Human Resource Management Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resource Management Analysis - Case Study Example The company needs to work with HR department in implementing changes that will see the company restructure and hence remain relevant in the market. There is need to establish a new communication protocols, enrol the employees to unions and review the penalties given to employees who violate the company policies. PAC Resources Inc. seems to be having major problems as an organization in all its departments. The Human Resource department specifically needs allot to be done in order to bring change to the organization. The HR has not been consistent in its operations with reports of favors and employee manipulation and harassment being reported. The HR has also discouraged its employees from joining any union working with the non-union policy which violates the rights of the employees to join unions and organizations. According to Mikis (2005) as a way of encouraging employees to grow and improve themselves, every company has a mandate to give them a chance to join societies and unions which help in improving their working conditions. The companys disciplinary policy does not have a clear guideline on the consequences and penalties on employees who violate company policies. This has left some of the senior management officers free and immune to any penalties. The use of the open-door policy has its advantages but it is only effective in the departmental level other than the whole organization. PAC Resources Inc encourages all its employees to feel free to enter any office or make contact to the senior level managers without following any protocol. This creates room for disorder within the organization. According to DelPo & Guerin (2013) open door policy can be a challenge to any management as it undermines some of the team leaders and exclusivity of company information. From the email conversations, junior staff has been sending emails trying to get senior

Compare the Ways in which John Steinbeck and Thomas Hardy Explore the Theme of Loneliness Essay Example for Free

Compare the Ways in which John Steinbeck and Thomas Hardy Explore the Theme of Loneliness Essay The two books have one clear element in common. The two authors, Steinbeck and Hardy, give us a great outlook on loneliness in its many forms. They communicate their ideas and thoughts to us in a very similar manner, despite being from very different times and walks of life. Of Mice and Men, is set and was written during the Great Depression of the United States of America in the early 1930s, in the Salinas Valley of California, tells us the story of George Milton and Lennie Small. The two migrant workers, bound together by an unusual and sure friendship, are in pursuit together of the Great American Dream their dream. They will have their own land, be their own masters and no longer have to answer to anyone, and finally live in peace. On the other hand we have The Withered Arm, set in the early 19th Century as one of Hardys Wessex Tales, where he lived all his life. Hardy tells us the tale of a young woman, Gertrude Lodge, as she begins her new life. However, things are not what they should have been as Gertrude is afflicted with an unknown blight, her happiness both threatened and later destroyed. She is not completely alone her plight is intertwined with that of Rhoda Brook, who carries a great pain in her heart and a great power, or perhaps a curse, that not even she realises. The two texts are each set in the same rural environment as that of their authors, both bringing us the tale of so many people struggling through their lives as best they can. In Of Mice and Men we see that every man, and woman, has their own dreams, their own obsessions to pine away for, to imagine and envisage when they are so often so lonely each has their own thoughts, their method, of escapism from the reality they live in. The Withered Arm, again, in a different manner shows characters angry, obsessed, with lives they could have had and the possibilities that they have lost or had taken away from them. Each are victims of circumstance, each yearn for lives that are no longer theirs, each for a chance now gone. In each difficulty we can see a parallel, and in both books we can see characters sharing the same basic challenges to overcome, and obstacles in their path. Both show us some of the many facets and characteristics of loneliness and trouble in this world no matter how little they look for difficulty and dilemmas, people will always manage to find them, no matter how hard they strive against it. The best laid schemes o mice and men Gang aft agley [Often go wrong] And leave us nought but pain For promised joy Robert Burns As Of Mice and Men begins, we are shown the two migrant farm workers, George and Lennie, on their way to a new job, a new start, bucking barley at a Californian ranch; fleeing much undue upset in their last town, mostly thanks, despite his original intentions, to Lennie. It is late evening and they both spend the night by the Salinas River before continuing on to their new place of work the next morning. It is here that we first discover some of the main personality differences, and conflicts, between the two characters, and learn of their aspirations and their future. We immediately see much of their natures and that of their friendship as Lennie flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green poolsnorting into the water like a horse. Lennie dives headlong, dunking his head into the murky waters of the Salinas like an animal, all for a drink of water; George restrains him, attempting to keep him in line and to keep him safe. George and Lennie have struggled their way through life together, as an inseparable pair, not like all the other hopefuls out there, Because I got you an you got me together they might just get somewhere. The way this particular phrase is repeated so much tells us a lot about their friendship and how they both so desperately need it to survive. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong featuresevery part of him was defined. We see George as the sharp and able leader who gives Lennie his direction, blunt and bitter when it comes to his frustrations. All too often feeling taunted by the world, his life, and the problems they each throw at him no matter how hard he tries and how much he accounts for it. Despite his quick temper and scathing reprisals, he holds a great care and affection for his travel-partner and the companionship he brings him much more than is at first apparent. George feels responsible for Lennie, he has been Lennies guardian ever since the passing-away of his Aunt Clara, and no matter how hard he tries he always, and always will, feel that Lennies troubles, Lennies mistakes and faults are his own and that which he must resolve and reconcile however much they may cause him yet more problems of his own. George feels a great loneliness inside, believing in his heart himself to be as worthless as every other like him, and as a result of this he gains his purpose to become somebody, and he knows that is something he and Lennie must do and can only do together. Without Lennie he would be nothing, no more than every other man like him alone and without hope. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shouldershe walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his pawshis arms did not swing but hung loosely at his sides. Lennie, we can already see if very different to George, a slow simpleton, likened to an animal on two counts now, expressing his simple personality and impulsive nature. It is thanks to the pairs great bond and need that we see Lennie as such a vital character in the book, for George is not the only man to whom Lennie brings a purpose, it is around him that so much of the story unfolds and revolves about. Despite the simplicity in his manner and unsure path throughout the story, Lennie brings certainty to all those around him. They are drawn to the raw and basic companionship that his presence brings he is both consort and confidant for all their thoughts and feelings. He neither understands nor takes in much of what they say but, rather than wasting their breath, it seems even more a boon unto them. Lennie is like a wandering sheep and it is George that gives him his direction and his purpose, and as he takes his lead from George, Lennie in turn gains his own shape and dream. Lennies simple, cumbersome shape walks always in Georges shadow, always behind him wherever he may go, no matter what. For Lennie life is as simple as he is it is that which seems to create so many problems for them both, in turn presenting the answers to so many others, and it is this which gives Lennie such a lasting effect on all those around him. The two are together in the pursuit of their own dreams, each finding both a purpose and the means in the other. George dreams of his own land, his own life, and it is much the same for Lennie, on his own basic level. Lennie wishes to care for his own creatures, his rabbits. He loves to hear every word of them that he can get, and George loves to tell them to him so obsessed and incensed are they with merely the thought of what lies ahead for them with the success of their great plan. This form of dreaming and hoping that many of the characters of this story holds shows how everyone of them wishes to escape from the present world that they live in, where society demands everything of them when they have nothing to hold as their own, and nothing to give. Together these two continue their journey, their unique bond always apparent as they cross upon the lives of many others, all showing the properties of loneliness and all for different reasons, giving us an outlook on how so many in this world are alone and isolated, and how what George and Lennie have is so valuable. Aint many guys travel togethermaybe everyone in the whole damn world is scared of each other. The pressure of the American Dream and the demands of that societys doctrines and social structure to achieve are imposed upon everyone and anyone and this is why it becomes such a great feature and driving force behind so much of the loneliness of this book. Every common man goes to America to succeed and achieve something, but society inflicts quite the opposite upon them projecting, forcing upon them, an image of how people should think and most certainly be resulting in loneliness and isolation, a dissatisfaction of themselves and those around them and the ongoing fear of amounting to absolutely nothing. It is ironic that this very society which sets out to have everyone achieve and succeed does quite the opposite, causing so many problems along the way. The nature of the American Dream that so many in this story hold in their minds is that very thing which isolates every one of them from each other, and dooms them to failure. Upon arriving at the ranch, they are met by an old man named Candy and his now old and scrawny dog. It is Candy who explains to them the ways of the ranch, first showing them around and then, as the story progresses, introducing the personalities of the other ranch hands to them. We learn much about Candy himself and who he is, seeing in the second chapter Candy caught listening in on George and Lennies words together, as George attempts to keep Lennie in check and keep him safe. Candy was listening simply to feel as a part of their conversation, to feel involved in something, for Candy craves conversation in any form, so alone does he feel. It can be seen that now for so much of his life Candy has been separated from the other men, isolated from all others. Since Candy lost his hand in an accident upon the farm he has been unable to work with the others, condemned to the menial tasks and solitary life during the day, and now thanks to his advancing years he is even more isolated. His only companion throughout all this time has been his pet dog, a source of consternation for the other men as it nears the end of its days, its presence being an eyesore to them all and odour a cause of much dismay. The animal had been his companion since its birth, and now old and suffering from rheumatism, the men convince Candy to allow them to put it out of its misery for him. As Candy grudgingly agrees, against a great sadness, he loses his oldest and closest friend, and again he feels truly alone. Having no one, he attaches himself to Lennie and George and to the dream they both share and makes himself a part of it, willing to offer all he has, his lifes work and savings, for it to be so. However, as that dream is again jeopardised, perhaps fatally, he still wishes to carry on and fulfil the dream for it is all he has left. It this desperation of Candys to make his new dream, their dream, become so, that yet another man becomes tied up in the illusion and the hope that it brings. Crooks is a fellow worker upon the ranch, a stable buck, working to repair saddles, tools and to look after the horses, unable to do other work since he was crippled, kicked in the back by one of the horses he was working with. We have never heard much of Crooks, only chance phrases from the other men, snatches of comments in the middle of a conversation; he is not often talked about, and never talked to Crooks is a Negro. We do not see him for the majority of the book for he is never with the other men, always separated from everyone, simply because of the discrimination, the ignorance and the prejudices of that time. As the only Negro in the area, he is completely alone, without anyone but himself for so much of his life, but it was not always so. Crooks used to have someone he used to live with his family, they owned a farm, he was with his brothers, his parents his family, and he was counted as someone; now he isnt even counted. The American Dream tells us of equality, of everyone having a chance to attain their dreams, to have something to hold, be proud of and call their own in America everyone and anyone can have just this and be somebody unless, of course, if they are black. This is just a nigger talkinso it dont mean nothing, see? This contradiction and hypocrisy intermittent throughout the dream is that which causes Crooks to be just who he is alone and isolated, helpless and unable to anything about it. When Lennie wanders into Crooks living area simply looking for company as the other men are all away in the town, Crooks shows outrage and indignation that a white man would presume it his right to simply walk into his room without leave. However, Lennies innocence wins through, despite Crooks irritation, Crooks scowled, but Lennies disarming smile defeated him. As Crooks begins to talk to Lennie, and discover the nature of his relationship with George, we see his jealousy that another man could have someone so easy to talk to, such a simple and easy friendship. Such is his bitterness and jealousy over the pairs companionship that Crooks goes on to taunt and tease Lennie with the possibility that George is injured and is no longer going to be there. He tells Lennie that he too is alone and must look after himself and continue life knowing he had someone, had something, and lost it as Crooks did. Crooks wants Lennie to feel what his pain is every day, every hour, and make someone else feel how he does and, in doing so, make himself feel less alone. A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobodya guy gets lonely and he gets sick. As Lennies anger flares up, we see that perhaps Crooks isnt so malicious after all, for he placates Lennie he wants him to stay, despite him being a white man, one who took his life away from him, an enemy. So alone is he that any company will do, black or white it doesnt matter any more; and so It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger, as Candy joins Lennie. He only has himself and what little company that he can find; he has been separated from others, alone for so long, simply because of the colour of his skin, so isolated thanks to an ignorant and naive prejudice, so much for a dream when Crooks came to America he found an ongoing nightmare. There should be equality, and this is what America shouted aloud to the world everyone in America has a dream to live out, and everyone who comes to America has a chance. However, this is not the case for Crooks despite what people claimed, despite what the American Dream told them, he has nothing but material possessions, and to him they re nothing. Reading books is his only source of company, but Books aint no good. A guy needs somebody to be near him. When Crooks first learns of their dream, not quite as they intended for it was their dream and nobody elses, he scoffs for has heard this kind of a story all before he has seen hundreds of other hopefuls come through the ranch and continue on into nothing. He tells them this mockingly, and also to end their hopes for they too are going nowhere. However, as Candy justifies their hopes in defence, he subsides for he sees the possibilities himself, gets caught up in the trios aspirations and dreams, as Candy did, and pleads to be taken along, to join them simply to be somewhere with others who might accept him for who he is and not for what. Crooks begins to open up, he finally believes himself to be an equal and to be counted, and he has been given back both his hope and a real chance. However, things are not to be as they hoped as the wife of Curley, the boss son, enters. As always the men are wary and bid her leave and in response her bitter temper rises. Crooks stands up to her, thinking outside his place in his newfound happiness, and she drills into him, makes him again realise just who he is, how little all he says and thinks is valued and how much power she holds over him. For a moment Crooks had become a man again and believed in his own freedom, but Curleys wife put an end to that, to his open thought and his belief in all his hopes of being his own man again. Crooks stared hopelessly at her, sat downand drew into himselfCrooks had reduced himself to nothing, no personality, no egoEverything that might be hurt drawn ininto the indomitable pride of the Negro. Crooks the Negro presumed to think himself on the same level as Curleys wife, to cap all the isolation and rejection from every other person on the ranch. So enraged is she that we see the malicious and bitter side of her nature born out of the oppression, the distress and torment of countless similar situations where no one ever listens, where she is always alone. She gives him no quarter as her scathing, bitter anger lashes into him. This conflict amongst and between the oppressed and repressed first between Candy and Crooks, Crooks believing their dream to be as hopeless as all the rest, so demoralised has he become thanks to the life that American society has put him through, and then between Crooks and Curleys wife, simply leads them in a circle, and right back to square one. Both are without freedom and hold little control over their own rights, and still they are brought into conflict by the ways in which society portrays the world and treats each of them, one putting the others hopes and liberty again into doubt, painting a wholly despondent and bleak future -all the more separated from each other, all the more isolated and alone. Curleys wife always appears as a woman up to no good, spoken of hurriedly in whispered conversations. She is always out looking for trouble with the other men, always holding apparent bad intentions as she flaunts herself in a vain attempt to attract them to her, willing to do anything for companionship, and as a result getting quite the opposite. George had always recognised her danger, but Lennie is blind to every bit of it. However, we begin to see that she isnt up to such wickedness as we are first led to believe, and her bitter tongue is simply born of a life of loneliness. The men always shy away from her fearing blackmail from a work mate or Curleys wrath if they were to dare the stigma and go against the rules of society, and become friendly with another mans wife. This fear of the bosses authority and their abuse of it is yet another barrier that stands between ever establishing some true ideals of equality. She has been alone and isolated by everyone for so long, not even her husband listens to her, simply telling her what he wants to say and never waiting for a response. Lennie, never vigilant nor wary for he has no reason to be, is the first person that hasnt looked at her with fear in his eyes, for he is different; she has tried everything and seems doomed to failure everyone is repulsed, everyone resists her, everyone bar Lennie, and she latches onto him because of this. One day she catches him on his own and without George always looking over his shoulder. He is like an open book to her, and instantly accepts her for exactly what she is. She delights in finally finding someone who is such a perfect companion, who no longer draws back away from her in fear, but talks to her as he would anyone else. Despite what is first apparent, she simply wants to be with someone who listens. We learn that she once had a life, once had a chance and could have been somebody, been somewhere and just perhaps have got somewhere in life, but had it taken away from her through no fault of her own, but the unjust and unreasonable actions of another her own mother. To escape that, to escape a dead end and lonely life where one that should be so close to her takes her chances and dreams away from her, she married Curley and inadvertently runs into something much worse. She had a dream, found a chance and lost it thanks to a situation entirely out of her control, and things only go down hill from there. She is alone unable to do anything to escape the life that she now leads, no one is willing to talk to her, she is confined to the ranch and no longer has any chance of happiness, or simply of finding a friend. Yet again, a pursuer of the American Dream finds quite the opposite. She revels in Lennies companionship, temporarily feeling as if she were no longer alone in the world as Crooks did, and so tells him things that she has told no other, opening herself to him and finding that he accepts all that she says without doubt or uncertainty. However, as she learns of Lennies love for the touch and feel of soft things, she lets him closer without restraint or forethought, lets him touch and hold her hair. As she draws away in worry that her hair (and subsequently her looks) are being dishevelled, the one thing she believes herself to truly hold is mishandled, and so she pulls away, expressing her distress. Lennie panics and does the only thing that his simple mind can think of resist, and so he grips hold of her tighter, unwilling to let go, he is confused and frightened and understands nought of what is happening. He fears that if George were to find out that he had made someone unhappy and done wrong by them he would abandon and discard him, fearing disapproval if his actions were ever discovered; and so he clamps his hand over her mouth, hoping that none would hear the noise. He grips even tighter as she struggles all the more desperately in the pain that his awesome strength is causing her, and he jerks and shakes her body in response, in an attempt to silence her. In this he succeeds, but to an extent that he never intended he unwittingly breaks her neck. Yet again Lennie has caused great harm without ever realising it possible, and this time the outcome is greatly worse. She was always alone, always without somebody, even those closest to her appear to have wished against her happiness; John Steinbeck signifies this to us by never naming Curleys wife she was never important to the person, and the people, that she should have been. As soon as she finds someone that was conceivably different, perhaps wasnt like all the others, she takes it all too far too soon, without thinking of the consequences. As a result she loses everything. The story ends in the pursuit of Lennie, George goes after him with the other men for he cannot let them get to him first and it is here that we are reminded of Candys words upon his own companion, his pet dog, I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldnt have let no stranger shoot my dog. George finally catches up with Lennie at their meeting point where they stayed that first night before making their way onto the ranch. Lennie has been plagued by images and hallucinations from his past and his imagination, so distraught has he become over doing something so wrong and upsetting George in such a huge way, without ever intending to he managed to take away every hope the two had of achieving their dream all thanks to the pressure put upon him to do right by everyone, make no mistakes and allow none to hear of the rest, which leads to him causing more problems than ever before. George has Lennie imagine their dream once more, for that was always how Lennie was happiest imagining his future, escaping from the present. It is in this moment that George puts the gun to the back of Lennies head, and, fighting off his shaking hand, pulls down upon the trigger. He never wanted to, but he had to this was the only possible choice George could have made for the ultimately innocent Lennie, nothing he could do would have been easier, or better, for Lennie. George in doing so loses his one and only companion, every hope he ever had of being somebody and every hope of those around him that became a part of their dream all in that instant every hope was lost. Such is the despair that Candy finds it difficult to let go, he wants to continue the dream and to finish it, despite all which has happened, but he knows that is never possible now. Lennie was the one that held everything, everyone, together and gave them all hope and a chance, and now he was gone. The Withered Arm tells us a story of the ordeal of Rhoda Brook, her son, Farmer Lodge and his newly married wife, Gertrude, as Thomas Hardy chooses to constantly switch your attention, not concentrating on single characters loneliness and hardships, but that of four. We first meet Rhoda Brook working in the cow sheds, a milkmaid, and we instantly recognise how emotionally isolated and detached from others she is. As the other characters about her chat among themselves she chooses to remain apart, and uninvolved, from them all. We see how alone and different from the other simple farm hands she is, He hasnt spoken to her for years, whilst they talk about her and the notorious love affair she had with the Farmer Lodge and his recent marriage to a young lady not from nearby, but the city. She is one apart from the rest, not like them, and no longer does she care or worry over their words and thoughts of her. She remains impassive throughout the conversation and the others comments about her, She knew she had slyly been called a witch. Her physical loneliness and separation, probably much out of choice, is also elaborated upon as She milked slightly apart from the rest, as well as through the description of where she has chosen to live, their course lay apart from the rest. The truth about Rhoda and Farmer Lodges affair, now many years in the past, is widely known in the area. Long ago they were together and for unexplained reasons she was abandoned perhaps upon the realisation of Rhodas pregnancy. The very thing meant to bring a couple closer together and bring with it happiness and companionship may have brought completely the opposite for Rhoda. However, Farmer Lodge has developed very materialistic views, adhering and conforming to those of the society he lives in. Rhoda was below his class, below him, and he could never have been seen in a permanent relationship with her because of that society would never have accepted him. Another possible reason is that of Rhodas advancing years and waning beauty her age is closer to that of Lodges and so his materialism again pushes him away from her as he chooses to marry a young and still beautiful girl not long out of her teen.This is what he feels he must have the best. With the arrival of Gertrude Lodge the final brick is laid in the wall standing between Rhoda and her happiness, between her and Lodge and both of them and their son. We recognise instantly that Gertrude is neither country-born nor country-bred, and knows little of her new life and what lies ahead. From the beginning she is almost completely alone she is a young lady, highborn, and not long out of her teens, lady-like and beautiful, and there are none like her that she can communicate with. Gertrude worries much over others opinions of her, as she desires so much to be readily accepted into her new community. However, things are not to be all she could hope for, as she soon realises how alone she is to be as society separates her from the majority of those around her, thanks to the strict taboos on cross-class relationships and of a lady socialising with those of the lower class. When Rhoda learns of Gertrudes arrival she has her son discover ever detail and feature of the girl, sizing her up and comparing herself to Gertrude in her jealousy, for she believes that it should be she, not Gertrude, that Farmer Lodge should have married and is bitterly angry that he refuses to acknowledge their son and even what they both had between each other as anything but insignificant and irrelevant. The son that Rhoda and Lodge both had together is yet another great example of the loneliness that this story portrays as his mothers loneliness and emotional feelings merely add to that of his own. Hardy chooses to give him no name, as did Steinbeck with Curleys wife, emphasising how unimportant and worthless he is in the eyes of those that he should mean so much to. His father rejects him outright barely ever acknowledging his presence, He took no outward notice of the boy whatsoever, and when he does it is only as an inferior and one of no consequence as the boy is described as Just one of the neighbourhood. Even his own mother, with whom he has lived for all his years, is unconcerned with him, so obsessed and incensed with her own dilemma that she simply uses him as ammunition, and justification, of her right over others to Lodge. He is used as a spy upon Gertrude and Lodge by his mother, if not that then he is always at work upon one household duty or another, and despite all that he does none of it seems to satisfy his mother. He is barely ever given any affection at all, seemingly only useful for errands and chores that Rhoda cannot bring herself to do. Despite her anger over Farmer Lodges total lack of acceptance of their son, she too does much the same, and never realises the frustrations that he hides underneath as a result of this all, His mother not observing that he was cutting a notch with his pocket knife into the beech-backed chair. The son has no father figure to follow, but certainly not a good example, and his mother tries to set him one no better she doesnt even make the effort. Rhoda develops an obsession with Gertrude whom she has neither met nor even seen. Such is her fixation that one night she is visited in a troubled dream by an image, the distorted and repulsive impression of Gertrude that Rhoda has built up in her mind through her bitter jealousy. The figure thrust forward its left hand mockingly, so as to make the wedding ring it wore glitter in Rhodas eyes. This thing that Rhoda believes Gertrude to be taunts her, thrusting the proof of her marriage to Farmer Lodge before her very eyes the thing that Rhoda herself so covets and desires for herself. As the creature draws closer, Rhoda grips its arm in fright and hurls it to the floor. One day Gertrude visits Rhoda in her small house upon the hill, and Rhoda sees her for what she really is. Gertrude, in her loneliness in Lodges great manor house, comes to Rhoda for companionship, and in her she finds a friend. At first Rhoda is unresponsive, but slowly she begins to come round, to see through all the lies she has told herself all too often in her resentment at being alone. However, all is not to be so perfectly resolved, as we learn of Gertrudes arm the strange marks, like as that of fingers, upon the flesh and over time they gradually worsen and deteriorate. It looks almost like finger marksas if some witch, or the devil himself, had taken a hold of me there, and blasted the flesh. Gertrudes other sorrow becomes apparent as she too has realised the faith that the farmer puts into face value and beauty for she believes that he will begin to love her less if the arm does not heal as it should. As a result, over time, Gertrude begins to preoccupy herself and obsess about her arm as Rhoda did over Farmer Lodge and it continues to worsen. No one understands its nature, no one knows of a cure and Gertrude, stricken with worry and concern, turns again to Rhoda, following perhaps a maids, or a workers, advice, and the irony in this is how many would believe Rhoda to be the guilty party, the witch, cursing upon Gertrude and that she of all people would know her adversary best. Rhoda meanwhile says nothing upon the matter of the arm, merely inquiring upon it, hoping that it might recover. For Rhoda neither understands what effect she has had upon Gertrude, nor knows how she caused it much of the time she vainly tells herself that it is nothing but a coincidence. All the same, Rhoda apprehensively leads Gertrude across the hills and fields one day to Conjuror Trendle, a man renowned for powers that other people believe in more than he. He affected not to believe largely in his own powers and when warts that had been shown him for the cure miraculously disappearhe would say lightly, Oh I only drink a glass of grog upon emperhaps its all chance, and immediately turn the subject. Trendle lives many miles apart from other men, separated by their views and taboos of that society upon witchcraft and anything related. He has been cast away by their prejudices all because he has a talent that they neither possess nor understand, and they fear him for this. He merely uses what he has to help people as best he can, getting nothing but fear and aversion in return, and this he does for Gertrude too. Despite the rumours and whispers that people speak behind his back, he does what he knows to be best all the same rejecting the constraints of society for his own freedom, and in turn having much of it taken away. He shows to Gertrude the image of an enemy, the only one capable of causing such a blight, and Rhodas fears are to be realised as, despite Gertrude never telling her who the image she saw was, she never spoke to Rhoda again, never mentioned the arm and never called around her house, simply looking for a companion, again for now her unseen assailant had a face, that of Rhoda. Over a very short period their friendship began to break down very quickly, almost instantly as realisation had dawned upon Gertrude, and so she never saw anything of Rhoda, or her son, again for many years and eventually the two both slipped out of the community and were never seen again they were forced out by the fears of others, by Rhodas desires of things that were no longer hers to covet and by the entire community, for none really cared. Gertrude was now truly alone and without a single companion- her husband no longer even looked at her, such was his revulsion of the withering of her arm and displeasure at the fact that she had not even managed to produce him an heir in all their time together. Gertrudes beauty was waning as the full anguish of the arm and being so alone in the world assailed her. She became obsessed with the arm and the search for cures, attempting every crackpot remedy that she could find in her maddened struggle but none ever worked or had any effect. Driven into desperation by her husbands and societys demands for young ladies to be beautiful and perfect always, for Gertrude fears the rejection of her husband as Rhoda was rejected many years ago. In many ways this despair and incensed search for a cure drove even larger a void between Gertrude and her husband, for in the end it was both she and the arm driving him away, so obsessed did she become much thanks to the pressures and expectations of the world around her. Again she goes to visit Trendle in the vain hope that perhaps he will be able to cure her at last, however, this time she makes the journey alone showing just how much more lonely and separated from others she has become. Upon arriving she sees Trendle, now an old man and barely able to even leave his house he has lost even that little bit of freedom that life had allowed him and has absolutely no one but himself to rely on, and no one to be there when he dies. In his last days, Trendle tells her simply what had to be done he was too old to help now, she would have to cope alone with this task as always, but he could point her in the right direction. She agrees to all that he tells her, whatever it may be, such is her desire to again be beautiful for her husband again and to allow her to again conform to the views of those around her much the opposite choice to that of Conjuror Trendle. Gertrude must touch the body of an executed man just cut down from a hanging not dead for more than an instant so as to turn the blood of Gertrude and cure the withering of the arm. Finally, after many weeks wait the chance arrives and Gertrudes prayers, driven to wishing upon the death of a fellow man, are answered and she strikes up a deal with the old, isolated hangman, separated from others by the nature of his trade, who was not wholly unused to requests of her sort. The condemned that is to become Gertrudes saviour is a young man, charged of arson the burning down of an old warehouse. The young man was apparently simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but an example had to be made to satisfy the people. On the allotted night, Gertrude goes to the hangman as planned, and he then leads her to the open casket and she pulls back the covering and touches the figure beneath. To her horror she sees it to be Rhodas own son the son of Farmer Lodge. Gertrude backs off in dismay and turns to discover both Rhoda and Lodge standing behind her. Rhoda shouts in anger and pushes Gertrude away from them both, for even now she still stands between the Farmer Lodge and their son once again as always Gertrude comes between Rhoda and Lodge, always in the way of Rhodas hopes, desires and always keeping her completely alone. Gertrude screams in fear and falls to the floor, for the shock and extreme stress, together with the draining nature of the arm finally get the best of her, for she has died. Her blood had been turned, but all too far. Here the story concludes, as Rhoda moves farther away and separates herself from the local community entirely yet again, totally alone thanks to her own bitterness. Even after her son is lost still nobody goes to pay their respects or offer their company she becomes even more alone than ever, all thanks to her own negligence. Farmer Lodge is also alone now, perhaps as he deserved, for his uncaring and selfish ways led to the grief of many and his dishonesty to the death of his wife for he broke his marriage vows that he made before God In sickness and in health. His wife is dead and his son is lost forever and with him any chance of ever having an heir to all his estate. In his despair Lodge sells all his farm and land and moves away only now do we realise how truly alone he has become, and all thanks to him, his materialism and conforming to what society dictates as to how he should live his life. He offers Rhoda an annual income, as an attempt at a final reconciliation but she never accepts it and none see her again. He loses everything and is doomed to die alone, leaving us later to discover that he has left all that is his to a reformatory for boys, showing how he did have thoughts and feelings regarding his son, but never had the strength to show them which is perhaps his greatest sin. Both Lodge and Rhoda isolated themselves from others and both are now even lonelier as a result of this. Gertrudes vanity may have played a part in her own undoing, represented by the extremes to which she was willing to go as she even wished for the death of a fellow man, guilty or innocent alike, but it was Lodge, and those around her, that drove her to such desperation and in the end she dies alone, above all emotionally, as her husband stands apart from her with Rhoda. The young son meanwhile, brought to his end by Gertrudes desperate wishing is always portrayed in Hardys novel as the innocent throughout, trapped between his two parents never being truly loved or cared for always alone and always innocent. Towards the end we assume that perhaps he has got involved in a youth gang. This leads to his later arrest at the crime scene showing that no father figure and role model at all would have perhaps been better than that of a bad and unloving one who rejects him outright, he may have been innocent but he never had anyone who would stand up for him. This rejection by his father and ignorant negligence on his mothers part leads to his tragic death, similar to that of Candys wife who also remains unnamed as they are never important to those that they should be, leaving both of them completely alone and hopeless. The unfortunate tragedy that we see at the end of each novel is but one of the many similarities between these two novels. As we begin, each story features two central characters, George and Lennie, Rhoda and Gertrude, around which the story unfolds. As they live their lives we are introduced to many others, each with their own individual problems and dilemmas besetting them. These unlikely friendships between our central characters ultimately end in a tragedy, first with one unknowingly causing great problems for the other and finally one must put the other out of their misery, and at the same time condemn themselves to loneliness and hopelessness yet again. In Of Mice and Men we see at the root of everyones problems the desperation to achieve and become somebody to find the American Dream. The society in which they have lived tells them that they are nothing without achievement, and they all agree for much of their sadness originates from this feeling of worthlessness. In George and Lennies case it drives them onwards, in search of their dream, but the others do not have the friendship that they each possess and have no hope of getting anywhere. Candy is old, crippled, with no hope of being able to work for something anymore and no hope of ever actually finding a companion as everyone deserts him each day. Crooks has nobody, he lost everything thanks to American society and the fact that the dream doesnt work if you are black, he is hopeless for all time. Curleys wife, a seemingly dangerous character of this story is isolated for just that. She has nobody bar her husband, who neither loves her nor listens, separated from others by both him and other peoples fear of the stigma that would ensure should they become her friend. She had her one chance at achieving something taken away from her many years ago. For Lennie the necessity to conform and do right by people is too much for him he can never understand and in the end this leads to his death. His fear of disapproval forces him to take a life without ever intending to. It is upon Georges shoulders to end the story, for there is only one possibility he must end all his hopes, condemn himself to being alone with his guilt, every chance that they had together and those around them found upon their arrival for he must take Lennies life to save him from misery. This pressure from American society and the unbending rules on what people should and shouldnt be causes so much dissatisfaction and unrest, leaving everyone feeling hopeless and alone, that they have been brought up to believe. They thought they had a chance, and they found nothing. The Withered Arm, on the other hand, is set in a world of tradition, of British society and its harsh social structure. In everyones mind there is desperation to conform to the rules and agree that unless you are upper class, or in the case of the women married, you are no one. Rhoda isolates herself from all others in her desperation to become someone, Farmer Lodges wife, and be counted and in doing so sentences herself to a life of loneliness, and starts much more for many others. For Gertrude there is a desperation to be what the materialistic views of those around her tell her to be, and in her search for this she ends up isolating her self even more than before. The young son, who nobody ever really looks to care for, there is isolation of a different kind and through no fault of his own. His parents never truly acknowledge him as their son and this ultimately ends in his tragic death. For Farmer Lodge, it is his materialistic conformism that causes many problems, and he isolates himself from all others in this story until the end, where it is he and Rhoda left and doomed to each be utterly alone for their sins.

Co-ordination and Control of the Excretory System

Co-ordination and Control of the Excretory System Homeostasis,  Co-ordination and Control  and the Excretory system Homeostasis is when a living being keeps control of the internal bodily conditions to keep the inside the â€Å"same†. It maintains things such as the bodies temperature at around 37 degrees, keeps the blood amount at around 5 liters and maintains water amount inside the body. All these can change due to different conditions, such as, the temperature outside or exercising causing the body to â€Å"sweat† which looses water. Inside the human body there are lots of, â€Å"Sensors† which monitor everything. They send signals to the brain when something is â€Å"different†, sensors in the brain will then monitor the changes and signal to effectors to make changes if necessary. The human body temperature sits at 37 degrees, whatever the temperature externally the temperature within the body will always try to remain the same. This is controlled by what is known as the, â€Å"Negative feedback system†. There are receptors all over the bodies skin which detect and analyse all changes in temperature. All information passes from these receptors to the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that processes temperature regulation. When the body gets too hot, blood vessels will dilate. This means the blood vessels will become larger allowing the blood flow to increase nearer to the surface of the skin allowing body heat to escape. As well as this, when hot, the body will also sweat. When we sweat water is removed from the body and evaporates onto the skin, this effect will cool the body down slightly. If the temperature gets to high it could cause the body to oversweat. If the person isnt able to get liquids in them they will become dehydrated. This is known as a heat stroke. When the body gets to cold, blood vessels will become smaller and will reduce blood flow around the surface of the skin, this will keep body heat within the body. This is known as Vasoconstriction. Quite often people will get what is called, â€Å"goosebumps† over their skin. This is when the hairs over the body become raised by the small muscles on the skin, the hairs will catch the air which helps to insulate our body. When the bo dy temperature drops below 37degrees it will typically start to shiver, this is when the muscles inside the body start to shake involuntarily and produce extra heat. If the temperature of the body falls below 35degrees the body will suffer from hypothermia, typically the body will violently shiver which can lead to difficulty in moving. This can be treated by warming the person up.   Around 50-75% of the human body consists of water. In babies its higher at around 75% to 78% dropping as they get older. We must always be in-taking liquids to keep our water level up as we can excrete water though things such as sweating, urinating and breathing out water vapour. We take in water from food and drink. The human body NEEDS water to live. Cells within the body need water to pass through their membrane depositing needed partials inside them. Water helps to digest food, carry waste products, sends electrical messages amongst cells, regulates body temperature and lubricates joints. The water levels must be kept at the correct balance and this is done through the kidneys. The kidneys are one of the major organs of homoeostasis, the human body has two kidneys found in the abdominal cavity (below the ribcage).They regulate waterloss in the body, blood goes through the kidneys and is filtered. Kidneys produce urine, this is the waste of â€Å"filtered† molecules of wat er etc.. leaving the body. Around 180 litres of water is processed through the kidneys on a daily basis. The remains of what was filtered and not secreted from the body is then redistributed across the bodies circulatory system. Kidneys produce urine at different concentrations which maintain water balance. When the body is dehydrated and we intake more liquids the kidney will filter and keep the majority of liquid processing through it. Any urine that does exit the body will be more concentrated appearing darker in colour. Whereas if we are fully hydrated and drink more fluids than our body needs the kidney will process the liquids and filter out the majority, it will be very diluted and will be more in quantity than when your dehydrated. The kidneys water balance can change according to temperature, exercise, fluid intake and salt intake. 308 Within the body we require a certain volume of glucose (Sugar) in order to create Andesine triphosphate (ATP), energy within the body. ATP i s important as it’s the only energy source used by cells in the brain and nervous system. ATP levels will always be changing; therefore the body must regulate its blood sugars through Sugar homoeostasis. Too much sugar could result in a high PH level in your blood, which breaks down sugars into energy without 02 making acids. This makes blood more acidic and disturbs the balance, thus insulin is needed. This homeostasis is regulated by two hormones, Insulin and Glucagon. Insulin and Glucogon are protein hormones with a half-life, they need to be rapidly produced to maintain a constant homoeostasis. This all happens within the pancreas, inside the pancreas are lots of receptors which monitor sugar levels within the bloodstream. Insulins main job is to decrease the blood sugar levels, insulin also synthesizes fatty acids and muscle tissue and transports (k+), which is responsible for causing the electric pulses in your nerve system that transmits signals to your brain and muscles. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets when there is a high blood sugar. When the levels of blood glucose drop the production of insulin will also lower. Whenever the blood glucose levels become elevated, for example when we have just eaten, the production of insulin will become higher again. This will occur because of Parasympathetic stimulation from the nervous system. During this phase insulin levels in the blood increase and sugar levels lower. Glucagon is the opposite of insulin, it will increase blood sugar levels and is secreted from the pancreas when blood glucose gets low. It’s produced in the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets. In the Sympathetic stimulation of the nervous system glucagon will help to elevate the amounts of blood glucose in the blood stream. There is normally around 70 – 99mg of glucose in our blood, 70-120mg after eating. Diabetes is a disorder some people can get when the glucose levels in the blood are too high and remain so. Treatment for this is an insulin shot. In type 2 diabetes the persons cells that detect certain parts of sugar, which will simulate the production of insulin will become damaged or destroyed hence they won’t be simply produced. So treatment for this is a lifestyle change by changing diet and exercising regularly, type 2 can be cured through this unlike type 1. All responses to any stimulus come from the central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system consists of the Brain and the spinal cord which react to information received from senses. The brain is quite often compared to the humans processor and memory of a computer. The front of the brain is responsible for receiving and processing information ie/ thinking and controlling motor functions (motor pathway). The midbrain is responsible for audio and visual responces whereas the hindbrain contains all the sensory infromation (Sensory pathway). This is responsible for controlling things such as breathing, heart rate and digestion and is attached to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a group of nerve fibres connected together which lead up to the brain. They appear in a cylinder shape and run down the centre of the spinal column towards the lower back. The spinal cord transmits data from the body organs to the brain. The Peripheral Nervous system (PNS) consists of two types of cel ls. Sensory and motor nervous cells and is divided into Somatic and Autonomic nervou system. The Somatic nervous system controls the skeleton muscle whereas the Autonomic nervous system controls involuntary muscles. 194 Similarities and Differences between Endocrine system and Nervous system Endocrine System Nervous System Similarities Both the Endocrine system and the Nervous system rely on the release of chemicals, such as Epinephrine, around the body to work. They are both regulated by the negative feedback system and both work to monitor and regulate activities inside cells, organs, tissues etc they respond to external and internal environments to help maintain the perfect homoeostasis. Differences One of the main differences between the Endocrine and Nervous system is, the Endocrine system works on chemical stimuli to pass signals around the bodies cells and organs. It is made up of a set of glands which secrete hormones. Every glad is responsible for a different area of the body and they use the circulatory system to transmit signals around the body. Communication is transmitted slowly across long distance and their effect becomes longer lasting. Whereas the nervous system relies on electrical pulses to pass the signals. Is made up of a collection of cells called Neurons which are split into two systems, the Central nervous system (CNS) and the Peripheral nervous system (PNS).The nervous system used these Neurons to transmit signals. Communication is transmitted fast and across shorter distances and are shorter in life. The excretory system is the process of the body removing waste through excretion. It removes waste produced through the homoeostasis cycle and In doing so it maintains a constant homoeostasis. The majority of organs in the human body produce a metabolic waste and thrus the whole body relies on the excretion system to maintain a perfect equilibrium. The major parts of the body involved in this process are the; Kidneys, Ureters, Urethra, Bladder, Skin, Lungs, Large intestine and the Liver. The urinary system is the major part of the excretory system. The kidneys are two bean shaped organs located below the ribcage, in the middle of the human back. They are processors which process through blood and filter out around 2liters of waste products and water every day. All the waste will become urine which is passed through the Ureter to be stored in the bladder. When you go to the toilet, urine exits the body through the urethra tube. The second major part of the urinary system is based in the liver, one of the largest organs in the human body. Its found on the right side of the body and is the chemical powerhouse within the body. Its purpose is to detoxify and breakdown any alien chemicals that might enter our bodies. The liver produces something called bile, which breaks down fats into waste and usable fats. Around 5ft in lengh, the large intestine sits inside our stomach and transports solid waste to be excreted. It can take up to 24 hours for food to travel through a per sons large intestine. The lungs are responsible for respiration, cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide which is a waste product and is eliminated from the body through exhalation. Finally the skin, a crucial part of the excretory system eliminates sweat from the body, sweat contains salt and is a metabolic waste. 310 References abpi, (2012), Homeostasis – Kidneys and water balance [online]. Available: http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/homeostasis_kidneys/kidneys2.cfm?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1> [23/03/2015] BBC Bitesize, (2014), Maintaining Water Balance [online]. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/homeostasis/waterbalrev1.shtml>[23/03/2015]   ForDummies, (2013), Why your body needs water [online]. Available: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/why-your-body-needs-water.html> [23/03/2015] Biomed,(2014), Insulin. Glucagon [online]. Available: http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2002_Groups/pancstems/stemcell/insulin_glucagon.htm> [23/03/2015] About Education, (2012), Nervous System [online]. Available:http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/a/aa061804a.htm> [23/03/2015] Mcwdn, (2011), Excretory system [online]. Available:http://www.mcwdn.org/body/excretory.html> [23/03/2015] Distance Learning Center, (2014), Homeostasis, coordination and Control and the Excretory System [online]. Available: http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/access_2014/materials/Biology/Homeostasis_and_Excretory_Systems/Homeostasis,_Coordination_and_Control,_and_the_Excretory_System.pdf> [23/03/2015]

How to start a Web Business Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursewor

How to start a Web Business The number one question to ask when starting a business, whether on the Web or in a traditional setting, is why would people want to buy the product or service. Somewhere in the world, one can find people selling anything so why would people come to you? Are you selling something unique, do you make or market something that no one can find anywhere else or would find it almost impossible to find elsewhere? Do you sell your product at a lower price then anyone else? Maybe your prices are competitive with other businesses but you offer superior service. Perhaps you have the ability to offer unique services that no one else can or will duplicate. Do you have some other advantage over other companies? The next thing to consider once you have settled on a product or service to market is a name. Names are very important especially when starting a business on the Internet. The Web address or URL (Universal Resource Locator) of a Web page is an important part of becoming a popular place f or surfers to shop. There are two ways in which an URL for a business Web page can de done: registering you own second level domain or being listed under some one else's domain name. A URL is made of several parts. First, there is the root level domain: com, org, net, tm. The root level domain can be many things; com, org, and net are the only root level domain names not associated with a two-letter country code. Any other domain name will be associated with a country: us, United States; de, Germany; tm, Turkmenistan. Some business names will lend themselves to easily become a second level domain name, that is the name before the root level domain name. Major brand names are easy to do such as www.microsoft.com, www.ibm.com. When people look on the Web for a certain company it is easy to try www.companyname.com but what should one type when the company name is Bob's House of Flowering Plants? That is why one should choose easily remembered or recognized Web addresses. Since thousands of second level domains have already been taken, it may be easier to find what names are available and then choose the name of the business from the available choices. To find out if a particular com, org, or net second level domain name has been registered, go to Inter nic (www.internic.com ). If you decide not to register your own domain name you can have a lis... ...your business, will automatically submit your information to the search engines that you select. The third option is email messages. This method can also be undesirable. Since many Internet users do not like UCE (unsolicited commercial email) also known as spam, it is not advisable to send email to potential customers unless they have requested it. To conclude, when done well, a business based on the Internet can be a very profitable venture. If an automatic system is used, very little labor must be utilized to run the business. Many companies have proven that the Internet can generate a great deal of business. Possibly thebest way to decide how you want to set up your business online is to surf to other businesses with Web pages and see which ones you would be more apt to purchase products from. Bibliography: Serwer, A. (1998, May 11). Michael Dell Rocks. Fortune, 58-70. Lange, L. (1998 Jan). The Internet. IEEE Spectrum, 37-42. Internic (1998, April). What is a Domain Name [Online]. Available: http://www.internic.com/info.htm [1998, April 28]. Dogpile (1998, April). Main listing of Search Engines [Online]. Available: http://www.dogpile.com [28, April 28].

Food and Tradition Essay

Culture has been existence since the time man came on the earth. Many ethnic groups have their own ways of living. Due to the new technologies and globalization, culture of many societies and families have been affected and altered in one way or the other. Some of the cultural traditions, practices, values and beliefs, values and virtues have faded away never to be heard again in within this new era with new generations. The roots of culture originate from families and clan. So the life styles are now being influenced from their fundamental points of source. This is not saying that culture will come to an end. Several families, clans which grow up to make communities and ethnic groups have struggled to this very far to preserve their culture. The survival of such cultural activities has created major concern over the last few decades. Most people have recently aroused the interest in cultural practices and this has contributed a lot to the tourism industry in our home country. Thousands of tourists are visiting our country entirely to watch over the oldest plays and cultural activities as well as to enjoy our traditional foods during such cultural occasions. This has resulted in dynamic, creative cultural practices of the oldest periods of our fore fathers. Food is something which is taken in the lightest manner possible by the new generations which we have in the entire world. They simply term it as nourishment that sustains growth or furnishes energy or does both to our bodies. They feebly attach much concentration on other importance of food other than the above. They have not known how much it contributes to the social and cultural welfare throughout our life. The role of various foods has deeper implications which are more than satisfying our hungers and other physical requirements. It may structures families schedules or it provide social activities which nurtures the family relation ships as people from one family interacts among themselves or with other family members. To a larger extend, it is used as a representation of certain ethnic identities. Thus, food is used in as part of family cerebrations or ceremonies as well as in our rituals. I as an indigenous person who hails from the northern parts of china, we have varieties of food stuffs. This ranges from the simplest agricultural products both from land cultivations and livestock. Although, the place has no reliable and sustainable rainfalls, many families produce farm products of horticultural natural through irrigation methods. Some of the produces includes vegetables and fruit, cabbages, squashes, pears grapes and apples. From livestock, they are vast lands in which people keep sheep for mutton and lamb. Generally, it is rare to get pork in such a place. This seems to have been influenced by the religion of the people. Most of the inhabitants are Muslims; hence they forbid the practice of taking pork. Pork is seriously fear by this people. The belief the eating of pork is like eating of the fresh of ones supreme being. So, the utilization of food is a very important part of the processes of life. Sometimes we fail to appreciate that food is more than just fundamental. The only other action that we connect in that is of analogous importance to our lives and to the life of our species is a sexual characteristic. But these two activities are quite different. The range of variations is substantially wider in food than in sex. In fact, the importance of food in understanding human culture lies precisely in its infinite inconsistency. For endurance needs, all men everywhere could eat the same food measured only in calories. However, people are of different backgrounds and eat very differently. Chinese eat varieties of foods in their meals which are characterized by quite notable flexibility and adaptabilities. The mixture of different meals in their ingredients remains to be distinctive in the appearance and tastes as well as the flavours. This varies from one cultural activity to another. During the festive occasion of circumcision, children are circumcised to graduate from their childhood to youthful hood. At this particular occasion, people use legume in higher quantities. This includes soybeans, broadens, pea nut and mung beans. They are used to make rapid healing of the wounds. It is also necessary to take bitter spices such as garlic and cinnamons which acts as reminder of the bitter activity they have gone through. (Gernet, 1962) Apart from circumcision ceremonies, many families do not eat meat products during the periods of tragedy such as death. In our culture, meat products are as result of shedding blood to the ground. Shedding of blood is one the acts which are sternly against the practices of our traditions. So, at such time of mourning, people cease from using the meat products which results from blood shed of animals. They believe that this is a sign of maintain peace with their super natural being. Once we eat such products, it like we are provoking the anger of the supreme nature. Thus, the common meals that are taken contain foods full of starch. Reference: Gernet, J. (1962): Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion: Stanford University Press

Primary caregiving for Toddlers in Early childhood education Essay

Essay: Primary caregiving for Toddlers in Early childhood education Within this assessment I aim to investigate primary caregiving for toddlers in early childhood education; considering the influence of historical and contemporary developments, theoretical perspectives, quality provision, specific pedagogical approaches and my personal professional philosophy of teaching and learning. Primary caregiving describes the relationship between toddlers and the most significant adult within their life, generally referring to their mother (Bernhardt, 2000); in early childhood education this concept refers to a kaiako taking on the primary role of their care within the learning environment. Primary caregiving in early childhood education has been recognised as the perfect opportunity to engage in sensitive and responsive encounters; such as nappy changing, feeding and observing the toddler within the environment, the observations are used to gather information for curriculum development and to communicate to parents (Rolfe, 2004). Clarence Edward Beeby and his wife Beatrice established the first play centre, in Wellington in 1941 (Stover, 2010). The emphasis of play centre was parent involvement, parents stay with their child/children throughout the session. Play centres are parent-led early childhood centres offering quality education for children in small mixed-age groups. The play centre association provide free parenting and early childhood education for parent members. In 1963, Sonia Davies established The New Zealand Childcare Association (NZCA) recognised as a courageous and charismatic leader, working to support private and community early childhood learning environments and those involved within the organisation. The notion of NZCA was to promote a quality in early childhood education (Stover, 2010, p. 12). In the 1980s, quality in early childhood education was investigated leading to the development of the Meade Report (1988); the government commissioned and identified recommendations regarding quality in early childhood education services in Aotearoa/New Zealand the Meade report includes but is not limited to group size, staff/child ratio, and providing a safe and healthy environment. Theoretical perspectives can be linked to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory; identifying the layers of influence in a child’s life, focusing on the quality and context of the child’s environment. Bronfenbrenner explains how relationships within social and cultural worlds influence behaviours, development and learning, shaping us into who we become (Drewery & Bird, 2004). Lev Vygotsky believed who we are and what we do is due to the influence of our cultural surroundings, referring to socio-cultural philosophy of learning (Vialle, Lysaght, Verenikina, 2005). Vygotsky an influential contributor to the evolving acknowledgment of the significance of relationships in learning and development, believed children engage in and undertake tasks when they have a mentor guiding them; involving positive interactions between adults and children (Arthur, Bleecher, Dickett, Farmer & Death, 2005). The attachment theory developed by Bowlby and Ainsworth in 1969 was inspired by ethological research on imprinting behaviour (Lorenz, 1952); developed to provide information regarding the way children gain perception of relationships, identifying a set of observable behaviours relating to social and emotional attachment. Bowlby believed the quality of attachment relationships forms the foundation of emotional development; the attachment theory explains how young children from bonds with specific people, such as parents or other close adults such as kaiako. A secure attachment status supports the toddler to explore freely, seeking support when needed. Loughran (2010) identified in pedagogy as the relationship between teaching and learning, understanding this interplay between teaching and learning and learning and teaching is an important shift in focus from teaching alone because it really means the two exist together† Relationship pedagogy recognises toddlers individual learning techniques accompanied by the kaiako’s reflection where the kaiako identify and implement personal values and beliefs into the care and education within the learning environment. . Gallagher and Mayer (2008) recognised pedagogical involvements with toddlers as gentle, responsive and individualised timely adjustments, responding to children’s verbal and non-verbal cues, temperament, cultural background, interests and current ‘zone of proximal development’. The introduction of a three-year early childhood teacher-education qualification in 1987 provoked kaiako to reflect on their practice with infants and toddlers with the intent to see teaching and learning as a holistic endeavour going beyond physical care. The concept of quality in early childhood education has been under investigation for the last three decades, with significant research undertaken to examine the components of quality within the organisation (Dalli, White, Rockel & Duhn, 2011). Rolfe (2004) believes to foster relationship based pedagogy kaiako need to understand attachment theory, and the implications of pedagogical relationships. Dalli, (et al., 2011) identifies relationship pedagogy comprising of care, respect and security involving responsive relationships, by understanding the manner in which the kaiako approaches relationship pedagogy is influenced by individual perceptions of the child as learner. Through building relationships getting to know the children kaiako are able to observe the learning which takes place (Dalli, et al. , 2011). The Ministry of Education, [MoE] 1996 acknowledges the importance of responsive relationships in early childhood education: â€Å"In order to thrive and learn, a toddler must establish an intimate, responsive, and trusting relationship with at least one other person† (p. 22). I recognise relationships are an important characteristic of early childhood education, which impacts toddlers learning and development within the environment. As an early childhood educator I am committed to supporting young children and their whanau throughout the child’s early childhood education; in able to support children throughout their learning journey it is imperative I understand the unique qualities of each child within my care, through implementing a primary caregiving system I would be able to form quality relationships with a small group of toddlers and their parents/whanau. Primary Caregiving System refers to the allocation of specific kaiako to individual children, the kaiako are responsible for the toddler’s overall well-being within the environment. To ensure quality care the toddler needs to form a secure attachment with their primary caregiver. Quality relationships between kaiako and toddler’s, fosters learning and development; this supports the kaiako to adapt and support individualised learning opportunities. Many theorists, including those whose ideas underpin the principles and strands of Te Whariki, support the significance of nurturing responsive reciprocal relationships through primary caregiving. Relationships developed from implementing the primary caregiving system can be supported by Bronfenbrenner and Vygotsky’s theories, by the way in which relationships shape and influence a child’s development. Relationship pedagogy recognises individual pace of learning, which in turn provides a structure for discourse. The New Zealand Childcare Association (NZCA) was founded in 1963 to support learning environments to promote quality early childhood education (Stover, 2010, p. 12). Reference List Arthur, L. Bleecher, B. Dockett, S. & Death, E. (2005), Programming and planning in early childhood settings (3rd ed.) Southbank, Victoria, Australia: Thompson. Bernhardt, J. L. (2000). A primary caregiving system for infants and toddlers: Best for everyone involved. Young Children, 55(2), 74-80. Bretherton, I. (1985). Attachment theory: Retrospect and prospect. In I. Bretherton & E. Waters (Eds. ), Growing points of attachment theory and research. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1-2, Serial No. 209), 3-35. Dalli, C. , White, E. J. , Rockel, J. , Duhn, I. , with Buchanan, E. , Davidson, S. , Ganly, S. , Kus, L. , & Wang, B. (2011). Quality early childhood education for under-two-year-olds: What should it look like? A literature review. Retrieved from http://www. educationcounts. govt. nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/89532/965_QualityECE_Web-22032011. pdf Drewery, W. Bird, L. (2004). Human development in Aotearoa: A journey through life. New Zealand: McGraw Hill New Zealand. Gallagher, K. C. , & Mayer, K. (2008). Enhancing development and learning through teacher-child relationships. Young Children, 63(6), 80–87. Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whariki: He whariki matauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa/early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media. Rolfe, S. (2000). Understanding relationships between professional carers and toddler. In child care: A case study, action research approach. The First Years Nga Tau Tuatahi. New Zealand Journal of infant and Toddler Education, 2(1), 9-12. Stover, S. (2010). A rapid history of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand. In B. Clark & A. Grey (Eds. ), Perspectives on early childhood education: Ata kitea te pae – Scanning the horizon. North Shore, New Zealand: Pearson. Vialle, W. , Lysaght, P. , & Verenikina, I. (2005). Psychology for Educators.