Ethnography

AN ETHNOGRAPHY â€Å"When used as a method, ethnography typically refers to fieldwork (alternatively, participant-observation) conducted by a single investigator who ‘lives with and lives like' those who are studied, usually for a year or more. † –John Van Maanen, 1996. â€Å"Ethnography literally means ‘a portrait of a people. ‘ An ethnography is a written description of a particular culture – the customs, beliefs, and behavior – based on information collected through fieldwork. † –Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, 2000. â€Å"Ethnography is the art and science of describing a group or culture.The description may be of a small tribal group in an exotic land or a classroom in middle-class suburbia. † –David M. Fetterman, 1998. Ethnography is a social science research method. It relies heavily on up-close, personal experience and possible participation, not just observation, by researchers trained in the art of et hnography. These ethnographers often work in multidisciplinary teams. The ethnographic focal point may include intensive language and culture learning, intensive study of a single field or domain, and a blend of historical, observational, and interview methods.Typical ethnographic research employs three kinds of data collection: interviews, observation, and documents. This in turn produces three kinds of data: quotations, descriptions, and excerpts of documents, resulting in one product: narrative description. This narrative often includes charts, diagrams and additional artifacts that help to tell â€Å"the story† (Hammersley, 1990). Ethnographic methods can give shape to new constructs or paradigms, and new variables, for further empirical testing in the field or through traditional, quantitative social science methods. Ethnography has it roots planted in the fields of anthropology and sociology.Present-day practitioners conduct ethnographies in organizations and communitie s of all kinds. Ethnographers study schooling, public health, rural and urban development, consumers and consumer goods, any human arena. While particularly suited to exploratory research, ethnography draws on a wide range of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, moving from â€Å"learning† to â€Å"testing† (Agar, 1996) while research problems, perspectives, and theories emerge and shift. Ethnographic methods are a means of tapping local points of view, households and community â€Å"funds of nowledge† (Moll & Greenberg, 1990), a means of identifying significant categories of human experience up close and personal. Ethnography enhances and widens top down views and enriches the inquiry process, taps both bottom-up insights and perspectives of powerful policy-makers â€Å"at the top,† and generates new analytic insights by engaging in interactive, team exploration of often subtle arenas of human difference and similarity. Through such findings ethnographers may inform others of their findings with an attempt to derive, for example, policy decisions or instructional innovations from such an analysis.VARIATIONS IN OBSERVATIONAL METHODS Observational research is not a single thing. The decision to employ field methods in gathering informational data is only the first step in a decision process that involves a large number of options and possibilities. Making the choice to employ field methods involves a commitment to get close to the subject being observed in its natural setting, to be factual and descriptive in reporting what is observed, and to find out the points of view of participants in the domain observed.Once these fundamental commitments have been made, it is necessary to make additional decisions about which particular observational approaches are appropriate for the research situation at hand. VARIATIONS IN OBSERVER INVOLVEMENT: PARTICIPANT OR ONLOOKER? The first and most fundamental distinction among observationa l strategies concerns the extent to which the observer is also a participant in the program activities being studied. This is not really a simple choice between participation and nonparticipation.The extent of participation is a continuum which varies from complete immersion in the program as full participant to complete separation from the activities observed, taking on a role as spectator; there is a great deal of variation along the continuum between these two extremes. Participant observation is an omnibus field strategy in that it â€Å"simultaneously combines document analysis, interviewing of respondents and informants, direct participation and observation, and introspection. In participant observation the researcher shares as intimately as possible in the life and activities of the people in the observed setting.The purpose of such participation is to develop an insider's view of what is happening. This means that the researcher not only sees what is happening but â€Å"fe els† what it is like to be part of the group. Experiencing an environment as an insider is what necessitates the participant part of participant observation. At the same time, however, there is clearly an observer side to this process. The challenge is to combine participation and observation so as to become capable of understanding the experience as an insider while describing the experience for outsiders.The extent to which it is possible for a researcher to become a full participant in an experience will depend partly on the nature of the setting being observed. For example, in human service and education programs that serve children, it is not possible for the researcher to become a student and therefore experience the setting as a child; it may be possible, however, for the research observer to participate as a volunteer, parent, or staff person in such a setting and thereby develop the perspective of an insider in one of these adult roles.It should be said, though, that many ethnographers do not believe that understanding requires that they become full members of the group(s) being studied. Indeed, many believe that this must not occur if a valid and useful account is to be produced. These researchers believe the ethnographer must try to be both outsider and insider, staying on the margins of the group both socially and intellectually. This is because what is required is both an outside and an inside view.For this reason it is sometimes emphasized that, besides seeking to â€Å"understand†, the ethnographer must also try to see familiar settings as â€Å"anthropologically strange†, as they would be seen by someone from another society, adopting what we might call the Martian perspective. METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES Following are three methodological principles that are used to provide the rationale for the specific features of the ethnographic method.They are also the basis for much of the criticism of quantitative research for failing to capture the true nature of human social behavior; because it relies on the study of artificial settings and/or on what people say rather than what they do; because it seeks to reduce meanings to what is observable; and because it reifies social phenomena by treating them as more clearly defined and static than they are, and as mechanical products of social and psychological factors (M. Hammersley, 1990). The three principles can be summarized under the headings of naturalism, understanding and discovery: 1.Naturalism. This is the view that the aim of social research is to capture the character of naturally occurring human behavior, and that this can only be achieved by first-hand contact with it, not by inferences from what people do in artificial settings like experiments or from what they say in interviews about what they do elsewhere. This is the reason that ethnographers carry out their research in â€Å"natural† settings, settings that exist independently of the resea rch process, rather than in those set up specifically for the purposes of research.Another important implication of naturalism is that in studying natural settings the researcher should seek to minimize her or his effects on the behavior of the people being studied. The aim of this is to increase the chances that what is discovered in the setting will be generalizable to other similar settings that have not been researched. Finally, the notion of naturalism implies that social events and processes must be explained in terms of their relationship to the context in which they occur. 2.Understanding. Central here is the argument that human actions differ from the behavior of physical objects, and even from that of other animals: they do not consist simply of fixed responses or even of learned responses to stimuli, but involve interpretation of stimuli and the construction of responses. Sometimes this argument reflects a complete rejection of the concept of causality as inapplicable to the social world, and an insistence on the freely constructed character of human actions and institutions.Others argue that causal relations are to be found in the social world, but that they differ from the â€Å"mechanical† causality typical of physical phenomena. From this point of view, if we are to be able to explain human actions effectively we must gain an understanding of the cultural perspectives on which they are based. That this is necessary is obvious when we are studying a society that is alien to us, since we shall find much of what we see and hear puzzling. However, ethnographers argue that it is just as important when we are studying more familiar settings.Indeed, when a setting is familiar the danger of misunderstanding is especially great. It is argued that we cannot assume that we already know others' perspectives, even in our own society, because particular groups and individuals develop distinctive worldviews. This is especially true in large complex soci eties. Ethnic, occupational, and small informal groups (even individual families or school classes) develop distinctive ways of orienting to the world that may need to be understood if their behavior is to be explained.Ethnographers argue, then, that it is necessary to learn the culture of the group one is studying before one can produce valid explanations for the behavior of its members. This is the reason for the centrality of participant observation and unstructured interviewing to ethnographic method. 3. Discovery. Another feature of ethnographic thinking is a conception of the research process as inductive or discovery-based; rather than as being limited to the testing of explicit hypotheses.It is argued that if one approaches a phenomenon with a set of hypotheses one may fail to discover the true nature of that phenomenon, being blinded by the assumptions built into the hypotheses. Rather, they have a general interest in some types of social phenomena and/or in some theoretica l issue or practical problem. The focus of the research is narrowed and sharpened, and perhaps even changed substantially, as it proceeds. Similarly, and in parallel, theoretical ideas that frame descriptions and explanations of what is observed are developed over the course of the research.Such ideas are regarded as a valuable outcome of, not a precondition for, research. ETHNOGRAPHY AS METHOD In terms of method, generally speaking, the term â€Å"ethnography† refers to social research that has most of the following features (M. Hammersley, 1990). (a) People's behavior is studied in everyday contexts, rather than under experimental conditions created by the researcher. (b) Data are gathered from a range of sources, but observation and/or relatively informal conversations are usually the main ones. c) The approach to data collection is â€Å"unstructured in the sense that it does not involve following through a detailed plan set up at the beginning; nor are the categories us ed for interpreting what people say and do pre-given or fixed. This does not mean that the research is unsystematic; simply that initially the data are collected in as raw a form, and on as wide a front, as feasible. (d) The focus is usually a single setting or group, of relatively small scale. In life history research the focus may even be a single individual. (e) The analysis of the data involves interpretation of the eanings and functions of human actions and mainly takes the form of verbal descriptions and explanations, with quantification and statistical analysis playing a subordinate role at most. As a set of methods, ethnography is not far removed from the sort of approach that we all use in everyday life to make sense of our surroundings. It is less specialized and less technically sophisticated than approaches like the experiment or the social survey; though all social research methods have their historical origins in the ways in which human beings gain information about th eir world in everyday life.SUMMARY GUIDELINES FOR FIELDWORK It is difficult, if not impossible, to provide a precise set of rules and procedures for conducting fieldwork. What you do depends on the situation, the purpose of the study, the nature of the setting, and the skills, interests, needs, and point of view of the observer. Following are some generic guidelines for conducting fieldwork: 1. Be descriptive in taking field notes. 2. Gather a variety of information from different perspectives. 3. Cross-validate and triangulate by gathering different kinds of data.Example: observations, interviews, program documentation, recordings, and photographs. 4. Use quotations; represent program participants in their own terms. Capture participants' views of their own experiences in their own words. 5. Select key informants wisely and use them carefully. Draw on the wisdom of their informed perspectives, but keep in mind that their perspectives are limited. 6. Be aware of and sensitive to the different stages of fieldwork. (a) Build trust and rapport at the entry stage. Remember that the researcher-observer is also being observed and evaluated. b) Stay alert and disciplined during the more routine middle-phase of fieldwork. (c) Focus on pulling together a useful synthesis as fieldwork draws to a close. (d) Be disciplined and conscientious in taking detailed field notes at all stages of fieldwork. (e) Be as involved as possible in experiencing the observed setting as fully as possible while maintaining an analytical perspective grounded in the purpose of the fieldwork: to conduct research. (f) Clearly separate description from interpretation and judgment. (g) Provide formative feedback as part of the verification process of fieldwork.Time that feedback carefully. Observe its impact. (h) Include in your field notes and observations reports of your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings. These are also field data. Fieldwork is a highly personal experience. The meshing of fieldwork procedures with individual capabilities and situational variation is what makes fieldwork a highly personal experience. The validity and meaningfulness of the results obtained depend directly on the observer's skill, discipline, and perspective. This is both the strength and weakness of observational methods. SUMMARY GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWINGThere is no one right way of interviewing, no single correct format that is appropriate for all situations, and no single way of wording questions that will always work. The particular evaluation situation, the needs of the interviewee, and the personal style of the interviewer all come together to create a unique situation for each interview. Therein lie the challenges of depth interviewing: situational responsiveness and sensitivity to get the best data possible. There is no recipe for effective interviewing, but there are some useful guidelines that can be considered.These guidelines are summarized below (Patton, 1987). 1. Through out all phases of interviewing, from planning through data collection to analysis, keep centered on the purpose of the research endeavor. Let that purpose guide the interviewing process. 2. The fundamental principle of qualitative interviewing is to provide a framework within which respondents can express their own understandings in their own terms. 3. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of different types of interviews: the informal conversational interview; the interview guide approach; and the standardized open-ended interview. . Select the type of interview (or combination of types) that is most appropriate to the purposes of the research effort. 5. Understand the different kinds of information one can collect through interviews: behavioral data; opinions; feelings; knowledge; sensory data; and background information. 6. Think about and plan how these different kinds of questions can be most appropriately sequenced for each interview topic, including past, present, and futur e questions. 7. Ask truly open-ended questions. 8. Ask clear questions, using understandable and appropriate language. . Ask one question at a time. 10. Use probes and follow-up questions to solicit depth and detail. 11. Communicate clearly what information is desired, why that information is important, and let the interviewee know how the interview is progressing. 12. Listen attentively and respond appropriately to let the person know he or she is being heard. 13. Avoid leading questions. 14. Understand the difference between a depth interview and an interrogation. Qualitative evaluators conduct depth interviews; police investigators and tax auditors conduct interrogations. 5. Establish personal rapport and a sense of mutual interest. 16. Maintain neutrality toward the specific content of responses. You are there to collect information not to make judgments about that person. 17. Observe while interviewing. Be aware of and sensitive to how the person is affected by and responds to different questions. 18. Maintain control of the interview. 19. Tape record whenever possible to capture full and exact quotations for analysis and reporting. 20. Take notes to capture and highlight major points as the interview progresses. 1. As soon as possible after the interview check the recording for malfunctions; review notes for clarity; elaborate where necessary; and record observations. 22. Take whatever steps are appropriate and necessary to gather valid and reliable information. 23. Treat the person being interviewed with respect. Keep in mind that it is a privilege and responsibility to peer into another person's experience. 24. Practice interviewing. Develop your skills. 25. Enjoy interviewing. Take the time along the way to stop and â€Å"hear† the roses. SITE DOCUMENTSIn addition to participant observation and interviews, ethnographers may also make use of various documents in answering guiding questions. When available, these documents can add additional insi ght or information to projects. Because ethnographic attention has been and continues to be focused on both literate and non-literate peoples, not all research projects will have site documents available. It is also possible that even research among a literate group will not have relevant site documents to consider; this could vary depending on the focus of the research.Thinking carefully about your participants and how they function and asking questions of your informants helps to decide what kinds of documents might be available. Possible documents include: budgets, advertisements, work descriptions, annual reports, memos, school records, correspondence, informational brochures, teaching materials, newsletters, websites, recruitment or orientation packets, contracts, records of court proceedings, posters, minutes of meetings, menus, and many other kinds of written items.For example, an ethnographer studying how limited-English proficient elementary school students learn to acquire English in a classroom setting might want to collect such things as the state or school mandated Bilingual/ESL curriculum for students in the school(s) where he or she does research, and examples of student work. Local school budget allocations to language minority education, specific teachers' lesson plans, and copies of age-appropriate ESL textbooks could also be relevant.It might also be useful to try finding subgroups of professional educators organizations which focus on teaching elementary school language arts and join their listservs, attend their meetings, or get copies of their newsletters. Review cumulative student records and school district policies for language minority education. All of these things could greatly enrich the participant observation and the interviews that an ethnographer does. Privacy or copyright issues may apply to the documents gathered, so it is important to inquire about this when you find or are given documents.If you are given permission to incl ude what you learn from these documents in your final paper, the documents should be cited appropriately and included in the bibliography of the final paper. If you are not given permission, do not use them in any way. ETHICS IN ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Since ethnographic research takes place among real human beings, there are a number of special ethical concerns to be aware of before beginning. In a nutshell, researchers must make their research goals clear to the members of the community where they undertake their research and gain the informed consent of their consultants to the research beforehand.It is also important to learn whether the group would prefer to be named in the written report of the research or given a pseudonym and to offer the results of the research if informants would like to read it. Most of all, researchers must be sure that the research does not harm or exploit those among whom the research is done. ANALYZING, INTERPRETING AND REPORTING FINDINGS Remember that the researcher is the detective looking for trends and patterns that occur across the various groups or within individuals (Krueger, 1994).The process of analysis and interpretation involve disciplined examination, creative insight, and careful attention to the purposes of the research study. Analysis and interpretation are conceptually separate processes. The analysis process begins with assembling the raw materials and getting an overview or total picture of the entire process. The researcher's role in analysis covers a continuum with assembly of raw data on one extreme and interpretative comments on the other. Analysis is the process of bringing order to the data, organizing what is there into patterns, categories, and basic descriptive units.The analysis process involves consideration of words, tone, context, non-verbals, internal consistency, frequency, extensiveness, intensity, specificity of responses and big ideas. Data reduction strategies are essential in the analysis (Kru eger, 1994). Interpretation involves attaching meaning and significance to the analysis, explaining descriptive patterns, and looking for relationships and linkages among descriptive dimensions. Once these processes have been completed the researcher must report his or her interpretations and conclusions QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIONReports based on qualitative methods will include a great deal of pure description of the program and/or the experiences of people in the research environment. The purpose of this description is to let the reader know what happened in the environment under observation, what it was like from the participants' point of view to be in the setting, and what particular events or activities in the setting were like. In reading through field notes and interviews the researcher begins to look for those parts of the data that will be polished for presentation as pure description in the research report.What is included by way of description will depend on what questions the researcher is attempting to answer. Often an entire activity will be reported in detail and depth because it represents a typical experience. These descriptions are written in narrative form to provide a holistic picture of what has happened in the reported activity or event. REPORTING FINDINGS The actual content and format of a qualitative report will depend on the information needs of primary stakeholders and the purpose of the research. Even a comprehensive report will have to omit a great deal of the data collected by the researcher.Focus is essential. Analysts who try to include everything risk losing their readers in the sheer volume of the presentation. This process has been referred to as â€Å"the agony of omitting†. The agony of omitting on the part of the researcher is matched only by the readers' agony in having to read those things that were not omitted, but should have been. BALANCE BETWEEN DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS In considering what to omit, a decision has to be made about how much description to include. Detailed description and in-depth quotations are the essential qualities of qualitative accounts.Sufficient description and direct quotations should be included to allow readers to understand fully the research setting and the thoughts of the people represented in the narrative. Description should stop short, however, of becoming trivial and mundane. The reader does not have to know absolutely everything that was done or said. Again the problem of focus arises. Description is balanced by analysis and interpretation. Endless description becomes its own muddle. The purpose of analysis is to organize the description in a way that makes it manageable. Description is balanced by analysis and leads into interpretation.An interesting and readable final account provides sufficient description to allow the reader to understand the analysis and sufficient analysis to allow the reader to understand the interpretations and explanations presente d. Try It Yourself Why do people see things differently? The importance of ethnographic research Apple Example Thomas Kuhn suggests that what people see depends on what â€Å"previous visual and conceptual experience has taught† them. This suggests that what we look at and what we see are two different things. Anthropologists Anne Campbell of Washington State University and Patricia C.Rice of West Virginia University give an excellent example of how what we look at and what we see can be different things, depending on who perceives a situation or thing. Try this: * gather two to three people and mentally place an apple on a table in front of the group. * Without any prior discussion, each group member should take a moment to individually write down what it is he or she sees. * After a few minutes, compare notes. What do you find? Did everyone see the same thing? What color was the apple? Are there specific colors given to the apple?What about the type of apple on the table, d id anyone acknowledge if there was a difference between a golden delicious and a Macintosh? What about the size of the apple? Did anyone include size as a characteristic of the apple? What this example shows is that no two people see the same thing. We may understand what an apple is, but in terms of describing it and â€Å"seeing† it much of our sight comes from pervious â€Å"visual-conceptual† experiences. Someone knowledgeable in produce may know that there are many types of apples, just as someone interested in quantities of food may take note of the size of the apple.

Recruitment process and documentation at West Cheshire College Essay

Recruitment is the initial part of the human resources. The candidate for a specific job role needs to have all essential skills required in order to be successful. Recruitment department needs to make sure that they are getting right people for right position, they are monitoring staff constantly for any further developments and improvements as well as the department ensures that they are prepared to consider a better practice. The purpose of monitoring staff is to improve their performance and offer a training if it necessary. There are two main dynamic documents used in West Cheshire College – job profile and person specification. In order to make sure that the organisation has right people for right positions, both documents needs to be clear and be completed in a correct way. Layout of these documents is really similar and both are generally accepted tasks but the most important document is job description. Job profile is a brief summary of the job, which explains what tasks are involved, what is the purpose of this job and what are the duties and responsibilities of this position. Person specification is a statement of attributes required for a specific job role. These can be split into two sections – essential and desirable. Person specification describes what qualifications, skills, experience, and approach the candidate needs to have. If the candidate has all of the attributes, this person is considered to be strong candidate and has more chances to become successful within this job role. Once the documentation is completed for any specific job role, the Human Resources department needs to start to think about advertisement of this job and when it comes to the ending date, they need to select few candidates which then are going to be invited for an interview. Yet again, these documents are used – interviewer will create questions upon the job profile and person specification and will complete a checklist of skills against person specification. If the candidate is successful, will get to know terms and conditions of the employment as well as any other important information about the organisation. Importance of employability, personal and communication skills in the recruitment process and retention of staff. There are many different factors to consider when the organisation decides to recruit new people or keeping current employees. All of them needs to have correct skills which match up the job description. Right candidate will have strong communication skills in order to communicate within the team or with the customers. If the candidate applies for a college officer position, he will deal with different enquiries from staff, learners and external contacts therefore it is really important that this person is able to communicate at very high standards and that the tasks are fully understood and carried out effectively. It is also important that the candidate is willing to undertake any training if required and is willing to develop personal skills and other attributes – this would possibly help to achieve their targets, and this shows that the candidate has strong employability skills. Retention of staff It is important that the organisation retain the staff who are doing their job correctly and are achieving their job targets. This is highly beneficial for any businesses – the staff is already fully trained, know exactly what are the job duties and responsibilities and they are able to resolve any problems much quicker. West Cheshire College retain highly qualified staff to ensure that the organisation is providing service at the highest standards. The organisation is doing so by offering: 1. training and development 2. free education 3. support 4. very good working conditions 5. fair rate of pay 6. staff discount 7. holidays

This is history...this is history on drugs Essay

This is history...this is history on drugs - Essay Example It is also a contributor to the economy. Historical sites and archeology have attracted tourist and thus pumping cash into the country’s economy. History has boosted scientific growth since it is from the past that advancements are made to better human life. It is from history that a country is able to know is origin and independence. How the country evolved and split into its various states. Nowadays in school, history is an uphill task and most students do not like it. The students have the mentality that the course is very wide and difficult. Loewen records that current history analysis focuses more on the good and pays little attention to the wrong. He quotes President Wilson to whom many students attribute women suffrage. Though this is true, President Wilson led the country to war during Palmers raid. He says more harm took place when Wilson secretly funded the invasion of Russia thus controlling the security of the state. Wilson linked with Japanese invasion to invade Vladivostok and set up an anticommunist government while maintaining the war fronts. Loewen says,’ no one of the twelve American history textbooks in my original sample ever mentioned it.’ He compares American history books to Russian books and concludes that the latter are more descriptive in their approach. In the past, Wilson also wanted to build links and promote boarder security wi th neighboring Latin countries. The idea was noble and favored both countries to grow economically and have a larger security backing. Current books however shy from showing the wrongdoing of Wilson. It was through this that the invasion occurred. American books try to make individuals to seem like heroes. It is through this that most books shy away from documenting the outcome of the 1920 election (Loewen 17). Idolizing individuals led to the development of new terminologies owing to their acts. Christopher Columbus voyages are said to be the cause of

Building Innovation into Outsourcing Relationship Case Study

Building Innovation into Outsourcing Relationship - Case Study Example Therefore, after identifying the innovation process to be implemented, AlphaCorp must understand how the innovation will be incorporated into the intended operation and or processes (Babin & Schuster, 2012). In other words, it is only through understanding the scope of the innovation that costs and services required to initiate and implement such innovations can be determined and analyzed. Â  AlphaCorp and B&B must distinguish between innovation and continuous improvement in the projects they are running or intend to run towards improving their productivity (Babin & Schuster, 2012). They must ever consider or regard all projects or programs that they have never been working on and are intended to be initiated into their systems as a mean of improving their service deliveries and operations as innovative programs or projective. However, there are some programs and projects that have been operating within the system, but they need to be adjusted on for better results (In Hirschheim et al., 2014). The systematic progress on processes that are already existing programs and projects is known as continuous improvement. Notably, well-intended and drafted projects and programs must give room or ways through which continuous improvement will be conducted on them. Â  Finally, AlphaCorp and B&B must know that innovation must always be carried on already existing productions but not new productions or areas (Babin & Schuster, 2012). In some cases, innovations often fail and if such failures are experienced in new production or areas, it will be highly challenging restore the destroyed image of the product or of the company in the new areas it failed due to failed innovation.

Trade and Lending Act Violation Class Rescission Essay

Trade and Lending Act Violation Class Rescission - Essay Example The families now want to rescind their mortgages. The clinic has already sent a letter to LFB on behalf of all the families. The KF cannot afford individual lawyers and must sue as a class, requesting rescission of the mortgages. LFB has refused to rescind the mortgages, because the three day right of rescission period had passed. Probably. Class action rescissions under the TILA will likely be permissible because while the KF may not be successful in arguing that the plain language of the TILA included class rescissions, the KF will like prevail because of the Congressional intent in protecting consumers along with the KF seeking a judgment as a class in order to then individually seek rescission justify class rescissions under the TILA. The KF will also likely prevail because their particular situation can only be remedied by class rescissions. The TILA was enacted in 1968 to ensure that creditors provide a meaningful disclosure of credit terms giving the consumer the ability to easily compare the various credit terms available to them and avoid uniform uses of credit. Truth and Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601 (1995). Creditors must clearly and conspicuously disclose certain key terms such as annual percentage rates, finance charges, and the total number of loan payments due before consummating a credit transaction. Elizabeth Renuart, Stop Predatory Lending 84 (National Consumer Law Center) (2002). The TILA allows the consumer a right to rescind a transaction for non-purchase money home-secured loans if a creditor fails to make specific disclosures for up to three years. Truth and Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1635(f) (1995). Rescission voids the security interest in the home and eliminates the obligation to pay interest or other finance charges or closing costs. Elizabeth Renuart, Stop Predatory Lending 99 (National Consumer Law Center) (2002). Courts have not accepted the TILA class actions lawsuits lightly. Williams v. Empire Funding Corp., 183 F.R.D. 428, 435 (1998). The TILA does create a right for debtors to rescind their contracts under 15 U.S.C.A. 1635, while the TILA addresses class action damages under 15 U.S.C.A. 1640, Truth and Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1635, 1640 (1995). It does not address class action suits for rescission explicitly. There is no controlling precedent on this issue; consequently, courts appear divided on this matter. Some courts say that class rescissions are inappropriate, while other courts have relied on carefully drafted complaints to assist in deciding on granting rescission. Elizabeth Renuart, Stop Predatory Lending 106 (National Consumer Law Center) (2002). The factors courts consider are considered in this memo: (1) the plain language of the

What extent does neo-realism provide a satisfactory account of world Essay

What extent does neo-realism provide a satisfactory account of world politics - Essay Example Research shows that realism theory had the belief that the political order and the manner in which countries conduct themselves concerning international ground are projected by the nature of human beings (Dickinson 2006, p.63). Its foremost supposition originates from a human aspect; for instance, ambitions and aspirations are the main driving forces of international or world politics (Craig 2009, p. 45). On the contrary, neorealism declared that the current global system is a revolutionary setting with no dominant power directing and amending relationships among countries. It is not a social nature but rather a universal nature of the entire world that explains world politics. To a small extent, neo-realism provides satisfactory account to world politics. Every nation is in a search of individual benefit and its activities on a worldwide ground rely on its personal welfares. Therefore, in order to accomplish its individual benefits nations can establish coalitions, although even wit hin such coalitions every nation is only interested in attaining its own goals. Revolution of the global system is a command in itself. Accordingly, every nation continues to be in competition with other nations because of concern with its security and development (Craig 2009, p.50). Supremacy is dominant in understanding the affairs among nations. Therefore, search for authority makes countries to develop their resource, boost up economies, as well as develop skill and society as well. According to neorealism theory, the tougher the nation, the less susceptible it is on the global ground. Martial and fiscal greatness are the main measures for safety and growth, and thus accomplishment of these measures is performed through all ways possible. According to studies, conflict in neorealism is unavoidable. Nonetheless, in a nuclear period, conflicts among the nuclear nations are not likely to happen certainly, because such nations with nuclear weapons understand the effects of such conf lict. Thus, they use nuclear resources as a way of discouragement and balance of supremacy. In fact, neo-realism is a system of balance, and the anarchy of global setting, as well as an order instead of chaos (Van 2009, p. 80). This is because steadiness of supremacy is the only way to reservation harmony. Therefore, with such standards in place, neo-realism provides a satisfactory to the world politics. Neo-realism provides satisfactory account to world politics because it offers a well-organized explanation concerning the global political structure. It is a trial to explain international relations in technical terms through the mention of imbalanced capacities of nations. It also explains the revolutionary structure of the nation system, as well as the emphasis on great supremacies whose affairs regulate the most vital results of world politics (Krasner 2005, p.78). Neo-realism provides satisfactory account to world politics because it promotes peace and security among nations. Re searchers view the best international relation theory as one that emphasizes mainly on the structure of the system because structures regulate the actions the country. Foreign policy is led by the structure, and the nation officials are thus prisoners of the revolutionary system` structure and its determinist’s reasoning commands what they must carry out in the behavior of overseas rule (Jacques 2007, p. 106). Therefore, neo-realism offers a powerful explanation of the structure of the system of a nation much different from other theories because it takes the structure as the key tool of analysis. From studies, it clear that international rel

Marketing paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Marketing paper - Essay Example r constrÐ °ints - technicÐ °l (economic) Ð °nd ethicÐ °l (sociÐ °l) - creÐ °te the trÐ °nsÐ °ctions or flows which resolve mÐ °rket sepÐ °rÐ °tions Ð °nd result in exchÐ °nge Ð °nd consumption (BÐ °rtles). My concept of mÐ °rketing is close to the definition by CIM thÐ °t looks not only Ð °t identifying customer needs, but Ð °lso sÐ °tisfying them (short-term) Ð °nd Ð °nticipÐ °ting them in the future (long-term retention). In its most generic form, I define mÐ °rketing Ð °s mÐ °rketing seen Ð °s relÐ °tionships, networks Ð °nd interÐ °ction or mÐ °rketing bÐ °sed on interÐ °ction within Ð ° network of relÐ °tionships. In the broÐ °dest sense of mÐ °rketing, Ð °ll mÐ °nÐ °gement, the whole society, Ð °nd even life itself, form networks of relÐ °tionships within which we interÐ °ct in our roles of business executives, employees, consumers, citizens Ð °nd humÐ °n beings. CollÐ °borÐ °tion. The core contribution from mÐ °rketing is its emphÐ °sis on collÐ °borÐ °tion. In Ð ° nÐ °rrow sense it comprises the collÐ °borÐ °tion between customer Ð °nd supplier. This hÐ °s Ð °lwÐ °ys been Ð ° prÐ °cticÐ °l necessity for services Ð °nd for the development, production, mÐ °rketing Ð °nd purchÐ °sing of complex products in business mÐ °rketing. Its prÐ °ctice, however, is often unprofessionÐ °l Ð °nd guided by legÐ °l-bureÐ °ucrÐ °tic vÐ °lues Ð °nd lÐ °ck of empÐ °thy. Its introduction in theory Ð °nd educÐ °tion is long overdue. TodÐ °y, severÐ °l sources independent of relÐ °tionship mÐ °rketing stress collÐ °borÐ °tion. CollÐ °borÐ °tion is the very reÐ °son for forming Ð °n orgÐ °nizÐ °tion; you collÐ °borÐ °te inside Ð °nd compete outside. In totÐ °l relÐ °tionship mÐ °rketing you both collÐ °borÐ °te Ð °nd compete, inside Ð °s well Ð °s outside the orgÐ °nizÐ °tion. Long relÐ °tionships. Ð  series of studies clÐ °im thÐ °t the longer the relÐ °tionship with Ð ° customer, the higher the profit will be. This is primÐ °rily due to two effects of customer loyÐ °lty: reduced mÐ °rketing costs when fewer customers defect; Ð °nd increÐ °sed ‘customer shÐ °re’ or ‘shÐ °re of

Astronomy Homework Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Astronomy Homework Assignment - Essay Example Galaxies are not close to each other. Hence, perhaps at one point, there were star clusters at one place and galaxies closer to each other. The brilliant, Greek mathematician and astronomer, Eratosthenes of Cyrene had an easier way of using geometry in determining the size of the earth (Woolfson 22). He assumed that the sun was miles away, perhaps compared to the distance between the ancient city Cyrene and Alexandria in Egypt where he was the chief librarian. Hence, concluding that the rays from the sun at these locations must have been parallel. There is an error in this assumption because the sun is in constant motion and Cyrene is also due south of Alexandria. Hence, such parallel angles in locations, as he suggested are likely to change. Though Ptolemaic system had several observable failings, it still remained as an accepted science for more than 1800 years (Woolfson 24). Perhaps it is because it was a geocentric model which had unanswerable questions which were mostly based on rational reasoning. In addition, the Catholic Church in the middle ages had supreme authority and had widely accepted Ptolemy’s philosophy. Therefore, any person opposed to the geocentric system got punished because the person was guilty of heresy, a crime at time. Galileo proved that the sun was at the centre, based on several observations he made about Venus (Woolfson 34). By using the telescope he saw that Venus had similar phases to the moon. The nature of these phases was only explainable if Venus was going around the sun. Through this he found out that Earth orbits around the Sun, proving that the Sun is at the centre. During Nicholas De Cusa’s time in 1401 to 1464, The Catholic Church was not the supreme authority because his views showed that he believed that each religion is of equal value. During Giordano Bruno’s time in 1584, The Catholic Church had a lot of powers sentenced people to death for a crime such as witchcraft (Woolfson 35). Hence, the

Causes of Salem wWtch Trials Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Causes of Salem wWtch Trials - Research Paper Example There was an influx of refugees in Salem village because of war outbreak in 1689, between the English rulers (William and Mary) and France. This made life too hard in this village, as people struggled with the available scarce resources for survival (Blumberg, 2007). In addition to this, the villagers faced diseases, harsh winters and crop failure. The Puritans believed that good fortunes always came from God and were a blessing to them, while bad fortunes were associated with the devil’s work. These people believed that witches were people who had deals with the devil and received powers from the devil in return, for doing evil. According to Puritans, a convicted witch was sentenced to death because it was believed that they could destroy communities and corrupt good Christian people. Although the Puritans had over the years believed in witches, everything changed in 1692, when witch hunt widely spread for the first time. The village of Salem was the centre for accusation. Th is was after two girls, Betty Parris who was 9 years old, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris (the first ordained minister in the village), and his niece, Abigail Williams 11 years old accused three women of casting spells on them. Two of the women were Puritan women and the other one was a slave woman. The two girls suffered from a strange sickness, acted oddly, had incomprehensible speech and their bodies were twisted from their original positions into uncomfortable ones. When the girls were diagnosed, there was no reasonable diagnosis found. The doctors tried to search in their medical books but it was unsuccessful. This worried the villagers and made them search desperately for an explanation. It was then that it was concluded that the girls were under the spell of witchcraft by their fellow community members (Yolen and Stemple, 2004). The three women were arrested on February 29 and more than 150 other â€Å"witches† were also arrested and put on trial. By late Septem ber 1692, some had already been put to death and more others died while in jail. During this period, people fasted and prayed for the girls for God’s intervention but it did not succeed. However, although witchcraft began in Salem village making it very famous in rounding up accused witches, the fear of witchcraft increased over the following year. This made the life there more difficult with neighbours rising against their fellow neighbours as others tried to prove the innocence of their dear ones, the accusers worried of what would befall them while the leaders struggled to understand the happenings (Doeden, 2011). In early 1970s, psychologist Linnda Caporael, now a behavioural psychologist at New York's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, began to investigate the Salem Witch trials while still a college student with no idea that a common grain fungus could have been the cause of the 1962 events. In 1976, he came up with a theory, which believed that a certain type of food po isoning called convulsive ergotism might have been responsible for the girls’ condition. Convulsive ergotism occurs when a person consumes rye crop- wheat containing a mould called Ergot, which was used to make bread. This causes hallucinations, vomiting, crawling sensations on the skin among many other symptoms similar to those reported in Salem witchcraft trials. It was also discovered that, ergot thrives in damp, rainy springs,

Different Departmentalization in Malaysia Essay Example for Free

Different Departmentalization in Malaysia Essay Introduction The search for competitive advantage, write management consultants and educators David Nadler and Michael Tushman, is the defining goal of modern-day business. Competing by Design: The Power of Organizational Architecture, is their guide to reaching that goal through total integration of corporate structure, workplace culture, and employee motivation. Bringing all such processes together into one unified organization, they contend, is as important to a companys future as the architectural unity of the building that houses it. Organizational Design is gaining more importance in human resource management as organizations are rethinking their role in the marketplace, their position vis a vis competitors, and their long term strategy. A key strategy in aligning the workforce with business goals, Organizational Design seeks to maximize workforce effectiveness while minimizing or maintaining costs. Five basic organizational structures are used in Organizational Design and adapted to an organizations needs Basic Organizational Designs Have Six Structure Elements. . Specialization-a process in which different individuals and units perform different task. 2. Chain Of Command-is the unbroken line of authority that extend from the top of the organizations to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports whom.

Abiotic And Biotic Characteristics Environmental Sciences Essay

Abiotic And Biotic Characteristics Environmental Sciences Essay San Francisco Bay has maintained a magnificent body of water and use to sustain the economy of Western United States and San Francisco Estuary in Bay in is of great importance because through this a large number of water draining becomes possible. Its Estuary from where fresh water meets to sea water. There are many pollutants that we face in our daily life e.g. dirt, sediments, oil, grease, fertilizes pesticides chemicals etc. the water running from the land carrying these pollutants to underground and ultimately this reach to the Estuary of san Francisco. These pollutants when reach in river and sea water can pollute the whole water and prove harmful for aquatic life as it can be cause harm for wetland creatures like fish, and can prove very dangerous for other habitats of water. It can destroy the aquatic system and can be major threats for the living organism living under water. As San Francisco Estuary considered as a very important region and has much economic importance so for prevention of pollution and keep safe this region from other different factors restoration and conservation is used. Abiotic and biotic characteristics of the San Francisco Estuary Many of environmental factors affect the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the San Francisco Estuary these include both abiotic and biotic characteristics. These factors effects the life in Estuary in great extends. Non-living factors are called abiotic factors which include concentration of oxygen and nutrients, salinity of water and amount of sunshine. As these factors have the major impact on the life in estuary. All living factors that affect the estuary are called biotic factors. That includes producers consumers and predators as producers are of basic importance for consumers. Consumers rely on producers and predators rely on consumers. So these are depend on one another to maintain the balance of estuary, Population growth in the San Francisco Bay area affected the estuary Increasing trend of population in San Francisco Bay area affected the estuary as increasing trend of population cause a rush in urban as well as on village areas. More the people are using the recourses more the waste is creating and much use of water and water waste from its use create pollution as much of the polluted water is drained through the underground ways to Estuary that is a great threat for the marine life. More over in recent years 40,000 metric tons of pollutants enter the Bay annually from agriculture and urban runoff. Rivers, atmospheric fallout, municipal sewage treatment plants, industrial facilities, natural and artificial erosion, illegal clearance, dredging and dredged material disposal, marine vessel discharges, accidental spills, and landfill seepage are also causing problems as well. (1) Habitat fracture in the San Francisco Estuary been increased by human behavior Estuaries is of great importance for us as these are used for food, trade and for shelter and in this case Sans Francisco Bay has great importance as it is used as harbor for many ships of this regions. There are large number of plants and animals found in Estuaries and the most of population of San Francisco Bay depend on these marine lives for their food. But due to the pollution spreading by increase in population cause harm to these plants and animals. This pollution can cause damage to the lives of these plants and animals found in estuaries. Heavy load of silt, trash, and sediments by erosion and chemical contamination cause can prove to be harmful for these plants and animals and can create suffocation for them. Due to increase in irrigation or by making more dams by the people can cause problems as more the salty water will move upstream as compare to normal routine that can cause destructive consequence for species living in the water. The most important impact of human population in estuaries habitat in San Francisco is the development of estuaries. People are trying to get expand the area of estuaries for development purpose as they are quite interested to use the land for housing and business purpose as they want to want to utilize the region of estuaries for industrial development. Economically estuaries are very beneficial for these purposes but this can caused the lost of large number of habitat found in these estuaries. So it is harmful for the water species and become the cause of Habitat fracture in the San Francisco Estuary. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) is transporting the organism across America and around the globe. This phenomena is increasing that cause harm to native fish and wild life in different ways as it disturb the entire food web and cause problems for human life activity as well e.g. disrupting the water delivery and effecting the agriculture as well. Conservation being used to promote and maintain the biodiversity of plants and animals in the San Francisco Estuary Biodiversity of plants and animals means range of organisms including different plants and animals, present in ecological system. It is very important to promote and maintain the biodiversity of plants and animals to get the wide variety of organism that will be beneficial and use to fulfill human needs. San Francisco Estuary is of great importance for the habitat of this region as they get important benefits from them so to save this and to survive from the loss of species found in these estuaries it is very important to properly mange and develop the system to escape from the loss of marine species as well. Estuary of San Francisco Bay is of great importance in all over the world. To secure it from un exceptional phenomena and extend the productive use of it The San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) is playing very important role as they have used different approaches to reduce the impact of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). They have start to consider species management plan I order to recover the species of Estuary from harmful effects. Fish in the estuary need oxygen to survive so the estuary where there is increased pollution thats causing lost of marine life , Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) produces oxygen for fish breathing and to reduce the pollution. The Sans Francisco Bay conservation and development commission (2) prepared a plan to make and implement the policies for the development of Bay and to utilize the maximum benefits from them. The Sans Francisco Bay plan is created and implemented by this commission in 1968. The important conversation of this plan was related to shore line and coastal areas to utilize it to their maximum potential. Conservation of fish and other aquatic organism is most importantly depend on the oxygen that is provided to these organisms, fresh water, availability of food for these organisms, sufficient area of breeding and quality of water. If these factors are organized in proper way then it became possible to maintain and improve the biodiversity of plants and animals of Sans Francisco estuary. The Sans Francisco Bay conservation and development commission has taken important steps to restore these components in order to ensure the benefits for the future generation of these fish, and other wild life of estuary. This commission also provides recommendations in Bayland Ecosystem habitat Goal Report about the diversity of habitat o enhance the variety of aquatic plants and animal species. The Baylands Ecosystem habitat Goal Report works to provide the important information about the types, amount, and distribution of wetlands and its habitats that are needed to maintain a healthy eco system. Conclusion San Francisco Estuary is of great importance as this is a transition zone between watershed and ocean and economically this system has great importance for that region thats the reason of restoration of this estuary. Many action plans has made for the development, promotion and maintenance of these Estuary and many more action plans are expected in near future for further development of this ecosystem.

The Neurobiology of Memory and Aging Essay -- Science Scientific Essay

The Neurobiology of Memory and Aging "I lost my keys again," my mother exclaimed at dinner a few nights ago, "I really am getting old." This use of old age as a justification for memory deficits is extremely common. Many people relate old age with loss of memory and other neurobiological functions. Why is it that aging seems to go hand in hand with losing and forgetting things? Is there a neurobiological explanation for this phenomenon? It is clear to neurobiologists that aging results in a decrease in brain size as well as a decrease in the efficiency of brain functions. It has been a widely held belief that aging causes neurons to die and for the overall number of neurons to decrease as one reaches old age. Studies conducted by Dr. David Merrill refute this idea, sighting a lack of neuronal loss in the entohinal cortex after running an MRI on a healthy subject. Instead, Merill indicates that loss of neurons may occur in degenerative disorders, such as Alzheimers, but not in healthy brains. However, it remains true that some aspects of cognition do decline as age increases, such as short term and long term memory. Since these effects are not caused by a decrease in the number of neurons present, there must be another neurobiological explanation. In order to understand memory loss it is necessary to understand how memory works in a normal brain without any cognitive deficits. Memory can be separated into three distinct parts: working memory, declarative memory, and procedural memory (1). Working memory is the most short term, and it involves repeating something that someone has just said in conversation or remembering something you had just seen briefly. This part of memory does not ever become fully sto... ...mplex.. http://psych.wisc.edu/postlab/Psych733/Nadel_Moscovitch.1997.pdf 4)Nadel and Moscovitch. "Memory Consolidation, Retrograde Amnesia and the Hippocampal Complex.. http://psych.wisc.edu/postlab/Psych733/Nadel_Moscovitch.1997.pdf 5) The Symptoms of Alzheimer's. . http://www.diseases-explained.com/Alzheimers/symptomsalzheime.html 6) Greenwood. . http://sln.fi.edu/brain/nutrition/carbohydrates/brainpower.html 7) Alzheimer's Secondary Victims. . http://sites.unc.edu/error.html 8)Alipoprotein E. . http://home.mira.net/~dhs/apoe.html 9) Determining the Cause of Memory Loss in the Elderly . http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1999/10_15_99/welsh.htm 10)Stress tied to Memory Loss . http://www.academicpress.com/inscight/04221998/grapha.htm 11)University of Kuopio, Series Reports, Department of Neurology . http://www.uku.fi/neuro/39abs.htm The Neurobiology of Memory and Aging Essay -- Science Scientific Essay The Neurobiology of Memory and Aging "I lost my keys again," my mother exclaimed at dinner a few nights ago, "I really am getting old." This use of old age as a justification for memory deficits is extremely common. Many people relate old age with loss of memory and other neurobiological functions. Why is it that aging seems to go hand in hand with losing and forgetting things? Is there a neurobiological explanation for this phenomenon? It is clear to neurobiologists that aging results in a decrease in brain size as well as a decrease in the efficiency of brain functions. It has been a widely held belief that aging causes neurons to die and for the overall number of neurons to decrease as one reaches old age. Studies conducted by Dr. David Merrill refute this idea, sighting a lack of neuronal loss in the entohinal cortex after running an MRI on a healthy subject. Instead, Merill indicates that loss of neurons may occur in degenerative disorders, such as Alzheimers, but not in healthy brains. However, it remains true that some aspects of cognition do decline as age increases, such as short term and long term memory. Since these effects are not caused by a decrease in the number of neurons present, there must be another neurobiological explanation. In order to understand memory loss it is necessary to understand how memory works in a normal brain without any cognitive deficits. Memory can be separated into three distinct parts: working memory, declarative memory, and procedural memory (1). Working memory is the most short term, and it involves repeating something that someone has just said in conversation or remembering something you had just seen briefly. This part of memory does not ever become fully sto... ...mplex.. http://psych.wisc.edu/postlab/Psych733/Nadel_Moscovitch.1997.pdf 4)Nadel and Moscovitch. "Memory Consolidation, Retrograde Amnesia and the Hippocampal Complex.. http://psych.wisc.edu/postlab/Psych733/Nadel_Moscovitch.1997.pdf 5) The Symptoms of Alzheimer's. . http://www.diseases-explained.com/Alzheimers/symptomsalzheime.html 6) Greenwood. . http://sln.fi.edu/brain/nutrition/carbohydrates/brainpower.html 7) Alzheimer's Secondary Victims. . http://sites.unc.edu/error.html 8)Alipoprotein E. . http://home.mira.net/~dhs/apoe.html 9) Determining the Cause of Memory Loss in the Elderly . http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1999/10_15_99/welsh.htm 10)Stress tied to Memory Loss . http://www.academicpress.com/inscight/04221998/grapha.htm 11)University of Kuopio, Series Reports, Department of Neurology . http://www.uku.fi/neuro/39abs.htm

The Misleading Message of Chopins The Storm Essay -- Chopin Storm Ess

The Misleading Message of Chopin's The Storm Kate Chopin's "The Storm" focuses on two simultaneous and related storms, one a fierce tempest of the natural world with the expected rain, wind, lightening, and thunder, the other a cyclone of the mind and heart which results in an short love affair between the two main characters. With her husband Bobinot and her son Bibi stranded in town by the storm, Calixta finds herself at home alone when an old lover, Alcee, rides up. The storm, the worst in two years, drives the two indoors, where, though they have not met in five years, they soon are embracing each other. As the storm outside reaches a climax, the emotions in the house spike to a fever pitch, and, though not directly stated, it is implied in the narrative that the two engage in sexual relations. As the storm passes on Alcee leaves, and we are told that everyone, including the uninvolved spouses, is improved and benefitted by the romantic engagement. Kate Chopin wrote this story at a time when Christian and Victorian morality was still adhered to, at least in name, and extramarital relationships were widely condemned in public. Thus, though Chopin had penned many other well-received pieces, The Storm, written after the highly controversial The Awakening, remained unpublished during her lifetime. That this particular work of Chopin s is more widely accepted today is perhaps a poor reflection on our society’s literary tastes, for The Storm is neither a realistic depiction of life nor the results of male-female relationships. The main problem with this work is its total lack of realism in its portrayal of the effects of the rel... ...re is no chance that Alcee will marry her, considering he did not think it proper when an even better opportunity presented itself earlier his life. Perhaps Clarisse, if she truly dislikes her husband, will not mind the situation too much, but such an affair would create an awkward marriage between her and Alcee, and divorce was still not at that time conducive to making you popular in good society. Finally, it would be unlikely for Bobinot not to find out, and, from the brief sketch presented of the good but unimaginative man in The Storm, it would probably crush him to lose his wife, and what acts such a disenchantment would lead to, no one could say. Considering all that has been mentioned, perhaps a more accurate ending for the story would be: The storm had passed, only to come again, and everyone was the worse because of it.

Non Profit Organizations Essay -- Nonprofits and Charities

Nonprofit Organizations The purpose of this research is to define nonprofit organizations, describe opportunities that are present in nonprofits, outline advantages and disadvantages of working in the nonprofit sector, and explain how you can determine if this is an area for you to consider as a career. WHAT IS THE NONPROFIT SECTOR? "Nonprofit" is a term that the I.R.S. uses to define tax-exempt organizations whose money or "profit" must be used solely to further their charitable or educational mission, rather than distribute profits to owners or shareholders as in the for-profit sector. The term is also used to describe organizations which are not a branch of -- are independent of -- the government and the corporate sector. This term refers to one of the most important uniqueness of a nonprofit organization: it is independent of both the public or government sector and the private or corporate sector. Nonprofits are organizations whose income is not used for the benefit or gain of stockholders, directors or any other persons with an interest in the organization. The nonprofit sector is very diverse; it includes tax-exempt organizations that are educational, scientific and cultural, as well as civic and social welfare organizations. Nonprofits usually work to advance a cause or interest or to accomplish some good work. Some job seekers overlook nonprofit organizations, assuming that opportunities are limited and salaries are uniformly low. This is not true. Respectable salaries, a wide range of opportunities and satisfying work abound in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit organizations play significant roles at th... ... REFERENCES Ahmad, M M and Townsend, J G (1998). Changing fortunes in anti-poverty programmes in Bangladesh. Journal of International Development, No.10; pp. 427. Anonymous (1995). Make a Difference: An Outline Volunteering Strategy for the UK, Volunteering Unit, Home Office Public Relations Branch, London. Eberts, Marjorie and Margaret Gisler (1991). Careers for Good Samaritans and Other Humanitarian Types. Lincolnwood: VGM Career Horizons. Lewis, William and Carol Milano (1987). Profitable Careers in Nonprofit. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. McAdam, Terry (1986). Careers in the Nonprofit Sector: Doing Well By Doing Good. Washington: The Taft Group. Wilson, A. and Pimm, G. (1996). The tyranny of the volunteer: the care and feeding of voluntary workforces. Management Decision, Vol.34, No.4; pp.24.

My philosophy of Education Essay

I never thought I will end studying education. In fact, this possibility was not even considered. At first I was more into medicine or graphic design areas but then I discovered a hidden ability, teaching. I dance since I was twelve years old, and I started to teach in my ballet academy in 2006 to 3-5 year-old girls and I enjoyed it very much. I know that is not the same to teach dance compared with school teaching, but the experience I had with children was very pleasant to me because I found a strong connection between my students and me. So that period marked my destiny and I decided that teaching is what I want to do the rest of my life. Therefore, I am preparing myself to become an Early Childhood Bilingual Generalist. Educating children is very meaningful because it directly affects their lives. Education provides a foundation for a child to base the rest of his or her life on. For this matter, it is very important for every teacher to have their own foundation well defined. There are five types of philosophies of education: Essentialism, perennialism, progressivism, social reconstructionism, and extentialism. As a future educator, I will follow the progressivism student centered philosophy.   I believe on focusing on the individual needs of the student, as well as involving them in the process of learning. Every child is different and not all students relate to material in the same way. That is why I will have in mind two very important factors: Motivation and interest. With these in mind, I will have the attention of my students in order to have in them the desire to learn and later to succeed. I believe that my educational philosophy foundation will guide me to success in the classroom. This philosophy allows the student to interact with other children in the classroom and share ideas or interests, making the student able to communicate and express their thoughts. I think it is necessary to know the opinion of the student; that is why in the classroom I want to create an environment where they can feel comfortable to ask a question or give an opinion without letting behind the order and respect. I want to become a teacher because I know I have the patience to listen to them, and I consider myself capable to get along and interact with them. I strongly believe that children are very clever and I can learn a lot of them as I expect they learn from me. I want to be that teacher who kids remember when they grow up as the â€Å"best teacher† they had; I  want to make my kindergarten students enjoy their classroom instead of being afraid of it.   And the most important thing of all: I want to be a teacher because a teacher leaves a mark in somebody else’s life, and I want to be the first person leaving a mark in my students during their knowledge process in school.

A Cultural Event Essay

The Spoleto Festival is held every year in Charleston, SC during late May and early June. This event lasts 17 days long and includes opera, dance, theater, classical music and jazz from different cultures around the world. During my stay in South Carolina, I had the opportunity to attend this event and broaden my cultural horizons. This 17 day event brings the arts from different cultures into one and presents a learning experience for all. Many forms of dance are presented to event attendees which is quite an experience. Not many cultural events allow different forms of dance from many different cultures in one event. See more: Ethnic groups and racism essay During my visit to the Spoleto Festival I was able to view many forms of art. Musical performances can be attended 24 hours a day for 17 days. This event presents something for everyone and is held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Jazz performances take you back to the early times when music was so simple and relaxing. The evolution of music is brought to you as you experience classical music all the way up to rock and roll. Comedians are also highlighted as a form of art and culture. Many performances from many different eras are scheduled. Theater is well represented during this event which was started in 1977 to complement a similar event held in Italy during the time period. Cultures continue to change and grow as many factors contribute to this change and growth. The Spoleto Festival is a classic example of this growing of the cultures. Performers are young and old, male and female, as well as well as from different walks of life. You can witness the evolution of dance, art and music as you watch the different performances. In conclusion, the Spoleto Festival is an event like no other that I have attended before. In encompasses many different forms of art, including theater, music and dance. Many cultures are represented allowing attendees to experience many cultures in one event. A visit to Charleston, SC during the early summer should include the Spoleto Festival to experience different art forms from different cultures.

Human Computer Interaction and User Interface Design Essay

The two interfaces chosen for this project are two book selling sites – LinkedIn. com and Orkut. com. The two websites are social networking sites. While Orkut. com brings together friends and is more personal in nature, LinkedIn. com is more professional. Social networking sites being highly popular, I chose to select these interfaces for comparison. LinkedIn has over 40 million professionals using it to: †¢ â€Å"Exchange information, ideas and opportunities† †¢ Connect or re-connect with and stay informed about their contacts and industry †¢ Find inside connections to find a new job or business opportunity †¢ Find the people and knowledge required †¢ Have a controlled online professional identity Orkut, on the other hand, lets you connect with people you already know in your personal life (friends and family) while at the same time allowing you to make new friends through friends of friends and communities. It allows sharing of videos, pictures as well as your passions with friends and communities. 2. Norman’s principles for good design Norman has suggested the following principles to ensure that a website has a good design: †¢ Visibility–The designer should ensure that the state of the possible actions can be easily understood by the user. †¢ Conceptual model–All operations should be consistent in nature and the user should be able to easily understand how the site works and what options are available to the user. †¢ Mappings–The user should be able to easily map actions with their results such as between controls and possible actions that can be taken on a control or between the system state and visible indicators like change of color or image. †¢ Feedback–Users should continuously get feedback on the results of their actions helping them understand whether they have taken the right step or not. 3. User Interface overview 3. 1. LinkedIn LinkedIn requires your name and email address to open an account post which you need to provide your current employment details. These two pages are simple, similar to the Google search page look. Once the registration is completed, LinkedIn takes you to your LinkedIn page. The homepage is divided into two sections – the top section that consists of main links to search people, jobs, answers and companies with comparatively big bold letters and is separated from the bottom section by a blue line. On the right corner, quick links to the account and its settings, help language and the option to sign out are available. The top section has blue font with a white background all through. This section also consists of a search option to search people, job, companies, etc. using a drop down box. The search option automatically changes to reflect the section it is in i. e. it says â€Å"Search People† when in the Contacts page and â€Å"Search Groups† when in the Groups page. The bottom section has a grey background and is divided into three parts. Each section individually has a white background and the sections are floating in the grey background. The bottom section represents the main work area consisting of the details regarding the user profile, contacts and groups. The left hand side frame provides options personal to the user which includes viewing various lists such as groups joined, profile, contacts, inbox, and applications that help improve user experience with LinkedIn. These links are provided with images as well. These links further provide links to options available such as My Groups, Groups Directory and Create a Group for the Groups menu. The submenus are not visible but can be seen on clicking the menu item or clicking on the + symbol on the right side. The submenus can be collapsed by clicking the – symbol that now appears instead of the + symbol. The link for the current page is highlighted with a blue background. In Home page, the words Home have a blue background unlike the others with white background. At the end of the menu, there is a button to add new connections. The button is of green color and attracts the attention towards it. Below this section is another small section that is an assessment of profile completeness along with a photo and name. The profile completeness is expressed in words as well as a status bar is shown that reflects the actual status. The name draws the attention with its bold font along with the status bar. The right side section consists of several modules – the main module being the â€Å"Build your network† in a green colored box that provides different options to find your contacts. The options include searching using web email contacts, address book contacts, or using email addresses. For web email contacts, again several options are provided as radio buttons. Since each of these options require different inputs, selecting one shows a box with an arrow pointing towards the option selected and the inputs required are within this box. All buttons on the page have a light orange color which changes to blue on moving the mouse over it. All links within this module also have an icon associated with it. In the extreme right, there are several modules one below the other starting with ads by LinkedIn Members. The remaining modules include featured application on LinkedIn, Reading List by Amazon, Events, Answers and Jobs. The headings in these modules are in white color on blue background. Text within these modules is in black color whereas links have blue color. Important words like subheadings, Member names, event names, etc. are appropriate made bold to highlight them. The events are represented with the date put in a box with grey background and the month above it in smaller font with orange background. Each module heading also consists of an edit link and an ‘X’ to remove the module. At the end of these modules is the option to add other applications as required. Here again a plus symbol is used to indicate the adding of a new application. The arrow at the end can be clicked to show a list of applications available to be added but the arrow is too small and can be easily missed. These modules can be customized as required, adding, editing or moving them around to suit an individual’s preferences and needs. At the bottom, there is a tip available in a box. More tips can be seen with the help of arrows. Here arrows that are commonly used to move to next or previous tip are used. Clicking on Profile or Edit My Profile or + symbol next to Profile brings one to the Edit My Profile page. The Profile text in the menu now has a blue background indicating the current page. The centre module that consisted of Build your Network is now replaced with the profile details with a heading Profile in navy blue background and two tabs – Edit My Profile and View My Profile. The current tab is in white background whereas the inactive tabs are in grey background with text in blue. The module background is now blue with different subsections in white background. At the top the main details about the user is provided i. e. name, current position and company, location and industry. The last two details are shown in grey color. The links are maintained in blue color, headings and subheadings in bold blue and a + symbol to indicate adding detail in any subsection. An Edit link within square brackets follows all text that can be edited. On the extreme right, a profile completeness status bar is shown but also lists tips on how one could complete the profile along with how much percentage difference it makes to the profile completeness status bar. This module is very helpful, especially for someone new to social networking sites. Clicking on View My Profile tab shows the profile with the same details except that there are no Edit links or + symbols to add further details. The status bar is not seen in this view. Clicking on Contacts section leads to three tabbed page – Connections, Imported Contacts and Network Statistics. The connections are shown listed alphabetically. On the left side, the alphabets are listed and can be clicked to jump to the connections with names starting with that alphabet. Brief details about each connection is provided including email, current position and company and also includes a circle that indicates the number of connections that person has, indicating the network you could be having. The Groups link leads you to the Groups page with four tabs – My Groups, Following, Groups Directory and Create a Group. The list of Groups is presented in a clean manner with an icon representing the group, quick links to discussions, news, updates, members, settings, etc. At the bottom of the list, there is an option to change the order of the groups and how many groups can be displayed at any one time. The order can be changed by writing the numbers or using arrows. On the right side of the list, two blue-colored boxes provide you information on Groups Directory along with a button to find a group as well as option to create your own group. The buttons change color when a mouse moves over. While there are many more functionalities available, the user interface remains the same: 1. Blue color for all links 2. Bold for all headings and subheadings 3. Icons/images to represent major menus or data 4. Tabs for sub menu information 5. Links provided to ease selection 6. Provision to add, remove, edit, or move extra modules around to ease access and utility. 7. Feedback to the user in terms of background color change for links and button color change for buttons 3. 2. Orkut To log into Orkut, one needs to have a Google Account. The page for creating Google Account is simple – a form with a blue border requesting for information like name, email and password with a line marking the end of this subsection. The next subsection begins with a word verification and terms of services provided in a blue scrollable box with grey background. The button for accepting the terms is simple and consists of full text â€Å"I accept. Create my account. † rather than simply saying â€Å"Accept† which makes it clear for new-to-internet users. The login page is simple with two main sections – the top section consisting of all the details and the empty bottom section with bluish grey background. The major left part of the top section consists of orkut selling points with magenta color highlighting the main words. The empty white space surrounding the text gives it a simple, non-cluttered and pleasing look. The top menu bar in dark blue color remains accessible across all pages. Below this is a section with various modules in white background floating in a light blue background. On the extreme left is the menu starting with photo, name, status and other details of the user. Below it is the menu leading to various pages such as profile, scrapbook, etc. Each of these menu items also have an associated icon that is easy to relate to the name of the menu. This is followed by Apps and other menu items. The profile, menus, apps and other menus are separated by a blue line. All text is also in blue. It is noteworthy that all the menu names are in lower caps. Below this module, there is a module to invite friends using their email address or more. All through the page, all links are in blue and when a mouse moves over a link, there is no change in background color or image except an underline below the text. Friend suggestions is another good option since it not only provides you potential friend list, but also shows photos so that one can confirm if he/she is the same person one knows. It also provides quick links to view the profile or add as a friend. An X at the top of the photo can be used to remove it from the list quickly and arrows can be used to navigate through the list. The arrows change to light grey color when one can’t go further on either side. Below this is Updates from my friends section that provides a list of updates on the friend profile. On the extreme right is the â€Å"my friends† section with a count of total friends. It lists around 9 friends along with their photos and there is a link to view all friends, manage them, or find more friends. It also allows for searching friends. To meet the space crunch issue, the text box for searching itself has the caption rather than placing it outside. On clicking inside the text box, the caption clears and the user can add their text to search. Once the profile is filled up and many friends added, the home page can seem cluttered with a lot of information. This is followed by advertisement which is followed by â€Å"my communities†. The layout of this is similar to â€Å"my friends†. Clicking the profile link shows the profile details. Three tabs – social, professional, and personal are provided to add details about different areas of the user. The social tab is further divided into sections separated by a broad white area which also consists of an edit button. Alternate coloring pattern is used to make it easy to read each line and each detail of the profile. â€Å"My scrapbook† page provides all scraps from friends. By default, one can view 10 scraps on one page but a drop down box provides other options as well. Navigation links to move to first, last, next and previous pages are also provided as links. Each scrap is in its own blue box with photo of friend provided along with friend’s name and message. Options to reply and delete the message are also available. Once a conversation has been done through more than one response exchanged, there is a new link â€Å"View this conversation†. Clicking this link grays out the page and opens a new box consisting of the conversation details along with provision to delete. Again, the background is white with each scrap in a light blue colored box. To close the conversation box, an image with an X is provided as well as a close link. A new scrap can be typed in easily through a text box. Again there is no title or caption for the box but the same is seen as content in grey color within the text box. The scrap can also be written in different languages which can be conveniently chosen from the drop down list. Adding a community and managing it is similar in working to adding and managing friends in Orkut. 4. User survey 4. 1. Task description The users are required to do the following: 1. Register themselves 2. Sign In 3. Enter their profile details 4. Search for a friend/professional known to them 5. Add to friend list 6. Search for a community 7. Add themselves to that community 8. Sign out 4. 2. Success criteria The user should be able to create a profile, add contact(s) and join a community/group. 4. 3. User Profile User 1 is an active internet user and has prior online social networking experience. User 2 is new to computers and internet, this being amongst his first experience with social networking. User 3 uses internet mostly for surfing and finding information and has not been a member of any social networking site yet although understands the common functionalities of such websites such as registering, logging in to the site, searching, etc. 4. 4. User experience Due to his prior experience using social networking sites, user 1 had no problem registering for either of them, adding contacts, searching and registering for a group. User 1 found both sites equally easy to register, add contacts and join community; however, he was impressed by the ability to add, remove, edit and move modules in LinkedIn and was looking for similar options in Orkut. Also, searching friends in Orkut listed several names and finding the right one was difficult. While user 2 was able to create the profile and add contacts, the user sometimes felt lost in Orkut once the contacts were added and found it difficult to get back to home page. User 2 also found it difficult to easily search the friend and wished there was an easy way like LinkedIn. User 3 was also able to register easily, add contacts and join communities/groups. User 3 was not concerned about the difficulties in searching friends or professionals and looked at this as an opportunity to make new friends. 5. Suggestions Once a user becomes an active user or has many friends/professional contacts, the information shown on home page can be too much. Suggestion is to show the information partly and provide a link to further information or simply provide links to go to information. By making certain information like school or college details mandatory, orkut can help ease the search process that currently requires searching a friend from a list of hundreds with the same name.

Orphan Trains Essay

Throughout the generations America has transformed and evolved drastically to become the nation it is today. Many can argue that several things have happened in America that are what shaped it to the country it is today industrially, socially and economically. A man by the name of Charles brace had a dream of getting underprivileged children off the streets and gave them the tools and opportunities to live great normal lives. Between 1854- 1929 an estimated 200,000 American children, some orphaned or half-orphaned, others abandoned- but all in need of families- traveled west by rail as part of a â€Å"placing out† program started by Charles, called the Children’s Aid Society. (Warren, 4) This dream exploded around the U. S into what is now known as The Orphan Train Movement; a movement that sparked opportunity and new life for underprivileged children. Early on in American History, children who were left by their families were usually left to be cared for by their relatives or neighbors. There were very few services at the time to help struggling families in need, or to even rescue children. It was in the late 1800’s and even as late as the 1900’s where laws advocating children’s rights were being enacted. The only places where children could be left at the time were Orphanages and most were extremely overcrowded and uncomfortable. Children were not given much time or attention or even food. Adoption was not yet universally popular at the time, and there were not many laws protecting the rights of children. Often times in a lower to middle class household a family relied on its children to work in order to make ends meet. For many families it was a struggle but manageable, however, for others it was just too much and this lead to many children being left on the streets of major cities, like New York and Manhattan. Charles Brace originally arrived in New York City in 1848 to study Theology but could not help but notice the overflow of abandoned children living on the streets. Brace had made a trip to Europe, where he saw first-hand how orphans were being taken by charitable organizations to areas where they were better off with families that would raise them as their own children. After this trip Charles decided to take that concept and start his own. By 1853 Charles Brace founded the Children’s Aid Society, which was derived from the same principles he witnessed in an Institute during his time in Germany. Charles’ goal was to give children access to education as well as jobs who would not have had the opportunity otherwise. A quote from Charles Brace says â€Å"The best of all Asylums for the outcast child is the farmers’ home. The great duty is to get these children of unhappy fortune utterly out of their surroundings and to send them away to kind Christian homes in the country. In 1854 Brace sent the first group of forty six children to Michigan. Within a week of arrival, they all had homes to live in. It was clear that his idea would be extremely promising. Pretty soon thousands of children were being placed out, from the streets, even from jail. Later, Charles derived a plan to be able to send kids where they could learn a skill, contribute to society, and (ideally) be a part of a family. This sparked a huge movement for the early stages of modern adoption. Charles Brace was the first to really come up with the idea of a â€Å"relocation program† on a major scale. The ultimate goal for Charles Brace was for the children to have the opportunity to be transformed out in the country as opposed to the desperate living conditions they would face in the City. It may seem as though Charles Brace just stole an idea he once saw in Europe and later made a fortune of it here in America, however this is not the case. Brace put in a lot of his own effort before placing out children in masses. Charles truly cared for the well-being of every child. In the City, he sent out physicians and nurses to offer medical care and started a daycare center for mothers who had to work. Brace set up lodging houses for newsboys and set up schools to teach children trades or occupations to support themselves. He also made it possible for underprivileged children to receive free school lunches. (This now exists to today as free or reduced lunch, based on family income). A big contributing factor to the idea Brace came up with as far as †placing out west†, was that he felt families with good hearts in small towns and on farms, would take the children in as their own, educate them, and also provide them with a religious upbringing. In return, these children would contribute their hard work and labor to the family which was expected from any child at that time. The only exception to this was extremely privileged children who were brought up from wealth. There are numerous positive outcomes that came from the orphan trains but also a few negative ones. Usually, groups of about thirty to forty children would travel together on the trains. When the orphan trains arrived to their designated towns, everyone in those towns would gather around for the â€Å"viewing†. The most common way the children were viewed, were at churches or big buildings that included stages or a way to see the children from afar. This process was the most daunting and humiliating for the children. In the book We Rode the Orphan Trains by Andrea Warren she writes, â€Å"As Hazelle Latimer, now deceased, who rode an orphan train to Texas in 1918, she remembered, â€Å"We were lined up on the stage and all I could see was wall-to-wall people. They surrounded us, made us turn around, lift our skirts to see if our legs were straight, and open our mouths to show our teeth. A very humiliating day†. Warren, 49) On the other hand there were several children who found loving new families, and were raised with comfort and support. â€Å"For most of our history, until the twentieth century, the social worth of children was understood primarily in terms of economic rather than emotional value†¦. From the earliest age when a child could hold a spinning card, she was likely engaged in household industry. By the age of twelve or so most children were treated as adult producers’’(Jalongo, 2010) It was not always easy for some, children would be separated from their brothers and sisters a lot of the time. There were several instances where children would grow up and later find their lost relatives after the sometimes, inevitable separation caused by the orphan trains. Even though the separation was wrenching, the majority of the children involved In the Orphan Train movement grew up to be well-rounded people and used the tools they learned growing up to carry on in their adulthood. Many cases of children being mistreated in their new homes, or treated as servants, could have been avoided. The Children’s Aid Society had agents who’s duty was to make frequent checkups on the children in their homes but with poor documentation and increasing number of children it seemed to be a lost cause. The New York Foundling Hospital was second to the Children’s Aid Society in placing children. In these days, a hospital could mean more than just treating a bad wound or giving you medical attention. It could also mean receiving care other than medical. Sisters for Charity, lead by Sister Irene, were in charge of caring for the children left at the hospital. They set up cradles where children could be left and in many instances, infants and toddlers would be left with notes on them. Notes would say things such as â€Å"Agustus, born October 16, 1879. Take good care of my darling. † (Warren, 15) The sisters soon received countless children that were being dropped off by mothers or families who could not care for them. It was not long before they began to develop the same mindset as Charles Brace and only hope that the best situation for a child is to be living in a home with a family. Soon, the sisters were sending many of their small children out west to pre-assigned catholic homes. Soon after, another type of trend of the orphan trains began and was known as â€Å"baby trains†. They were of great interest to the public and people often would come in crowds to watch children be united with their new families. The orphan trains and the baby trains were very similar in how they overall operated as a whole however, there were a few key differences. The Sisters worked in conjunction with Priests throughout the Midwest and South in an effort to place these children in Catholic families. While the Children’s Aid Society requested that the children they place be given spiritual training (the choice of religion was left up to the â€Å"adoptive† family), the Foundling Hospital’s placements were strictly to Catholic families. â€Å"Probably the largest difference in how the Foundling Hospital placed their children is that the children were not sent out to be â€Å"randomly† adopted from a town hall or opera house, but were â€Å"requested† ahead of time by families who wanted a child. †(Dipasquale) In a sense it was much more organized and civil the way the Sisters handled the infants. The Orphan Trains ended in 1930 for numerous reasons, the most affective of these are; a decreased need for farm labor, and the onset of the Great Depression. Even though these two organizations were very different in some aspects they were both primarily the key functions of the Orphan Train Movement. Without a doubt this movement was life-changing and unfortunately resides as a much unheard of occurrence in our history lessons in the present day. Several people now have extreme mixed reviews about the Orphan Trains and what its true motives were. Charles Brace was a man who sought to give opportunity to the lives of those which at the time were almost invisible to society or just a form of cheap labor. â€Å"When a charitable organization takes action, it is out of a desire to help its clients, yet a determination of whether those actions represented a stride forward often occurs much later, when subsequent generations take the long view back†. (Jalongo ) The Orphan Trains were not of much use anymore after the start of the Great Depression. Social Service agencies had begun placing children in foster homes with the intention of restoring them back to their original families. Immigrants that were coming to America were making a much easier transition, and had new programs available to them that would help them get jobs and housing. Since the majority of the children of the Orphan Train Movement were from families of immigrants, this is a great indication of why the Orphan Trains were no longer in need. Today the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America exists and works to help spread the word about the orphan trains. A movement that is relatively unknown to our society today, could quite accurately be referred to as the same movement that was the beginning of foster care and modern adoption in America. It is estimated that about 2 million people in America today are descendants of an orphan train rider. Charles Brace was a simple man with a compelling idea to give opportunity to those in need. His steps were extreme and often times ridiculed, but he was also admired for his works and even recognized as the father of modern adoption. He wrote, ‘‘when a child of the streets stands before you in rags, with a tear-stained face, you cannot easily forget him. And yet, you are perplexed about what to do. The human soul is difficult to interfere with. You hesitate how far you should go’’.