Single-Gender Education is a Viable Option in the Public Sector Research Paper

Single-Gender Education is a Viable Option in the Public Sector - Research Paper Example Overview Gender equity in schools has been another issue as proved in the research conducted by Datnow, Hubbard, & Woody (2001) on gender bias against girls in coeducation schools. The past history on girls’ education has been one of ignoring the useful feedback by the school administration; girls have been found hesitant in taking science and mathematics as subjects at senior level, and face increased fear of sexual harassment. Off late, girls have outshined boys in overall academic performance but certain subjects like computer science and technology majors are still not their favorable choice. There has been ongoing public discussion on â€Å"crisis† for boys too not only because of their low grades on reading and language tests but the danger of their probability towards indulging in crimes, specifically boys of color (Datnow et al., May 2001). In California State, according to Datnow, Hubbard, & Conchas (2001) initiative was taken to draft legislation for funding t he single gender school by the former Governor, Pete Wilson. The analysis of this initiative and its success depends on social economic and political contexts; how one context on single gender education impacts outcomes at different state, city, and school levels. Hall and McGinty (1997, p. 461) have analyzed this interconnected process of implementation of single gender schooling, â€Å"as a web of inter-related conditions and consequences, where the consequences of actions in one context may become conditions for the next.† Legal implications of setting single gender schools started in 1972 when the United States Congress passed Title IX to promote equal education for both the sexes leading to decrease in the number of single-gender public schools (Erling and O’Reilly, 2009).... This report approves that single-sex education has to confirm to the law under the given context. There cannot be a straightforward answer to the question without getting any favorable decision from the Supreme Court on segregation of gender at elementary and secondary level of education. Some researchers have argued that the program can be scrutinized while others are of the view that gender separated public school education is a far cry from legal and constitutional perspective. School leaders need to justify the authenticity of separation of sexes so that judiciary respects their policy in this regard. Secondly, research in the field of social science can help in getting a favorable judicial review on the genuineness of the case for single-gender schooling or lack of related planning. Until the highest court paves the way for gender-based schooling no progress can be made on this front. Comments of Justice Scalia stated in his opposition to the Court’s verdict in U.S. v. Vi rginia are worth consideration This essay makes a conclusion that Justice Scalia thinks there is very little scope left for arguing the case in favor of single-gender education. Any such initiative taken by school authorities can be challenged in the court of law, which could impose heavy penalty in the absence of â€Å"exceedingly persuasive justification† for initiating a gender-based divide in school education. Female teachers acknowledged this fact that they were at ease in talking with girl students over such topics as dating, marriage, and pregnancy.

Rate Relief in Tort-Reform States Essay Example for Free

Rate Relief in Tort-Reform States Essay Any act that is illegal, and not criminal, which may also be called a civil crime is a Tort. The attempt to, change court cases so as to avoid false verdicts that run into thousands of dollars is called Tort reform. A vehicle accident is one of the common types of tort; legal suits regarding malpractices in the medical fields are also torts. Tort reforms usually include awarding a limited amount of money for any type of damages like accidents, pain, distress and mental agony. For example in a car accident, the damage done to the car is $ 4,000 and the amount you need for medical treatment is 4,000. You have a total of $ 8,000 as economic damages. If you receive like say $ 5,000 for the pain and agony you have to undergo, it would come under non-economic damages. According to studies non-economic caps resulted in reduction in losses for general and medical malpractice cover, a decreased premium and greater profit for insurers, for medical malpractice legal responsibility  Ã‚   insurers. Which further resulted in a greater decline in the number of cases filed. On the other hand, physicians all over the country were looking for extra tort reform from the state officials in the 2005 legislative meeting. The stability of the insurance premium towards medical liability is the main goal of the physicians. In Connecticut physicians were looking for a cap on non-economic damages and a relief in insurance premium. In South Carolina, doctors pressed for a cap of $250,000 on non-economic damages and asked for removal of the ban against compulsory negotiations among patients and doctor. Rate Relief in Tort-Reform States   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to some doctors and lawmakers, there is still a long way to go before they recover from the medical liability crisis. Texas is one of the crisis states among the19 states according to the American Medical Association, in which doctors are resigning, restraining high-risk procedures and retiring early on because they cant find or afford the money for insurance. The passage   of Proposition 12, which restricted non-economic damages in liability awards and payments at $250,000 per physician. After the passing of Proposition 12, which guaranteed the introduction of caps accepted previously by the Texas legislature, some physicians in Texas already reported genuine premium savings. Neal Sklaver, FACP, who was a general internist with Medical Specialists Associated in Dallas, is incredibly satisfied that his premium payments have plummeted roughly $5,000 since the Proposition 12 was passed in September 2003. According to some physicians the Proposition 12 helped the doctors, but they can be still be sued for anything. Until all liability carriers bring down their rates, the advantages of Proposition 12 might continue to elude some doctors, particularly those who are not specialized where previous rates were very high. What seems to be more disturbing is that, even doctors whose payments have reduced said that they have got used to practicing protective medicine, after so many years of working in a malpractice setting. Whatever the outcome, but the tort reform is a very important measure by the Government, which should be handled carefully. One in fifty operations might go wrong by a doctor. Accidents happen by everyone, it is human nature to err, and we as humans should   try   to forgive   the   doctors, and see   to   it   that they are not   burdened by huge premiums, Rate Relief in Tort-Reform States which will be an obstacle in their career. The medical profession is one of the important and much needed profession. References   What Is Tort Reform And Why Is It Bad For The Public, Corpreform.com.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved 23 May 2007, http://www.corpreform.com/corpreform/2003/10/what_is_tort_re.html   Bonnie Darves, Texas tort reform, American College of Physicians, Retrieved 23 May 2007, http://www.acponline.org/journals/news/jan05/tortreform.htm Tanya Albert, Tort reform gives Texas doctors some relief, American Medical News,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved 23 May 2007, http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/17/prsc0517.htm Kathy Gill, Tort Reform – State Recap, About.com, Retrieved 23 May 2007,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://uspolitics.about.com/od/healthcare/a/01_tort_reform.htm The Issues – Tort Reform, CBS Evening News, Retrieved 23 May 2007,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/01/eveningnews/main652747.shtml   Charles Kolodkin, Tort Reform and Its Impact on Medical Malpractice Insurance, IRMI.com,  Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved 23 May 2007, http://www.irmi.com/Expert/Articles/2003/Kolodkin03.aspx

The Soviet Union, Communism, and the Vietnam War Essay example -- Commu

A quarter of a century after the Fall of Saigon, Vietnam continues to exercise a powerful hold of the American psyche. No deployment of American troops abroad is considered without the infusion of the Vietnam question. No formulation of strategic policy can be completed without weighing the possibility of Vietnanization. Even the politics of a person cannot be discussed without taking into account his opinion on the Vietnam Ware. This national obsession with Vietnam is perfectly national when viewed from a far. It was the only war that the United States has ever lost. It defined an era of American history that must rank with the depression as one of this nation’s most traumatic. It concluded with Watergate and led many to believe that the United States was in decline. Even with the sobering effect of time, passions concerning American policy and behavior in Southeast Asia reach a level normally associated with sensitive social issues. To understand why, one must look at Vietn am in the proper context. American involvement occurred in the middle of, and was the most visible engagement, of the defining paradign of the post World War II era, the Cold War. Only through this prism can the Vietnam experience be defined.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the seven global powers entering World War II; the United States emerged as an undisputed â€Å"superpower.† Her economic and military night was overwhelming in a world ravaged by five years of total war. The only adversary of comparable power was a notion at the opposite end of the ideological spectrum, the Soviet Union. As the vanguard of the communist world, the U.S.S.R.’s raison d’etve was the facilitate the overthrow of the global capitalist system and replace it with a â€Å"dictatorship of the proletariat.† Thus the explicit mission of American Foreign policy after 1945 was opposition to communist advancement anywhere in the world. This took many forms and was backed by key assumption.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Central among then was the avoidance of a direct military confrontation between the Unites States and the Soviet Union. With the U.S.S.R. achieving nuclear capability in 1947 and both sides expanding their armed forces, a full out war was deemed unacceptable. The result of such a war was seen to be catastrophic to the survival of the planet. The lesson of the Korean War only reinforced this assumption. The infusion of Chinese troops quickly escalated ... ...rs. In fact, relations between Vietnam and China cooled considerably and even led to a brief border war between the two in the late 1970s. Vietnam also never became a threat to its region. While undoubtedly communist, Vietnam has never become a stridently aggressive Marxist state in the mold of North Korea, or even Cuba.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cold War was to the rubric with which America Foreign Policy was formulated during the post World War II era. Confrontation and what was thought to be an inevitable war with the Soviet Union became the starting point of all American Strategic thinking. In this context, the U.S.’s relations with all countries had to be looked upon with the Soviet Union and communism in mind. This particularly held true with regards to Vietnam. Having â€Å"lost† China and gone through a war on the Korean peninsula, American policy makers felt that any more communist aggression had to be stopped at all costs. Mixing in the fact that an important ally was intent about keeping her colony, and distrust of Ho Chih Minh and his regime all combined to draw the Unites States into a conflict that was neither winnable or so unimportant as to allow the United States to disengage itself.

Comparing Suppression of Women in Feminine Mystique, Radicalesbians, an

Suppression of Women through Isolation in The Feminine Mystique, Radicalesbians, and Trifles It is far easier to break the spirit of one human being than that of a united group of people. Betty Friedan’s "The Feminine Mystique", "Radicalesbians", and Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles" come to the same conclusion: isolation and separation caused women to be vulnerable to domination by male society. Social stigmatization by men, an inability to describe the situation, and a lack of personal identity kept women apart from one another. A fear of social stigma was one factor that kept women from supporting each other. In "The Feminine Mystique", Betty Friedan discusses how American housewives went about their daily lives "afraid to ask even of herself the silent question – ‘Is this all?’" Women were told that family, a husband, and children would bring them fulfillment and when it didn’t, they were afraid to admit that they weren’t happy. Freidan’s white, middle-class housewives were afraid of living outside the feminine ideal they had grown up heari...

Test of English as a Foreign Language

English, the third most common language spoken after Mandarin and Spanish, is spoken by around 370 to 390 million people in around 50 different countries. Many renowned universities, require their students, in the undergraduate, graduate and post graduate programs to first prove their proficiency in the English language, as an entrance criteria. This created a need for a standard test, accepted and recognized by these universities, to be created. Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL as it is commonly referred to as, is such a test. This test is developed and conducted by the Educational Testing Service. TOEFL can be administered via the internet(TOEFL iBT) or can be written as a paper based test(TOEFL PBT). Written Tests are only administered in places where Internet Based Testing Centers for TOEFL are unavailable. This test score along with the applicant's other academical information becomes the foundation for their admission process. The test score scale ranges from 0 to 120, for TOEFL iBT, and from 310 to 677 for TOEFL PBT. The minimum test score acceptable, varies from university to university, depending on factors like courses undertaken or whether the applicant is an undergrad, grad or post grad.TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBT tests the four basic skills needed for effective communication namely- Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing. They test the takers toread, listen, and then speak in response to a questionlisten and then speak in response to a questionread, listen, and then write in response to a questionThe test is 4 hours long and it is essential that all the four sections of the test be taken on the same day itself.Test FormatSECTION FORMAT TIMEREADING 3-5 passages(700words), 12-14 question each 60-100 minutesLISTENING 2–3 conversations, 5 questions each4–6 lectures, 6 questi ons each 60-90 minutes10 MINUTES BREAKSPEAKING 6 tasks which include 2 independent and 4 integrated 20 minutesWRITING 2 tasks which include 1 integrated task and1 independent task 50minutes(20 for integrated and 30 for independent)The time displayed above is not an actual representation, and may vary on the number of questions.Reading SectionThe reading sections tests the applicant's ability to, comprehend, learn and to find information from university level academic passages and texts. The questions asked in the reading section are of the following formatMultiple choice questions- asking the applicant to select a single answer from a given set of optionsMultiple choice questions asking the applicant to select an option to â€Å"insert a sentence† where it fits best in a passageQuestions with more than four choices and more than one possible correct answer.Listening SectionThis section tests the applicants ability to understand Spoken English, by testing his/her ability to un derstand lectures and conversations. The applicant is allowed to take notes while listening to the material provided. These notes will be collected at the end of the test and destroyed. Questions asked in the Listening section, are usually asked in the following formatsMultiple choice questions with a single correct answerMultiple choice questions with more than one correct answerQuestions that require the user to order eventsQuestions that require the applicant to match objects or text to categories in a chartSome questions replay a portion of the audio material provided, so that the applicant need not memorize the material before answering the question.Speaking SectionHere the applicant is tested for his ability to communicate, participate in casual conversations, respond to questions etc. This section includes six tasks that that the applicant must undertake before proceeding further. The first two task are independent speaking tasks, where the user is asked to express their opinion or idea on topics provided, or on topics that the applicant is comfortable with. The next four tasks are integrated tasks where the applicant must use more than one of their skills before responding. These skills may include reading, listening and speaking. The user is only allowed to spend 20 minutes in this section.Writing SectionThis section tests the applicants ability to present their ideas in a clear and well organized manner. Here students are required to undertake two tasks, one integrated and one independent. Independent tasks include writing essays, articles, expressing opinions etc. The student's range of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuations and layout are tested under Independent tasks. Under Integrated tasks students are required to summarize, paraphrase, and cite accurate information from the source material. The total time sanctioned for both these tasks is 50 minutes. TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years. These scores are visible,10 days after the exam on the TOEFL registration website. Printed Scores are mailed after 13 days. More than 10,000 universities in around 130 countries accept TOEFL scores for their admission process. So when you plan on an education abroad, Think TOEFL.

SAT Summer Prep Programs Should You Join

SAT Summer Prep Programs Should You Join SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What are SAT Prep Summer Programs and should you use them? There are a lot of variations in SAT summer programs and the hours of study they offer.Other than time, the greatest variation in SAT summer programs is through price. There are commercial and noncommerical options and they vary by price and hours offered, as well as the material used. No matter the course, a good program will offer at least once a week test. Advantages and disadvantages to a summer only program On the one hand you might find it easier to focus on only one thing during the summer, so a summer prep program might seem ideal. However, you might already be drained from a long and difficult school year and just want a break.A summer camp environment and attitude can alsobe distracting, and you might not learn as much as you would have withalternative methods. If you are set on a summer camp though, you should check out our article on SAT summer camps. Moreover, since its summer, you may feel youhave time for intensive study and put in many hours. But, you might find that you end up putting in too many hours and burn yourselfout by the time the test comes around.In the end, many find that an hour or two every day over a longer period of time is much more manageable than the 6-8 hours per day that might be required from an official SAT boot camp BUT! You don't need to do an SAT summer boot camp for intensive study While an SAT summer camp or boot camp is good for forcing you to invest a lot of time into SAT prep, you don't need a boot camp for intensive study. And when you put in a lot of hours, then your scores will improve, regardless of where you do it. But keep in mind that just because you can, doens't mean you should!While you may be able to concentrate more hours in the summer, some students may find this overwhelming. For them, it may be better to spread out any studying over a longer period of time. What are the alternatives? Online SAT prep: allows you to set the schedule, costs significantly less and lets you move at a pace comfortable for you, while also allowing for specialized instruction Either online or local, individual SAT prep with a tutor: this would give you personal attention but also be much more affordable than an SAT summer camp. Tutors will test you on your weaknesses and guide your study, but they are mainly a supplement to more extensive study on your own time. Studying on your own: with proper strategies, even studying on your own can be as effective, and far more cost friendly. You can find plenty of online resources that can guide your self study. If you are thinking of self study, plan to set aside at least one week to preparing a course of study for your summer. And then, follow it. Use the free resources at PrepScholar to help you plan out your SAT summer self study.Check out our links on the side or at the bottom of this article to get you started. Or start a free trial at our program, designed to tailor sat prep to your needs, right in your own home. What are the disadvantages of self study? Self study can be inexpensive and flexible, and it can fit to any schedule. However, it can be difficult to maintain discipline on your own and not everyone can do it. First, you will need to analyze your own performance objectively and not everyone can do that easily. Second, you will need to maintain a strict schedule with no outside supervision. Lastly, you will need to research and select the study material on your own, which may take time that you don't have. How to tailor an online program to the summer? If you plan to study during the summer, then the smartest things you can do is to maximize the hours you devote to study so that you won't have to worry about this during the school year. Since you can now devote hours at a time, you should use that time to do plenty of practice tests! The more practice tests you do, the greater the improvement in scores you will see.If its feasible, you can study just four hours every weekday and still study upto 20 hours a week, which is as good as many summer programs.Then,if you find that you have four spare hours - optimize that time. Do a timed practice test! It will make you more familiar with the test and allow your brain to further familiarize itself with the question types. What’s Next? Check out our other article on SAT Summer ideas- Should you really join a SAT Summer Camp?or our 5 Step SAT/ACT Test Dates and Study Plan for Summer before Senior Year. For those interested, check out our article on Summer Institutes for the Gifted. If you scored a 2200 or above on your recent SATs, then consider whether you need to retake it! Want to improve your SAT score by 240 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:

Themes, Content and the Power of Music in Iron Man When the World Is Crumbling

Themes, Content and the Power of Music in Iron Man When the World Is Crumbling When it was announced that the Marvel Studios was going to adapt one of the audience’s most beloved stories into a major feature length movie, the audience was hyped. Everyone wanted to see Iron Man on the big screen, and, one must admit, Jon Favreau did not upset people’s expectations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Themes, Content and the Power of Music in Iron Man: When the World Is Crumbling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Iron Man was huge not only because of the special effects, but also because of its likeable characters, the story arc of the lead hero, Tony Stark, and the complex ethical issues that the movie handled. While the key theme of the movie clearly revolves around Tony Stark, the millionaire, Favreau also renders a range of ethical and philosophical issues. Among the key ones, a man’s role in society should be named. Although Tony Stark seems to have all the power and money th at a man may dream of, his story arc is clearly geared towards recognizing his place under the sun and changing from an arrogant snob into a hero in every meaning of the word. Personal evolution, however, is not the only issue that the movie touches upon; Favreau offers his own take on political problems, including civil–military cooperation, terrorism in the Middle East, weapon trade, etc. Though widely considered misleading, the given interpretation of the current political issues is rather engaging and thought provoking. Adapting a comic book into a movie is not an easy task for two reasons, the first one being the necessity to keep the original content intact, at the same time fitting several volumes into ninety minutes of running time, and the second one being the need to translate a comic book story, that is, a primarily visual narration, into a complex virtual world, in which visual and acoustic elements are combined. Therefore, unlike in a comic book, in a movie, soun dtracks play a huge role, which can be illustrated by taking the Iron Man soundtracks as an example.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is no secret that taking the original story of the Iron Man without changing a few elements to add more credibility to it would have meant to shrink the range of the movie audience to the amount of the Iron Man diehard fans. The movie clearly needed a more mature character and a more serious atmosphere to it to look less goofy and at the same time retain its unique style. Seeing how very little could be added to the story to make the idea of a man building a suit for flying more realistic, it was decided to use music to make people believe that the characters are real and, more importantly, want them to be real. The results were stunning, with literally every single lighthearted moment balanced out with a heavy soundtrack. While the movie admittedly is too smart to take itself too seriously, the music adds the weight that the original story lacks to appeal to an average viewer, seeing how the number of soundtracks amounts to nineteen in the original release, and to twenty-seven in a DVD with extra scenes and director cuts. The soundtracks are remarkably versatile; instead of recycling one and the same concept by putting the emphasis on action scenes, the movie allows for a number of quiet and, honestly, very sincere moments. For instance, when Colonel Rhodes saves Stark’s life and the latter returns home, the first few seconds of the soundtrack actually land on a very peculiar note, leaving the feeling that the lead character experiences doubt and, perhaps, even fear. The first few notes of the â€Å"Vacation’s over,† therefore, open a set of ethical questions to the audience, making it clear that the leading character doubts whether the Iron Man should resume his rescue mission or let the state defense forces do their job. Not only does the theme make the character more humane and, therefore, more complex, but also raises the question whether becoming a vigilante is actually an ethically sober thing to do.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Themes, Content and the Power of Music in Iron Man: When the World Is Crumbling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More â€Å"Vacation’s over† feels like the character is actually starting to breathe and live on his own; however, the very next second, a powerful orchestral motif makes it clear that the movie does not have the time to explore the character’s doubts – the reluctantly heroic chords show that a major blockbuster did not dare to venture into the depth of a complex drama. Nevertheless, the music does render the movie’s major themes successfully – it is just that the themes could have been explored in a much better way. To Ramin Djawadi’s credit, he does manage to address the major theme of the movie, the conflict of a rebel in the high class society, in a very impressive way. â€Å"Institutionalized,† with its aggressive beat and intense lyrics manages to render the emotions of a rebel who is restricted by the social boundaries: Sometimes I try to do things and it just doesnt work out the way I wanted to. I get real frustrated and I try hard to do it and I take my time and it doesnt work out the way I wanted to. (Marco Crdenas Soler 0:17–0:33) The seriousness of the issue raised in the movie, however, is often reduced by adding more laid-back music elements. For instance, the â€Å"Back in black/I hit the sack/It’s been too long I’m glad to be back† line from AC/DC’s â€Å"Back in Black† (Iron Man 1:04–1:07) is supposed to mark the first stage of the character’s evolution and define him as a self-assured million-dollar playboy. As the movie progresses and the character evolves, however, the soundtrack is becoming heavier, still lending Tony Stark a unique air of nonchalance and affording being ironic towards the latter, as the â€Å"Are Those Bullet Holes?† (Iron Man 126:01) shows. Speaking of music as a background for the characters to interact in, a number of movie directors seem to forget about the necessity to let the key film scenes breathe. As much as a movie needs music to create a specific mood, it is still required to have a couple of silent moments to let the atmosphere build up and to prepare the audience for another twist of the plot.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Luckily, Iron Man is one of the few movies that actually invites the audience to sink into its atmosphere and offers a decent payoff by using music as the means to put the emphasis on the climax. As the movie approaches the end credits and the leading character takes the floor at the conference, there is no soundtrack, and the entire scene seems rather ordinary and even mundane part of a life of a public person. However, after Tony Stark confesses to be the Iron Man, the next scene explodes with music, doubtlessly leaving a big impact. The music, therefore, serves as the means to render the characters’ emotions, as well as to create a specific atmosphere, like music should. Marco Crdenas SolerSuicidal Tendencies. â€Å"Institutionalized.† YouTube.  Iron Man. Dir. Jon Favreau. Perf. Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard Jeff Bridges. Marvel Studios, 2008. Film.