Abstract Ensuring that all children receive an optimal education has emerged in recent years as a crisis warranting significant concern among parents, citizens, policy-makers and government officials. The responsibility of superintendent has undergone dramatic changes over the past years, reflecting the changes in our culture today. As contemporary society becomes increasingly diverse and complex, so does the process of preparing children for life as independent thinkers, productive citizens, and future leaders. This paper analyzes and explains some of the methods and personal philosophies that could be used to successfully lead a school district today. It also provides some insight on prior research studies that will assist as a guideline for implementing these personal philosophies.
From the Paper "The role of the school superintendent is to assist all children in school readiness. The traditional idea of school readiness has thus been expanded and today calls for open discussion, mutual adaptation, and respectful understanding among the key adults in children's lives (Ramey & Ramey, 2003). The school district superintendent is one of these key adults, as readiness for school is not simply the responsibility of children and their families, but of all the adults, institutions, and agencies that serve them. Across all socioeconomic groups, parents face major challenges when it comes to providing optimal care and education for their children. For families in poverty, these challenges can be formidable, and when basic necessities are lacking, parents must place top priority on housing, food, clothing, and health care (Ramey & Ramey, 2003)."
Abstract This paper explains that the No Child Left Behind Act, sponsored by President Bush, is arguably the most ambitious education-reform bill in the history of this country. The author points out that bill's main emphasis is improving scores in subsets of students, such as minorities and children who receive free or reduced-price lunches; if they do not pass the standardized tests, schools will face penalties, which range from offering extra tutoring time to yielding control of the school to the state. The paper concludes that supporters of the bill insist that in order to make its promises a reality, higher standards need to be enforced through increased testing and greater accountability for individual schools; whereas, the opponents argue that, after four years, little has changed and the act has left a bitter taste in the mouths of educator's nation-wide.
From the Paper "There is no doubt that there is a direct correlation between the atmosphere that a child is raised in and their scholarly achievements, but North Carolina Representative Martin Nesbitt seems to imply that even if a pupil were to do fine in all five factors which have been determined to affect educational development, including their family life, some students grades will not shine simply because they are not able to grasp certain concepts. It's not that they do not want to learn or are defiant, they simply learn at a slower pace. It's not that they watch too much television, or even that they face distracting circumstances at home, Nesbitt says, "some children have learning disabilities...you can't put a child who has a learning disability or other impediment in a class of 30 children and expect [him] to achieve at the level the other children achieve at." "
Tags: accountability, reform, standardized, environment, control
Abstract This paper argues that participation in music classes and other music activities helps students find success in junior high and high school, as well as boosting brain activity and the development of intelligence. It states that students who study music are more productive members of society, and they will achieve higher personal success than those who did not participate in music studies. The writer argues that narrow-visioned school administrators, school board members, and politicians do not often enough recognize the vital role that music classes and programs play in the health, happiness, and success of all students. Strained budgets and attempts to focus on education "basics" have minimized or cut out music programs in many schools, and students who do not have access to music education are at a serious disadvantage for the rest of their educational career and in their life beyond high school. The writer concludes that it is vital that music education be incorporated into the overall curriculum of every junior high and high school for the benefit of the children and the future of our society.
From the Paper "The quality of education for American students is a major concern for parents, educators, and politicians. New initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind act have been put into place by the Bush administration in an attempt to satiate the nation's desire to believe children will come away from school with the experience and knowledge they will need to be successful in life and to improve the world. Unfortunately, policies such as this do not actually take the full needs of students into account. In fact, putting a high priority on standardized test scores has deprived many schools of the ability to provide a well-rounded and in-depth education because all resources such as time and money must go towards curriculum that matches the superficial content of these tests. Even though music is designated as a core academic subject by the No Child Left Behind Act, many schools are still forced to cut "nonessential" programs that do not contribute to raising standardized test scores; the arts are among the first programs cut in most strained districts. This creates a void in children's education, because the arts are just as important as reading, writing, history, and math to the development of healthy, critical-thinking, capable students. Music programs are especially vital to student education, yet many Junior High and High Schools are minimizing the availability of music classes. According to the philosopher Socrates, "Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful, or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful." (Plato) Music classes are an essential part of the educational experience because of they help children become successful in school, in society, and in life."
Abstract This paper explains that, inevitably, bridges deteriorate over time at different rates: Timely maintenance activities, which are well-planned and carried out with minimal disruption to road users can present substantial savings in terms of both time and money for both bridge owners and road users. The author ponts out that, to tackle the complicated issues regarding bridge management, research activities in the UK as well as other countries in continental Europe concentrate largely on the bridge management process, with attention given to improving the use of limited finances to maximize the returns from the maintenance and repair of the bridge stock as well as reduce additional costs due to traffic delays and lane closures for these activities. The paper includes a critical review of other BMSs used worldwide, development of models to predict bridge condition over time, analysis of the various road user costs and using different optimizing techniques to best allocate finances and optimize bridge performance. 39 tables. 40 figures.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Objective
Bridge Conditions in the U.K.
Introduction
Maintenance and Upgrading
Expenditure
Department of Transport (DoT) Programme
What is a Bridge Management System (BMS)?
Introduction
Department of Transport Structure
Maintenance Agents
BMS in the U.K. and Other Countries
Introduction
Bridge Condition
Other Information in BMS's
Condition Prediction
Cost Models
Decision for Maintenance and Repair
Prioritization
BMS in the U.S.A.
BRIDGIT System
PONTIS System
SMIS System
Inventory
Inspection and Assessment
National Structures Programmes (NSPs)
Prioritization
Project Creation
Whole Life Assessment and Costing
Activities Schedule
Data Accuracy
Design Specifications
Access
Integration with External Systems
Bridge Inspection and Assessment
Bridge Inspection Types
Defects
Bridge Scoring
Introduction
Definitions
Bridge Condition Score (BCS)
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Bridge Stock Condition Index (BSCI)
Multi Span Bridges
Bridge Scoring Example
Interpreting BCS's
BCS Results
Histograms for Bridge Stock
Interpreting BCI's
BCI Results
Interpreting BSCI's
Predicting Bridge Condition with Time
Introduction
Markov Chain Approach
Example Calculation
Bridge Condition Example
Bridge Condition Results
Bridge Aggregation Example
Bridge Aggregation Results
Bridge Stock Example
Bridge Stock Results
Traffic Costs
Introduction
Traffic Count Example
Traffic Count Results
Traffic Delay Cost Examples
Delay Costs Results (1st Example)
Delay Costs Results (2nd Example)
Accident Cost Example
Accident Costs Results
Environmental Impact
Introduction
Emissions Example
Emissions Results
Decision-Making and Prioritization
Decision-making
Introduction
Prioritization
Introduction
Dynamic Programming
Budget Allocation Approach
Budget Allocation Results (1st Example)
Budget Allocation Results( 2nd Example)
Budget Allocation Results ( 3rd Example)
Improvements to Budget Allocation Approach
Introduction to BCI optimization approach
Service Potential (BCI) Examples
BCI Optimization Results (1st Example)
BCI Optimization Results (2nd Example)
BCI Optimization Results (3rd Example)
Maintenance Costs Examples
BCI Optimization Results (4th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (5th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (6th Example)
Conclusion
Future Research
From the Paper "It is proposed that the transition probabilities to be used are the Bridge Condition Index (BCI), which operates on a linear scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best). The degree of severity of bridges is linearly distributed over this range (i.e. BCI of 50 to 51 is the same as 90 to 91), except that costs are expected not to have a linear distribution. This is a useful approach as the BCI (average) is interpreted as 'service potential' and is used as a performance indicator.
Using the example for multi span bridges earlier on, the transition probabilities for a three-state Markov chain model with limiting stage value of 3 is proposed. The probabilities are in accordance to the BCI values for the 'good' bridge arranged in order of descending magnitude (i.e. P(1) = 0.9845 and P(2) = 0.9246). For the purposes of comparison, the other two bridges ('medium' and 'bad') are also modelled and the three are plotted together."
Abstract This paper explains that the Bush Plan states (1) "personal accounts" would be voluntary, (2) social security money would be invested in a "conservative mix of bond and stock funds" which would have the opportunity to earn a higher rate of return than what is being provided now and (3) this would supplement the worker's "traditional social security check". The author presents opponents of this plan including AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), the largest advocacy organization for senior citizens in America, which opposes creating accounts out of the contributions workers currently make into Social Security because such accounts actually worsen Social Security's long-term financial health, draining revenues out of Social Security at the very time boomers begin to retire. The paper concludes that it is important to remember that the Social Security trust fund is not a pile of cash but rather just a bookkeeping gimmick in which one part of the government promises money to another part of the government.
Table of Contents
What is the Bush Plan?
Why is President George Bush Pushing Hard for his Plan
Opposition
Facts about Social Security
Business Week Reporter Paul Craig Roberts
The Bush Campaign
The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
What are Some Proposed Solutions to the Social Security System?
The Conservative Publication the National Review
From the Paper "The Democrats have countered with ads of their own, according to the Associated Press (Raum, 2005) on Sunday, March 13. The Democrats call Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security "a risky privatization scheme." The Democrats' Saturday radio broadcast on March 12 featured the grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (James Roosevelt Jr.). He said: "In 1935, my grandfather signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring that Americans retired with financial security." But "unfortunately," he continued, "President Bush and Washington Republicans" do not share the belief of "the guiding principle that America's workers deserve a secure retirement." Roosevelt and other Democrats complain that privatizing Social Security will punish workers "in times of long market downturns," because the investment Bush is talking about on the Wall Street market wouldn't deliver as high a return as it would in economic boom times, the AP story pointed out. The article also mentioned that the most recent AP poll shows the Bush Social Security reform proposals gaining only a 37% positive result from the public."
Abstract The conversion of energy into power has progressed to this day as large corporations comply with governmental regulations that seek to ensure that enough electricity is provided to meet customer demand at a fair price. Energy service and delivery companies have provided shareholder growth through acquisitions and mergers and by cutting costs and integrating systems. This paper shows that the federal government intervenes to protect customers and investors through several commissions and agencies, primarily through the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and the more recent Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The states' Public Service Commissions regulate and monitor utility prices, service quantity and quality and can prosecute firms guilty of price discrimination. The paper shows that local governments are mainly concerned with the taking of property through eminent domain, pollution control and regional resources. Although government continues in the direction of deregulating the industry, the regulatory reporting requirements have created numerous jobs in the areas of accounting, reporting, and compliance. The paper explains that computer systems, applications, and products in data processing (SAP) help to maximize resources and assist greatly in data management and government reporting compliance.
Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Brief History of the Utilities Industry
Service and Delivery Territorial Boundaries
Welcome to Energy East
Energy East's Territory
A recent report on Energy East
Government Intervention in the Energy Services & Delivery Industry
Brief History
Federal Government Intervention
The Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Regulations Regarding Stocks, Bonds and Derivatives
State & Local Government Intervention
Key Government Legislation Affecting the Industry
Public Holding Company Act of 1935
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Government Reporting Requirements
Establishing and Maintaining Effective Reporting Systems
Systems, Applications, Products in Data Processing (SAP)
Communicating with SEC Officials
Conclusion
Career Opportunities
References
From the Paper "Federal, state and regional governments collaborate in controlling electricity prices and the supply of electricity because a price or demand increase in one regional area affects electricity costs and supply of nearby regional areas. One region's energy crisis can have a spill over effect into other states and may spread across the country. This became apparent in California when there was not enough supply to meet the demand during California's deregulation of public utilities as California turned to neighboring regional areas to purchase additional power. When other states refused to sell electricity to California in their crisis because of risk factors, a government emergency order saved them by requiring out-of-state companies to sell power to that region (Bonsor, 2001). Power outages can spread as they too can have spill over effects onto other regions. This happened in the summer of 2003 when New York City up through Canada experienced a massive black out."
This paper investigates the ability of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) to promote corporate ethics by evaluating the effect of the Government in Ethics Act of 1978 on government ethics.
4,025 words (approx. 16.1 pages), 11 sources, MLA, $ 108.95
Abstract This paper explains that the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002, a set of complex regulations designed to enforce corporate accountability and responsibility, represents one of the most important business reform acts since the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The author points out that the Government in Ethics Act of 1978, which established a comprehensive code of ethics for federal officials, not only the House and Senate but also the entire government including the executive branch, requires government officers to file financial disclosure statements in order to make it possible to identify conflicts of interest and places tighter restrictions on executive-branch employees' ability to register as lobbyists after leaving government service. The paper concludes that, although there are benefits to adhering to the Government in Ethics or the Sarbanes-Oxley Acts, without any real enforcement or retribution for violations, these federal legislation measures appear to be emblematic of the old adage: Same story, different day.
Table of Contents
Thesis Statement
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Intended Consequences
Government in Ethics Act
Financial Disclosures
Conflicts of Interest
Sarbanes-Oxley Implementation
Advantages
Disadvantages
Ethics in Government Act
Advantages
Disadvantages
Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the more significant measures associated with the act is the disclosure of personal finances and investments. This evaluation is intended to be the initial step with identifying any possible conflicts of interest that an appointee or government employee may have (or become party to) during their tenure with the government. Also, for some employees -executive branch, presidential appointees, certain military and policy makers-their records must be made public. Considering this type of scrutiny, one has to ask the question in regards to private sector corporations: Would a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) subject themselves and their families to this type of intense violation of privacy and scrutiny?"
Abstract The space shuttle program from inception has been challenged by trade-offs. Management at NASA is forced to make difficult decisions regarding schedule and budgets, and some of those decisions aren't proper from an engineering perspective. Due to budgetary constraints and a disconnect between management and sound engineering, the nation has experienced two shuttle tragedies: Challenger and Columbia. This paper attempts to explore the tradeoff and conflict between budget and safety.
Outline
Abstract
Bad Beginnings
Challenger
From Challenger to Columbia
Conclusions
From the Paper "On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 18 miles from its initial launch point at Kennedy Space Center, a mere 73 seconds into its tenth flight. Seen only by launch cameras, intermittent puffs of black smoke escaped the right solid rocket booster (SRB) from .678 until 2.733 seconds into the flight, stopping only to reemerge as a flame another 56 seconds later, and ultimately leading to the destruction of the orbiter. (NASA, 1986) All eight crew members of the Challenger were lost in the explosion and the eight-mile plummet into the Atlantic Ocean."
This paper reviews "Banishing Bureaucracy" by David Osborne and Peter Plastrik which focuses on the importance of cultural change as one of the five strategic components needed in making various bureaucracies and military organizations more efficient.
741 words (approx. 3 pages), 0 sources, 2006, $ 26.95
Abstract This paper focuses on the opinions of authors David Osborne and Peter Plastrik who both contend that it's imperative to change the existing culture of a bureaucratic or military organization in order to make it more efficient and systematic. In Osborne and Plastrik's book "Banishing Bureaucracy," the authors stress the need to replace old habits with new commitments in order to improve both productivity and output in any bureaucratic organization. The authors detail the manner in which these changes are to be implemented in order to achieve maximum success. Two examples of cultural change detailed in this paper include that of dress requirements in the military, followed closely by protocols of behavior. The underlying values of loyalty, faithfulness and unselfishness to the point of self-sacrifice are intangible aspects of the military's culture that have a very pervasive influence on the environment of the organization.
From the Paper "It is important to analyze an organization's culture when attempting to make any changes in the organization in order for the changes to be successful. This is especially true if the focus is being changed to be in line with an entrepreneurial organization that is customer driven. Core parts of the culture would need to be manifested in the new organization. Secondary components of the culture must then be changed in order to match with the changing organization. You cannot change an organization in opposition to its culture. Either components must be carried over and incorporated appropriately into the new organization or else the culture must change. For instance, the power structure of the military is an integral part of its hierarchy and success."
This paper reviews and analyzes the content in "The Red Pencil," written by Theodore R. Sizer, which is persuasive and powerful critique of the American education system.
Abstract This comprehensive book review examines the views and opinions of author and educator Theodore Sizer, chairman and founder emeritus of the Coalition of Essential Schools. In Sizer's book, the author reflects on experiences from his life and career to offer a compelling critique of the American school system. This paper details the book's content as well as Sizer's contention that the current educational policy should be a product resulting from an amalgamation of family, school and government benefit. The author further discussed the failure in understanding the difference between teaching and learning while insisting that formal schooling must familiarize with and meet the strong influences found beyond the traditional classroom. This paper also discusses the author's concern about the attitude of bureaucracy, which he claims are the real evils that have not allowed the education system to flourish and realize its true potential. He criticizes the mindset of the bureaucrats who try to enfold this broad process of education by their lack of vision and backward attitudes.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
About the Author
Summary & Analysis of the Book
Critical Review
Conclusion of the Book
Works Cited
From the Paper "A dean, teacher, researcher, professor and principal; Theodore R. Sizer brings to readers an appealing and valuable critique of American education enfold in a chronicle. He draws attention on his fifty years by identifying three critical areas wherein policy discussion regarding public education has been seriously ignored. He recommended and argued that this ignorance and silence should be broken and all should rethink of educating this youth. He further discussed the unsuccessfulness of understanding the difference between teaching and learning, as formal schooling should be familiarize with and meet the strong influences found beyond usual classrooms."
Abstract This paper examines the dramatic shift in the U.S. housing market. The writer contends and explains why one's home is no longer viewed as an asset but rather an investment, which can be milked regularly for cash by way of second mortgages and home equity loans. The ease in the availability of money and its comparative cheapness has led to a inflation in real estate prices. This paper examines how the face of home ownership has changed and become a case of renting from lenders as opposed to direct and full fledged ownership. This well-researched paper details the process of home financing, which is handled by the Federal Home Loan Bank System, created by the government in 1932. This paper details the events the pushed the government to create both the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac organizations. This paper explores the manner in which these two leading organizations, in the field of secondary residential mortgage markets, package and sell loans to home owners, much the same way as stocks and bonds are traded on Wall Street. The writer delves into the governmental policies devised to increase home ownership, most of which include using Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
From the Paper "The weakness comes from the feeling that contingent mortgage obligations are second only to treasury bonds and at the same time are not totally supported by the US government. When the interest rates change, as it happened in 1990s with a dot com share which went beyond all reason, the markets suddenly rose and fell. Then the Federal government team had to cut interest rates very sharply back to get the market thinking logically again. Yet the drop in interest rates makes the investors feel that they have lost money, and at that time they had concentrated on homes and real estate. The government has not been able to control the imagination of the people, and the next dream has been on its way. This is reflected in the statement of Chairman Greenspan to Congress in the last two years to control Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac better."
Tags: finance, mortgage, bank, inflation, economy, fannie, mae, freddie, mac
This well-researched paper analyzes the four primary goals advocated in prisons across the U.S. which are comprised of rehabilitation, deterrence, incapacitation and retribution.
Abstract This paper examines the current strategies and programs geared towards rehabilitating convicted felons in prisons across the country while focusing on the differences in applied methodologies based on gender. One of the rehabilitation strategies detailed in this paper discusses the move from the systematic isolation of prisoners to a more social and productive form of integration. The writer of this in-depth paper contends and explains that if convicted criminals are effectively reformed and rehabilitated during their incarceration they are less likely to commit future offenses, thus resulting in an overall decrease in crime. This paper explores the widespread illiteracy problem amongst both male and female prisoners as well as the various effective programs aimed at combating this problem. This paper presents pertinent data and statistics as well as two illustrative graphs relevant to this particular topic. This paper also delves into the rising fiscal costs to house, care and rehabilitate incarcerated inmates.
From the Paper "While illiteracy is as common in the male incarcerated population as the female, educational rehabilitations are more frequently targeted to women than men. An integral part of the Living Skills programs for women, cognitive skills training, the national Parenting Skills program, and the Leisure Education Program support the female prisoner on her path to release. Correctional Services of Canada says that these programs are the result of acknowledge the woman as "her own beset expert," and are built on the premise that "earning to make informed choices and then accepting the consequences of them will enable these women to take control of their lives." There, a Literacy and Numeracy Program created just for female inmates aims to foster skills required for basic employment and civic involvement."
Abstract This paper develops an argument for the implementation of an innovative policy at the state-level whereby all felons convicted of non-violent offenses would be diverted to community-based correction. The purpose of this policy would be to attempt to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal corrections function. The paper refers to similar efforts currently underway in the state of Washington.
Abstract This paper reviews seven articles regarding e-government, i.e. the role and scope of the Internet in providing public service and governance. Issues covered by the paper include the rhetorical and reality of e-government, global considerations, and site liability.
Tags: E-Government, Internet, governance, public service
Abstract This paper discusses four journal articles on public administration. The common theme of the articles is the tension between the private-sector model of management and the constraints of democratic governance. The paper examines how this tension impacts on the goals of public service. The paper concludes by arguing for a new approach to public administration, which is less tied to private-sector models and assumptions.
From the Paper "Public administration as a discipline has tended in the recent period to borrow heavily from specific concepts and a broader outlook drawn from the private sector..."
