Freedom in a Montessori Environment

Explain in your own words the following: A. FREEDOM IN A PREPARED ENVIRONMENT B. THE SENSITIVE PERIODS C. NORMALISATION D. ABSORBENT MIND A) FREEDOM IN A PREPARED ENVIRONMENT All over the world in constitutions of countries freedom is enshrined. This freedom applies not only to the adult but also to the child. For it is in freedom that a child reveals himself. Therefore a directress in a prepared environment must have the opportunity to observe the child in a free and open environment. Also the child’s inner guide must be allowed to direct the child’s growth.Thus a child will be aided to grow through independence and must be allowed growth through his inn guide. This is because a child uses his environment to grow. A child must therefore be aided in his development through activities that will encourage independence such as self-help skills like wearing shoes buttoning sweeping and other activities that will make him independent. All materials should be given the correc t sizes; materials should be kept orderly; furniture should be child sized. The child must be aided in developing his will by by ensuring coordination and ensuring activities are towards a given end.The child must be given constructive work. Maria Montessori has described a classroom as a room in which all children move about intelligently voluntarily and without being unruly or loud. It is important to note that in allowing freedom, any destructive acts of the child must be limited. All other good and useful manifestations must be observed by the directress. There are however limits to freedom within the prepared environment; they are: Respect for the environment: The child has freedom but must treat the environment with care and respect.He must be courteous and treat all with respect and care. Respect for Himself: It is not enough to treat other with courtesy; he must also respect himself and use the materials respectfully without destroying. Respect for Others: The child is free to carry out activities as long as he is not interfering on the rights of other children in the classroom. Progress at his own rate and development: Each child is allowed to develop at his own rate and pace. No competitions are allowed in the environment. The Montessori environment also allows freedom in many aspects.Freedom of movement as they are allowed to move around the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Thus a Montessori classroom is not divided within work periods. A child is also allowed freedom of choice to choose their own activities in the classroom as this enables concentration and helps develop good working habits. Freedom of speech is also allowed as children speak to each other and initiate activities as a team or individually. Because they are not forced; they naturally develop the tendency to help thy neighbour.Children are expected to observe the rules of basic courtesy; which involves not interrupting other people. Freedom to grow and to construct his own mental capabilities. All materials are with a focus to helping the child build his inner self. Freedom to love and be loved is important as a child must be loved exceptionally and respected for just being himself. An example of Deji a three and a half year old who accidentally defecates on his body. Immediately other children start complaining about the smell and proceed to laugh at the child. The teacher who was also horrified was disgusted and showed this to Deji.The child sat still ashamed of himself. A well trained directress should correct Deji and clean him up and also discourage other children from making fun of him. It is important that love is shown in such circumstances while correcting the boy lovingly. Thus if such an occurrence occurs in future other children will learn to assist and show loving support. Freedom from danger is also important as a child has a right to be protected away from danger. Freedom from competition and pressure is discouraged as a child is free from artificially induced competition reward and punishments.The inner motivation of the child stimulates him to work to the best of his ability and the satisfaction is the reward. He is thus allowed to grow at his own rate and development. In conclusion freedom allow a child grow by removing obstacles which can impede his normal development. The freeing of a child consists in removing as far as possible these obstacles that will deter true development in a child. Thus to objectively achieve these demands objectively a close attention must be on the part of the adult. (B) THE SENSTITIVE PERIODThe sensitive period is a delicate and transitory period helping the child with the purpose of formation. This urge helps him to focus his attention on certain aspects of his environment with such congruency that he excludes other things. As a result of the meeting of minds between this inner urge and this activities; the child completes it and feels excited and stronger. This inner urge can be likened to an intrinsic weaving of the thread of life. The importance of the sensitive period abound as they help in later years to assist in the development of concentration and intellectual powers.Sensitive periods in language have been identified; a child who without prior formal lessons, without conscious effort learns to pronounce the language he hears perfectly. It has been identified that the sensitive period for language has already begun in the child before he can walk and talk. By four months through the watchful eyes of a child he starts making vague sounds. As he progresses the baby will begin got make real sounds. This mysterious urge starts in the soul; its intensity lights up a flame and is turned outward as a light.Under this influence the sounds separate though the child cannot understand the language. As the child interacts more with the environment he listens voluntarily to the spoken language. It had been defined as divine command which the child imitates and do es not know why. A child who is starved of been exposed to the sensitivity of language can lead to having a difficult time learning the structure of his language. An example in Nigeria is where parents refuse their children to learn the local language and speak only english to the child.As the child grows older learning to communicate in their mother tongue becomes a challenge as the child cannot relate to others in his immediate environment. Amazing is also the sensitivity to Order as it reveals itself in the second year of life. The child at this stage displays a possesive passion in the order of things. For example Deji a 3 years old has a pack of balls bought for him in a basket by his mum. Family friends come to the house and one of the younger children removes the pack of balls from the basket. Deji starts screaming as he trys to put all balls back in the basket.He quietened down after he put back all the balls without any interfeence from the guest. It is very necessary for t he child to have order in his environment as he is constructing himself from the elements of the environment. A baby can be helped by an adult through following a general rhythm. Dont forget to add advantages Another sensitivity which occurs in the second year is the senstivity to small objects. Children are drawn to small objects alas miniature scientists. However the adult must be patient,observant and not shout when a child pick up objects.Freedom is also critical to enable a child explore their environment. The adverse effects of sensitivity to small objects will be lack of observational skills passiveness and lack of comparative judgement. Sensitivity to cordination of movement occurs from 21/2 years. This is the period A Child loves to explore the environment by jumping and running. They engage in activity that will cordinate their movement. Constuctive work that will promote good cordination of body movement eg pouring from one jug to another is important. The adverse effect will be lack of good cordination.Children between two to five love to play with their mates. They also want to do things adults and develop social skills. At this time they pick up manners and behaviours from adults. The advers effects are that children remain dependent passice and lonely. Sensitivity through learning through the five senses. Children take interest in sound shape texture. At this time the children are given activities which impress and stimulate the senses refinimg their functions. This period is important especially in adult life especially in some vocations C) NORMALISATION Normalisation has been described as the single most important result of a teachers work. This is when the teacher has helped the child to attain a normal developmental stage where they focus for long periods of time. At this stage they are satisfied and proud of their work. Normalization occurs during the first phase of development at ages 0-6 years. Peter is a three year old pupil and a new st udent at ABC School. Peter is unable to concentrate on a particular task and lacks interest in activities.After careful monitoring and patience by an adult in a prepared environment; Peter transforms and shows keen interest in activities. Children who are young or new to the prepared environment are said to be in the first stage of development. These children are not ready for the freedom and like peter in the example above are invited to work with a teacher keeping an eye on the child. These children increase their level of concentration and take pride in their accomplishment As the child progresses; the child experiences freedom and now have the confidence to move and complete activities.Children at this stage benefit from frequent and different presentations. The role of the teacher s to observe the child keenly to ensure they are receiving the assistance needed for the transformation. By the time Peter in our example above is five or six years, the child is able to focus on one activity; work in teams; teach younger children and work independently without disturbing the work of others. This journey has taken years for the child to become normalized and as such the teacher must patiently and without giving up enjoy the journey towards independence and normalization.In a growing child there is physical energy; especially the muscular energy of intelligence and will and also the mental energy of intelligence and will. These two streams work in unison to make a child complete. A normalized chid develops the following characteristics; a love for order in which a child expresses a love for the environment and a desire to preserve the environment. Also the love of work which in a prepared environment means any activity which the child becomes engrossed in and consumes his personality.A child grows to like work naturally and finds joy in completing his work. Another characteristic is profound spontaneous concentration which has been called attention to life or a w onder of growth. It is the Childs intelligence that is concentrating here and constructing itself through an exchange with its immediate environment. Following closely is an attachment to reality as a normalized Childs mind constructs itself through contact with the environment which is the foundation of the world as taken in by a child through the five senses and later is built on by reason and imagination.When a child works on this intelligence is thereafter raised to the order of intelligence. Obedience: A normalized child is obedient as the child grows through various works undergone and undergoes the development of will. Independence and initiative is what happens to a normalized child. Spontaneous self-discipline is also a feature of Montessori school children. This discipline enables the children to work for long periods in the absence of the directress. Joy also radiates on the children’s faces because they are deeply satisfied.

Authentic Leadership Essay

1. Learning about oneself is an essential step in becoming an authentic leader. What role did self-awareness play in Sally’s story of leadership? Throughout her journey, Sally’s self-awareness made her into an authentic leader she is. Self-awareness is having a personal insight of one’s self, and as Sally was being aware of her strength and weaknesses; she understood herself and what she clearly wanted. She was able to grasp her traits and characteristic, both her assets and flaws to her advantage. Sally also concentrated on her values, emotions, goals, motives and who she really was deep inside. And as she did so, she was able to familiarize herself to the situations she was in. She learned to be a chameleon that adapts to the current surroundings. After her second book, she rose to more fame and finally adjusted herself to be presented as who she really is in front of her audience. After finding oneself along those years of professional experiences and risks sh e took, she learned to present herself as simply an author, and not a social science expert who took advantage of what she has to offer. 2. How would you describe the authenticity of Sally’s leadership? Her authenticity comes from simply portraying herself, not pretending or conforming to what is the trend in leadership. Sally takes her internalized moral perspective, not allowing the pressure or what’s happening around her affect her but leaning on towards her core values and moral standards guide her behavior towards situations. Her experiences in different aspects of life were able to shape her into a genuine person, and that what makes her an authentic leader. She wasn’t simply conformed into following the flow of reality in her life, but she was determined to wait and figure out the vague spots in her verve. She knew what to follow without needing any help or advice, because as said earlier she was aware of whom she really is and what she really want. She had the sense of spontaneity in her probably in result of her inspiration in life who was Holly Golightly, a character known for her instin ctiveness, in contrast to structured leaders who confide to theoretical knowledge. 3. At the end of the case, Sally is described as taking on the â€Å"mantle of leadership.† Was this important for Sally’s leadership? How is taking on the mantle of leadership related to a leader’s  authenticity? Does every leader reach a point in his or her career where embracing the leadership role is essential? Yes, I personally think it was an important part of her leadership. She was evolving and maturing in her leadership as she wasn’t anymore an â€Å"outsider looking in† but someone who embraces the role she has. It is related in a leader’s authenticity because taking the mantle of leadership makes you know what you’re stand is among the community or the organization you are in. You are knowledgeable to what you should do, what you can do, and what are the needs of your followers are as a leader. You won’t be able to lead well if you are not confident enough to take on the shoes of responsibility and walk on it, it ta kes courage and commitment to do so. However, not every leader has the same approach and style in his/her leadership. Some are very hesitant to fully embracing and getting their hands dirty in the process, not being able to take risk as they don’t have a great sense of confidence in themselves. While others, like Sally are able to put their selves out in the open, taking the role and responsibility of an authentic leader and bringing their originality in leading. CASE 10.2 MOVING MOUNTAINS FOR EDUCATION AND PEACE 1. What are the driving forces behind Greg’s leadership? Which of George’s characteristics of authentic leaders does Greg exhibit? When Greg gave up on his attempt to scale â€Å"The Savage Peak† as a way to honor his late sister, it showed the lack of his commitment in reaching his goal. Greg got separated from his group and lost his way on his way down to the mountain, he went missing for seven days until he was found and aided by the villagers of Korphe, Pakistan. He was able to witness and experience the love and care that the villagers were providing him even though he was just a mere stranger plus a foreigner in the land. This incident became the starting point of the force that driven his leadership, it was the need in his heart to be able to give back to the village that once helped him when he was left exhausted, weak and disoriented. From then, he was able to discover more about the differences of their culture in contrast to the culture that the Americ ans were brought up. And as he observed and learn more about the Korphe village in general, he became more engrossed and attached to it. These forces were able to drive the once lacking-in-commitment man he was to a man behind 78 schools (by 2008) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greg exhibited the fifth characteristic of an authentic leader, which is having the passion about one’s mission. Everything that Greg did was an act from his heart and not to satisfy any selfish ambitions. He simply started by offering his expertise as a nurse to the village after recovering from the exhaustion of being lost. He then promised to come back and build a school for the people of Korphe, after learning that they couldn’t afford a decent education. Greg began asking for donations and even reached to a point of donating everything he owned. But after all the effort and passion that didn’t go unnoticed, he was finally able to give back and make his promise into a reality. 2. In the chapter, we discussed moral reasoning and transparency as components of authentic leadership. In what way is each of these components a part of Greg’s leadership? Greg exhibited his transparency in numerous of ways in his leadership. He was decisive in revealing his true self to the villagers and was honest to disclose the matter of the promise he needed to fulfill when he came back from Korphe to his relatives, friends and even celebrities. He was also able to share his motives and disposition in an appropriate matter with politicians and even religious leaders without spurring a conflict in between. Greg was able to show both his positive and negative trait, as a result of being transparent; but this transparency and openness in communication became a huge factor for him to be able to meet the needs of the people not only in Korphe but also reaching to Afghanistan and the rest of Pakistan. As the name of Greg Mortenson became rapidly known of, he had achieved in gaining the trust of various people; from Islamic religious leaders, government officials, military commanders and tribal chiefs. Not only those influential people who help position but also those individuals who Greg randomly interacts with, these individuals greatly helped him in his endeavors. His effort weren’t appreciated by everyone; he received death threats and hate mails that reached to a point of having him held at gunpoint. However, Greg used these happenings to his advantage and used to it as a channel for his avocation in regards to education and peace. He was able to make an ethical decision during an unlikely situation to be in, which I think is a characteristic of moral reasoning. This kind of strategy led Greg to make ethical decisions  one after the other, that resulted into 78 built schools by 2008, but I must say that he wasn’t able to give justice in exhibiting moral reasoni ng in contrast to his exhibition of transparency. 3. In pursuing his goals to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Greg faced enormous challenges. What role did authentic leadership play in helping him meet these challenges? Did being an authentic leader always have a positive impact on his work? Greg Mortenson’s authenticity in leadership was probably the result of a critical life event in his life. When he got lost in nowhere on the way down to the mountain and when he got frustrated but got a comeback of a life changing lesson with the chief village, these two were on of his life altering events. He not only became a stronger individual, but also a strong leader. It has triggered all the right characteristics in him that brought the authentic leader out of Greg. As Greg was shaped after the events of his life one after the other, he then knew how to handle the challenges he was faces not confiding in anything or anyone but just doing what he knows best. In the passage, there were a few instances that his authenticity in leadership weren’t well-received. When he was first starting the project of building the school, he was struggling to in searching for thr budget of 12 grand. After the help of a doctor and a good friend of him, he got the budget and started to put his promise into action. However, he encountered problems in regards to the supply and the case of building the bridge. After the success of building one school after three years, he continued doing his work and encountered quite a few more impacts. Greg was an authentic leader, meaning he was a leader whose traits were just merely based one his self, his influence and inspiration. He was not trained or taught how to be a leader and more importantly how to handle certain common situations. This was one of the downfalls of being authentic in Greg’s leadership.

At Any One Moment

Had the story been written in a time where a Tsunami had not occurred for many years it would be a lot harder to imagine and put into perspective the enormity of the tragedy occurring in the story. Judy Allen builds on this idea through the specific language and metaphors used to set the scene and further build on the context. â€Å"It rose up like a mountain, either hiding or engulfing the distant boats†. Through using real locations in the text the reader can see and believe the story. The reader’s context is also used to build dramatic tension. As the water is drawn out before the Tsunami approaches the reader is mostly likely aware of what is occurring due to their context compared to Sherif, his brother and the villagers who were obliviouxs to the disaster about to occur. His brother started to laugh- it was all so extraordinary, a trick played by the ocean†. This situation creates dramatic irony and positions the reader to want to warn the characters in the story to get out of the water. Judy Allen builds and plays on the readers context which is most likely that of a busy Western life. Many people in society are always busy and never take time to thin k about other people. â€Å"Even so, most people are aware only of their own small world, and many believe their own small world, and many believe their own small world is all there is†. Through the structure and the omniscient point of view the author positions the reader to imagine all the things happening in the world right now and how every action has a consequence. Allen then takes the reader down to one specific event which could be happening right now. This structure is especially effect because of Western Society’s desensitised view of disaster. The reader relates to a personal story much more than figures on the news. Allen’s use of emotive language and smilies also creates an environment for the reader to personally react to the story. â€Å"He stared as the vast sweep of water was pulled back like a huge bed cover†. This imagery allows the reader to put themselves in the story and use their own personal context to make meaning to â€Å"At Any One Moment†. Through my own personal context I am able to react to the story and feel sympathy for the characters in it. Although I was not personally affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 I can still appreciate the pain that Sherif goes through. This prose fiction work put the world into perspective for me and caused me to feel grateful for the things I have in my life. It made me realise how fragile life can be, how people can be alive one minute and dead the next. Through all the tragedy in our wold I had become partially immune to the horrors in our world until I read this personal story. I have a strong sense of family and this caused me to react strongly to Sherif losing his brother and probably his mother. I cannot imagine losing one of my family members and it pained me to see that a whole life can be lost in a matter of seconds you just have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whether it is man-made tragedy or natural disaster we never know what life is going to throw at us and often we cannot stop it. At any one moment on this small planet†¦ †. Through the use of structure, point of view and context Allen encourages the reader feel small and insignificant. By allowing us to imagine all the events and people in the world the reader is positioned to feel as though they are helpless to the world around them and can do nothing to stop it. Through this realisation Allen then inspires us to come together as a global communi ty that can make a difference, we are insignificant on our own but together we are much more powerful.

New Zealand Milk Powder problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

New Zealand Milk Powder problem - Essay Example The paper discusses food security and sovereignty in New Zealand. I choose New Zealand because it has experienced various instances of food insecurity especially from the dairy sector. There have existed several instances of hunger and malnourishment in New Zealand. The paper looks into the causes of food insecurity in New Zealand and discusses the political, social and economic issues related to food insecurity. The major issue considered by the paper is the problem faced by milk powder production in New Zealand, having been the largest country in milk powder export. This country is suited in the Southwest Pacific Ocean and constitutes three major islands; Stewart, North and South Islands. It constitute of about half a million of Maori (The People) together with two million Pakeha (New Zealand European) in the north, and about 800,000 Pakeha in the south. The group is culturally a subdivision between the English and Scottish. The population recorded in 1996 was 3,681, 546 people with the North Island having 2,749, 980 and South island constituting about 931, 566 people. The urban dwellers were approximated to occupy about 85% with the city of Auckland constituting about 1 million people (Finfer et al 2004: 589). The European origin provided about 80% of the population majorly from Poland, Germany, UK, Australia and Sweden; with 14.5 stating to be from Maori decent and Pacific islanders forming the remaining. The country is under the British Commonwealth, and the head of the government is the governor general. The country is under the House of Re presentatives with 120 members and six parties. The country is no longer seen as a welfare state with all people in the same classes. Three are evidence of ethnic poverty in the areas with slums around large cities with large numbers occupied by the Maori. The country has a society that is well organized when it comes

Global Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Global Supply Chain Management - Essay Example Secondly, a high demand for quality and safe products become a challenge to a majority of Supply chains. Normally, the first obstacle and a lack of understanding on how to reduce the costs cause this. Management of supplier relationship could prove imperative in overcoming this challenge. Additionally, outsourcing, regular maintenance of machines as well as forecasting and preparing for customer’s ever-dynamic needs could be helpful. Thirdly, inadequate knowledge of the need to have a supply chain resiliency plan has been identified as the major hurdle for many. Three important relations in this third option include the supplier-customer, top management-supplier, and top management-customer relationships. This paper has extensively handled this topic, and hopefully, it will offer the much-needed solution. Supply chains play a critical role in ensuring that the services needed are delivered to their respective clients. On the other hand, the clients trust this industry to deliv er products and services, which are reliable, safe, and ones that meet the precise need they have. However, the recent horsemeat scandal involving Tesco has cast a shadow of doubt on the supply chains. A debate has since risen on the need to change the way supply chains do business with some calling for transparency on this industry’s operations. While it is easy to criticize an industry whenever a scandal especially one that has to do with health concerns, this paper’s takes a different approach. With an aim to provide a solution to a vital industry whose services are needed, this paper seeks to highlight at least three obstacles the Supply chain has to overcome. To achieve this goal, this paper uses the UK automobile manufacturers, Jaguar as a case study originally named ‘Swallow Sidecar Company’, Jaguar Landrover is UK multinational company headquartered in Whitley.

Expensive products that are not in the reach of the masses Case Study

Expensive products that are not in the reach of the masses - Case Study Example Any marketing campaign will need to set the groundwork for yak milk benefits rather than Land 'o Lake branded yak milk features. i. The team of professionals working on the project is experienced, and has the expertise required. Simultaneously, the local Chinese team of Dr Wu and Mr. Dongzhou is a very suitable partner, as they have the government contacts; the local perspective and the experience of working in the country that the team can count on to formulate a successful and far-reaching campaign. Further to the fact that Dr. Wu and Mr. Dongzhou have good government contacts, the political structure of the country is such that if the right officials are on board and are agreeable to the project, the campaign has better chances of success. ii. The government is interested in developing the Tibetan region and has been working on developing the infrastructure to empower the impoverished herdsmen. Thus the team will have the government's support on its side if the team and the local partners lobby it with the officials as being a tool to improve the lives of the poor in that region. The team can promote the idea to the government that by selling their cattle's milk, the herdsmen will be provided a viable opportunity for conducting business and raising the standard of living in the region. The disadvantages of alternative #1 i. Even though the team from Land ' o Lakes has local partners, the team itself has relatively little experience of working in developing countries and therefore it will be difficult for them to truly grasp the nuances of local culture. ii. The advertising campaigns currently being undertaken are well developed and sophisticated, given this context, the yak milk project will have a very slight to nil margin of error in depicting local tastes and selling the brand as a foreign product, given that consumers view foreign goods as being of better quality. 2. The advantages and disadvantages of option 2 are: Advantages : i. Catering to a niche market is simpler and will allow for testing the viability of the brand with advantage of having lower losses in case the product fails to make an impact. ii. As it is an acquired taste, yak milk, if catered to such a market will not need marketing or sales push as much as it would need if it was catered to the mass consumer. Disadvantages i. Niche market consumers will be hard to target as their demographics and geography are not restricted to a certain class of households. Given this, targeted marketing campaigns pertaining to consumers' tastes will be difficult through conventional means therefore the campaign will have to be restrictive and yet catering to common tastes. ii. Targeting niche consumers will limit the brand's potential as there might be prospects for yak's milk for the general market. Recommendations: Recommend alternative #1, because catering to the mass market will also target consumer with the acquired taste and will also help create mass awareness about the nutritional value of the milk being superior to that of cow's milk. Further to the alternative, targeting

Accounting Statement Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Accounting Statement Analysis - Essay Example units purchased, sales thus scale of economy leading to decrease in operating expense (Gilbertson & Lehman, 2013). In the period 11 between 12, the decrease in trend was due to decrease in differed liability. Decrease in the period 12 between 13 was due to utilization of reserves to finance the company’s operations. During the period from 13 between 14, there was increase due to increase in long-term loan by a very big margin. This negative trend indicates that cost of goods sold is gradually increasing proportionately to sales. This may be due to increase in purchase price or carriage on stack. It can also be because of decrease in selling price(Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). Positive deviation in dividend payout indicates that the firm is paying more to its shareholders inform of dividend. This also indicates that the firm’s growth rate is adversely affected(Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). Net profit margin has a positive trend however, the firms overall profitability has a slightly negative trend because net profit margin and operational incomes positive trend has been fully offset by negative trend in other profitability ratios like gross profit margin (Graham et al., 2012). Long-term debt paying ability of the firm is negatively affected by decreasing trend in the following ratios; decrease in debt to equity ratio, decrease in debt to tangible assets, and further decrease in cash flow/ total debt ratio. This has been partly offset by increase in time interest earnings fixed charge coverage(Graham et al., 2012). This trend in Operation Cash Flow per Share indicates that cash flow attributed to each share of common stock has improved. However, the overall cash flow of the firm is declining due to payment of dividend that has increased as indicated by operation cash flow/ cash dividend from 2.51 to 1.51 leading to negative trend in cash flow for the period between 2011 and 2014(Graham et al., 2012). All of these ratios are in decline.

Clinical objectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Clinical objectives - Essay Example Beyond the immediate result, consequences of behavioral health violence lost productivity because of low morale and high medical costs resulting from treating the injuries. Some healthcare workers rationalize behavioral health violence as an occupational hazard and believe that measures need to be taken to cope with it. Nursing working on behavioral setting need take some measures to prevent such occurrences. It can be through medication, restraining the patient, and seclusion. Even though these methods are effective in the short term, they can also be used in the long term to change the patients’ behavioral patterns. Other methods include leaving the door open and making sure that there security to nurses when they are dealing with violent patients. Finally, an increase in the level of violence among patients towards nurses is closely associated with a decrease in the number of permanent nursing staff. One theory states that patients become violent because they are in need of continuity and stability around them (Richter, 2006). Behavioral health violence is widespread among Americans of all ages. It can be prevented by medication, restraining the patient, seclusion, and giving them attention and a stable environment. Other safety measures that can be taken by nurses include leaving the door open and making sure that there security to nurses when they are dealing with violent

Contemporary issues in business (DEBENHAMS) Essay

Contemporary issues in business (DEBENHAMS) - Essay Example According to the company reports, it has acquired enhanced market share pertaining to women’s wear along with men’s wear, whereas in relation to children’s wear it has acquired considerably less amount of market share as it stood at the tenth position. The company since 20 years as an open system is investing in British design pertaining to its exclusive designers. In the year 2012, the company had been awarded ‘Multichannel Retail’ award (Debenhams Retail plc, 2001). This report intends to discuss the external drivers of change that lays a greater impact on the company’s operations. Moreover, the probable negative forces to change will also be recognised in the report in keeping with Debenhams present operational environment. 2.0 Today’s Drivers of Change: PESTEL Analysis of Debenhams Retail sector frames an important part of the United Kingdom’s economy. Drivers of change are applied to derive information regarding the companyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s operational activities. These factors remain external but create a major impact on the organisational operations. This segment of the study will focus on the drivers that foster changes within the retail sector of the UK. Moreover, the implications of these drivers result in internal change within Debenhams as well. The demographic scenarios, the influence of globalisation of the current UK industrial sector and the advanced technical changes have laid a major influence on the retail industry as well. 2.1 Political In order to ensure a competitive analysis of Debenhams within the UK, it is necessary to assess the environment within which the company is presently operating. It has been observed that the retailers are greatly affected by one of the decisive drivers of change i.e. the political structure along with trends in numerous ways. The political influence is essentially created on the retail sector by the power exerted by the politicians pertaining to locations. In the UK, these politicians exert power by on the basis of the ‘land-use planning system’. In this context, the mentioned particular system is primarily about the planning developed by the local authorities. In keeping with these particular activities, government has power to intervene in order to provide direction and guidance regarding the development and opportunities along with proposals (IMI, 2010). Moreover, it has been assumed that regulations prevailing within the UK industrial sector focus mainly on training. In this regard, training expenses act as a driving force within the UK retail sector. Therefore, Debenhams needs to comply with training requirements and regulations to operate within the UK sector. In terms of regulations and governmental impact, it can be noted that in the UK, there are certain national policies being framed on skills and education. These particular national policies lay a major impact on the sector related to skills demand along with supply. Availability of

MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 3 Case Assignment Essay

MPH503, Infertility and Public Health, Mod 3 Case Assignment - Essay Example This paper will attempt to answer those questions in relation to the results of the Bragdon v Abbot case. According to Bragdon v Abbot there is a right to reproduce, similar to the right to breathe. The case is saying that reproduction is a major life function just like any other bodily function and a disability related to reproduction is as important as a disability related to asthma (Walker , 2010). Further, the Code of Federal Regulations according to Walker (2001) states that "any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: Neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genital-urinary, hemi and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine." As is noted, reproductive is listed. There is a lot of disagreement at the moment as to whether or not infertility is a disability, in fact, it appears that all of the states supreme courts cannot seem to agree. However, in this particular case, it was determined to be a disability and unless another case comes along and determines the results of this one to be incorrect, it will be considered by insurance companies and employers to be so. Certainly insurance companies must respond by assuring that insurance cover infertility treatment. This writer does not believe this will last long. There will be another supreme court case to come along. It is not that this writer disagrees but certainly at the cost of such treatments insurance companies will either need to raise cost or find a way not to cover the treatment. It is thought that certainly most states will go for the attempt to get insurance companies to pay for infertility treatment, with the exception, possibly of self-insured cases. In some ways, mandating insurance to pay for infertility treatment

Drama Part 1 Essay Example for Free

Drama Part 1 Essay The piece of Drama we have created is called The Fear of the Unknown. We looked at various ways of interpreting the title before agreeing on a suitable theme. Our story covers the death of a character and studies the reactions of characters in different situations. The actual cause of death is left to the imagination and is never actually mentioned. This links in with the title we were given. I am going to compare The fear of the unknown with the play The Woman in Black by Susan Hill and adapted by Steven Mallatratt. I will also use the Crucible text by Arthur Miller and Blue Remembered Hills text. In the Woman in Black as the actor approaches the house a gobo is shown to show Eel marsh house in the background. The house seems large and foreboding. This helps create an air of suspense with the audience who already have heard about the woman in black. This happens again when the actor approaches the door to the playroom whilst the music plays. Similarly, the actors in The Fear of the unknown create tension whilst approaching the house by talking quietly and discuss the house in their ghost story. The curse of the Woman in Black is similar to the curse placed on the house where a girl died many years ago. Many other people tell the story of the woman in black. The actor isnt superstitious so ignores them. He is lucky to escape with his life. In the fear of the unknown Stacey warns Sadie about the curse in the house where the girl died, Sadie believes the story but then still goes in the house, and doesnt return. This could also be compared to in the Crucible where the suspicion of witchcraft underlies everything. In the beginning of the play many people didnt even have suspicion of witches. Though the idea there were witches living within a community ate away at the people until people died. Many innocent people ended up hanging for witchcraft. The imagination of characters in the play we performed added to the tension created. This occurred frequently during the piece, for example when Charlie and Sadie appear at the door to Staceys party Stacey looks Sadie up and down. Sadie is instantly terrified of Stacey even though this is normal behaviour in her characters case. The same thing happens in Blue Remembered Hills when the siren goes to signal that a prisoner of war has escaped. Every noise sounds like the war prisoner approaching them and all the children believe the prisoner of war would kill them. You can also compare it to the Crucible where everyone suspects everyone else to be witches, and everyone turns on everybody else causing more havoc. To some extent this also happens in The Woman in Black as the actor is met by suspicious and hostile reactions when he attends the ladies funeral. Also everybody in the village believes in The Woman in Black and her terrible curse, this means all the characters would be on edge. In conclusion, I think our drama performance went well, our preparation could have been better but we all had different school activities on, which made it hard to rehearse. Near to the end of our rehearsals we threw one member of our cast out. This put us at a disadvantage but meant we worked better as a group in the end as we were all striving for a common goal. Our original ideas included; Bullying and the consequences of bullying, Relationships, and problems that could never be solved. We decided to work on the events leading up to an unnecessary death.

What Opportunities Made Cinemexs Success Possible Finance Essay

What Opportunities Made Cinemexs Success Possible Finance Essay Several factors made it possible for Cinemex to emerge as a highly successful exhibition movie theatre chain. First, the Mexican exhibition market was highly regulated for decades and these regulations established a fixed, low ticket price. This provided a disincentive for exhibition owners to invest in their properties since they were unable to raise ticket prices to compensate for their investments. The end-result was a growing collection of old and dilapidated theatres. When the regulations were lifted, Cinemex co-founders Matt Heyman, Adolfo Fastlich, and Miguel Angel Davila believed that an opportunity to provide a high-end movie watching experience by constructing state-of-the-art theatres existed. The team followed a strategy of differentiation through branding. Cinemex improved moviegoers experiences by installing larger screens, providing better sound, employing courteous staff, and making other improvements over what was considered the typical Mexican exhibition. Based on t he information available, this quality advantage seemed to last at least until Cinemex was acquired by Canadian buyout firm Onex. Next, Cinemex capitalized on the declining value of the peso in late 1994 and early 1995. This decline allowed Cinemex to purchase land at a cheaper price. Furthermore, it fortuitously (for Cinemex) discouraged potential competitors in the high-end field, such as AMC and Lowes, from entering the Mexican market. The value of the Mexican Peso continued to substantially decline. This made it continuously cheaper for Cinemex to use US Dollars to purchase new land to build Mexican movie theatres. Further, the improving Mexican economy, population growth in Mexico City, and continued emergence of middle class in Mexico all provided opportunities for Cinemex. Graph the time series of attendance and prices for each Wednesday in 2001. What factors account for the week-on-week differences in attendance for Cinemex and the city as a whole? What is the interpretation in terms of a demand curve? Several factors account for the week by week differences in attendance for Cinemex and Mexico City theatres. Factors such as the ticket price, time of the year, popularity of current films, local weather conditions, and timing of holidays all made attendance highly variable from week to week. In terms of the demand curve, it may move out or in depending on the combination of the above variables. In Spring 2001, Cinemexs main competitor introduced 2-for-1 pricing. Describe, in conceptual terms (and using a demand diagram), the effect this had on Cinemexs demand curve. In the same diagram show the effect of Cinemexs price response. Conceptually, when Cinemexs competition introduced 2-for-1 pricing, the demand curve for Cinemex moved in (or left). At a given ticket price, a certain percentage of moviegoers who would typically choose to see a film at Cinemex would instead choose to forego the additional quality of Cinemexs theatres and take advantage of Cinemexs competitions lower prices. In the chart below, D0 (blue line) is the demand at a given price for Wednesday showings at Cinemex before the 2-for-1 pricing was introduced by competitors. D1 (red line) represents the reduced demand for Cinemex after 2-for-1 pricing was introduced by competitors. Finally, the bullet point outlined in yellow on line D1 reflects Cinemexs new Wednesday 2-for-1 price. 0: Equilibrium before price changes 2: Cinemex lowers price on Wednesdays 1: Cinemex demand moves left after competitors introduce 2-for-1 pricingC:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeMEDIAOFFICE14BulletsBD21298_.gifC:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeMEDIAOFFICE14BulletsBD21434_.gifC:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeMEDIAOFFICE14BulletsBD21434_.gifC:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeMEDIAOFFICE14BulletsBD21434_.gifC:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeMEDIAOFFICE14BulletsBD21298_.gif Please note, D1 is shown to the left of D0 since we are speaking in conceptual terms. In actuality, other factors beneficially impacting Cinemex may place the true location of D1 to the right of D0. Further, the price change took place over a year after the initial placement of D0. Therefore, there is some time for beneficial factors to have a sum impact that is relatively more positive than the negative impact Cinemex competitors price drop would have. We explore these possibilities in later answers. How would you construct a counter-factual scenario for what would have happened had this 2-for-1 pricing by competitors not occurred? [Suggestion: one useful place to start might be to compare 2001 to 2000. Explain your answer in terms of the diagram you drew in the previous question. The 2-for-1 pricing by Cinemex competitors did not occur until after week 13 in 2001. Therefore, by comparing the weeks 2 through 13 in 2000 and 2001, we can estimate the increase in attendance from comparable periods in the remaining weeks. This growth factor, or ratio, can then be applied to the 2000 attendance figures in order to estimate what the attendance in 2001 would have been if Cinemexs competitors had not put forth the 2-for-1 deal. Applying the growth factor eliminates the effects of Cinemexs competitors 2-for-1 deal and creates counterfactual data that takes into account other socioeconomic factors driving increased attendance over time. These socioeconomic factors include low unemployment, low inflation, population and GDP growth, and the continued emergence of the middle class. Essentially, this methodology allows our team to reconstruct the original demand curve (D0) and account for growth in the overall market. Construct this counterfactual for attendance. Discuss how you isolate the effect of the competitors price change from the effect of all the other things pushing demand around (the stuff you discussed in part (b)). Be clear about the extent to which you are able to do this (remember no analysis of real data is ever perfect in this regard, but it is important to be able to spot the limitations of whatever methodology you do employ). The table below illustrates attendance at Cinemex on Wednesdays. Weeks 2 through 13 can be analyzed between 2000 and 2001 to determine a growth factor for Cinemex. This growth factor is determined by taking the ratio between the average attendance numbers of 2000 and 2001 for Block 1. In this case, the growth factor is equal to 1.09 (it is the same between 2001 and 2002). The predicted Cinemex attendance for 2001 (depicted in the table below) is determined by multiplying the 2000 attendance numbers, for Blocks 2 through 5, by 1.09. The result of this calculation gives the attendance numbers that Cinemex would have seen had its competitors not established the 2-for-1 deal. Wednesday Attendance Figures Cinemex 2000 2001 (without 2-for-1) 2001 (with 2-for-1) Block Weeks Actual (Avg) Predicted (Avg) Actual (Avg) 1 2 to 13 51602 56445 56445 2 14 to 22 60762 66231 57305 3 23 to 27 66626 72622 67124 4 28 to 34 97717 106511 105479 5 35 to 48 46195 50353 *60642 NOTE: The year was broken down into 5 blocks in order to better analyze the effect of seasonal demand. Week 1 and weeks 49 to 52 were omitted due to the volatility of the holiday seasons attendance. Also, predicted and actual numbers match for Block 1 due to this period being utilized for determination of the growth factor. *- Indicates that both Cinemex and its competitors are using 2-for-1 pricing. Using this counterfactual, quantify the impact of competitors 2-for-1 pricing in Cinemexs Wednesday attendance? Our team analyzed the difference in predicted and actual weekly attendance on Wednesdays at Cinemex during the time period when Cinemexs competitors utilized the 2-for-1 deal and Cinemex maintained its pricing (Blocks 2, 3 and 4). The data indicates that the competitors 2-for-1 deal adversely impacted Cinemexs actual attendance. We observe attendance figures that are lower than the predicted attendance figures. The below table quantifies the average weekly impact of the competitors 2-for-1 deal. To arrive at the estimated dollar impact, we multiplied the difference between predicted and actual attendance by the average ticket prices during each Block. For example, the average ticket price during Weeks 14 to 22 was $20.98. Therefore, $20.98 times 8962 equals $187,288.41. Weekly Impact on Cinemexs Wednesday Attendance 2001 2001 2001 Block Weeks Predicted minus Actual (Avg/week) % Dollar Value of lost Attendance (Avg/week) 1 2 to 13 0 0.00% $ 0.00 2 14 to 22 8926 -13.48% $ 187,288.41 3 23 to 27 5498 -7.57% $ 114,216.15 4 28 to 34 1032 -0.97% $ 21,552.93 Please note, Block 5 was not included in this impact analysis because it encompasses the time period during which Cinemex matched its competitors 2-for-1 deal. Cinemex was most adversely impacted during Weeks 14 to 22 and Weeks 23 to 27. Fortunately for Cinemex, the 2-for-1 deal offered by competitors had only a minimal impact on the summer months. This is likely due to the superior quality of socioeconomic conditions and movies offered during this time (i.e, summer blockbusters). It appears that individuals are willing to pay a higher price to watch superior movies in a superior environment. Overall, Cinemexs actual attendance during Weeks 14 to 34 was 1,589,718. Our team predicted that had the competitors not implemented a 2-for-1 pricing strategy, Cinemex would have had attendance numbers of 1,704,766. This represents an impact of 6.7%, or 115,048, on attendance over the 21 week period in which Cinemex did not offer a 2-for-1 deal and its competitors did. Taking the average ticket prices during Blocks 2, 3, and 4 ($20.98, $20.77, and $20.88 respectively) and multiplying it both actual and predicted revenues allows us to evaluate the dollar impact. Total actual revenue was $33,213,977 and predicted revenue was $35,621,524, a difference of $2,407,547 or 6.76%. Building on the strategy you developed, quantify the impact of Cinemexs own 2-for-1 deal on its Wednesday attendance? Discuss your methodology in terms of a demand diagram framework. Cinemex matched its competitors 2-for-1 deal in Block 5. Based on the data, it appears that this time period has reduced demand compared to the summer months. Demand appears to be similar to Block 2 (Weeks 14 to 22). Therefore, had Cinemex not matched the 2-for-1 deal and maintained their prices, we assume that their attendance numbers for Block 5 would have dropped by the same percentage as Block 2, or 13.48%. Wednesday Attendance Figures Cinemex 2001 No 2-for-1 Deals Both Use 2-for-1 Only Competitors Use 2-for-1 Block Weeks Predicted (Avg) Actual (Avg) Predicted (Avg) 5 35 to 48 50353 60642 43565 As illustrated in the table above, Cinemexs actual average weekly attendance during this period was 60,642. Cinemexs predicted average weekly attendance for Block 5, assuming no 2-for-1 deals, is estimated by using the aforementioned 1.09 growth factor. This provides an estimate of an average weekly attendance of 50,353. If Cinemex had not engaged in the 2-for-1 deal, and its competitors did engage in the 2-for-1 deal, then we predicted the average weekly attendance for Cinemex would decline the same as it did in Block 2, by 13.48% of the No 2-for-1 Deals figure, or a total weekly average of 43,565. This decrease is identical, in terms of percentage (13.48%), as the predicted impact of competitor pricing on Block 2. Blocks 2 and 5 represent the worst case scenario for Cinemex in terms of attendance totals and represent the point of highest demand elasticity. Overall, Cinemexs actual attendance during Weeks 35 to 48 was 848,988. Our team predicted that if Cinemex chose to not use the 2-for-1 promotion, attendance would have been 690,910. This is a difference of 239,078. The actual average ticket price for Block 5 was $15.20. Our team assumed that the average ticket price would have remained roughly the same in Block 5 as it had been in Blocks 2, 3, and 4 had Cinemex not chosen to do the 2-for-1 promotion. The average ticket price for Block 5, therefore, would have been the same as the average ticket price for Blocks 2, 3 and 4, or $20.88. This results in actual ticket revenue of $12,908,555 versus predicted revenue of $12,734,921. The 2-for-1 promotion improved ticket revenue by $173,634.h) Extending the analysis from the previous question, provide an estimate of Cinemexs demand elasticity (with respect to its own price) for Wednesdays. Extending the analysis from Part G, two points on the D1 demand curve have been established and the elasticity (within the 2-for-1 market) can now be estimated for Wednesdays. At the $15.20 ticket price, elasticity is -0.75. This represents a relatively inelastic demand and Cinemex should increase price. Demand Elasticity Estimate Cinemex Block 5 Attendance Block 5 Attendance Cinemex Not Using 2-for-1 Cinemex using 2-for-1 Attendance 43565 60642 Price $20.88 $15.20 Elasticity -0.75 The equation for the 2001 Cinemex Demand Curve is: , or, in other words, . Knowing that ; we can determine elasticity at any point of the curve. Taking the derivative of the Demand curve gives us: ; and so the elasticity equation becomes: ; for any point along the demand curve. Bottom line: Was Heyman right to match the 2-for-1 pricing? Discuss Our team believes that Cinemex should not introduce yearly 2-for-1 pricing. As illustrated in the chart below, our team developed a scoring system to determine which pricing strategy would be most effective. Cinemex Employs 2-for-1 Deal 2-for-1 customer Regular customer 20.43% 79.57% Revenue Ticket Price $15.20 $15.20 Concession Per Person $10.00 $13.96 Other Revenue Per Person $0.20 $0.24 Total Revenue $25.40 $29.40 Expenses Concession Expense Per Person $2.70 $3.77 Payroll Per Person $3.82 $3.82 Supplies Per Person $3.18 $3.18 Occupancy Expense Per Person $6.10 $6.10 Total Expenses $15.80 $16.87 Total Income Per Person $9.60 $12.53 Weighted Average $11.93 x20.43% Attendance Growth Final Score $14.37 The following assumptions were made: We took year 2000 actual attendance for Block 5, multiplied by the expected growth rate of 1.09, and arrived at 50,353. From here, we saw the actual attendance in 2001, when Cinemex did match prices, to be 60,642. This is an increase of 20.43%. Therefore, on average, we expect a 20.43% increase in attendance as a result of the 2-for-1 promotion. This increase in customers would be made up of a stingier group of individuals. These individuals, instead of paying $13.96 on average for concessions, would pay $10.00. Also, the other revenue would drop by roughly the same proportion to $0.20. We found the average income per moviegoer and arrived at the weighted average of $11.93. Then, seeing as attendance increased by 20.43%, we arrived at a final score for this solution of 14.37. Finally, we assumed screen advertising would stay the same since Cinemex is now playing to more full theatres rather than half-empty theatres. Argument can also be made that scale could reduce per-ticket costs, but we did not believe the attendance boost was substantial enough for that. In contrast, had Cinemex not implemented 2-for-1 pricing, the final score would be higher, 18.51. Cinemex Does Not Employ 2-for-1 Deal Regular customer Income Ticket Price $21.18 Concession Per Person $13.96 Other Revenue Per Person $0.24 Total Revenue $35.38 Expenses Concession Expense Per Person $3.77 Payroll Per Person $3.82 Supplies Per Person $3.18 Occupancy Expense Per Person $6.10 Total Expenses $16.87 Total Income Per Person / Final Score $18.51 The final score here is 18.51, higher than 14.37. This is because Cinemex cant discriminate against the type of customer. By reducing the ticket price for all customers, it negatively impacts its box office revenues. 80% of the customers would have attended had prices not been reduced. Furthermore, our assumption that the growth will be fueled by stingier customers reduces concession stands sales. These factors combine to make it a money-losing proposal to offer 2-for-1 deals. If Cinemex could somehow strategically target certain Wednesdays or certain customers, the 2-for-1 proposal may be more viable. Overall, as it stands now, Cinemex should not offer a 2-for-1 deal for all Wednesdays.

Arguments For and Against the Vaccine

Arguments For and Against the Vaccine Vaccine Debate Introduction There has always been a debate over the idea that children our newborns don’t need vaccinated. Some people think they give babies deadly diseases that would kill them. Who knows it may or may not be true. In this paper I’m going to go over both sides of this big debate and explain why getting your children vaccinated is VERY important, especially when it comes to your children’s lives. Another thing is how a vaccine even works to show you that vaccines are safe. The Doctor Is out: The anti-vaccination movement in America Since 1998, a growing fear surrounding vaccinations in the United States and England has been spreading. The claim is that vaccinations contain dangerous amounts of Mercury, Formaldehyde, and other toxins and can possibly link to bowel disease and autism. Despite mountains of evidence to the contrary, the anti-vaccination (which has gained the dubious moniker, anti-vax) movement continues to grow in The United States and England. This paper looks to outline the history of the movement, both historical vaccination scares and the modern incarnation of anti-vax, and shed light on the dangers of not having children vaccinated, as well as present evidence to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The current vaccination scare is nothing new, and is reminiscent of previous historical scares, the worst of which being in 19th Century Europe. In 1853, the British government passed the Vaccination Act of 1853, making vaccinations mandatory for all children in the first three months. The pas sage of the act caused a violent anti-vaccination movement to begin, with riots in Ipswich, Henley, and Mitford. Subsequently, the Anti-Vaccination League in London was formed the same year, giving the movement an appearance of credibility. In 1867, Parliament passed another law, The Compulsory Vaccination Act of 1867, extending the vaccination schedule to fourteen years. This caused more backlash within the anti-vaccination community, and more groups began forming, such as the Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League, as well as scientific journals such as The Anti-Vaccinator (1869), The Vaccination Inquirer (1879) and The National Anti-Compulsory Vaccination Reporter (1874) (Wolf, Robert M; Sharp, Lisa K, British Medical Journal). The movement didn’t stop in England, however. By the 1870s it had spread to Sweden, and the vaccination rate in Stockholm dropped from 90% in 1872 to 40% in 1873. The Swedish government did little to react to this until Stockholm was hit by a major Smallpox pandemic in 1874. With so few people vaccinated against the virus, it spread quickly and ravaged the city, leaving 4,063 dead in Sweden, and 1,206 of those deaths in the city of Stockholm (Kotar, S.L., Smallpox: A History p. 177). Other countries weren’t immune to this outbreak, either. Europe was in the middle of the Franco-Prussian war at this time, meaning large forces were moving quickly across Europe, and taking the disease with them. Smallpox spread into Denmark and Norway, which led to 6,620 reported cases and 425 deaths in Denmark, and 2,235 cases with 275 deaths in Norway (Kotar, S.L., Smallpox: A History p. 177). By this point in history, a viable Smallpox vaccine was available and had been for decades. In 1798, Edward Jenner effectively immunized patients against Smallpox by injecting them with a weaker strain of Cowpox. The body’s immune response to fight off the Cowpox virus conferred a permanent immunity to contraction of Smallpox. The uproar over vaccine denial in Europe, however, made the vaccination useless, and while Sweden had laws in place requiring vaccinations, they were not well enforced. 49% of children weren’t immunized in Stockholm, the city that took the brunt of the pandemic. Understanding this direct cause and effect relationship between lack of vaccinations, mobility of people, and deaths from preventable diseases is important in the fight against the modern day anti-vaccination movement. Europe in the 1870‘s lost a portion of its population to a preventable disease, which was spread so quickly by the movement of armies during the Franco-Prussian war as well as the displacement of civilians resulting from the war. Smallpox, as with most diseases, incubates in people for a few days before symptoms are visible, however it is still possible to spread the virus while it’s in its incubatory stages. So, this means that many people who arrived in Sweden and Denmark that were carriers had no outward symptoms. They were interacting with a culture that was largely unvaccinated against Smallpox, allowing the disease to run rampant amongst the population with deadly consequences. Fast forward 130 years to the modern world and this scenario could again become a lethal reality. We live in a world that increasingly connected, where people travel daily from one country or continent to another, and with little effort. While there are vaccination laws in the United States and most of the rest of the developed world, places such as West Africa have no such laws, and very high rates of vaccine preventable illnesses. People can travel quickly and with relatively little effort from these places and back again in less than the amount of time it would take a viral infection to start showing symptoms. This is exactly what happened in Newark, Texas in 2013. The Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark is a church that boasts over 1,500 members. They are also vehement anti-vax proponents. In August of 2013 a member had traveled to Indonesia, where he contracted measles. He showed no outward symptoms upon his return to Texas and attended church, where he then spread the measles to other members of the congregation. Sixteen people contracted the illness, nine children and seven adults, none of whom had been vaccinated against it. One of the adults then spread the measles to nearby Denton, Texas, infecting another five people, again, not vaccinated (Aleccia, Jonel; NBC News). While this case was relatively mild and brought no fatalities, it shows a demonstrable pattern between vaccine denial, migration, and infection. To understand why vaccinations are important, it’s necessary to understand how they work; and to understand the denial movement it’s important to know the stance of the anti-vaccinationists. Without delving too much into the science (entire doctoral and PhD thesis have been written on the subject), vaccines work by injecting weak or paralyzed forms of viruses and other chemicals directly into the bloodstream of a patient. The patient’s (typically an infant) immune system then fights off the infection, and the body builds an immune response to the infection. This response is permanent, and the patient has now developed anti-bodies to various diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, How Vaccines Prevent Disease). The anti-vaccination stance is that vaccinations are not tested enough, that pharmaceutical companies cannot be trusted, and that the added chemicals in vaccinations aren’t safe for human consumption. They claim, as well, that parts from aborted fetuses, rabbit brains, dog kidney, and chicken embryos are used in the manufacture of vaccines, and that while you can always get a vaccination, you can’t undo an existing one. The list of chemicals in vaccinations is indeed staggering, according to the anti-vaccination camp. Thimerosol, MSG, anti-freeze, and formaldehyde are just a few of the long list of dangerous chemicals in vaccinations, according to the web site The Healthy Home Economist (http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/six-reasons-to-say-no-to-vaccination/). While it is true that many of these chemicals exist in vaccines, they are frequently in trace amounts not harmful to humans. Many of them are used only during the manufacturing process and are actually removed from the final product. Thimerosol, which contains ethyl mercury, is common in many vaccines, and is used as a disinfectant (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Vaccine Ingredients). Anti-vaxers have claimed for years that the addition of mercury into an infant is incredibly dangerous, however, a study published in The Lancet and conducted at the University Of Rochester proved just the opposite. 40 infants were randomly selected, 19 of them received vaccines with ethyl mercury, and 21 without. Blood, urine, and stool samples were then taken from the infants from three to twenty eight days after the initial vaccination. The infants were exposed to 111.3 micrograms of Thimerosol containing ethyl mercury (higher than is contained in vaccines) or to 82.5 micrograms if the i nfant was under 3 months old (for scale, 1 microgram is equal to 1.0e-9 kilograms). The findings showed that, between 4-10 days, the half-life decay of ethyl mercury was 95%, meaning that 95% of the chemical had dissipated from the infants in just over a week. Further, the trace amounts that were actually injected into the infants were incredibly minute, so much so that, by comparison, you would consume more mercury by eating an apple, almost ten times as much. Only one of the infants was shown to have an increased level of ethyl mercury after 28 days, but the amount still fell within the acceptable tolerance range (Pichichero, The Lancet). Mono Sodium Glutamate, or MSG, is present as well in vaccinations; however this chemical in small amounts is in no way harmful to humans. It’s commonly found in table salt and other food seasonings. While formaldehyde is indeed used in the manufacture of vaccines, it is not in the final product. The formaldehyde is used to paralyze the vir us that is going in the vaccination, and is subsequently removed before the vaccine is complete. The American Journal Of Public Health performed a study in 1954 of the use of formaldehyde in the poliomyelitis vaccine, and found it to be completely safe (American Journal Of Public Health, Salk, Jonas E. M.D., Volume 44 Issue 5). Anti-freeze is another harmful chemical that the anti-vaccinators will frequently tell you are contained within all vaccines. While this isn’t completely untrue, it’s not totally true either. It is more the subject of a poor understanding of chemistry. Anti-freeze is primarily methanol, which is in the chemical family of alcohols. However, methanol is completely harmless to humans in small amounts. Anti-freeze, though, is very poisonous in nearly any dosage. That’s due to the active ingredient, the freezing-point depressor ethylene-glycol. While methanol is certainly found in vaccines due to its sterile properties, ethylene-glycol certainly isn’t (Brown, M.D., Baby 411: Clear Answers Smart Advice about Your Baby’s Shots). The modern evolution of the anti-vaccination movement started in earnest with Dr. Andrew Wakefield in 1998. He published a study in The Lancet Medical Journal in which he claimed to have found a link between the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASD. The initial report sent shock waves through the medical community. However, four years later the results of his research were unable to be reproduced by any other medical team and speculation arose. Finally, in 2004, Brian Deer, an investigative journalist for The Sunday Times in London published his findings. In the course of his research into Dr. Wakefield’s study he found multiple conflicts of interest (Deer, Brian, The Sunday Times). His article prompted a lengthy investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC), England’s medical ethics and licensing board. During the course of their investigation, they found Andrew Wakefield to be guilty of serious professional misconduct and stripped him of his medical license, and had his home stricken from the Medical Register. The GMC found that he had accepted money from a private contingent of lawyers, the Legal Aid Board (LAB), who were engaging in a class action lawsuit against a vaccine production company. Wakefield was paid $84,160.00 (converted from Pounds Sterling) for his research, and it was concluded that over half of the money went directly to Mr. Wakefield instead of into the study. He was also found to be guilty of tampering with 5 of the patients, even though he had a strict no contact rule with all patient test subjects (General Medical Council, Fitness to Practice Council, 1-7). As far as a link between autism and the MMR vaccine, doctors have dismissed it as a classic case of correlation not being equal to causation. Most children are diagnosed with ASD shortly after they are vacc inated, but that’s only because nearly all children are vaccinated, and the age at which vaccinations take place are the same age at which ASD starts to show its symptoms, but there is no direct correlation between the two. Even though the evidence all points to the contrary, and the research and testing have proven vaccinations to be both safe and effective, vaccination denial is still a prevalent health issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases a weekly report, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly. Report that shows all cases of infectious and communicable diseases reported in the United States. The data shows a clear spike of vaccine preventable illnesses, such as Measles, Diphtheria, Rubella, and Smallpox in geographical areas that have higher concentration of anti-vaccination advocates (Centers for Disease Control, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, report data for April 2014). The danger isn’t just for those who choose not to get vaccinated or choose not to get their children vaccinated. Vaccinations are so effective because of â€Å"herd immunity†. There are people who are incapable of getting vaccinated, either due to allergies or to rare medical conditions. They rely on the people around them to be properly vaccinated, thus eliminating a host for the virus. As rates of vaccination decline, the herd becomes smaller, and viruses and diseases will be able to find hosts easier, not only contaminating those foolish enough not to get vaccinated, but also those who are just unable to get vaccinated. Conclusion This is a dangerous and very real health concern. The CDC has (unofficially) referred to celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy and Bill Maher, who are staunch opponents of vaccinations, as public health threats. The data is clear, vaccinations are safe, and there is absolutely no link between vaccinations and autism. The media has leaned heavily on scare tactics to boost ratings, reporting that vaccinations are potentially dangerous and encouraging people to seek homeopathic or natural remedies instead of synthesized ones. It is our duty as a people to educate and be educated on such matters that concern our public health with such tremendous force.

John Dalton :: essays research papers

JOHN DALTON John Dalton lived with his family in Eaglesfield, Cumberland. They lived in a small thatched cottage. When John was born he had an older brother, who was seven years older than him and a sister who was two years older than him. Johns birth was not recorded in the family bible, but when he asked his elders, they said he was born on the 5th of September in 1766. The Daltons were Quakers, and have been since the 1690’s. John was always a very smart and curious child. He was actually one of the smarter people in the village. He was a lucky child, who received schooling. This was a very big deal considering there were only 215 English men that could even read. He was always interested in mathematics and in science. When John reached the age of twelve he opened a school of his own. This was a problem with the Daltons because he was often threatened and beat up. Around 1790 he finished an eleven volume classified botanical collection. He became a well known person in the community for his amazing achievements in academics. He became very interested in becoming a doctor. The family although had to talk John out of becoming a doctor due to the lack of money in the families income. They also did not feel that John would like being a physician in the long run. Later at the age of twenty six John discovered that he was color blind. This occurred when his mother and he were fighting about the color of a skirt. In 1793 John moved to Manchester to tutor. This is where he began working on his greatest work. He then joined a group called Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. In 1773, he published his first book, Meteorological Observations and Essays. What he wrote in the was "Each gas exists and acts independently and purely physically, rather than chemically." John was constantly studying and making observations. John made over 200,000 observations. In 1803, he attempted to explain his laws of partial pressures. That’s when John started to explain his major contribution to science called the atomic theory. He figured this when he was studying for a test! He figured out that the reaction can take place on two different portions in exact ratios.

Essay --

Euthanasia is a well- discussed topic that includes multiple perspectives on the ethics of it. This is an important issue for any society to reconcile because it is a life and death issue. Euthanasia is a highly personal decision that can be made for many reasons. The moral and ethical concerns over euthanasia don't take into account the dignity of the one dying. Who decides the quality of a human's life? We did not have the chance to choose if we wanted to come here, so should we be entitled to the honor of choosing to leave? Over the years, the laws and ethical concerns regarding the controversial topic of euthanasia have been questioned repeatedly by society. Many have found it difficult to see their way through the many existing resources without feeling some hopelessness that the conflicting ideas on mercy-killing might one day be resolved. Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. It is also called â€Å"Physician- Assisted Suicide† or, â€Å"PAS† for short. The term comes from the Greek expression for "good death." Now, this short definition is a cause of debates all over the world. Doctors, politicians, religious leaders, lawyers, and general public argue over the law that would allow or forbid euthanasia. There are only two countries, which allow Physician Assisted Suicide; these are Netherlands and Belgium, and the state of Oregon in the United States. The issue of euthanasia has been an important turn in history for its differing points of view on the ethics. The first usage of the term "euthanasia" was from the historian Suetonius who described how the Emperor Augustus was, "dying quickly and without suffering in the arms of his wife, L... ...eligion does not think that a human being has a right to decide whether to die or not. As previously stated, as it was already mentioned is too subjective, and in general cannot be compared with the human’s sufferings, human’s unbearable pain and freedom to choose whether to continue living or not, and euthanasia should be better legalized in order to gain control over that process. I therefore conclude that no one can claim to truly know whether, or in what circumstances, euthanasia is moral or not. With the differing perspectives and opinions about Physician Assisted Suicide it is possible to try to answer this question by discussing the moral issues, but also it is not easy to say whether euthanasia is ever morally supportable. Of course, euthanasia should be differentiated from simple removal of life support from a patient who has already effectively succumbed.

The Dropout Rate In Americas Colleges Essay -- essays research papers

The Dropout Rate in America's Colleges In 1992, the dropout rate in America's colleges was almost twenty-four percent! Therefore meaning that nearly one out of every five students that head off to college in the fall, drop out by the first semester. In addition, about one out of every three remaining students do not return for their second year. This statistic may seem outrageous, however, it is true. Furthermore, a study has shown that if the dropout rate continues at its current pace, it will reach thirty percent by the turn of the century. Although the reasons, or excuses, for dropping out are endless, the majority of dropouts can be linked to the following: home sickness, environment, and cost.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first cause, home sickness, is not a big problem for most. However, there are many teenagers that have never been out of their state, and in few instances, out of their city. For these select few, it is extremely hard for them to leave. The first day of college can be the hardest. In particular, registering for classes. So many people are all trying to do the same thing at once. For some, this can be enough to walk to the car and go home. However, most will make it through this part of their new life. Usually the one thing that will really bother a person, is living in a small room, with at least one other person, sometimes two. Often, living with strangers will make a person uncomfortable, and wishing they were back home. This is when many will...

Second Foundation 8. Seldon’s Plan

MATHEMATICS The synthesis of the calculus of n-variables and of n-dimensional geometry is the basis of what Seldon once called â€Å"my little algebra of humanity†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Encyclopedia Galactica Consider a room! The location of the room is not in question at the moment. It is merely sufficient to say that in that room, more than anywhere, the Second Foundation existed. It was a room which, through the centuries, had been the abode of pure science – yet it had none of the gadgets with which, through millennia of association, science has come to be considered equivalent. It was a science, instead, which dealt with mathematical concepts only, in a manner similar to the speculation of ancient, ancient races in the primitive, prehistoric days before technology had come to be; before Man had spread beyond a single, now-unknown world. For one thing, there was in that room – protected by a mental science as yet unassailable by the combined physical might of the rest of the Galaxy – the Prime Radiant, which held in its vitals the Seldon Plan – complete. For another, there was a man, too, in that room – The First Speaker. He was the twelfth in the line of chief guardians of the Plan, and his title bore no deeper significance than the fact that at the gatherings of the leaders of the Second Foundation, he spoke first. His predecessor had beaten the Mule, but the wreckage of that gigantic struggle still littered the path of the Plan- For twenty-five years, he, and his administration, had been trying to force a Galaxy of stubborn and stupid human beings back to the path-It was a terrible task. The First Speaker looked up at the opening door. Even while, in the loneliness of the room, he considered his quarter century of effort, which now so slowly and inevitably approached its climax; even while he had been so engaged, his mind had been considering the newcomer with a gentle expectation. A youth, a student, one of those who might take over, eventually. The young man stood uncertainly at the door, so that the First Speaker had to walk to him and lead him in, with a friendly hand upon the shoulder. The Student smiled shyly, and the First Speaker responded by saying, â€Å"First, I must tell you why you are here.† They faced each other now, across the desk. Neither was speaking in any way that could be recognized as such by any man in the Galaxy who was not himself a member of the Second Foundation. Speech, originally, was the device whereby Man learned, imperfectly, to transmit the thoughts and emotions of his mind. By setting up arbitrary sounds and combinations of sounds to represent certain mental nuances, be developed a method of communication – but one which in its clumsiness and thick-thumbed inadequacy degenerated all the delicacy of the mind into gross and guttural signaling. Down – down – the results can be followed; and all the suffering that humanity ever knew can be traced to the one fact that no man in the history of the Galaxy, until Hari Seldon, and very few men thereafter, could really understand one another. Every human being lived behind an impenetrable wall of choking mist within which no other but he existed. Occasionally there were the dim signals from deep within the cavern in which another man was located-so that each might grope toward the other. Yet because they did not know one another, and could not understand one another, and dared not trust one another, and felt from infancy the terrors and insecurity of that ultimate isolation – there was the hunted fear of man for man, the savage rapacity of man toward man. Feet, for tens of thousands of years, had clogged and shuffled in the mud – and held down the minds which, for an equal time, had been fit for the companionship of the stars. Grimly, Man had instinctively sought to circumvent the prison bars of ordinary speech. Semantics, symbolic logic, psychoanalysis – they had all been devices whereby speech could either be refined or by-passed. Psychohistory had been the development of mental science, the final mathematicization thereof, rather, which had finally succeeded. Through the development of the mathematics necessary to understand the facts of neural physiology and the electrochemistry of the nervous system, which themselves had to be, had to be, traced down to nuclear forces, it first became possible to truly develop psychology. And through the generalization of psychological knowledge from the individual to the group, sociology was also mathematicized. The larger groups; the billions that occupied planets; the trillions that occupied Sectors; the quadrillions that occupied the whole Galaxy, became, not simply human beings, but gigantic forces amenable to statistical treatment – so that to Hari Seldon, the future became clear and inevitable, and the Plan could be set up. The same basic developments of mental science that had brought about the development of the Seldon Plan, thus made it also unnecessary for the First Speaker to use words in addressing the Student. Every reaction to a stimulus, however slight, was completely indicative of all the trifling changes, of all the flickering currents that went on in another's mind. The First Speaker could not sense the emotional content of the Student's instinctively, as the Mule would have been able to do – since the Mule was a mutant with powers not ever likely to become completely comprehensible to any ordinary man, even a Second Foundationer – rather he deduced them, as the result of intensive training. Since, however, it is inherently impossible in a society based on speech to indicate truly the method of communication of Second Foundationers among themselves, the whole matter will be hereafter ignored. The First Speaker will be represented as speaking in ordinary fashion, and if the translation is not always entirely valid, it is at least the best that can be done under the circumstances. It will be pretended therefore, that the First Speaker did actually say, â€Å"First, I must tell you why you are here,† instead of smiling just so and lifting a finger exactly thus. The First Speaker said, â€Å"You have studied mental science hard and well for most of your life. You have absorbed all your teachers could give you. It is time for you and a few others like yourself to begin your apprenticeship for Speakerhood.† Agitation from the other side of the desk. â€Å"No – now you must take this phlegmatically. You had hoped you would qualify. You had feared you would not. Actually, both hope and fear are weaknesses. You knew you would qualify and you hesitate to admit the fact because such knowledge might stamp you as cocksure and therefore unfit. Nonsense! The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware that he is wise. It is part of your qualification that you knew you would qualify.† Relaxation on the other side of the desk. â€Å"Exactly. Now you feel better and your guard is down. You are fitter to concentrate and fitter to understand. Remember, to be truly effective, it is not necessary to hold the mind under a tight, controlling barrier which to the intelligent probe is as informative as a naked mentality. Rather, one should cultivate an innocence, an awareness of self, and an unself-consciousness of self which leaves one nothing to hide. My mind is open to you. Let this be so for both of us.† He went on. â€Å"It is not an easy thing to be a Speaker. It is not an easy thing to be a Psychohistorian in the first place; and not even the best Psychohistorian need necessarily qualify to be a Speaker. There is a distinction here. A Speaker must not only be aware of the mathematical intricacies of the Seldon Plan; he must have a sympathy for it and for its ends. He must love the Plan; to him it must be life and breath. More than that it must even be as a living friend. â€Å"Do you know what this is?† The First Speaker's hand hovered gently over the black, shining cube in the middle of the desk. It was featureless. â€Å"No, Speaker, I do not.† â€Å"You have heard of the Prime Radiant?† â€Å"This?† – Astonishment. â€Å"You expected something more noble and awe-inspiring? Well, that is natural. It was created in the days of the Empire, by men of Seldon's time. For nearly four hundred years, it has served our needs perfectly, without requiring repairs or adjustment. And fortunately so, since none of the Second Foundation is qualified to handle it in any technical fashion.† He smiled gently. â€Å"Those of the First Foundation might be able to duplicate this, but they must never know, of course.† He depressed a lever on his side of the desk and the room was in darkness. But only for a moment, since with a gradually livening flush, the two long walls of the room glowed to life. First, a pearly white, unrelieved, then a trace of faint darkness here and there, and finally, the fine neatly printed equations in black, with an occasional red hairline that wavered through the darker forest like a staggering rillet. â€Å"Come, my boy, step here before the wall. You will not cast a shadow. This light does not radiate from the Radiant in an ordinary manner. To tell you the truth, I do not know even faintly by what medium this effect is produced, but you will not cast a shadow. I know that.† They stood together in the light. Each wall was thirty feet long, and ten high. The writing was small and covered every inch. â€Å"This is not the whole Plan,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"To get it all upon both walls, the individual equations would have to be reduced to microscopic size – but that is not necessary. What you now see represents the main portions of the Plan till now. You have learned about this, have you not?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker, I have.† â€Å"Do you recognize any portion.† A slow silence. The student pointed a finger and as he did so, the line of equations marched down the wall, until the single series of functions he had thought of – one could scarcely consider the quick, generalized gesture of the finger to have been sufficiently precise – was at eye-level. The First Speaker laughed softly, â€Å"You will find the Prime Radiant to be attuned to your mind. You may expect more surprises from the little gadget. What were you about to say about the equation you have chosen?† â€Å"It,† faltered the Student, â€Å"is a Rigellian integral, using a planetary distribution of a bias indicating the presence of two chief economic classes on the planet, or maybe a Sector, plus an unstable emotional pattern.† â€Å"And what does it signify?† â€Å"It represents the limit of tension, since we have here† – he pointed, and again the equations veered – â€Å"a converging series.† â€Å"Good,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"And tell me, what do you think of all this. A finished work of art, is it not?† â€Å"Definitely!† â€Å"Wrong! It is not.† This, with sharpness. â€Å"It is the first lesson you must unlearn. The Seldon Plan is neither complete nor correct. Instead, it is merely the best that could be done at the time. Over a dozen generations of men have pored over these equations, worked at them, taken them apart to the last decimal place, and put them together again. They've done more than that. They've watched nearly four hundred years pass and against the predictions and equations, they've checked reality, and they have learned. â€Å"They have learned more than Seldon ever knew, and if with the accumulated knowledge of the centuries we could repeat Seldon's work, we could do a better job. Is that perfectly clear to you?† The Student appeared a little shocked. â€Å"Before you obtain your Speakerhood,† continued the First Speaker, â€Å"you yourself will have to make an original contribution to the Plan. It is not such great blasphemy. Every red mark you see on the wall is the contribution of a man among us who lived since Seldon. Why†¦ why-† He looked upward, â€Å"There!† The whole wall seemed to whirl down upon him. â€Å"This,† he said, â€Å"is mine.† A fine red line encircled two forking arrows and included six square feet of deductions along each path. Between the two were a series of equations in red. â€Å"It does not,† said the Speaker, â€Å"seem to be much. It is at a point in the Plan which we will not reach yet for a time as long as that which has already passed. It is at the period of coalescence, when the Second Empire that is to be is in the grip of rival personalities who will threaten to pull it apart if the fight is too even, or clamp it into rigidity, if the fight is too uneven. Both possibilities are considered here, followed, and the method of avoiding either indicated. â€Å"Yet it is all a matter of probabilities and a third course can exist. It is one of comparatively low likelihood – twelve point six four percent, to be exact – but even smaller chances have already come to pass and the Plan is only forty percent complete. This third probability consists of a possible compromise between two or more of the conflicting personalities being considered. This, I showed, would first freeze the Second Empire into an unprofitable mold, and then, eventually, inflict more damage through civil wars than would have taken place had a compromise never been made in the first place. Fortunately, that could be prevented, too. And that was my contribution.† â€Å"If I may interrupt, Speaker- How is a change made?† â€Å"Through the agency of the Radiant. You will find in your own case, for instance, that your mathematics will be checked rigorously by five different boards; and that you will be required to defend it against a concerted and merciless attack. Two years will then pass, and your development will be reviewed again. It has happened more than once that a seemingly perfect piece of work has uncovered its fallacies only after an induction period of months or years. Sometimes, the contributor himself discovers the flaw. â€Å"If, after two years, another examination, not less detailed than the first, still passes it, and – better still – if in the interim the young scientist has brought to light additional details, subsidiary evidence, the contribution will be added to the Plan. It was the climax of my career; it will be the climax of yours. â€Å"The Prime Radiant can be adjusted to your mind, and all corrections and additions can be made through mental rapport. There will be nothing to indicate that the correction or addition is yours. In all the history of the Plan there has been no personalization. It is rather a creation of all of us together. Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker!† â€Å"Then, enough of that.† A stride to the Prime Radiant, and the walls were blank again save for the ordinary room-lighting region along the upper borders. â€Å"Sit down here at my desk, and let me talk to you. It is enough for a Psychohistorian, as such, to know his Biostatistics and his Neurochemical Electromathematics. Some know nothing else and are fit only to be statistical technicians. But a Speaker must be able to discuss the Plan without mathematics. If not the Plan itself, at least its philosophy and its aims. â€Å"First of all, what is the aim of the Plan? Please tell me in your own words – and don't grope for fine sentiment. You won't be judged on polish and suavity, I assure you.† It was the Student's first chance at more than a bisyllable, and he hesitated before plunging into the expectant space cleared away for him. He said, diffidently: â€Å"As a result of what I have learned, I believe that it is the intention of the Plan to establish a human civilization based on an orientation entirely different from anything that ever before existed. An orientation which, according to the findings of Psychohistory, could never spontaneously come into being-â€Å" â€Å"Stop!† The First Speaker was insistent. ‘You must not say ‘never.' That is a lazy slurring over of the facts. Actually, Psychohistory predicts only probabilities. A particular event may be infinitesimally probable, but the probability is always greater than zero.† â€Å"Yes, Speaker. The orientation desired, if I may correct myself, then, is well known to possess no significant probability of spontaneously coming to pass.† â€Å"Better. What is the orientation?† â€Å"It is that of a civilization based on mental science. In all the known history of Mankind, advances have been made primarily in physical technology; in the capacity of handling the inanimate world about Man. Control of self and society has been left to chance or to the vague gropings of intuitive ethical systems based on inspiration and emotion. As a result, no culture of greater stability than about fifty-five percent has ever existed, and these only as the result of great human misery.† â€Å"And why is the orientation we speak of a nonspontaneous one?† â€Å"Because a large minority of human beings are mentally equipped to take part in the advance of physical science, and all receive the crude and visible benefits thereof. Only an insignificant minority, however, are inherently able to lead Man through the greater involvements of Mental Science; and the benefits derived therefrom, while longer lasting, are more subtle and less apparent. Furthermore, since such an orientation would lead to the development of a benevolent dictatorship of the mentally best – virtually a higher subdivision of Man – it would be resented and could not be stable without the application of a force which would depress the rest of Mankind to brute level. Such a development is repugnant to us and must be avoided.† â€Å"What, then, is the solution?† â€Å"The solution is the Seldon Plan. Conditions have been so arranged and so maintained that in a millennium from its beginnings – six hundred years from now, a Second Galactic Empire will have been established in which Mankind will be ready for the leadership of Mental Science. In that same interval, the Second Foundation in its development, will have brought forth a group of Psychologists ready to assume leadership. Or, as I have myself often thought, the First Foundation supplies the physical framework of a single political unit, and the Second Foundation supplies the mental framework of a ready-made ruling class.† â€Å"I see. Fairly adequate. Do you think that any Second Empire, even if formed in the time set by Seldon, would do as a fulfillment of his Plan?† â€Å"No, Speaker, I do not. There are several possible Second Empires that may be formed in the period of time stretching from nine hundred to seventeen hundred years after the inception of the Plan, but only one of these is the Second Empire.† â€Å"And in view of all this, why is it necessary that the existence of the Second Foundation be hidden – above all, from the First Foundation?† The Student probed for a hidden meaning to the question and failed to find it. He was troubled in his answer, â€Å"For the same reason that the details of the Plan as a whole must be hidden from Mankind in general. The laws of Psychohistory are statistical in nature and are rendered invalid if the actions of individual men are not random in nature. If a sizable group of human beings learned of key details of the Plan, their actions would be governed by that knowledge and would no longer be random in the meaning of the axioms of Psychohistory. In other words, they would no longer be perfectly predictable. Your pardon, Speaker, but I feel that the answer is not satisfactory.† â€Å"It is well that you do. Your answer is quite incomplete. It is the Second Foundation itself which must be hidden, not simply the Plan. The Second Empire is not yet formed. We have still a society which would resent a ruling class of psychologists, and which would fear its development and fight against it. Do you understand that?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker, I do. The point has never been stressed-â€Å" â€Å"Don't minimize. It has never been made – in the classroom, though you should be capable of deducing it yourself. This and many other points we will make now and in the near future during your apprenticeship. You will see me again in a week. By that time, I would like to have comments from you as to a certain problem which I now set before you. I don't want complete and rigorous mathematical treatment. That would take a year for an expert, and not a week for you. But I do want an indication as to trends and directions.*** â€Å"You have here a fork in the Plan at a period in time of about half a century ago. The necessary details are included. You will note that the path followed by the assumed reality diverges from all the plotted predictions; its probability being under one percent. You will estimate for how long the divergence may continue before it becomes uncorrectable. Estimate also the probable end if uncorrected, and a reasonable method of correction.† The Student flipped the Viewer at random and looked stonily at the passages presented on the tiny, built-in screen. He said: â€Å"Why this particular problem, Speaker? It obviously has significance other than purely academic.† â€Å"Thank you, my boy. You are as quick as I had expected. The problem is not supposititious. Nearly half a century ago, the Mule burst into Galactic history and for ten years was the largest single fact in the universe. He was unprovided for; uncalculated for. He bent the Plan seriously, but not fatally. â€Å"To stop him before he did become fatal, however, we were forced to take active part against him. We revealed our existence, and infinitely worse, a portion of our power. The First Foundation has learned of us, and their actions are now predicated on that knowledge. Observe in the problem presented. Here. And here. â€Å"Naturally, you will not speak of this to anyone.† There was an appalled pause, as realization seeped into the Student. He said: â€Å"Then the Seldon Plan has failed!† â€Å"Not yet. It merely may have failed. The probabilities of success are still twenty-one point four percent, as of the last assessment.†