What Are your Kids Doing Essays - After-school Activity

What Are Your Kids Doing? More parents than ever these days are working outside of the home. This means that when the school bell rings, many children are left unsupervised and with no where to go but an empty house with no supervision. Not only that, but some parents are also struggling to provide adequate after school care. Either they cannot afford the monthly payments of a daycare, or the programs are just simply not available to them. However, this could be detrimental not only to children, but also society. Children cannot take care of themselves, and when left to their own devices, they could easily make the wrong decision when tempted. This is where after school programs come into play. Quality after school programs can have many benefits. Though not always immediately evident, the benefits for students include, increased learning, improved health, increased exposure to career choices, and enhanced social and psychological development. After school programs can play a large role in improving student achievement and motivation. Studies have shown that after school programs increase math skills, reading skills, and school attendance. Some health benefits are a decreased risk of teen parenthood and substance abuse, enhanced nutrition and wellness, and more opportunities to engage in fitness activities. After school programs are a great venue for career exploration because they are exposed to a variety of careers and related interests through targeted activities. Students also get higher aspirations for the future, including completing high school and college. There are several positive influences on social and psychological development, including less time spent watchi ng television, fewer behavioral problems in school, greater ability to handle conflicts, better social skills, improved self confidence, and reduced participation in gangs. Most of todays ?keyhole? children spend long hours without parental supervision. Crime peaks in the hours immediately after school. Children are prevented from indulging in delinquent behavior if they attend an after school program. If they did not have an engaging activity, children usually fall in bad company. Research has proved that peer pressure is the leading cause for alcoholism or substance abuse. Participating in after school activities develops the child's talents in arts or sport. By becoming skilled at it, he receives recognition and appreciation that boost his self esteem. Some of these programs coach for competitions too. The sense of achievement acts as a powerful motivator for excellence. After school activities discourage children form watching too much television and computer games. This has positive influence on the mental development. After school sports programs encourage children to participate in vigorous physical activity that they are sorely missing in the pr esent lifestyle. Thus, they are essential to fight the obesity academic. The stark fact that nearly 30% of kids under the age of 19 are overweight underlines the need for children to take up some sport for a couple of days a week. Sports build social skills like teamwork and coordination. Children acquire social awareness by working in a group. They learn how to become a responsible citizen by following rules. Socialization is another skill that they pick up. They learn the value of family ties as well as how to develop a positive relationship with elders. The supervisor or mentor is usually the guide and friend of the child. Children who attend after school programs develop better communication skills. They also learn how to think on their feet. Besides improving school attendance and academic performance, the programs reinforce school learning with practical application. The rewards of after school programs are not limited only to students. Many benefits can also be seen by the school itself and the community. Quality after school programs require partnerships with parents and the outside community. Specific benefits can include: increased business support and involvement, increased parental involvement and support of the school, increased student enrollments, improved school image, and decreased vandalism and delinquency. When community members are involved with the school more, they tend to become more supportive of the school and its mission. The following is a letter I wrote to Governor Granola last fall in regards to President Bush?s budget calls for a drastic cut in funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs) programs as well as transforming the federal after school initiative

Essay Sample on Personal Information Who Sells It

Essay Sample on Personal Information Who Sells It This essay is designed to help us identify our creditors and those businesses and companies we deal with on a regular basis in our daily lives. To prepare for future chapters, we are going to have you start creating a list of all your creditors and all those businesses you deal with on a regular basis that have your personal identifying information. As you go day to day conducting your personal business, identify each and every company and business you deal with on a daily, weekly, monthly and/or annual basis. Start writing these business names in a journal. The entities that should definitely be included in this list are the companies and businesses that have any item of your personal information such as your name, date of birth, social security number, home address, and home phone number. Make sure you write down the business name and exactly what specific personal identifying information they have on you. By creating this list early on, it will make the later steps of the protection process easier. When you get into the action mode of protecting your personal information, you will have a head start since you will already have started your list. If you need a custom essay, research paper, thesis, dissertation or term paper on English, Business or other discipline feel free to contact our professional custom writing service.

Ports in the Storm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ports in the Storm - Essay Example This is a great opportunity that can really open up Portugal and its neighbouring countries. European markets will be the first beneficiaries of an improved Lisbon port. First, this is a great investment where European companies can drive their investments. After certain duration, Lisbon harbour will call companies to tender for services like offloading containers, uploading containers, and ship repairs. This will provide business to big and small companies improving on the European economy. Secondly, besides providing business to companies, employment opportunities will increase, as individuals will operate cranes and other machines. Thirdly, Improvements of Lisbon harbour will allow the bulkiest of the vessels to dock in it. According to Economist magazine, â€Å"The bulkiest vessels can carry 14,000 twenty-foot containers that would require a train 85 km if transported by rail† (The economist Newspaper, 2012). Big vessels enhance economies of scale since there is a considerable fall in the cost per container. Cost of industrial raw materials falls as the cost of transportation falls, this eventually causes low cost of products. Fourthly, big ships do not stop in many destinations of Europe. This means that Lisbon harbour will open up a faster means of transportation of bulk materials fastening up the process of production. In addition, consumers and businesses will receive complete products in good time. This will attract prime shippers looking for value, speed, and reliability. The first beneficiary of an improved Lisbon port is Portugal. This is because as the port expands, Portuguese industries will get cheap raw materials for their productions. Heavy metal industries and those that depend on bulky materials that come from Asia will benefit greatly. In addition, Southern part of Spain will grow because of this port. The growth will come about as goods from Lisbon port are transported via good

Conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya - Essay Example The key question is whether the conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya do bear much resemblance. Certain parallels between these two conflicts exist without a doubt. Thus, both cases involve powerful separatist movements, which emerged after the collapse of the Soviets, with ethnic and religious factors underlying them: they have unfolded on almost exclusively Muslim territories (Albanians in Kosovo and Chechens in Chechnya) population of which mistrusted the respective federal authorities. In both cases these movements have formed their own military forces to rely on: the Armed Forces of Ichkeria in Chechnya and the Liberation Army in Kosovo. And finally, military solution has been chosen as an appropriate conflict management strategy in both cases. In spite of the numerous parallels, the most important distinction between the conflicts is evident as well. In former Yugoslavia NATO conducted warfare against a sovereign state though claiming to act out of humanitarian concerns; the Russian Federation embarked on the still ongoing hostilities in order to secure the territorial integrity of the state and suppress secessionism in Chechnya. However, this distinction does not relate to the underlying nature of these conflicts: it has emerged as the result of NATO's solution to intervene in Kosovo and not intervene in Chechnya. Given the numerous parallels between both conflicts, it does require serious analysis to understand the reasons underlying NATO's intensive military efforts in former Yugoslavia and lack of similar actions in Chechnya. MAIN DISCUSSION NATO justified its decision to use force in Kosovo on the basis of the so-called 'international humanitarian emergency'. The origins of this concept can be traced back to the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). A famine which followed the conflict killed hundreds thousand people, but was ignored by the Western states in the name of non-intervention and neutrality doctrines. However, the idea that under certain circumstances the principle of the sovereignty of states might be questioned emerged to receive further theoretical development in the 1980s. In the 1990s, the Europe for the first time witnessed how this right of humanitarian intervention could be implemented in practice during the interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. The armed forces of the Alliance attacked Yugoslavia under the pretence of defending the human rights of Kosovo population. The essence of their claim was since the forces of Yugoslavian government were engaged in repeated, and systematic violence against its own citizens, NATO's choice of the military intervention as the only effective method of protecting human rights was fully justified (Annan, 1999). The case for war in Kosovo immediately generated much criticism associated with the ambiguity of the juridical status of a right to intervene, validity and relevance of statistical data on human rights abuses in Kosovo, and questionable ethical aspects of using military power to restore peace. Yet perhaps the most difficult enquiry related to the Kosovo precedent came from those whom questioned the reasons for NATO's decision to intervene in Kosovo and not in Chechnya where the statistics for human rights abuses was even more frightening than in Yugoslavia. An overview of existing st atistical data

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Every piece of literature created is influenced by the time in which it was written. A particular text is a reflection of the era or period in which it was born. An author is contained within a specific time in history, and his writing becomes the result of the social, economic or political milieu of that time. This is the reason why it is extremely important for a reader to determine the context of the story in order to fully understand a piece of literature. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a great example of how a text reflects a particular era. It is a novel written in the 1930s and revealed what was happening during that time in California. Hence, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a reflection of California during the 1930s. Of Mice and Men is a story about the friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small. The two men are remarkably different from each other. Steinbeck (1994) described George as â€Å"small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features† (p. 4). He depicted Lennie as the opposite of his companion; he was â€Å"a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 4). However, their differences were not limited to physical appearances. George is intelligent, but his friend Lennie is mentally challenged (Steinbeck, 1994). The mental condition of the latter forced him to depend solely on the former. While George often expressed displeasure about the burden of being Lennie’s companion, he proved to be a dedicated friend. He served as Lennie’s guardian. Unfortunately, Lennie’s disability caused him to be involved in great trouble. He was unable to discern his own strength, accidentally harming and killing others in the process. In the end, George continues to fulfill his role as Lennie’s protector; he killed Lennie himself to spare him from death in the hands of Curley (Steinbeck, 1994). While the friendship between George and Lenny is the main focus of the story, the history of California plays a bigger and more significant role in the novel. Of Mice and Men is also a story about California and the problems which plagued it during the 1930s. John Steinbeck wrote three books which delved into the situation in California in 1930s; Of Mice and Men is the second book in the trilogy. The other two novels were In Dubious Battle and The Grapes of Wrath. In On Mice and Men, the relationship between George and Lennie is set against the backdrop of 1930s California. Both men are migrant workers with a single dream: they wanted to own a piece of land and farm it themselves. George said, â€Å"Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs† (Steinbeck, 1994). This dream was influenced, if not completely defined, by the problems of the state at that particular time. In the Introduction of the On Mice and Men, Shillinglaw (1994) described California in the 1930s. During the 1930s, the main problem in California was agricultural labor. Since the 1900s, most of the agriculturally abundant valleys were located in California. Produce such as broccoli, lettuce, sugar beets and strawberries were only some of those harvested in plenitude. The vast farms in California required many laborers for its harvest. Meanwhile, the Southwest region of America suffered from drought. Due to the drought, the once bountiful lands became similar to deserts. As a result, laborers left what was known as the Dust Bowl to try their luck in California. Since 1935, an estimated 350,000 people from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas stormed the Golden State in hopes of finding jobs in the farms. While it was true that California had enormous agricultural fields which supplied most of the country’s produce, the employment of workers were still a problem. There were too many people to accommodate for jobs in these farms. Workers from the Dust Bowl wandered throughout the state in search of crops to farm, as they were desperate for work. By 1936, California was faced with a major problem: the constant flow of poor and hungry migrants from the Southwest. The situation of wandering farm workers was illustrated in Of Mice and Men. The novel began with the arrival of George and Lennie in the Salinas River. George was upset that the bus driver did not drop them off at the proper location. He said, â€Å"Didn’t wanta stop at the ranch gate, that’s what† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 6). The two men exemplified the situation of all the other migrant workers in California during the 1930s. Agricultural laborers such as George and Lennie were directed from one ranch to another, in search for work. George asked Lennie, â€Å"You remember about us goin’ into Murray and Ready’s, and they give us work cards and bus tickets? † (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 7). Murray and Ready had provided both men with the cards and tickets, then sent them to the next ranch. According to the novel, the last ranch they worked for was called Weed. The plight of the itinerant laborers was best expressed by George’s words: â€Å"They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The novel also portrayed the difficult life of male migrant workers and their need for human company. It was said that majority of the migrant agricultural workers in California were single men. Since the 1870s until 1930, the fruit and wheat crops of the Golden State were harvested by single men. These men were modern day nomads, for they constantly moved from one place to another. They carried bindles whenever they went. George confirmed the situation of male farm workers in California: â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The solitude of the farm workers resulted in the constant need for companionship. In the absence of wives and families, the male itinerant laborers develop friendships instead. The friendship between George and Lennie was the kind of relationship created due to the circumstances of the migrant workers. Despite his complaints about having Lennie around, it was apparent that George was just as dependent on Lennie as Lennie was dependent on him. Whenever Lennie threatened to leave, George told him that he wanted his friend to stay. Their bond was so strong that they did not consider themselves as similar to the aforementioned lonely guys. George said: â€Å"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The novel revealed how agricultural laborers were marginalized in California society. All of them were misplaced and lived on dire conditions. Despite the unfortunate circumstances which befell them, there are those who remained optimistic and ambitious. However, even the ambitious laborers also fail. They would simply leave the ranch and proceed to another place. In the novel, George and Lennie went to the bunk house of the next ranch they were supposed to work for. When George asked Candy why the former occupant of his new bed quit, this was the response: â€Å"He†¦just quit, the way a guy will. Says it was the food. Just wanted to move† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 20). George and Lennie were also ambitious. They have grown weary of working from one ranch to another, and working for people like Curley. They dreamt of having a piece of land they can personally attend to. The dream was revealed early on in the novel, and was continuously mentioned throughout the story. Candy overheard the two taking about their desire for their own (Steinbeck, 1994). He responded positively, and even offered his savings to both men so that he could also live on their land. Crooks also learned about the plan to buy land. During one night, Lennie spoke to Crooks about his plan to own land with George. Unlike Candy, Crooks had a different response to the plan. He discouraged Lennie by insinuating that his dream will never come true. Crooks said: â€Å"I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads†¦every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 75). The character of Crooks was right; in 1930s California, many workers did not achieve the success they originally hoped to find there. By the end of the novel, George and Lennie proved to be unsuccessful as well. The dream of George and Lennie to obtain their own land did not come true. Lennie has a fondness for petting things which are soft; it was this fondness which guaranteed his demise (Steinbeck, 1994). Lennie and George were forced to leave the ranch in Weed because Lennie’s petting had gotten them in trouble. In the ranch in Soledad, Lennie accidentally killed a puppy because he was too strong. By accident, he pulled the hair of Curley’s wife and also broke her neck, causing her to die. When Curley and the rest of the men in the ranch found out that Lennie killed the wife, they form a mob and went to search for Lennie. Before they arrived at the ranch, George told Lennie to return to the Salinas River in case he got in trouble. George told his friend, â€Å"Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush† (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 17). After he killed Curley’s wife, Lennie proceed to the brush and George met him there. George began to speak of the land they would own together and the rabbits that Lennie would take care of. Afterwards, he shot Lennie on the back of his head (Steinbeck, 1994). The farm was a representation of every migrant worker’s dream: to own a piece of land and be in control of their own lives. The farm served as a symbol of freedom and independence. For George, the death of his friend was also the end of their dream. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was truly a representation of California during the 1930s. Through the story of George, Lennie and the other characters, Steinbeck was able to illustrate the agricultural labor problem that existed in the Golden State during that decade. The novel revealed the displacement of workers, the harsh realities of living as a nomad in California, their isolation and need for companionship and the broken dreams that come with the journey. By reading this novel, one is given a glimpse of California in the 1930s. Reference Steinbeck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Classics.

Suicide Research Paper :: essays research papers

Suicide, it's not pretty. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's the 'Process' of ending ones life. Suicide is sometime seen as understandable or even honorable in certain circumstances. Such as in protests (hunger strike), as part of battle or resistance (suicide pilots(WWII), suicide bombers) or as a way of preserving the honor of a 'dishonored' person (killing yourself to save someone else). Nearly one million people world wide commit suicide each year, with anywhere from 10 to 20 million suicide attempts annually. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in males and the 16th leading cause of death in females. It is the third leading cause of death for people 10 to 24 year of age. Trends in rates of suicides for teens 15 to 19 years old show that from 1950 to 1990 the frequency of suicides went up by 300%. From 1990 to 2003, that rate went down 35%. Self-mutilation is one of the most common methods of committing suicide. Self-mutilation means to deliberately hurt yourself without meaning to kill someone else. Examples of self-mutilation are: cutting any part of the body (usually the wrists), self- burning, head-banging, pinching, and scratching. The effects of suicide on friends and family are often devastating. Individuals who lose a loved one from suicide are more at risk for becoming pre-occupied with the reason for it. Wanting to deny or hide the cause of death, wondering if they could have prevented it, feeling blamed for the problems that preceded the suicide, feeling rejected by their loved one, and stigmatized by others really makes friends and family feel like they?re not wanted. Survivors of suicide may feel a great range of conflicting emotions about the deceased, feeling everything from intense sadness about the loss, and helpless to prevent it. Every suicide has it?s reasons, but a lot of them aren?t so legitimate. An example of a possible trigger for suicide is a real or imagined loss, like the breakup of a romantic relationship, moving, loss of a friend, loss of freedom, or loss of other privileges. Older people are more likely to kill themselves using a firearm compared to younger people. Some people commit suicide by threatening police officers, sometimes even with an unloaded gun or a fake weapon. That is commonly referred to as ?Suicide by cop.? Although firearms are the most common way people complete suicide, trying to

Meaning of Education Essay

â€Å"Yep, that’s the last of it† my dad yelled as he slammed the trunk shut. Totes were piled up high and filled with clothes, shoes, and lots of old memories. After getting all settled in my new apartment my family and I said our goodbyes. This next chapter in my life was finally here. I was now a college student entering the real world. We all have our purposes for taking the next step in life and going to college. My purpose for attending college is to take a leap towards creating success and meaning in my life. My family has been a giant influence on attending college. The day my older brother went off to college it was no surprise. It seems that moving on to college was the natural thing to do. For instance, graduating kindergarten and moving to the 1st grade is similar to graduating from high school and moving on to college. It’s just a chapter in life that our parents brought us up expecting to reach and we’ve been taught that it would be the right choice since elementary school. It’s what we grew up knowing we were supposed to do when we got to that point in life. Ultimately, we were taught that this step would lead us to the success to building a more meaningful life. All in all, education is the key to success. Having an education opens many doors to amazing opportunities. Why waste time stuck in a slump when one can go out into the world and be someone, make a difference in this world, and have the pride to say that â€Å"I am successful†. With a college education, the amount of freedom is endless. There are many more careers to choose from and the ability to stand out from others increases your career success. An education helps one develop a more meaningful life, that’s what I want to achieve. I want to make a difference in this world by not only my art but my everyday life. My goals are to one day be very well off financially, enabling me to support my future family and enjoy all the accomplishments and great opportunities life has to offer. Just on a walk to school, I get a glance of the harsh reality by seeing all the unfortunate civilians struggling to survive each day. For instance, an old man and his dog, hungry as can be, asking for money on the corner of the street. This makes me realize that I am very grateful for what I have and that an education is what I must pursue to accomplish my goals and dreams. With all the love and support of my family and friends I have a great positive outlook on a college education. Having moved on to this next step in my life, I already feel as if I’m that much closer to reaching my goals. I can see how proud my family is as they watch me better my life and future. With all my past experiences, I now have a strong mentality to finish with pride and follow all my dreams. Overall, an education is the way to success and the key to many great opportunities.