Cache Level 3 Childcare- Unit 2 Assignment

Unit 2 Assignment A child develops through its whole life. They can develop; physically, linguistically, intellectually, socially and behaviourally. â€Å"Physical development is the way in which the body increases in skill and becomes more complex in its performance† [Meggitt, 2000, Page 2]. Twenty five days after conception; the body of the chid has developed immensely from the small fertilised egg. Up to birth the foetus mainly develops physically however once the child is born the child then begins the long process of development. Not only do the gross motor skills and the fine motor skills develop on the baby, but the sensory development also widens on the child. Birth to 12 months Motor control develops from the head, moves down through the arms and the trunk and then to the legs and feet, according to an item on early development on the online magazine Parenting. Initial movements are reflexive in nature, such as turning the head to the side when the cheek is stroked, which aids in feeding. As the initial survival reflexes fade, motor skills are related to the growing ability to observe and interact with the environment. At 3 months of age, the infant progresses to lifting the head and chest up when lying in its belly and may press up with its arms. A 3-month-old kicks its legs when lying on the belly or back, and bats at and briefly grasps toys. The World Health Organisation 1996 indicates that between 3 and 4 months, he begins rolling with belly to back first, and back to belly closer to 6 months. The following average ages of motor milestone achievement come from a 1996 study by the World Health Organisation. The average age at which infants sat without support was 6 months. The average age for standing with support was 7. 6 months. Infants in the study crawled on hands and knees at 8. 5 months. Walking with assistance occurred at 9 months. The average age of an infant who achieved standing alone was 11 months. In regards to communication a newborn infant will cry to indicate need. They will make brief eye-contact and can often respond to high-pitch tones by moving their limbs. A month after birth the baby changes from crying to cooing and gurgling to express need. They will cry in more expressive ways to experiment and learn how to make different noises. This is the basis in which the child will learn to speak and communicate more effectively. By the age of 3 months the child can change their tone and intensity to express a more important need such as feeding or pain. They can also become more conversational in which this is the point where the child will learn turn-taking and from this will be able to communicate at an older age with their parents or carers more effectively. When the child is 6 months old they can understand simple words such as ‘bye-bye’. They can also make gestures to support speech such as raising their arms to be picked up. At this age they begin to progress to babbling using monosyllables and later combining these to begin forming their first words. By their first birthday the child will be able to understand the command ‘no’ and will soon imitate noises made by the environment around them and in particular the noises made by their careers. The child will also be able to point to support their language such as ‘mummy’ whilst pointing to their mum. They will also be able to say 2-6 simple words by combining their monosyllables. The child will also experiment with babbling to make up new words with no meaning. 2 months-23 months A child can walk unsupported across a room with stopping or changing direction between 13 and 15 months. Around 18 months, kicking and throwing balls, running, climbing stairs with assistance, and propelling scoot toys join the toddler's set of mobility and play skills. Between the ages of 12-23 months the child will be able to name simple parts of their body such as head and hands, they will also be able to identify pictures such as dog, cat and car. At eighteen months the child’s vocabulary will extend to around 40 words and will be able to understand around 80 words. Their speech extends to the holophrastic stage and often this is supported by gestures. They will also be able to recognise their own name and will be most likely be able to pronounce it. 24 months-35 months Between the ages of 2 and 3, balance improves and the toddler walks with a smoother gait. During this period she learns to stand briefly on one foot, walk backwards, and walk on tiptoes. A child jumps in place around 24 months and progresses to jumping over a small obstacle by 36 months. At 24 months she climbs a small ladder and goes down a small slide, then manoeuvres on a variety of playground equipment around 35 months. Between 30 and 34 months, toddlers begin to walk up stairs alternating feet without a hand held or use of a railing. Other play skills expected within a few months of the third birthday are catching a playground ball that has been tossed to the child and pedalling a tricycle. At the age of 2 their language develops to the telegraphic stage meaning their speech is similar to telegrams, approximately two or three words which express a need or command. At 2 the child will often ask many questions to extend their vocabulary further, such as ‘what’s that? ’ They will share songs and rhymes however will be unsure of some words. This changes at the age of 30 months when the child will be able to say some nursery rhymes with little support and will begin to speak to themselves (monologues) through play. Between three to seven years a child changes physically in many ways. The child becomes physically more independent and therefore allows the gift of exploration to enhance learning. 3 years Towards the end of the Childs third year they can build towers with 9 or more bricks, walk backwards and jump the steps. Also the child will gain a good spatial awareness meaning they can move around objects efficiently. The child can also copy letters such as ‘v’, ‘h’, and ‘t’ due to the use of only straight lines. This shows the child is not yet gained accurate pencil control to attain curved letters. At the age of three a child, if another language is spoken around them will be able to become bilingual and this becomes apparent by saying hello or other simple words in another language. They can begin simple conversations however often missing out conjunctions and articles (the, and, a). They finally can use personal pronouns and plurals correctly meaning that further vocabulary has been drastically expanded. years Children of this age often take challenges to enjoy the sense of risk. [Hughes] (See appendix I) Risk enhances play and also encourages children to venture out from their normal behaviour. Risks taken often include climbing trees, making sharp turns on a tricycle and tiptoe; which are all achievable by the age of four years. When addressing fine mot or skills, the child can thread small beads on to a thick lace, can hold a pencil in correct fashion and can copy the letters, ‘x’, ’v’, ’h’, ’t’ and ‘o’. A four year old child is also capable of naming four primary colours with ease. The language development of a four year old is when many confusions are apparent. A four year old child will be confused with fact and fiction and from this will begin to ask more questions to develop a better understanding. They will be able to relay a story in which they have recently read or experienced with stating the key points however will miss out certain points of necessary information. 5 years A child of 5 years often includes rhythm in their movement whether it is dancing or running. They have good balance and many children when they reach the age of 5 can ride a bike unsupported. They also have good co-ordination enabling more ‘exciting’ and ‘interesting’ play due to the ability to change play environments; for example outdoors, or specific games such as football. The child can also have effective pencil control allowing the opportunity to explore different letters involving curves such as ‘u’, ‘c’, ‘a’ and ‘y’. They can also use a knife and fork meaning a greater sense of independence will be achieved. [Montessori] (See appendix II) A child of five years of age will love telling jokes and riddles and will often gain an interest in reading and writing. They will be able to recognise their name when written down and will attempt to write it with support. They can differentiate past, present and future and will be able to change words to the correct form for the context. 6 years Steward,J: http://www. stokespeaksout. org/grownups/Developing%20Pencil%20Grasp%20. Developing Pencil Grasp-2008 A child of 6 years is gaining strength and agility in their physical movements. Many children have better co-ordination and find that they participate more in activities such as hopping, skipping and throwing/catching balls accurately. In regards to fine motor skills children can build a straight tower of cubes, can hold a pen with a dynamic tripod grasp (see left) and can write letters of a similar size such as ‘a’ and ‘o’. A child of six years will begin to speak more fluently and this is where the turn-taking takes its force. Many children of this age will be able to pronounce many of the phonetic sounds of their language and will be able to recognise these in many spoken words. This basic knowledge of phonetics is what is the scaffolding for furthering their vocabulary and learning new words. 7 years At this age children can climb and play on apparatus with a precise skill using their outstretched arms for balance. They can control their speed when moving (running) and can swerve to avoid accidents. Their increased stamina at the age of seven allows a child to participate in more activities such as swimming or skating. Their fine motor skills are improving drastically with their written form in proportion and accurate. Letters are differentiated now and are in the correct shape. Threading is more efficient with a seven year old being able to sew using a large needle and thread. At seven a child will be able to express themselves not only in speech but in non-verbal communication also. The development of their fine motor skills and their ability of writing letters correctly often allows the child to use the written form to express themselves. Jean Piaget’s theory on language acquisition gives a clear idea on the linguistical development of the child. Piaget states that there are four stages in which a child develops their language. These are; Sensory-motor period, Pre-operational period, Egocentrism, and the Operational period. The sensory-motor period (Birth-2 years) states that children are born with basic schemas (sequence of cognitive actions) such as sucking. In this stage children’s language becomes egocentric meaning that they talk to themselves like monologues. The Pre-operational period happens between the ages of 2 and 7. Their schemas allow them to learn new words quickly and they begin to make telegraphic sentences such as â€Å"Ben has milk†. During this stage children will often talk about things in the future or will be able to discuss their feelings, this showing symbolic language. Egocentrism begins towards the final year of the pre-operational stage. Egocentrism is common among many children to develop their play further. Animism is also common at the same stage as egocentrism where a child considers everything to be alive, this can include inanimate objects. Finally the operational period begins at the age of 7 and continues right through to adulthood. This stage is divided into two separate sections Chomsky’s nature theory of language development in children shows that children are born with an ability to understand language structures. Chomsky believes that children initially possess, then develop without being affected by where they live. This is called ‘Universal Grammar’ and is inbuilt in all human language systems. This then moves on to the critical period which means that children reach a stage in which their language is high in alertness. At this point (4-5 years) children should be frequently exposed to language and if this does not happen the child’s language does not develop and the child doesn’t have a high amount of language. After the critical period has been reached it is near impossible for the child to develop their language. There are many different types of observation types you can do when observing children. Three types I have used in my observations are: Written/Narrative: This is the most common type of observation technique. It is used to record a naturally occurring event (free description) or a structured recording, where a certain task is set, appropriate to the ability of the child. It provides a description of an event unfolding in front of you, written in past tense so that it is easy for anyone to understand what is happening. Advantages: You are using a skill which you practice every day and that is familiar to other people * Little equipment is required (timer, paper and a pen) * Little preparation needed and no formal planning is essential * The observation can be carried out at almost anytime Disadvantages: * You may not be able to explain all the events which are happening very quickly * Sometimes can prove difficult to write down all information * Observers with little experience may f ind themselves recording something irrelevant to the observation * May be repetitious and boring May produce a lot of information Checklists: A form is used in this observation to help the observer look for particular skills that a child has. This method is often used as part of an assessment of a child’s stage of development. It is useful to find out what stage a child is at. Particularly useful in regards to physical development. Advantages: * A quick way of presenting a great deal of information * Results are obvious and understandable * Can be repeated to access development Can be used by parents for the nursery’s benefit. Disadvantages: * Does not explain how competent a child is at that task only explains that they can do it * Does not give a clear picture Mapping: This type of observation is a short hand way of showing information about an individual or sometimes a group of children. A mapping chart can sometimes be used to see how a child uses equipment in the setting by drawing a plan of the space being used for the observation and drawing lines to show where the child has been. Advantages: * Helpful in planning the use of equipment * Easy to show information * Can highlight likes and dislikes of certain equipment Disadvantages: * Limited use * It only shows their preferences are rarely shows developmental progress Maintaining confidentiality is essential. It is important that you ask permission to observe the child and ask if you are allowed to use the information. If a parent/carer does not wish for the child to be observed it is important that this is followed. When completing the observation it is important that the child is unaware they are being observed this is because it will single out the child from the others and this may be stressful for the child. It is important that once the observation has been completed the observation is kept in the child’s folder in a locked cupboard so no other persons can view it. If for reasons including other professionals needing to view the observation it is important that the child’s name is not present on the form and that the parent is contacted before the information is shared. When doing an observation it is professional if the child’s name is not present and in fact the use of ‘Child A’ for example, to be used instead. It is essential that no child’s personal information is shown on the form such as date of birth and in fact a rough age is more appropriate such as 2 years 2 months. This is so the child’s personal information is kept confidential between their key worker and the child/parent. The Data Protection Act 1998 ensures that all personal information is kept hidden and locked away in a storage area where only the specific people can access the information. The only information held should be relevant to the aim of the observation and no information should be collected for personal use of the setting. Information should only be shared once consent has been given and this is for individual persons only. So for example another professional who will be supporting a particular child (physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, etc). In regards to confidentiality of observations parents are entitled to see the observation and under no circumstances should this entitlement be declined. Personal views on a child should not be taken into consideration and no part knowledge of the child should be present in the observation, such as the child has improved since the last observation, as the observation should be objective. At my setting the policy about observations is when observations are carried out the practitioner is to As the child in my observations is 2 years of age, she is at the stage of physical development where she can stand on one foot, walk backwards or on tiptoes, jumping over an obstacle, cycle and climb. These skills are all shown in my observation mapping (observation 2) as the child goes through a cycle of; running, walking, running, cycling, skipping, climbing, sitting, climbing, running, jumping and finally running again. This shows that the child is very confident about being physical in an outdoor environment. In the observation it is clear that the child takes her time getting on to the cycle or changing their skills. For example; 1:09 the child has finished on the cycle however she takes until 1:13 to skip to the next apparatus. This may be because she may have mastered the skills needed, but she could be possibly uncertain of moving swiftly from one skill to the next. The child is showing the cycling skills of a four year old as it is a milestone of a four year old child to make sharp turns on a tricycle. The child in my observations completed two sharp turns, possibly not intentionally, and therefore this leaves the child capable of a four year olds physical skills. However, in my third observation the child cannot walk on tiptoe. This is a key milestone of a two year old and this shows that the child is not fully ble to complete all the milestones. Another milestone she couldn’t achieve was hopping on one foot. Both these skills require good balance which is something this child has still not achieved. Although the child is physically capable of normal day-to-day activities the child will fall behind physically if her balance does not develop. Observations are useful in regards to planning. For exa mple mapping observations show a clear picture on their preferences in the setting. It shows what activities when go to and how long the child is there for. Observations are only useful when used and evaluated on in time. This therefore allows the practitioner to plan a child’s activities to their preferences. Observations also highlight in which stage the child’s development is it and therefore shows the practitioner at what stages they should be planning for and providing the appropriate activities. Observations also highlight any learning difficulties that child may have which will highlight if any extra support is needed which therefore can be referred to the appropriate professional. It will also highlight any problems the settings have in providing for the child for example if the child plays with no toys then it is clear that their maybe no activities the child may be interested in and therefore daily observations should be done to see if there are any activities which the child enjoys and in time the practitioners will be able to plan effectively. Finally observations can show the way a child learns so therefore it can help practitioners plan on how many children and adults should be involved in an activity which will develop one individual child’s development. It is clear from the observations that the child is very physically capable however the planning around improving the child’s balance is vital. Without balance the child will struggle with not only complex physical movements but simple walking would prove difficult and would highly likely result in the child falling over. So it is important that the planning highlights the problem of balance and provides activities around that. An individual plan for this child would be to complete an obstacle course so many times a week, slowly using less support to improve the balance. Providing challenging equipment for this child would allow the child to feel, when ready, to use the apparatus this therefore developing balance. In my second observation it is clear that the child likes to use a high percentage of the playground. However it is clear to see that the child does not use the sandpit or the far right side of the playground. This could be taken into consideration when planning to ensure that sand is not used to encourage development of the child because the child does not take an interest in the sandpit. Also by completing the observations the setting can discuss with the parents the child’s preferences at the setting and find out how to implement popular objects into developing skills. Observing children can have implications on the practitioners work. It is important the practitioner is fully trained and understands how to plan, complete and evaluate observations. It is important that the right type of observation is used in the right context with a suitable amount of knowledge about confidentiality to observe. Whilst a practitioner is observing it is likely that they will be thinking about the reliability of their observation. It is easy to miss important information when observing when you have other children as possible distractions, or other issues such as fire alarms. This then questions the reliability of the observation, how much essential information is apparent in the observation? Am I observing the child correctly? Observations are forever changing with practitioners being forever told of new ways to observe, what can’t be included in observations and the initiatives and legislation behind observations. What is the appropriate observation technique for children. The problem I believe is that children need to be observed in different types of styles. For example, if I was working with a child who had only very basic skills I would use a checklist observation to ensure they can complete the basics however if a child is known to be more complex than a narrative type of observation is more effective as small skills can be highlighted to support their skills. On the other hand, do observations really support children’s learning? It, as all practitioners know, is important to observe children to highlight issues with children’s development but the issue becomes a serious problem when practitioners begin to use observations to plan a child’s day at setting. One observation, if aiming to gain a complete knowledge about a child, is simply not enough. A child will act differently throughout a day at setting due to emotions, different practitioners working, different activities and being tired, so is it really appropriate to take judgements from one observation every couple of days. In theory, effective observations should be taken 3-4 times daily, ensuring that the child has been observed in key points in the day. This therefore gives practitioners a clear idea about the child and their behaviour. But this is simply not feasible in many settings due to lack of time and staff training. Also, although practitioners should not put their own knowledge into observations it is common for practitioners to make judgements about children. One disadvantage of accessing children through observations is that you are only getting information about the child for that selected amount of time. As stated earlier a child’s behaviour will change continuously throughout a day at setting, what i believe would be more effective would be to record a child’s behaviour throughout the whole day and then after a certain amount of time, e. g. a week, another recording is taken. This information can then be compared giving more information about the child. At my setting, it is clear that they are using both current and older theories in their work with children. The two theories I highlighted earlier are specifically used in the foundation stage whilst considering the critical period of 4-5 year olds, it is clear that the practitioners focus on language in the early years units of primary schools. I believe that Chomsky’s theory of critical period is very important in practice and often by the time the children reach the year 1 stage they are very fluent in both written and spoken language. Bibliography Meggitt, C. and Sunderland, G. (2000) Child development: an illustrated guide. Heinemann Educational. Hobart,C (1999) A practical guide to Child Observation and Assessment. nd Edition. Nelson Thornes ltd Harding, J. and Meldon-Smith, L. (2000) How to make observations and assessments. 2nd edn. London: Hodder and Stoughton. Baldwin, M (2003) The Data Protection Act 1998- The summary http://www. dpa. lancs. ac. uk/summary. htm, Lancaster University http://www. little-learners-childcare. co. uk/PlayworkTheories. aspx: Playwork Theories, L ine 6:26 http://www. dailymontessori. com/montessori-theory/: Montessori Theory, Line 9:15 Piaget, J(2001) The language and thought of the child. Routledge LTD Bailey, D (2000) Critical thinking about Critical periods. Brookes Publishing Co

Community Corrections Essay

Introduction: 1. Corrections and the tools used to punish and rehabilitate offenders. 2. Introduce Community Corrections. 3. Introduce Thesis- A community corrections sentencing strategy applies a range of intermediate punishments and would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community by lowering costs and prison overcrowding, while keeping intermediate crime offenders out of jails and prisons. Body Paragraphs: 1. How Community Corrections provides alternatives to imprisonment. 2. How Community Corrections is designed to consider both the safety of local residents as well as the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the offender. 3. How Community Corrections reduces prison overcrowding. 4. How Community Corrections allows judges’ a more graduated sentencing system that offers an selection of intermediate sanctions including fines, community service, electronic monitoring, house arrest, intensive probation and boot camps. Conclusion: How a Community Corrections sentencing strategy is effective in its ability to help rehabilitate offenders and keep prisons clear of intermediate offenders. Reference Page: APA formatted reference page. Using community corrections to better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community. The United States correctional system serves two main specific functions in relation to criminal offenders. The correctional system serves as a tool for punishing offenders and forcing the offender to pay for their crimes, it also serves as a means for rehabilitating offenders and preparing them for successful reentry into society. The correctional system today uses probation, parole, imprisonment, and the death penalty to both punish and rehabilitate offenders. A community corrections sentencing strategy applies a range of intermediate punishments and would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community by keeping intermediate crime offenders out of jails and prisons. Community corrections describes programs that provide alternatives to the imprisonment of offenders in jails or prisons. These programs include activities located in the same areas in which offenders live and work. Community corrections options are designed to consider both the safety of local residents as well as the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the offender. According to (Morris & Tonry, 1990), a more comprehensive sentencing strategy that relies on a range of intermediate punishments including; fines, community service, intensive probation, and electronic monitoring would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community. Community corrections can be very beneficial to the individuals who are placed on probation in a sense that it gives them a second chance to redeem their wrongs in society. (Foster, Burk, 2006). Community corrections vary from city to city and state to state, and were originally decentralized under the control of local courts. (Foster, Burk, 2006). Currently, community based alternatives to prison are either state run programs, or county run programs subsidized by the state. Community corrections affect society in a number of positive and negative ways. The positive effect is that probation cuts down on prison and jail costs, and can save hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars that it would cost to feed and house offenders if they were sentenced to prison or jail. A negative effect on society is that you honestly cannot determine whether, the probationer or parolee will abide by the terms of release. Most prisons are experiencing overcrowding. Several states in the south were ordered by federal mandate to either relieve the overcrowding of the prison system or adapt to other forms of corrections (Petersillia, 1998). This created the concept of intermediate sanctions. Intermediate sanctions are the end result of the idea that imprisonment and probation are both used excessively. (Morris and Tonry, 1990). It was argued that intermediate sanctions could relieve overcrowding, enhance public safety and rehabilitate offenders while producing cost saving to the jurisdictions that imposed them (Petersillia, 1998). (Morris and Tonry, 1990) argued that imprisonment and probation are both used exceptionally, with a near emptiness of useful alternatives in between. They argued that judges should be allowed a more graduated sentencing system that offers an selection of intermediate sanctions including fines, community service, electronic monitoring, house arrest, intensive probation and boot camps. This, they felt, was crucial as different punishments are viewed differently by various criminals. Boot camp prisons were designed to relieve the overcrowded prison system by reducing the financial costs to the state with the secondary goal of rehabilitating offenders (Mackenzie and Shaw, 1990). (Mackenzie and Shaw, 1990) found the majority of boot camp participants showed stronger positive feelings about their prison experience and were more motivated about the possibility of personal change rather than those who served their sentence in traditional prisons. (Hermes, 2008) stated, â€Å"From 1987 to 2007, the amount that states spent on corrections increased 127 percent, more than six times the 21 percent increase that states directed to higher education over the same period, according to the report. The report written from the Pew Center stated that, â€Å"the Pew Center on the States also shows that increases in states’ corrections budgets are far surpassing those for higher education.†(Hermes, 2008). The report from the Pew Center also showed that Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Oregon, and Vermont spend more on corrections than on higher education. Corrections expenses are higher than ever and are on the rise. If the corrections system does not change it will continue to cost states more and more every year. Funding these prisons this way takes money away from higher learning universities and colleges and the students of our future, the time for change is now. A community corrections sentencing strategy is effective in its ability to help rehabilitate offenders, keep prisons clear of intermediate offenders, all while serving the community by lowering costs of prisons and leaving room for the most violent offenders out in the community. Reference Page Community Corrections. (2002). In World of Criminal Justice, Gale. Retrieved from http://lib.kaplan.edu/login?url=/login?qurl=http://www.credoreference.com.lib.kaplan.edu/entry/worldcrims/community_corrections. Deschenes, E. & Petersilia J. (1994) . What punishes? Inmates rank the severity of prison vs. intermediate sanctions. Federal Probation, Vol. 58 Page: 3 Gale. (2008). West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, Edition 2. capital punishment Hermes, J. J. (2008). 5 States Spend More on Prisons Than on Colleges. Chronicle Of Higher Education, 54(27), A17. Mackenzie, D. & Shaw J. (1990). Inmate Adjustment and Change during Shock Incarceration: The Impact of Correctional Boot Camp Programs† Justice Quarterly, Vol.7: 1:125-150 Morris, N., & Tonry, M. (1990). Between prison and probation: Intermediate punishments in a rational sentencing system. New York: Oxford University Press. Pearson Education, Inc. (1995-2010). Sentencing and the Correctional System Summary, Chapter 11. Petersilia, J. (1998). A Decade of Experimenting with Intermediate Sanctions: What Have We Learned† Federal Probation. 62:7-20. Schwarzenegger, A. Governor (2010).http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jan/08/overcrowded-and-expensive-governor-addresses-calif

Analysis of Albania’s Tax System

Analysis of Albanias Tax System INTRODUCTION Every one can make the question: â€Å"why do we have taxes?†.Practically we can say , that one democratic state can not exist without taxes, even if he does not operate just with taxes.Taxes and taxability are a necessity. The standard of living of a modern society demands it; governments must collect the revenues in order to provide the goods and services that their citizens need, want and demand. The principal sources of Albanian tax legislation are the Constitution, various laws and decrees. The Parliament is the prime taxing authority in Albania, while the Ministry of Finance is the executive branch, responsible for administration of the laws. There is an important difference between tax and taxability in Albania.Taxability is an obligated and irreversible payment in state budget which include administrative charges and penalties for the delays provided by law. They are obligated payments of different contributors used for general public services, in that wa y state can accomplish his duty. While tax is an obligated contribute to pay from one person who profits directly from public services. They are a type of compensation for special public services accomplished from state in advantage of citizen. Taxes are mostly resource of locale organs entries of state, city halls, communes . Taxes for public services which we pay for has the element of volition, wich can not happen in no case with taxability. In financial point of view the taxes role is little than taxability ,so the role and the importance of taxes in confronting expenses for the public services is more sensible in the local budget than in the national budget. The following project aims to treat with no details the types of taxes and taxability in the Republic of Albania,their importance and influence in the economy.Often the country’s financial authorities have been propagating that tax levels in Albania are among the lowest in the region so in another section we will sti ck to the comparative analysis of tax burden. We will try to compare it with Macedonia and Greece. This article is structured as follows: First, we will briefly review the types of taxes and taxabilities in Albania. Second we will try to analyse and compare their importances in economy of our country with Macedonia and Greece. Finally, chapter four provides a summary and the conclusions on the issues treated.    OVERVIEW ON TAX SYSTEM IN ALBANIA In the following section we will briefly review the classification of taxability and taxes in Albania.1 1 This section is based mainly on a summary of tax system in Albania presented by Financat (2006). 2.1 Taxes 2.1.1 National Taxes National Taxes cover 23% of the income that the state recieves from the taxes system,that is why they are considered very important to the Government’s budget.Among the main national taxes,we can mention Road Traffic Tax,Higher Education Tax and Registration fee for Poker Games, Casinos, for sport compe titions taking place at the racetrack.Road Traffix Taxes include taxes imposed by the Government for the use of imported vehicles ,also the old ones,for the fuel consumption etc.The universities and other Academies are charged with the collection of Higher Education Tax.These taxes are cashed not later than 30 days from the official date of the beginning of the school year, in any academic year.While the tax on registration of gambling, casinos for sportive races held in hippodromes is payable only once at the beginning of such activities and their registration.

MGT506 - Strategic Leadership, Mod 3 Case PowerPoint Presentation

MGT506 - Strategic Leadership, Mod 3 Case - PowerPoint Presentation Example Tenets of Servant Leadership In 1970, Robert Greenleaf first described what he called the ‘servant leader’. This is an individual whose first aspiration is to serve, and subsequently makes a conscious choice to aspire to lead. Leadership in this sense is in aid of service, which is in stark contrast with an individual who would first aspire to lead before he or she would serve. For the servant leader, serving is not a task, but a calling; he does not exert effort, as much as surrender to the natural inclination, to render service. Servant leaders generously impart their lofty ideas to those who would listen. ‘Servant leaders thrive on the opportunity to share ideas, because the process of sharing creates accountability for the results that are generated from their actions’ (Savage-Austin & Honeycutt, 2011, p. 53). Persons in positions of authority are wary of their utterances, mindful that they shall be held to what they say, when what they said was void of conviction when they said it. Servant leaders are not afraid to express their beliefs because they live their lives consistently with these beliefs. Greenleaf had a clear and substantial view of servant leadership. He identified ten principles of servant leadership (2013). ... John Quincy’s entire career was in service to the country, as diplomat, US senator, secretary of state, president, and in his post-presidential life he rendered 17 years of service as congressman. JQA’s achievements are many. He was U.S. minister to the Netherlands at the age of 27, and afterward he served in the Massachusetts State Senate and the U.S. Senate. During his return to diplomatic service he helped in the negotiation of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 that ended the War of 1812. He authored the Monroe Doctrine which defined U.S. foreign policy. He also negotiated with the United Kingdom concerning America’s border with Canada to the north, and with Spain on the matter of the annexation of Florida in the south. The weight of these achievements is such that their legacy has prevailed to the present, which is testament to JQA’s foresight and this uncanny ability to persuade, conceptualize, and communicate. They have made JQA one of the greatest secreta ries of state and diplomats in U.S. history (Herring, 2008). JQA’s presidency was austere and bereft of the pomp and pageantry surrounding the present-day White House, partly because Washington D.C. during his time was characterized by ‘tottery houses surrounded by mud and besieged by snakes, rats and bugs.’ (Simpson, 2012). However, it was also in no small due to JQA’s simple and unpretentious lifestyle. His biography describes JQA’s typical day as president: â€Å"While President of the United States, he was probably the first man up in Washington, lighted his own fire, and was hard at work in his library, while sleep yet held in its obliviousness the great mass of his

Political Potential of Citizen Journalism Essay

Political Potential of Citizen Journalism - Essay Example In such circumstances when reporting from the place affected by crisis becomes valuable and essential, those who earlier were simple observers take roles of journalists with the help of modern technologies. It makes professional journalists face a serious question about the future of their profession as information is becoming more available and easier to generate. A possibility to disseminate news within a click of a mouse is turning the whole process of information production into a tool of political influence and democracy establishment, and historical events in Eastern Europe and in Arab countries can serve as bright examples of the statement.   However, it is necessary to define what the concept of citizen journalism means as it has appeared quite recently and is still shaping. According to Bowman and Willis, citizen journalism is defined as the media content produced by citizens who take an active role in â€Å"collecting, reporting, and analyzing information and news† (2003, 9). Reasonably, it is the Internet that has played a crucial role in emerging citizen journalist phenomenon. Moreover, technological evolution and fast spread of innovations were important for accidental journalism emergence. A great variety of devices that are charged and plugged rapidly and connected to the Internet within seconds permitted almost every citizen to create some content from posts on Facebook to videos on YouTube. It allowed many people sharing their information instantly and also gave a chance to find the right auditory for this information. And the combination of these two factors: instant and relevant content and those wh o consume it was the primary factor in the phenomenon emergence (Bruns, 2005, 1).   The appearance of citizen journalism is closely connected to the introduction of digital culture.

Property Cycles - UK Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Property Cycles - UK Experience - Essay Example The above described cycles have been proved to have a significant role on the development of national economy (or its decrease during periods of recession). The research focuses on the effects of property cycles on the economy of Britain as these effects can be observed on the daily consumption behaviour of people across Britain. All parts of the property market development as well as the risks that are related with the specific part of the economy are going to be analyzed emphasizing on the potential use of property cycles in order to support the local economy. Generally, it could be stated that the property market is characterized by continuous and radical changes. The specific issue has been examined by Pain et al. (1994, 53) who noticed that ‘the behaviour of the personal sector has changed markedly over the past 15 years, coinciding with a period in which overall consumers expenditure proved extremely difficult to forecast with any degree of accuracy’. Because of the above phenomenon, the national economy – which is closely related with the property market - faces severe turbulences by achieving a significant level of growth when the prices of houses are increased and having severe losses in periods that the prices of houses are decreased because of the lack of monetary resources available that they could help the enhancement of the property market. In a relevant research published by National Statistics Online (2007) it was revealed that ‘a feature of home ownership in the United Kingdom is the relatively lar ge number of homes purchased with a mortgage; approximately three quarters of house purchases are financed with a mortgage loan facility’. This means that consumers in Britain cannot afford the purchase of a new house and for this reason they seek for the support of the financial institutions. However, if taking into account the fact that borrowing cannot be increased on a continuous basis (such a fact could lead the national economy to severe

Cheapchip Cooke Project Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cheapchip Cooke Project Business Plan - Essay Example Next, fixed overhead costs must also be managed with much care because here electricity and gas costs might rise even without the knowledge of the management. A significant percentage of businesses are faced with the threat oc closure nowadays because of the rising energy costs. Finally, cost centers or cost drivers as they are known in accounting jargon, must be identified before costs are allocated to them. Failure to do so will lead to confusion as to which area of the business has higher costs and which less. * Operating Leverage may be defined as the ability of a firm to use its fixed operating costs (rent etc.) to magnify the effect of changes in sales on its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT). The formula for Degree of Operating Leverage (DOL) is: 3. Number of cookies of various categories that can be baked during 180 days are: 1792 x 180 = 3,22,560 while my budgeted annual sales stand at 3,87,082 (the margin of safety output). I assume that the difference of 64,522 cookies can be baked with some overtime work assigned to full-time workers. My calculations of the break-even points or output levels are based on a realistic assumption of what is desirable and achievable given the capacity constraint imposed by the 112 batch of cookies per 30 minutes. Working hours per day cannot be stretched beyond 8 unless overtime payment is given to those workers who willingly work after the 8-hour shift during the night. My calculations of costs both fixed and overhead are based on realistic estimates that included the additional costs of selling cookies such as the cost of 0.25 cents per cookie sold. Also I have taken into consideration the total fixed cost as equivalent to $ 40,000 per year excluding the depreciation charge. I have assumed a breakeven point of 70,000 cookies per annum of type C1 which is priced at $ 0.50. Even if the

Health and Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Health and Science - Essay Example of defense mechanism the person tries to repress any such undesirable feeling or thought or memory which causes any kind of mental turmoil to the person or which he wished not to have occurred ever. In this situation the person just wants to cut that portion of life away or just forget the situation. Hysterical amnesia is an example of this mechanism where a person performs or observes certain disturbing incident and then just forgets the incident and its surroundings. Repression is used in negative way when the person indulges in any harmful act and then forgets it. For example the person hurts or kills others at a certain state of mind or when finds others at a certain situation and then as soon as s/he is taken away from the situation or that particular state of mind s/he completely forgets the incident. Reaction formation is the kind of defense mechanism related to the fixation in consciousness of an idea or desire which is opposite to any unconscious fear. In this situation the person experiencing any conflict becomes obsessive with the situation either in positive or in negative manner. The person unconsciously tries to prove that s/he has completely accepted the situation which is opposite to her/his desire and in doing so s/he becomes over protective or solicitous to the situation. This may be expression of her/his internal guilt of not accepting the condition, e.g. an overprotective mother for her unwanted child. The negative reaction can be seen when this obsession affects the life of the child or others in a dangerous manner. Here the mother interferes too much in the life of the child and even hurts the child or anybody else who is trying to behave opposite to her obsession or notion. When a mother hurts the boyfriend of a girl child in order to keep him away from her daugh ter, it can serve as a negative reaction. Denial is the situation when a person consciously refuses to accept any painful incident. In this case the person tries to escape any

Scholarly Literature Review HRD 468 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scholarly Literature Review HRD 468 - Assignment Example This paper is going to review three articles with special focus on the quality management discussed within them and identify the major striking features of significance and conclude by examining the applicability of the total quality management to give solution. The paper, reviewed three study papers related to performance of the organization with relationship to quality. It realized that indeed, customers value quality and will appreciate a company that sticks to quality factors in its production process. Total quality management is a concept that has been with us for long time being developed and embraced by different companies with time. The concept is about introducing quality in all facets of production from design of a product to the ultimate sale of the product to the customer. Quality needs to be adopted in not only the production process but also the distribution, administration as well as customer service. It is therefore, not just a common practice within the private sector but also government agencies and administration (Vincent & Joel, 2004). This paper is going to review three articles with special focus on the quality management discussed within them and identify the major striking features of significance and conclude by examining the applicability of the total quality management to give solution. Gilles Grolleau, N. M. (2012). Is business performance related to the adorption of quality and environmental-related standards? Journal of environmnetal resource economics , 525-548. While trying to study how performance of businesses may be related to adoption of quality and environmental related standards with a sample of French firms confirmed that that the relationship may in fact be valid. However, they acknowledged the constraints of the data that their research faced. This apart from compromising the generalization of the research findings, also limited the validity of the research as a whole for implementation purposes (Gilles, Naoufel, &

Geographies of Social Difference Essay Example for Free

Geographies of Social Difference Essay Map 1: [Figure 2, People not fluent in English as a percentage of the total population aged 5 years and over, Sydney, 2006] (a) Compare the spatial pattern of the map to the map of unemployment. Does the map share the same spatial pattern as unemployment (i.e. do the areas of high and low concentration match)? Describe the similarities and differences in the spatial pattern. Figure (1) displays that there is a high prevalence of unemployed people in the Western and South western regions of Sydney. Sydneys South West areas and inner west areas have high numbers of people not fluent in English e.g. Cabramatta-Marrickville .Both Figure (1) and (2) correlate well with each other as the areas which are high numbers of unemployment are also areas which have a high number on individuals of are not fluent in English. b) Explain why your map shares (or does not share) a similar spatial pattern to the map of unemployment. Areas which have high numbers of unemployed individuals are also areas which have a high number in individuals who are not fluent in English. Individuals not being fluent in English may be limited to employment opportunities as they may lack fundamental communication skills which are needed in the workforce. They may also have limited opportunities to attain qualifications that may improve chances of employment due to their lack of English skills e.g. entering a Question 2, Map 2. Map 2: [Figure (3) Low income Households with a gross weekly income less than $500, as a percentage of all households. Sydney, 2006.] Compare the spatial pattern of the map to the map of unemployment. Does the map share the same spatial pattern as unemployment (i.e. do the areas of high and low concentration match)? Describe the similarities and differences in the spatial pattern. Figure (1) and Figure (3) have similar spatial patterns of unemployment and low income households. Both unemployment and low income are common in the central western parts of Sydney (Blacktown) and also South Western parts of Sydney such as Campbelltown and also leading into the inner western and eastern suburbs such as Villawood and Claymore (ABS, 2006). These maps show similarities as unemployment often results in individuals living off low income. b) Explain why your map shares (or does not share) a similar spatial pattern to the map of unemployment. Figure (1) and Figure (3) have similar spatial patterns as unemployment and low income correlate with each other. Both unemployment and low income are prevalent specifically in the Western suburbs of Sydney. Individuals who earn low incomes are left with little to no amounts of discretionary income, hence why they reside in areas within Western Sydney as estate is more affordable to buy or rent in comparison to other regions such as Northern Sydney Question 3: The map of unemployment shows that some areas of Sydney experience higher levels of unemployment compared to the rest of Sydney. Identify and explain the changes that have taken place in the economy (e.g. in Sydney, NSW, Australia) that have generated such unevenness in socio-economic opportunities. Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been known to humanity for countless years. These discrepancies are evident in all societies where there are a variety of individuals who belong to different classes on the social class ladder. These discrepancies are evident in figure (1) and (3) where unemployment and low income are most common in Western parts of Sydney. Individuals often chose to reside in Sydneys Western suburbs where living and life style costs are considerably cheaper in comparison to Eastern/Northern areas of Sydney. Economic changes within regions results in social polarization. Socio-spatial polarisation) refers to divergence over time in the life chances and socio-ec onomic circumstances of low income and middle to high income populations CITATION Wai00 \l 3081  (Waitt, et al., 2000). Income is a critical factor underlying polarisation. In Australia, the top 25 per cent of families now receive about 5 times as much disposable income as the lowest 25 per cent CITATION Wai00 \l 3081 (Waitt, et al., 2000). These statistics are evident in figure (1) where unemployment are most common in the Western parts of Sydney due to the living costs being lower in comparison to North and East suburbs of Sydney. As social-polarisation is associated with socioeconomic factors such as income and education, it can be said that individuals who are not fluent in English are less likely to find employment due to their lack of essential work skills. Another reason that causes discrepancies between low socioeconomic status communities and high socioeconomic status communities is the constant improvement and development of areas which are seen to be more desirable to live in. An example of this is the constant advertisements which portray messages saying new inner-city residence that will bring about a new way of living or state that living in the inner city has so many benefits: you can walk to work, miss traffic jams, stroll to all the best restaurants and be part of the lively city ambience CITATION Bau05 \l 3081 (Baum, et al., 2005). This results in individuals wishing to move into areas close to the CBD. As populations increase in these areas, infrastructure will also increase. This will create jobs which will favour individuals living close by. This cycle results in low socio-economic areas receiving less development opportunities as individuals prefer to reside in other areas e.g. Individuals preferring to reside in Northern Sydney over Western Sydney. Individuals who reside in Western Sydney Suburbs that are able to find employment in high socioeconomic areas such as Northern Sydney which are constantly redeveloped and improved are faced with the burdens of travelling for long periods . References Waitt, G, McGuirk, P, Dunn, K, Hartig, K Burnley, I 2000, Transforming cities: socio-spatial polarisation, in Introducing human geography: globalisation, difference and inequality, Longman, Sydney, pp. 405-406. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006. A Social Atlas, 2006 Census of Population Housing, Sydney: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Baum, S., OConnor, K. Stimson, R., 2005. Suburbs of advantage and disadvantage. In: Fault lines exposed: advantage and disadvantage across Australias  settlement system. Melbourne: Monash University ePress, pp. 12-30.

Challenges and Influences on The Salvation Army

Challenges and Influences on The Salvation Army THE SALVATION ARMY Introduction Background Hi, this assessment unit is 27763 about Analyze the impacts of influences and assesses their consequences for an organisation. The nonprofit Maori organization I have chosen is The Salvation Army. This organization has overcome poverty and spiritual pain in New Zealand. Its been helping more than 120,000 families and individuals in need each year-with budgeting advice, food and clothing assistance, life skills programs and other comfort and support. We are committed to our mission of caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society. Full-time officers and employees, along with soldiers (church members) who volunteer their skills and expertise, provide their social and church-based services. Our Army has over 3000 officers and employees in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga and is recognized as a high value employer. Our Army is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2005, registered number CC37312. This means we are freed from income tax. We are giving quality care and supp ort for needy people in their own homes. Influences: Â   Â   Internal Influences- i) Skills Skills are one of the important factors of an organization. We have highly trained and professional staff members providing their best efforts where needed with their skills. As it is a helping organization, we create a healthy and helping atmosphere in the organization if we are or not at work. We provide valuable skills through its unique training, employment and support services centers. ii) Staff Our army staff officers have worked as missionaries in many countries. Most recently, our army officers set up corps in Fiji since 1973 and Tonga in 1986. We have a large number of trained and experienced staff from different parts of world which shows the talent and co-operation among our staff. iii) Structure Our administrative structure of The Salvation Army can best be described by following diagram. iv) System We are updated to the new ways and technology which is affordable and beneficial for our purpose and goals. We know that we have to be always ready for any emergency for good running of the organization so we always the new technology, machines, staff according to our need. v) Shared values We are the best examples of the shared values. All Salvation Army worship services are open to everyone. We affirm that racial and multicultural combination of believers is desirable and reasonable. Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each person equal with each other, whether a person is a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. The Salvation Army is intentional in its efforts to incorporate different styles of worship to meet the specific needs of its increasingly diverse organizations. External Influences: vi) Social Our programs of social work among the homeless, unemployed, addicted and other needy people were the most visible aspect of its work in the 21st century. Moving away from our earlier, strongly independent attitude, our Army worked closely with government agencies and other organizations. We also addressed the causes as well as the effects of social hardship, and regularly advised and pushed the government on policies that affect the most weak in society. Recently, the Salvation Army gave their contribution in Nepal Earthquake and did a good job working three days in Nepal after the disaster. vii) Economic Now talking about the economic, we are well known for our economic contribution to the economy by network of Thrift Stores or Charity Shops, which raise money for its rehabilitation programs by selling donated used items such as clothing, housewares and toys. The Salvation Army has a history of free therapy from alcohol and drug abuse. Thrift stores provide the revenue to run the Adult Rehabilitation Centers known as ARCs. The ARCs, found in many global locations, are work and Bible-based operating with the 12-step program, and offer residential facilities which helps in economic condition of the country. viii) Political Moreover, talking about the politics, as an international Christian church and charitable organization, we work within a wide variety of political and social backgrounds. We are not supported by political parties. Although it pursues to influence governmental and public affairs, it will not promote or approve specific candidates or political parties. ix) Technological In extent to this talking about the technological factors, we have improved business processes including the management of finance, supply chain, asset and property management not only to overcome fragmentation of information but also to speed up the flow of information. Now, passersby can donate not only to the traditional workers with bells and buckets, but they can also swipe their credit cards, or simply enter their card information on a volunteers phone. Salvationists would receive Android smartphones donated by Sprint, outfitted with the square mobile card reader, and contributors can donate directly to the Armys account. x) Legal We are legally registered and secured and we are not interfered by any political parties so we do not have any worries about any issue if we keep on doing our job like we are doing now. xi) Environment In contribution to environment. The implications of our Environmental use of natural resources on current and future generations has to be considered and action taken to report this. The consequences of such use often have a greater impact on poorer nations, resulting in increased poverty. Furthermore, we are Promoting and resourcing work to minimize any negative environmental impact of its activities, Aligning work to the wider sustainability plan, The use of ethically sourced goods wherever possible, Reducing waste and increasing recycling. Impacts Opportunities Opportunities for the skills will be the new ideas for projects like positive lifestyle programme, parenting programs and surveys. We will give a rise to our staff by giving them bonus when they do a great job and promotions wherever needed. Moreover, salary is increased after every 6 months. This will be the opportunity for our staff. Our skills are the main key of our healthy running organization because we are doing our best with our skills for the organization. Our experienced and trained staff do their best where they are needed by their abilities. Our organizational structure and distribution of jobs is organized in the best manner by our Human Resource Management team. Our systems are up to date and it is helping the organisation by their proper use. We have an experienced multicultural staff from different parts of world in the organization which creates a positive environment in the staff to work smoothly without any discrimination and it makes a peaceful environment. We are not politically being interfered so we do not have any issues with politics. We are economically contributing in the economy by our mission and work done by us. We are socially attached and understand the conditions of needy persons so we are a socially reputed organisation. We always adopt the new technology in our use which helps us as well as the person we are helping so it is a good symbol for us. We are legally registered and secured so we do not have any worries about any issue if we keep on doing our job like we are doing now. We are environmentally helpful because we do not use or do any work which harms the environment so we are eco-friendly. These are the opportunities for our healthy running organization. Threats If an employees relation is not good with staff or feel insecure he/she might be able to case a file of physical/sexual/mental harassment or can do strikes and can disturb the confidentiality of the organisation. Sometimes there is hidden racism or partiality takes place in the working environment of the organization and it leads to the bad atmosphere within the organization and it will take the organization downwards and its the main impact on our shared values. As we all know, human does not have control on nature, so if anything goes wrong like earthquake, tsunami, and storm so we cannot do anything in that case, so it is a natural threat. People are what we working for, but sometimes we dont know what people want and think about us, so we can get negative feedback about us or may give us a negative response. We are legally approved working organization on a large scale, in case in future if there are some legal rules regulation changes that can be a major threat. As we are worki ng in a nonprofit organization with the latest use of technology, in future there might be some heavy technological change which we cannot afford easily or make in use of our organization then it will be a threat. We are politically not interfered by the politics or politicians but as we are working best on our goals, some political parties or politicians may get jealous of us or may not want to see our organization rising, they may be able to do some things which can make a bad issue against our organization. As we are contributing towards the growth of the economy and organization as well, there can be some changes in the tax rates or the policies which may not be in the favor of the organization. Consequences Skills are leading to the growth and development of the organization as well as the goodwill of the organisation by adopting new programs, projects and surveys. Our staff is now more comfortable while working with the new policies in favor of them by increasing their pay rate, and promotions. Now there is a positive atmosphere within the staff while their working hours. Our organisational structure is organized in a matter that makes our organisation a strong healthy working organisation. Our system is upgraded that it makes our organisation more advance and reachable wherever we are needed. Now we have more record of data and we are known where we are needed. Our shared values are very strong and our staff is proactive and they believe that they now have more knowledge of culture and talents of other parts of the world from their colleagues working together with them. We have no negative relations with the political parties as we are not politically interfered. Now we are economical ly highly strong that we have enough resources and assets for us. Our technological factors and our systems are so advanced that it is being the most helpful and giving a push to the organisation for its organisational work. As we are an environmental friendly organisation, we have contributed for some good causes for the organisation and we have achieved some honorable awards with our good work. As a result, we are working towards our goals in the best way and we are getting the positive results for that. Recommendations I recommend that we should always keep doing some efforts like surveys, seminars so that it will improve our organisational skills. Organisation should keep on hiring new talent and staff according to the need and changes in the organisation and when old staff which is no longer available to work should be retired with honor. For system, I recommend that there should not be any unawareness about the new systems as we have to be updated with our day to day operations. Our shared values should be same as present as our staff is working in a positive atmosphere and it is further needed in our organisation. We should not do any activity or take any step which makes us politically interfered in future so we have to be aware about that. There should not be any misuse or theft in the organisational money inside or outside the organisation as all the employees are getting reasonable pay for their work. For technology, there should not be any misuse or theft in the organisation of any technol ogical equipment and soft wares. I recommend that there should be more CCTV cameras and security options for the internal organisation. As we are doing well, we need to keep that carry on by not doing any illegal work by which our organisation have to face problems in the future. We need to be more careful about the environmental contribution because it the environment is good then we will be able to work otherwise not. References www.salvationarmy.org.nz www.educationandemployment.co.org www.wikipedia.com