to the â€Å"next thing† RECOMMENDATION With all its success with the BMW Films, I would recommend BMW go with option 4 and do nothing and simply move on to the â€Å"next thing†. According to McDowell, 90% (2 million) of the series’ viewers wanted to see more films, but in Exhibit 11 when BMW came out with 3 additional films, only 13%, 18%, and 29% of the number views compared to first film in the series respectively. I think BMW was able to successfully reach its targeted market and with it’s position as being the leader in the market. Where not only if the other companies starts copying BMW, but BMW when â€Å"copies† itself, just like the Goldeneye taught the company, repeat performances are rarely as compelling as premiere performances.

Ten Interview Tips for Green Card, Visa Applicants

Ten Interview Tips for Green Card, Visa Applicants Many immigration cases, including requests for green cards and visas for spouses, require interviews with officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How you handle the interview could determine whether you win or lose your case. Here are 10 tips for interview success: 1. Dress for the Occasion. It’s human nature that immigration officers will form an opinion about you by the way you look. You don’t need to rent a tuxedo, but dress as if this is an important day in your life because it should be. Don’t wear T-shirts, flip-flops, shorts or tight pants. Dress conservatively and look as if you’re ready for serious business. Go easy on the perfume or cologne, too. There’s no law that says you have to dress as if you’re going to church. But if you wouldn’t wear it to church, don’t wear it to your immigration interview. 2. Don’t Create Complications. Don’t bring items to the immigration center that may violate security or cause problems for guards using scanners at the door: pocket knives, pepper spray, bottles with liquids, large bags. 3. Show Up On Time. Arrive at your appointment early and ready to go. Being punctual shows that you care and that you appreciate the officer’s time. Get off to a good start by being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. It’s a good idea to come at least 20 minutes early. 4. Put Your Cell Phone Away. This is not the day to be taking calls or scrolling through Facebook. Some immigration buildings do not permit bringing cell phones inside anyway. Don’t annoy your immigration officer by having a cell phone ring during your interview. Turn it off. 5. Wait for Your Attorney. If you’ve hired an immigration lawyer to be there with you, wait until he or she arrives to start your interview. If an immigration officer wants you to do your interview before your attorney arrives, politely refuse. 6. Take a Deep Breath and Be Confident That You’ve Done Your Homework. You have done your homework, haven’t you? Preparation is the key to a successful interview. And preparation also helps reduce stress. If you need to bring forms or records with you, make sure you have them and make sure you know what they say. Know your case better than anybody else. 7. Listen to the Officer’s Instructions and Questions. Interview day can get tense and sometimes you can forget to do the simple things like listening. If you don’t understand a question, politely ask the officer to repeat it. Then thank the officer for repeating it. Take your time and think about your response. 8. Bring an Interpreter. If you need to bring an interpreter to help understanding English, bring someone who is fluent and trustworthy to interpret for you. Don’t let language be a barrier to your success. 9.Be Truthful and Direct at All Times. Don’t make up answers or tell the officer what you think he wants to hear. Don’t joke with the officer or try to be evasive. Don’t make sarcastic remarks - especially about legally sensitive matters, such as drug use, bigamy, criminal behavior or deportation. If you honestly don’t know the answer to a question, it is much better to say you don’t know than to be untruthful or defensive. If it’s a marriage visa case and you’re interviewing with your spouse, show that you’re comfortable with each other. Be prepared for questions that may be specific and somewhat intimate about each other. Above all, don’t argue with your spouse. 10. Be Yourself. USCIS officers are trained and experienced in detecting people who are trying to be deceptive. Stay true to yourself, be genuine and stay honest.

Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT

Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The two tests are very similar, but not identical. So which one should you take? Back in my day (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), there was just one version of the PSAT, a.k.a. the Practice SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. But now, the College Board has multiple versions of the PSAT, including the PSAT NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and the PSAT 10. So what are the differences between the two tests? And which one should you take? Read on for an exclusive guide. What's the Difference Between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT? Before we give you any advice on which version of the PSAT to take, we're going to quickly review the difference between the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT. Seeour in-depth post about the PSAT 10 here. So What’s the PSAT 10? You’ve probably heard of the PSAT NMSQT – it’s the practice SAT that also gives juniors a chance to qualify for the National Merit competition. (Read more about National Merit over here.) So what is the PSAT 10? Like its name implies, the PSAT 10 is another practice SAT. It has SAT question types and the same content: Reading, Writing, and Math. But the PSAT 10 is specifically designed for sophomores, whereas the PSAT NMSQT is written with juniors in mind. We’ll go over some of the similarities and differences between the tests to help you decide which one to take. Similarities Between the Tests There are more similarities than differences between the PSAT 10 and the PSAT NMSQT. Both tests are SAT practice tests. That means both are shorter than the â€Å"real† SAT but contain similar question types to help you prepare for it. The timing of the tests is also the same. Both the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT are two hours and 45 minutes long. The Reading section is 60 minutes and has 47 questions. The Writing section is 35 minutes long and has 44 questions. And finally, the Math section is 70 minutes long and has 48 questions. And while two hours and 45 minutes is a long time, it's a walk in the park compared to the marathon experience that is the SAT. Both tests present each sub-area (Math, Writing, and Reading) as a single section, like the SAT. Additionally, neither test has an essay, unlike the SAT. Both tests are primarily designed to introduce students to SAT content, so the question types and content are very similar to the SAT. However, both tests are easier than the real SAT. The Math section won’t be as difficult (expect less trigonometry, plus easier geometry and algebra questions), the Reading passages will not include college-level texts, and the Writing section will have more straightforward passages. The two tests also have the same scoring scale: you will be scored between 320-1520 for PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, as compared to 400-1600 for the â€Å"real† SAT. This comes out to between 160 and 760 per section. Differences Between the Tests There are two differences between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT: The first is difficulty. The PSAT 10 is designed for sophomores, and PSAT NMSQT is designed for juniors, so the PSAT NMSQT is slightly harder. Unfortunately, while College Board has released some specifications as to what the new SAT and PSAT questions will be like, they haven’t gone into detail about how the difficulty level varies between tests. In general, you can expect the PSAT NMSQT to have harder math including geometry and trigonometry, reading passages designed for 11th graders as opposed to 10th graders, and trickier grammar rules. For a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect on the PSAT 10, see our post. The second difference between the tests is the National Merit Competition. Only taking the PSAT NMSQT during your junior year can qualify you for the National Merit competition. Taking the PSAT 10 will never qualify you for National Merit, even if you take it as a junior. And taking the PSAT NMSQT in any year other than your junior year will also not qualify you, even if you get a high enough score. If you’re hoping to qualify for National Merit, that goal will be a pretty big part of your decision between the two tests. We’ll look at both your options in detail and help you decide which test to take. Should I Take PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT? This advice varies by grade level, so find your current grade below to get our advice. The College Board recommends that juniors take the PSAT NMSQT, sophomores take the PSAT 10, and freshmen take the PSAT 8/9 (yep, there is yet another version of the PSAT designed for even younger students!). We’ll go over some reasons why you might want to take a different PSAT level than College Board recommends. Get a step ahead. Decision for Seniors You should not be taking any version of the PSAT at this point! Study for the SAT! Decision for Juniors The vast majority of juniors should take the PSAT NMSQT if they take any version of the PSAT. Even if your school allows students to take the PSAT 10 as a junior, the NMSQT is your best bet. Even if you think you won’t do well, this is your shot at qualifying for National Merit, so you might as well take it. Plus, regardless of how well you do, the PSAT gives you practice for actual SAT questions – and the PSAT NMSQT is the hardest PSAT you can take. That means it’s a great way to either jump-start your SAT studying, or continue it if you’ve already begun. You can use your PSAT score to help create goals and guidelines for your SAT studying. (Read more about how to get the most out of your PSAT score here.) This can help you get the best possible score on the SAT, which opens doors to selective colleges and scholarships. In rare cases a junior might consider the PSAT 10 – since it’s slightly easier, it might be a good option if you’re an English Language Learner and want an easier introduction to the SAT (particularly the reading section), or if you’re seriously behind in one subject. The PSAT 10 will still introduce you to SAT content and question types and help prepare you for the SAT. If you’re a junior but think you might benefit from a slightly easier introduction to the SAT, talk to your guidance counselor to see if your school will let you take the PSAT 10 instead of the SAT NMSQT. Want to improve your PSAT score by 150 points? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Decision for Sophomores Sophomore year is the year you will probably have the hardest time deciding which test to take. You could feasibly take either the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT, depending on your goals. I called College Board and verified that sophomores can take the PSAT NMSQT as long as it’s ok with their high schools. So make sure to double check with your guidance counselor whether or not you can take the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore before proceeding! Take the PSAT NMSQT If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming to get into Ivy Leagues or similarly competitive schools. You’re aiming for a National Merit Scholarship. You have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing (for example you took the ACT/SAT for a talent competition in middle school, you took AP tests freshman year, or you have already taken the PSAT in some form). Why is the PSAT NMSQT better for high-achieving tenth graders? Because taking the PSAT NMSQT gives you more rigorous SAT practice early on, and increases your chances of doing well enough on the PSAT NMSQT to qualify for National Merit your junior year. I actually took the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore (this was long before PSAT 10 existed). Although my scores were much lower sophomore year than junior year, having that extra practice run helped me score well enough junior year to qualify for National Merit since I knew what was coming for me junior year. While you can definitely get good practice with the PSAT 10, getting previous exposure to the National Merit qualifying test can be more helpful. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re not aiming for a top 20 school but you’re still looking to score well enough on the SAT to get into other good colleges and/or get scholarships. You don’t have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing and want an easier introduction to SAT content and question types. In terms of qualifying for National Merit, keep in mind that you can take the PSAT 10 and still study for the PSAT NMSQT for junior year. However, you should study extra hard to be prepared for the slightly harder PSAT NMSQT in junior year. Decision for Freshmen For freshmen, the choice is between the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 (The PSAT 8/9 is an easier version of the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, with very similar question types and content). The PSAT NMSQT will likely have content beyond your reach and be frustrating. It will be more productive for freshmen to take a test designed for their grade level, or close to it. You’ll still get excellent practice on the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 and build up to take the PSAT NMSQT for the first time sophomore year. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming for a top college. You took the PSAT 8/9 in eighth grade and want a bigger challenge. You have past exposure to high-stakes testing (for example, you took the SAT or ACT for a talent competition in middle school, or tested into a competitive school or gifted program). Take the PSAT 8/9 If: You haven’t taken the PSAT 8/9 before. You don’t have any exposure to high-stakes tests yet. You want an introduction to the SAT without quite as much stress. Though College Board has yet to invent a stress-free test. Maybe that will be in the next batch of assessments. And remember, if you're just a freshmen, qualifying for National Merit and taking the real SAT aren't immediate concerns. Whichever test you take, remember that it's just practice. And focus on doing well in your core classes, especially math and language arts, so you can build the skills you'll need to do well on the SAT in a few years' time. Bottom Line The PSAT NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 are all quite similar - their only difference is the slightly ramped up difficulty for each successive test. That means each test is going to give you excellent practice for the real SAT. You should aim to take the harder test for your grade level (PSAT NMSQT in 10th grade, PSAT 10 in 9th grade) if you are set on getting a National Merit scholarship and/or getting into a top college. Otherwise, taking the test designed for your grade level is a great way to get introduced to the SAT and prepare for the college admissions process. What’s Next? The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 were created as part of an expanded line of SAT assessments, including the new SAT. Read about the new SAT to get a detailed breakdown of what it tests and how it asks questions – these specifications apply to all the new SAT assessments. Early achievers, are you already thinking about when to take the SAT? Learn the optimal time in your high school career to take the SAT. Also hoping to fit in AP or IB courses to your high school career? Read about how many AP courses you should take and the difference between AP and IB. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways Research Paper

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways To Solve It - Research Paper Example As per this report, Ukraine shared this poor corruption status with other third world countries like Bangladesh, Central African Republic, and Syria. In the same year, Ernst & Young identified Ukraine as one of the three most corrupted countries in the world along with Brazil and Columbia. Referring to Wikileaks cables, US diplomats described Ukraine as a state of kleptocracy under the presidency of Kuchma and Yushchenko. This paper will identify the intensity of corruption prevailing in Ukrainian government and suggest some potential remedies to fight the issue. Depth of Corruption in Ukrainian Government Bribes are very common in Ukraine because Ukrainians think that such unfair rewards are customary and expected in every official matters. Referring to recent investigative reports, some of the huge bribes in the country involve more than USD 1 billion. According to a sociological survey conducted by Management Systems International (MSI) in 2008, the level of corruption was very hi gh; in vehicle inspection (57.5%), the police (54.2%), health care (54%), the courts (49%), and higher education (43.6%) (UNO, â€Å"Country reports†). The police and the courts which are in charge of law enforcement in the country are highly corrupted. Undoubtedly, the higher corruption level in the courts and the police become a great obstacle to abolishing this social as well as economic issue. As compared to well developed economies like US and UK, many of the Ukrainians are willing to pay some or other forms of bribes so as to get served fast. Recently in 2011, the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych admitted that bribes cause the state budget to lose billions of dollars in revenues and a notable percent of public funds â€Å"end up in the pockets of officials† (as qtd in Rachkevych). The president’s words clearly reflect the profundity of corruption in Ukraine. In spite of great media coverage and hot discussions, corruption is still growing to be a majo r growth impediment to the Ukrainian economy. As different surveys point out, nearly 70% of Ukrainians who had dealt with government services over the last five years directly involved in corrupt practices. Experts suggest that this rate would further increase if some respondents were not afraid of consequences. Referring to a report by Danilova, political corruption through the use of administrative tools is a key issue challenging the development of the country (â€Å"Hundreds protest..†). Ukrainian politicians mainly use administrative tools to commit election fraud and thereby make election results in their favor. The situation where many of the top Ukrainian governmental officials have been liable for prosecution also indicates how intense the problem of corruption is in the country’s government system. In fact, medical care is free for Ukrainians in state-run hospitals. However they pay money there to make sure that they receive quality treatment whenever require d. Recently some advocacy groups have accused the Ukrainian Health Ministry officials for misappropriating the money that should have used to treat AIDS patients. They claim that officials bought AIDS drugs at highly inflated prices and received kickbacks in return. As Nitsevych points out, business firms in Ukraine widely engage in corruptive practices in order to take advantages of business licensing, taxation, and customs (â€Å"Potential for German investors..†