Thursday, November 28, 2019

Gifted And Disable Essays - Gifted Education, Educational Psychology

Gifted And Disable Have you ever wanted to be smarter? Wished that you had all the gifts and abilities that are associated with being a "super human genius"? Coveted the inconceivable abilities of masterminds such as Galileo and Einstein? Throughout the history of man it has been these kinds of great minds that deviate from the current method of thinking, in turn creating new lines of reason and more holistic understandings of the world around us. We label them "gifted and talented" but they are truly our inventors, our leaders, our Mozarts and Michelangelos. In spite of this they are at risk for extinction. Presently, the sociocultural surrounding in which our children grow do not cater to the needs of these gifted. Their cognitive abilities deviate from norm just as the mentally retarded, yet they are rarely viewed as deviants who need special attention. More often, they are viewed as better off than the majority to begin with and, consequently, are expected to develop to their fullest potential without much help. But just as athletes must constantly condition their muscles, so must the gifted condition their minds. Although all states are required to comply with the federal mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (1991), providing special education and services to the lower end deviants of the intelligence curve, no federal law protects the other end of the curve. The lack of a mandate, which would provide an appropriate, and nourishing learning environment for the gifted has severe implications on their cognitive and psychosocial development. Not once in the Individuals with Disabilities Act is the word "gifted" ever mentioned. Not one paragraph is dedicated to their benefit. Luckily, 33 states have opted on their own to require their school boards to create some form of gifted and talented programs. The problem is that little over half of these state programs necessitate teacher endorsement. It is not uncommon that state legislatures separate reimbursement for gifted and talented programs from the broad and affluent category of special education. In addition, the overall state reimbursement to local school districts is on the decline. In 1994 a case debating this contradictory mode of reasoning arose in Connecticut, one of the 17 states that doesn't mandate any gifted and talented programs. In a battle more over the diction of the present statute than of its impartiality toward intelligence deviants, The Supreme Court of Connecticut held that the state constitutional right to a free public education does not provide gifted children with a special education program. This case has the potential of making a major impact on the future of gifted education because it is only the second ruling of a state supreme to address gifted education. Finally the most recent and obvious sign that gifted education is being neglected was provided by the U.S. Congress, when it cut the funding on the only federal act that allowed for research into the various domains of intellectual deviance, the Jacob Javits Act. Already 99.9% (literally not figuratively) of special education funding goes to the lower end. Without the Javits Act discovering reasons why this percentage should be more balanced, it may remain uneven. If these shaded views continue to be supported both by legislators and electorate there will be serious consequences on the development of gifted youth. Lacking appropriate and motivational stimuli, gifted students will inevitably become bored and listless. This is simply the first domino in a dangerous chain of cause and effect. Boredom in turn leads to frustration towards their school, their parents for forcing them to attend a place that makes the feel this way, their peers for being content with their surroundings, and even themselves for not being satisfied for what they are given. These mixed up emotions are a lot for any child to handle, gifted or not. What is often negated from peoples mind when evaluating the abilities of the gifted is that their talents are not infinite. They are exceptionally smart but they are no more equipped to manage emotional stress than any one else. As the frustration builds so do feelings of helplessness in the ability to satisfy their need for creative stimuli. As a result anxiety attacks are not uncommon in these children and neither are episodes of depression. However, the most detrimental consequence of these unjust inadequacies is that the gifted youth of our nation will never reach their full potential. Already, studies have shown that 30%-40% of America's gifted children are underachieving (National Commission for Excellence in Education). And at least 20% of the students who drop out

Monday, November 25, 2019

5 Easy Activities for Teaching Point of View

5 Easy Activities for Teaching Point of View The perspective from which a story is told is called  its point of view.  Understanding point of view helps students effectively analyze literature,  improves their critical thinking skills, helps them  understand the author’s purpose, and increases their ability to recognize potential bias. Types of Point of View First person: The main character is telling the story. Uses words such as I, we, and me.Second person: The author is telling the story directly to the reader. Uses words such as you and your.Third person: The author is telling the story, but is not part of it. Uses words such as he, she, and they. Some third-persons narrators are all-knowing, but others have limited knowledge. Types of Point of View Children’s books can make an excellent option for teaching point of view for all grade levels because they often offer concise examples. The three main types of point of view are: First person. A  first person point of view story  is written as if it is being told by the main character and  uses words such as I, we, and me. Two examples are Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, or I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt. Second person. A story told from the second person point of view puts the reader in the action by using words such as you and your. It can be found in titles such as The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone or If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. Third person. Stories written in third person show an outsider’s point of view using  words such as he, she, and they. Books written  in third person  include Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch or Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman. There are two different ways third person books may be written:  omniscient and limited. Sometimes, third person point of view  is broken  down further to objective point of view in which the author acts only as a narrator. This style is prevalent in many fairy tales.  Ã‚   In a book using omniscient point of view, the author writes from an outsider’s point of view but  offers  the perspective of multiple characters.  Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey is one example. A third person limited point of view tale is written  from an outsider’s perspective, but the reader only follows the story based on what the main character knows. Harold and the Purple Crayon  by Crockett Johnson or  Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban are two  examples. Using a Point of View Anchor Chart Anchor charts are visual aids to helps students work more independently. As an instructor teaches a lesson, the core concepts and relevant facts are added to the chart. The completed anchor chart provides students with a resource to which they can refer if they have difficulty remembering the steps or concepts of a lesson. A point of view anchor chart reminds students of the different point of view types with keywords and phrases and examples of the pronouns used to indicate each type. For example, a student reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie reads the line, â€Å"If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the glass of milk, he’ll probably ask for a straw.† He sees the keyword â€Å"you† that indicates that the author is addressing the reader. Based on the anchor chart keywords, the student  identifies the book’s point of view as  second person. Point of View Scavenger Hunt Help students become adept at correctly identifying point of view with a scavenger hunt. Visit the library or bookstore or provide a wide assortment of children’s books in the classroom. Give students a sheet of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to work on their own or in small groups, searching for at least one example (and listing its  title and author) of a book for each point of view type. Pronoun Perspective This hands-on activity will  help students gain a more concrete understanding of the three main points of view. First, divide a whiteboard into three sections: 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person. Next, select one student to perform an everyday activity, such as making a sandwich. The student will narrate each step using first-person pronouns as he completes it. For example, â€Å"I am placing two slices of bread on a plate.† Write the student’s sentence in the 1st person column.  Then, choose other students to restate the same sentence in 2nd and 3rd person, writing their sentences in the appropriate column. Second person: â€Å"You are placing two slices of bread on a plate.† Third person:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"He is placing two slices of bread on a plate.† Repeat the process for all steps of making a sandwich. Point of View Flip Help students understand how point of view changes a story. First, read or tell the traditional story of  The Three Little Pigs.  Discuss with students how the story would  change if it were being told in first person by  one of the pigs or the wolf, rather than being told in third person.   The third pig wouldn’t know anything that  happened before his brothers arrived, breathless, at his door. Is he relieved that he can help his brothers? Angry that they led the wolf to his house? Proud that his home is the strongest? After your discussion, read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, which relates the tale from the wolf’s point of view. Comparing Points of View Another way to help students understand point of view is to choose a book that tells the same story from multiple points of view, such as Voices in the Park by Anthony Brown. (Older students may enjoy using  Wonder by R.J. Palacio for this activity.) Read the book. Then, use a Venn diagram to compare the differences and similarities of the events based on two or more characters’ points of view.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Book guns germs and steel by jared diamond Essay

Book guns germs and steel by jared diamond - Essay Example Logically, Diamond’s contention is predominantly based on his argument that Eurasian civilization is more of an upshot of opportunity and need, and not of cleverness or ingenuity. He argues that civilization is not derived from exceptional intelligence but crops up as a result of a series of growth and progress, both politically and economically, which are caused by some requirements or preconditions. Consistent with Diamond’s argument, the colonization of Africa by the Europeans can be attributed to â€Å"accidents of geography and biogeography – in particular, to the continents’ different areas, axes, and suites of wild plant and animal species. That is, the different historical trajectories of Africa and Europe stem ultimately from differences in real estate† (401). While it is substantial that Diamond places much more stress and importance on the role of geography in the expansive scope of the history of civilizations, his confined and contracted description of geography may present a concern towards the readers. Geography covers the sphere of humanities and the social sciences. It does not merely take in purely geographical thoughts but also, it encompasses other related fields of study, especially in its investigation and description of the relationship between societies and the environment. Providing explanation for the disparities in wealth, control, and authority among world civilizations and diverse communities over time must take into consideration the social, economic, and geopolitical links, together with their connections to environmental traits and environmental change, in an effort to connect international, district and local levels of analysis. These descriptions must also take the impact of human thoughts and imagination, as well as the socio-cultural procedures in forming the geographical and environmental backdrop. In an attempt to take

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Manufacturing engineering application Personal Statement

Manufacturing engineering application - Personal Statement Example This will be a good opportunity for me to grow in this field and gain all the insight I need as an engineer. Manufacturing Engineering is my passion and I have never had any trouble identifying my ambitions. What I enjoy most about the program is the diversity the course presents me. Projects are varied, wide, and each one of them distinct which are every reason I find the subject interesting. A degree in manufacturing engineering is very pertinent to my future career, it is one of those subjects that will fortify my engineering knowledge and equip me with the skills I need for successful jobs completion in future. I am certain that a degree on the same will provide me with the knowhow I require for a professional job in a plethora of sectors such as  industry, consultancy, finance, and public services. Beside my dream to pursue manufacturing engineering, the background I have on business engineering management makes me an eligible student for the program. I have chosen manufacturing engineering because I want to be a part of design technology that will see the cost of energy in production cut and ozone depletion reduced. To me, a career in material engineering is all I need as it will put me in the forefront of fighting for the improvement of the global environment and counter climate change. This subject does not only excite but intrigue me and I feel I have to master it in the near future. Engineering demands a few more skills for an increased productivity. Such include communication skills and excellence in a team-based work approach. It demands appreciation and understanding of the fact that holistic approach is vital in successful manufacturing engineering. I pay full attention to detail, readily accept responsibility, and I have been commended for exercising good judgment. The experience I have had in college and in the field has given me the understanding of

Monday, November 18, 2019

Applied Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Applied - Essay Example The African American gay community is not local and cannot be claimed by a single state. It is a countrywide community whose boundaries extend to the national boundaries. There are a number of members who live abroad though and are actively involved in the community’s activities from there. The community membership is big and growing. The main role is communalism and the strength in numbers as well as identification. The community is a combination of two communities that face multiple challenges every day. The life of gay African Americans is hard and full of challenges. The challenges can be viewed in two dimensions; race and sexual orientation. The African American race naturally has many challenges to contend with. They do not cease with being gay, if anything they just multiply. Studies have placed lack of opportunity and safety at number one as the leading challenge for African Americans. Due to different contributing factors like lack of education, African Americans have failed to secure jobs to support themselves and their families. Starting businesses for the majority has been a hurdle due to the lack of capital. They have been victimized and segregated in terms of equal opportunities. They also lack security since the notion for a long time has been that they are the source of their own insecurity. As such, states have failed to secure African American neighborhoods. This has affected t he community and led to more insecurity. The lack of employment and opportunity has led many to crime. As if it is not hard enough to be an African American only, more challenges meet the African American gay community. On the second frontier of sexual affiliation, the African American gay community is undermined, stigmatized and victimized. The main problem however is stigma. The gay community can hardly get a voice in the African American community due to the race’s deep rooted culture and intolerance to such tendencies. The best theory therefore is the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Internal Auditing System Effectives for Detecting Fraud

Internal Auditing System Effectives for Detecting Fraud INRODUCTION The chapter shall looks at the background of the study, statement of the problem, research questions, objectives of the study, purpose of the study, hypothesis, assumptions of the study, delimitation of the study, limitations of the study, and the organisation of the study. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Auditing was firstly introduced in the year 1879, in the banking sector when banking institutions were required by the statute to have an audit system, which was not generally extended until 1900 (Millichamp and Taylor: 2012). It was defined by Mainoma, (2007) as an independent examination of the financial statements, and expression of an opinion on the financial statements of an organisation by the selected auditor, in line with their professional requirements and the required statutory regulations. This means that the appointed auditor is responsible to expressing an opinion on the financial statements of an organisation, the auditor here mean an individual or a firm doing audit of an organisation. The auditor should be approved and must have personal and operational independence in order to perform his duty effectively. Since it was introduced, auditing is mainly divided in to two broad categories as internal and external auditing. Internal auditing as its name implies, operates within the organization and external auditing also operates externally. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), as cited by Johnson (2006:47) defines internal audit as â€Å"an independent appraisal function within an organisation for the review of activities as a service to all levels of management. It is a control which measures, evaluates and reports upon the effectiveness of internal control, financial and otherwise, as a contribution to the efficient use of resources within an organisation.† From this definition then it means Internal audit’s objective is to assist organisational members in the effective discharge of their duties and also most organisations in the world either large or small undertake internal auditing as a vital measure of internal control systems in their opera tions. Internal auditing is a legal requirement in all tiers of the government including local authorities. The reason behind this is that local authorities and all public sector organisations are funded by the public funds and therefore must be accountable for its use, hence auditing process of the public sector bodies’ place greater reliance on the effectiveness of internal auditing than what the private sectors does. Local government as a segment of the public sector is one of the three tiers of government in Zimbabwe. At local government level, all local authorities are entrusted with public resources and they are charged to have a duty of ensuring proper utilisation of those resources. In a bid to optimise proper utilisation of those resources, laws and regulations are enacted in order to control expenditure and the sources to financing these expenditures. To ensure adherence to laid down laws and regulations internal auditing system was established in the local authorities (Bad ara 2012). According to the Institute of Internal Auditors (2001) Internal auditing system within an organisation is expected to safeguarding the assets of the organisation and where appropriate, they verify the existence of such recorded assets. That it means internal auditors have powers to undertake observations, enquiries and also independent checks on the firm’s operations, documents and assets in line with the organisational rules and regulations to come up with an effective audit output. Despite the fact that internal auditing system exists in various local authorities worldwide with internal control systems in place, the act of financial crime such as fraud and other irregularities still continue and mostly detected by the external auditors. Regardless of the internal auditing system in Zimbabwean organizations (both public and private), the value of fraud and other financial irregularities is extremely high; in six months to December 2012 it was reported at US$1.2 billion which is about 32 percent of the overall value of fraud and other financial irregularities cases in Africa (KPMG 2012). Internal auditing was introduced in Zimbabwean local authorities by the Ministry of Local Government[M1] in a bid to reduce the risk of fraud and other financial irregularities; to assisting the external auditors; to identifying opportunities for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness and to assess the organization’s internal controls (Zimbabwe Councils Act 29:13). ZRDC is one of the seven administrative district councils in Masvingo province. It is a structured organization with the internal auditing system in place. Its internal auditors report functionally to the councilors through the audit committee and administratively to the chief executive officer, they also communicate and interact directly with the council through the audit committee, including in executive sessions and committee meetings as appropriate (ZRDC Internal Audit Charter 2012). Despite the existence of internal auditing system at ZRDC, numerous cases of fraud and other financial irregularities were continuously reported by the external auditors (ZRDC External Auditors Report 2012). This prevailing situation at ZRDC gave rise to doubts on the unit’s competence and effectiveness mostly in fraud and other financial irregularities detection and prevention by local government authorities and all other interested stakeholders as since their expectations were not fulfilled. This was mainly characterized by misunderstanding on what users of the council’s financial information expect management to do, and what management expects internal auditors to do as far as fraud and other irregularities detection and prevention is concerned. Users of the council’s financial information expressed their concern on the system’s weakness as since they expect the system to be the council’s â€Å"watchdog† on any fraudulent activity existing (Zimbabwe Councils Act 29:13). The research project will therefore sought to evaluate the effectiveness of internal auditing system in Zimbabwean local authorities mostly in detecting, preventing and reducing fraud and any other financial irregularities in the day to day operations of Zaka Rural District Council. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Numerous cases of fraud and other financial irregularities have been continuously reported at ZRDC despite the existence of internal auditing system. The council is losing more revenue from its income generating projects, rates collection, donations and government grants due to fraudulent activities, errors and distortion of figures in the preparation of financial statements by the council employees and management. Internal auditing system is failing to detect most of these cases such that they take too long uncovered or sometimes never been detected. As a result the council is failing to meet its statutory obligations and delivering quality services to its clients. To this end the effectiveness of the council’s internal auditing system in fraud and any other financial irregularities detection needs to be evaluated RESEARCH QUESTIONS How effective is the Internal Auditing system at ZRDC in detecting fraud and other financial irregularities Why are most material fraud and other financial irregularities go for so long undetected and some never detected by the Internal Auditing system? To what extend is ZRDC Internal Auditor’s independence considered by both users and management? Are all the recommendations passed by the Internal Auditors acted upon by management? OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study are to: evaluate the effectiveness of the internal auditing system in detecting fraud and other financial irregularities at ZRDC. discover why most material fraud and other financial irregularities take too long to be detected and some never detected by the internal auditing system at ZRDC. establish the independence of ZRDC internal audit unit. establish whether the internal audit unit’s recommendations are acted upon by management. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The research is to be carried out in partial fulfilment of the Bachelor of Commerce (Hon) Degree in Accounting at Great Zimbabwe University. The research will widen the researcher’s academic knowledge through detailed analysis of the project The researcher wants to draw an evaluation of the effectiveness of the council’s internal audit unit in detecting fraud and errors that will save to reduce discrepancies between what the users, management and the audit unit believes to be the purpose of the internal audits and the actual nature of the internal auditor’s duties. To find the reason why the internal auditing system is failing to detect most material fraud and other financial irregularities that the external auditors detects. The final researched work may be used as reference by other students who may want to do the same or related topic. HYPOTHESIS Null hypothesis ZRDC’s internal auditing system is not effective in detecting fraud and other financial irregularities. Alternative hypothesis ZRDC’s internal auditing system is effective in detecting fraud and other financial irregularities. ASSUMPTIONS The researcher assumed that the study would be successful and methodology used was appropriate to produce true results. The researcher will gather information which is free from bias and relevant to the area under study. There will be good cooperation between the researcher and the respondents. The sample to be selected representing the whole organisation of ZRDC and its environment. ZRDC is the good representative of all local authorities in Zimbabwe. DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY The study will focus on effectiveness of internal auditing in Zimbabwean local Authorities using a Case of Zaka Rural District Council in Masvingo province for the period of 2012 to 2013. It will be confined to the CEO, council employees, internal auditors, audit committee, finance committee, councilors and district administrator of Zaka Rural District Council from which information and data will be gathered. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The researcher may have limited access to information due to the need to respect ethical code of the council in the process of gathering information. Access to information will be facilitated by the Treasurer due to the good relationships which were established while on attachment. Limited resources will be a problem; however most of the typing will be done by the researcher in order to reduce costs. The researcher started to conduct the research during the vacation which started in December 2013 to February 2014 in order to reduce pressure during the learning period Organisation of the Study Chapter one is an introductory chapter that paves out the research study. It gave a brief outline of the introduction and background of the study, statement of the problem, research questions, objectives of the study, justification of the study, statement of hypothesis, assumptions of the study. The chapter also highlighted the limitations and delimitations of the study. Chapter two gives a detailed review on the conceptual, theoretical and empirical review of related literature pertaining to the effectiveness of internal auditing in local authorities. Chapter three also explain the research methods that were used in the research study including, research design, research instrument, data connection procedures and data presentation and analysis plans. Chapter four focuses on data presentation, interpretation and analysis of the data collected from respondents during the research. Lastly, chapter five focuses on the conclusions which can be drawn from the research and making recommendations where necessary to various stakeholders. Summary This chapter concentrates on brief description of the background to the study, justification of the study and what the research sought to achieve. The next chapter focuses on review of related literature. [M1]When?

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Conduct Unbecoming by Barry England :: Conduct Unbecoming Military England Essays

Conduct Unbecoming by Barry England Conduct Unbecoming revolves around two important yet very different characters; Drake and Millington. They are both new to the army but have very different views of the regiment. When they first enter ‘the mess’ Drake looks about ‘as a man finally at peace’ Whereas Millington looks with gloom. Drake starts ‘Exactly as I imagined it would be’ whereas Millington launches straight into sarcasm with ‘how very uplifting for you.’ He makes a point that the place ‘haunted his childhood’, showing us that not only does he hate it but he has also been there before. We now know that he already has some connection with the regiment. When Drake says ‘it is like†¦coming home’ Millington replies with ‘isn’t it, though?’ We then find out that Millington’s father was in fact the colonel of the regiment until 1881. Drake obviously is in awe of the regiment and couldn’t be happier that h e’s there. He tells Millington ‘You will find only military honours here. These are past colonels and holders of the Victoria Cross. That is the regimental tradition.’ This shows how dedicated he is (that he’s learnt all this.) He then comments in a rather snobby way ‘I think I should warn you Millington, that while I might, through force of circumstance, tolerate your imbecilities throughout our voyage together, you will find that they are not appreciated here’. Millington then tells Drake â€Å"I have no intention whatever of surviving my probationary period. There is a ship, the Doric castle, which sails for England in almost exactly three months to the day from now. I intend to be on her.† Showing that not only does Millington dislike the place but he has already got a plan, how he is going to get out of the regiment. We discover when Millington comments to Pradah Singh (the waiter) â€Å"I fancy I could do great service to a large whiskey and soda†¦Ã¢â‚¬  showing that he likes his drink, Drake quickly remarks â€Å"We may neither order nor accept drinks until we are properly introduced into the mess.† Drake is showing Pradah Singh how responsible he is and that he has really studied the rules of the regiment. When at last the Junior Sub arrives he asks if they Drake and Millington would like a drink. Millington jumps in with â€Å"†¦Just anything. I’m about to expire.† (More evidence that he likes to drink regularly) but Drake saves him by sucking up to the Junior Sub, saying â€Å"My companion is joking of course.