Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay

Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay The purpose of this assignment is to highlight the position of children involved in parental separation disputes. Within this essay, I will include the rationale for this project, with a background of my experience gained as a Court Childrens Officer. I will also identify aims which will seek to critically analyse the role of the child during parental separation, and compare and contrast their role in both public and private legal proceedings. I will attempt to provide an analytical literature review of Northern Ireland, UK and International literature, which will demonstrate historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives of including or excluding the child during parental separation. I will then proceed to provide service user and service provider perspectives, with a critical basis for recommendations for future practice. Throughout my assignment I will endeavour to incorporate my learning to demonstrate anti-discriminative and anti-oppressive practice , and how these can be challenged to enhance the service further. Introduction: Evidence based practice (EBP) refers to using evidence from research to indicate the effectiveness of an outcome (Davies, 2008). It is a controversial topic which notes that professionals should only intervene in peoples lives when they can bring about change, without causing adverse consequences. EBP indicates an approach to decision-making which is accountable and based on best evidence (Davies, 2008). Within my own experience, EBP was important for refining my knowledge and practice so that the service user was provided with appropriate support for their individual needs. I used EBP to carry out research to determine what evidence supported or rejected the inclusion of children during family break down. My experience for this Evidenced Based Project was gained as a Court Childrens Officer (CCO), based at the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. This is a relatively new service provided by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to help courts resolve family issues, such as residence and contact for the child. There are currently seven small Court Childrens Teams working throughout Northern Ireland. As a CCO, my role was to deal with cases where assistance was needed to help parties agree on the needs of their children, as opposed to continuing the incriminations as to who was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship, through private law proceedings. I was only permitted to be involved with a case, and ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child, if a court direction was issued. Background and Rationale: It is estimated that over one half (53%) of children in the UK will experience parental divorce before they are aged 16, with two thirds of them under age 11 (Office of National Statistics, 2007). In 2005, Northern Irelands rate of divorce was 2,363 (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2006). Of these 2005 divorce statistics, there were 2,052 children involved, under the age of 16. However, these statistics mask many more children who go through parental separation each year, and these are not formally recorded (www.rcpsych.ac.uk). It is well documented, within research, that some children can experience a range of complex problems socially, emotionally and economically before, during and after the breakdown of their parents relationship (Timms, 2003), and it is important to note that divorce and separation of parents can be a confusing and stressful time for children making them more vulnerable to psychological, emotional or financial short or long term difficulties (Ti mms, 2003). Numerous studies have reported on the consequences for children going through parental divorce or separation, yet the voice of the child has remained predominantly silent (Butler et al. 2003). The Children (NI) Order 1995 brought together both public and private law proceedings relating to children in Northern Ireland, into an amalgamated order, but the processes for hearing the voice of the child still remain entirely contradictory. Article 3 (3) suggests that â€Å"the wishes and feelings of the child should be taken into account, with consideration of age and level of understanding†. To address this requirement children in public proceedings have separate legal representation, in the form of a solicitor, and guardian to ascertain their wishes and feelings, and present them in court. However, children involved in private law proceedings regarding residence and contact are not included in the proceedings. In private cases the emphasis of the court is to help the parties reach agreement; therefore, the child is reliant on the parents considering and protecting their interests. This is a debatable process which will be discussed below. It is the childs lack of ‘voice throughout parental separation and private law proceedings that has provided the rationale for this project. Aims: This project will seek to examine a childs needs through family breakdown. It will seek to critically examine the childsright to participate in private law proceedings, and compare these with concerns. I will aim to address the debate of including or excluding children during private law proceedings. It will also seek to examine current gaps in support provision for children and young people involved in parental separation, and make recommendations to how these can be addressed. The project will consider the literature, which includes policy and legislation from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Internationally. The literature review below will aim to critically evaluate the perspectives of including or excluding the child in the processes of parental separation. I will use historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives to evaluate the need to include or exclude children. I will compare and contrast the pros and cons, including an analysis of the methods of child participation, with a summary of the findings. Literature Review: With the continuing rise of children experiencing parental separation in Northern Ireland, The United Kingdom and Internationally, it has facilitated the awareness of the childs right to be heard and for their wishes and feelings to be considered. Promoting the childs participation in decision-making during parental separation is a relatively recent event. Historically, children were viewed as needing protection from parental conflict, and lacked the capability to actively participate in family matters (Graham and Fitzgerald, 2005, cited in Birnbaum, 2009). It was assumed that, if children were not informed, they would be sheltered from the major emotional impact separation brought (Smart, 2002). I was also assumed that parents knew what was in their childs best interests (Timms, 2003), and, therefore childrens views were represented by their parents. Through child psychology and social science research, the importance of the childs right to have their wishes and feelings considered has gained a greater significance (Lansdown, 2005), and more importantly, perspectives on the inclusion of children in parental separation disputes have been changing (Williams, 2006). Children are now being seen as having their own rights, rather than parental property (Lansdown, 2005). Psychological research has also increasingly indicated that not listening to children may be more detrimental to their well-being (Kelly, 2002), and that the meaningful participation of children in contact and residence disputes can actually shelter them from emotional hurt during a time when they are most vulnerable (Butler et al., 2003). Social science research also validates that the childs participation in the processes of family breakdown can draw a parallel with their ability to adapt to a new family structure in the future (Butler et al., 2003), as well as gain power and control in a confusing and stressful time (Butler et al., 2003). Research also indicates that young people themselves want to be heard through the legal process, as the outcome has a major effect on their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Adolescents, in particular, have expressed that they want to be involved in major decisions, and be able to make choices (Neale, 2002). A childs participation in the decision-making processes of parental divorce and separation can be largely diverse; direct or indirect. Children can voice their opinion and be involved in contact or residence arrangements that affect them, they can provide input into the development of services, or participate in the development of broader policy issues (Birnbaum, 2009). Legislative and Policy Perspective: It is evident in legislation within Northern Ireland, the UK and Internationally that children have theright to be heard. Article 12 of The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) stipulates â€Å"children have the right to express their opinions and have their opinions considered†. The Convention encourages adults to listen to the voice of children and involve them in decision-making. The Children (NI) Order 1995 (Article 3: 3), and The Children Act 2004 (Article 54) both stipulate the need for the â€Å"childs wishes and feelings to be ascertained, and taken account of according to the childs age and understanding† (http://www.opsi.gov.uk). Yet, despite legislation, research and social trends in Northern Ireland specifically, no single government policy or strategy has been developed to indicate how best to support the needs of children experiencing parental separation (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Certain apprehension, within legislation and polic y, remains in respect of allowing children to participate in the decision-making process of parental separation. This apprehension is created by â€Å"attempts to balance the vulnerability of children, given their age and development, with their rights as individuals† (Smart, Wade and Neale, 1999: 152). There is also much debate about how children should be included in which circumstances and in what way. Argumentsfor the inclusion of children during parental separation: Those who are in support of including children during times of parental separation claim a number of rights-based reasons. The most significant being that the child has a right to be included, according to theConvention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and a right to have their wishes and feelings ascertained (Children (NI) Order 1995). In addition to this, theory suggests that children should be seen as active participants in decision making and not as parental property to be controlled (Atwood, 2003). The United Nations Convention also suggests that children have the right to be respected and heard, and also indicates that they have a right to full access of social, economic, and civil rights that are given to everyone else (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, and perhaps most significantly, those in support of including children explain that children want to be involved in decision-making during parental separation, as it affects their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Children understand the difference of providing input and reaching the final decision (Kelly, 2002). Smith (2007) states that by being open and honest with children, and allowing them to participate in separation processes translates into better communication and respectful listening. Research also suggests that children themselves rate their participation as important when it comes to family issues (Taylor, Smith and Nairn, 2001). Thirdly, from a policy perspective, childrens participation is linked with a wider form of social inclusion. Namely, policies, services and programs are more effective if children are included in their design, planning, delivery and implementation (Lansdown, 2005). Smart, Neale and Wade (2001: 269) suggest that â€Å"family policy issues must include childrens viewpoints if children are to be treated ethically† and respectfully. Jameson and Gilbert (2000) claim that childrens views should be incorporated into policy development, as it impacts directly on them. Without doing this decision-makers cannot benefit from childrens perspectives or suggestions about how to resolve the problem. The same argument can be made about the inclusion or exclusion of the child during parental separation. Through a legal and legislative point of view, some have argued that the inclusion of children during private law proceedings can help parents to focus on their children, as opposed to the adversarial ‘blame role. â€Å"Focusing on the needs of children early in the process of parental law proceedings can reduce both the intensity and duration of conflict† (McIntosh, 2003: 232). Goldson (2006) also suggests that focusing on the needs of the children may enhance communication between parents, as it helps them identify common ground. Gray (2002) has also indicated that the childs participation in private law proceedings can facilitate understanding their own wants and needs, and can help develop advocacy skills regarding communication and negotiation within the family. Williams (2006: 158) also suggests that â€Å"by including the child in decisions about parental separation can enhance their sense of self-esteem and control, thereby enhancing their resiliency†. Argumentsagainst the inclusion of children during parental separation: As mentioned above, there are firmly held viewpoints about children being involved in the decision-making process of their parents separation, however, there are a similar number of arguments against the inclusion of children. Firstly, from a rights-based understanding, researchers mention some concerns when adhering to childrens rights. Atwood (2003) argues that a balance needs to be found between protecting children from emotional harm and protecting their rights and Guggenheim (2003) expresses that there is a certain price associated with providing children with rights; he indicates that rights are relational. He claims that â€Å"if children have a right then someone else has a duty and childrens legal rights are always in the hands of adults† (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, concerns have been expressed by those who ascertain the wishes and feelings of children. Mediators suggest that children can often be manipulated by a parent, and can take sides accordingly during contact and residence disputes, creating stress and worry for children (Saposnek, 2004). Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is becoming increasingly significant also this is described as the child expressing unjustified hatred for one parent due to the influence (direct or indirect) of the other parent, which does not benefit the child. Garrity and Baris (1994) argue that involving children in parental disputes can also lead the child to tell each parent what they want to hear, which has no benefit to the child. The child is then seen as wanting to please both parties, rather that choose between them, which again has no benefit. Another concern in the debate of including children in disputes is that the child may not want to become involved for fear of feeling responsible for the outcome, and causing hurt to their parent. Furthermore, some children withhold theirtrue feelings as they fear their parents may get upset with what they say, and therefore should not be placed in such a position (Brown, 1996),. Thirdly, research conducted by Kelly (2003) and Saposnek (2004) indicates that not all children essentially want or need their voice to be heard. They point out that unless a child specifically makes a request to voice their opinion, there is no reason to do so. Research reported from McIntosh (2007) also claims that children would not benefit from being included in the separation process in certain circumstances where there is high conflict between the parents, including previous allegations of domestic violence, or mental health issues. This is due to the power and control issues one parent may have over the other, or the child. Involving the child; Mediation: Mediation has been used for decades as an alternative to court processes, in separation and divorce proceedings (Folberg, Milne and Salem, 2004). Mediation provides parties with an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach, by introducing a neutral third-party to assist in reaching agreement about the child(ren) (Birnbaum, 2009). Children are therefore more likely to benefit emotionally and socially from parental cooperation. However, childrens involvement in the mediation process is relatively new (Austin, Jaffe, and Hurley, 1991). A childs participation in mediation varies from country to country. Saposnek (2004) indicates that childrens direct participation in mediation only occurred in 4%-47% of cases across public and private sectors, in the United Kingdom, the US and Australia. This illustrates that despite adults finding an advantage to mediation, children continue to remain the silent majority, with their parents making decisions. It can therefore be understood that this may leave the child feeling powerless, and disempowered by the process (Birnbaum, 2009). The differing attitudes over whether to incorporate children in mediation are similar to those who debate on the overall process of including children in divorce and separation decisions the child rights versus shielding them from emotional harm (Elrod, 2007). The Child and Legal Proceedings: As mentioned above, within Northern Ireland there are contradictory principles on the inclusion of children in the public and private legal systems. Children within public law proceedings have a guardian and a separate legal representative to advocate on their behalf in court, but children within private law proceedings are not contributors to the process and have no direct involvement (Timms, 2003). â€Å"Northern Ireland stands apart from the United Kingdom for having no legislative provision for the separate representation of children in specific private law proceedings† (COAC, 2005b cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008: 279). According to Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 279) this is interesting considering there were â€Å"2,186 Children Order applications brought to Court between January and June 2007, of which 1,925 were private law cases and only 261 were public law cases† and public law children were represented separately. The concerns about children becoming involved in private law proceedings originate from the Human Rights Act 1998 (Article 8) which states that an adherence is needed in respect for private and family life, with minimal state intervention, unless deemednecessary for the protection of others. However, Timms (2003) argues that due to the number of children involved in private law proceedings, compared to public law proceedings, there needs to be a balance found between minimal state intervention and the protection of vulnerable children. Some researchers suggest that childrens voices are being silenced by traditional reluctance to interfere in private and family life, causing concern that some children are being forced to remain quiet in situations of violence, neglect or child abuse, due to a lack of appropriate representation (Radford et al, 1999 cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). The differentiation between public and private law proceedings is not recognised in other countries, such as Scotland, Canada, and Australia with children being seen as having independent rights with an important emphasis placed on having their wishes and feelings ascertained, in legal separation disputes (Timms et al., 2007). This is worth considering in order to examine the effectiveness of our court processes compared to other systems. Child and Parental Perspective: As a Court Childrens Officer (social worker) based in Belfast Family Proceedings Court I had a range of experience working with parents and children during private law proceedings. My role was to adhere to the Children (NI) Order 1995 to provide Article 4 reports to the court, when directed to do so. This was to provide the court with any welfare concerns for the child and/or the childs wishes and feelings having contact or residing with a parent. To provide Article 4 reports the Court Childrens Team first had to receive a court direction to do so, and not all cases requested the CCO to ascertain the childs wishes and feelings separately from the parents. Other roles, through a court direction, included parental conciliation, mediation, and contact observation for the welfare of the child. In cases where there had been previous social services involvement, the article 4 request was transferred to the appropriate social work team in Belfast for further involvement. Through working with children and parents through the court process I was able to ascertain their perspectives on separation disputes and court processes. Child E (14), who had recently moved in with his father, following the separation of his parents, stipulated that he did not understand the court process and would like someone to explain how it would affect him. He continually requested that he wanted limited contact with his mother (maximum two days per week), due to frequent arguments, yet the court continually directed more contact with his mother, and he could not understand why. I feel through this case and others that children are not being listened to, despite their wishes and feelings being ascertained. Child G (12) expressed that he was told â€Å"not to interfere† by his parents, as they had already came to an agreement about contact arrangements. The child articulated that he was concerned about the arrangements, as he wanted to take part in other activities on the same days, with his friends. This is cause for concern as contact arrangements in this case suited the interests of the parents, as opposed to the child. This created anxiety for the child, and as a result the child refused to attend contact, so the case returned to court. The above cases represent just two of the children I had the privilege of working with during my practice placement, but both represent, the need for the child to be involved in court proceedings and listened to when they express their wishes. Parents, however, display relief and satisfaction with the court childrens team involvement in private law disputes. This is due to a neutral third party mediating between parties to discuss unresolved issues. Many parents have expressed thankfulness for the service, as it helped them to focus on their children, as opposed to â€Å"hear say† about one another, from other people. Thankfully, then, many parents do begin to work together to consider their childs needs, without the continual intervention of a CCO, or constant court proceedings. When asking parents how they would improve the service, most claimed they would like continuous mediation, and the opportunity to discuss issues of separation as an ongoing process, with a neutral third party. When gaining child feedback about speaking with me as a CCO, Child G expressed that it was nice to have someone to listen to whathe wanted. Service Provider Perspective: Through the help of my manager and research conducted for this project, I have identified criticisms and gaps in the court childrens service, and provided recommendations on how these can be addressed, to better facilitate service users; 1.Time restraints for involvement due to the court process In my experience, the CCO service had limited time to gather appropriate information about the families involved. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 287) explain that â€Å"the danger for Article 4 work is that the meaningful engagement that promotes cooperation for full assessment and therapeutic potential is encroached by time pressures.† This then provides difficulties in building a relationship with a child and gaining their trust, to be able to express their wishes and feelings about contact or residence issues. Limited assessment of the child and family may also pose risks and potential significant oversights. However, due to the â€Å"no delay† principle applied to the courts through the Children (NI) Order 1995, it may not be feasible to carry out lengthy assessments that may delay proceedings. Recommendation 1: What is necessary is that decisions for children are reached through appropriate information gathering and careful consideration. A child should be assessed appropriately, but if support services are needed, CCOs should be permitted to make referrals to other organisations. 2.The majority of the court childrens officers time is spent with parents In my experience, the central role of the CCO was to mediate and conciliate between parties to help reach agreement about the child. It is assumed that by helping the parties agree, will therefore benefit the child as less conflict will occur, through better cooperation for contact arrangements. However, this leaves a critique to be made in respect of â€Å"acting in the childs best interests†, or on the agenda of the parents (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Child oppression can therefore be implied, if the childs feelings are assumed on the basis of their parents point of view. Recommendation 2: Children should be given the opportunity to take part in mediation. All children involved in private law proceedings should be given the opportunity to have a third party involved to represent their wishes and feelings. 3.The consideration of the welfare of all children involved in private legal proceedings Only a minority of children are involved with the court welfare service, as it is directed by the court. This indicates that the majority of children are not involved, and remain silent through their parents decisions. This poses two significant risks to these children; a) Social service safeguards are not implemented to assess child welfare i.e. to indicate previous instances of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, in order to protect the child. â€Å"Domestic violence is present in 50% of cases whichrequire Article 4 reports† (Timms, 2003: 165) and safety needs to be addressed for children during contact. b) The child remains powerless and oppressed by not being involved in decisions made about them. Recommendation 3: Children through private legal proceedings should have the right to separate legal representation by a third party, to ensure their needs, wishes and feelings are being met, and welfare is protected. Recommendation 4: Social services should carry out checks to ensure no previous cases of child abuse or domestic violence have occurred, when the welfare of the child is questioned. 4.Lack of support services available to children following parental separation Through my own experience it is evident that any work completed with the child is for the production of an Article 4 report. This lack of time provision and nature of involvement does not supply the child with any level of intervention or understanding of parental separation. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 288) express that â€Å"in light of research findings indicating the short-term and long-term effects of parental separation on children, it is concerning that the need for therapeutic services is seldom considered† in private law proceedings. Recommendation 5: Provide children and families with the opportunity to seek therapeutic support services, further mediation, and person centred work for parental separation. The Court Childrens Team could have the opportunity to provide these provisions with a further expansion of the service. 5.Public Law versus Private Law:As highlighted above, the Children (NI) Order 1995 amalgamated public and private legislation in relation to children, yet the processes for listening to the child still remain entirely contradictory. Children are separately represented in public law cases, despite fewer children being involved; therefore, children involved in private proceedings do not have the same rights as their counterparts, in terms of representation or service provision (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Recommendation 6: The conflicting rights of the child through public and private law should be addressed. Children should have equal rights to represent their views. In Northern Ireland specifically, I would recommend government policy development, and further social service provision to protect vulnerable children in private law proceedings. Recommendation 7: Involve children as participants in private law proceedings, as opposed to them remaining silent in the majority of cases. This would promote ethical practice, partnership and anti-oppressive procedures. Conclusion What I have tried to identify within this Evidence Based Project is to highlight that childrens voices are an important aspect in the separation process between parents. This is evidenced from practitioners and experts through legislation, policy, and research. Regardless ofhow childrens wishes and feelings are ascertained, what remains important is that childrenare acknowledged and listened to. This is not only good, ethical practice, but also helps to promote anti-oppressive practice and partnership with the child. The debate between researchers regarding childrens inclusion continues, but what should remain important is that parents are further encouraged to have better relationships, and helped to focus on what is important the needs of their children throughout the process of separation. The Children (NI) Order 1995 merged public and private law, but what seems to remain is its conflicting views of children. In Northern Ireland there are approximately two thousand children every year who are unrepresented through private law proceedings. To provide them with separate representation, from that of their parents, would offer an independent person to represent their feelings, not only acting in the childs best interests, but addressing some of theConventions rights of the child.The differentiation between public and private law only seems to be evident in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, so perhaps conducting research into international successes is what is needed to gain consistency locally. Throughout this project I have identified that not only does research, policy and legislation support the inclusion of children, children themselves express to be involved in the processes. In Northern Ireland there seems to be a lack of consistency in childrens law, and there is no current policy that seems to be addressing the needs of children suffering family breakdown. This needs to be tackled multi-disciplinarily if we are to protect and support children. The Court Childrens Service could address some of the childrens needs, if the service was expanded, and provided with new policy and legislation

Eudora Weltys The Ponder Heart :: Eudora Weltys The Ponder Heart

Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart There are many different ways to categorize The Ponder Heart. Some critics have said that it could be a dramatic monologue, a comic monologue, or a point of view. In the article "Seeing through Edna Earle: The Ponder Heart as a Dramatic Monologue," the author is not clear whether the novel is a dramatic monologue or not. In A Handbook to Literaturethere is a very clear definition of a dramatic monologue. A dramatic monologue is defined as "a poem that reveals, a "soul in action" through the speech of one character in a dramatic situation."The Ponder Heartis close to a dramatic monologue because "There is a speaker: Edna Earle Ponder. There is an audience: a stranger. There is an occasion: we find ourselves in the parlor of the Beulan Hotel" (Nissen, 1). The "point of view" is defined by Nissen as "the nexus of our interpretation of the novel's characters, events, and thematic significance"We get this information from Edna Earle as she tells us of her stories. It is her "point of view" we receive and see. To understand the monologue character, I have some different descriptions of Edna Earle. Edna Earle has been labeled in many different ways. "She has been accused of being just about everything from bossy to narrow-minded to just plain dumb" (Nissen, 2). She has been labeled as "a talkative, frustrated, limited, boring woman, desperately trying to keep her house in order," according to another critic, Kreyling. I do not see this at all in Edna Earle's character. It seems that Edna Earle is in charge of the town gossip. She runs the main hotel in town, her family is very important people in this town, and that is why she gets all of the gossip. Small town's talk about everything. Edna Earle is a strong but lonely woman. I believe that she talks about the town gossip so her listener will stay with her. That way she is not left alone. Another critic by the name of Robert Laugbaum says that Edna Earle, " is a bit of a snob, she is opinionated and speaks her mind."I agree with this when Edna Earle speaks of Bonnie Dee Peacock. She talks about Bonnie Dee's intellegence, the way she dresses, and suggests that she is railroad trash. It makes the reader believe that Edna Earle is better than Bonnie Dee. Except, deep down, Edna Earle actually likes Bonnie Dee because when she died, "one of the last things she says is that she misses Bonnie Dee" (Nissen, 4). In the article "Seeing through Edna Earle: The Ponder Heartas a Dramatic Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart :: Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart Eudora Welty's The Ponder Heart There are many different ways to categorize The Ponder Heart. Some critics have said that it could be a dramatic monologue, a comic monologue, or a point of view. In the article "Seeing through Edna Earle: The Ponder Heart as a Dramatic Monologue," the author is not clear whether the novel is a dramatic monologue or not. In A Handbook to Literaturethere is a very clear definition of a dramatic monologue. A dramatic monologue is defined as "a poem that reveals, a "soul in action" through the speech of one character in a dramatic situation."The Ponder Heartis close to a dramatic monologue because "There is a speaker: Edna Earle Ponder. There is an audience: a stranger. There is an occasion: we find ourselves in the parlor of the Beulan Hotel" (Nissen, 1). The "point of view" is defined by Nissen as "the nexus of our interpretation of the novel's characters, events, and thematic significance"We get this information from Edna Earle as she tells us of her stories. It is her "point of view" we receive and see. To understand the monologue character, I have some different descriptions of Edna Earle. Edna Earle has been labeled in many different ways. "She has been accused of being just about everything from bossy to narrow-minded to just plain dumb" (Nissen, 2). She has been labeled as "a talkative, frustrated, limited, boring woman, desperately trying to keep her house in order," according to another critic, Kreyling. I do not see this at all in Edna Earle's character. It seems that Edna Earle is in charge of the town gossip. She runs the main hotel in town, her family is very important people in this town, and that is why she gets all of the gossip. Small town's talk about everything. Edna Earle is a strong but lonely woman. I believe that she talks about the town gossip so her listener will stay with her. That way she is not left alone. Another critic by the name of Robert Laugbaum says that Edna Earle, " is a bit of a snob, she is opinionated and speaks her mind."I agree with this when Edna Earle speaks of Bonnie Dee Peacock. She talks about Bonnie Dee's intellegence, the way she dresses, and suggests that she is railroad trash. It makes the reader believe that Edna Earle is better than Bonnie Dee. Except, deep down, Edna Earle actually likes Bonnie Dee because when she died, "one of the last things she says is that she misses Bonnie Dee" (Nissen, 4). In the article "Seeing through Edna Earle: The Ponder Heartas a Dramatic

Unit 3 Assignment

Unit 3 Homework – Template Problem 1: Suppose that the supply schedule of Belgium Cocoa beans is as follows: Price of cocoa beans(per pound)| Quantity of cocoa beans supplied(pounds)| $40| 700| $35| 600| $30| 500| $25| 400| $20| 300| Suppose that Belgium cocoa beans can be sold only in Europe. The European demand schedule for Belgium cocoa beans is as follows: Price of Belgium cocoa beans(per pound)| Quantity of Belgium cocoa beans demanded(pounds)| $40| 100| $35| 300| $30| 500| $25| 700| $20| 900| a.Draw the demand curve and the supply curve for Belgium cocoa beans. What are the equilibrium price and quantity of cocoa beans from Belgium? . . . . . | $40 $35 $30 $25 $20 700 600 500 400 300 The equilibrium price and quantity of cocoa beans from Belgium is $30. 00 / 500 pounds Now suppose that Belgium cocoa beans can be sold in the U. S. The U. S. demand schedule for Belgium cocoa beans is as follows:Price of Belgium cocoa beans(per pound)| Quantity of Belgium cocoa beans deman ded(pounds)| $40| 200| $35| 400| $30| 600| $25| 800| $20| 1000| b. What is the demand schedule for Belgium cocoa beans now that U. S. consumers can also buy them? Price of Belgium cocoa beans| Quantity of Belgium cocoa beans demanded| Quantity of Belgium cocoa beans demanded| Total Demanded| (per pound)| (pounds)| (pounds)| (pounds)| $40 | 200| 100|   | $35 | 400| 300|   | $30 | 600| 500|   | $25 | 800| 700|   | $20 | 1000| 900|   |Draw a supply and demand diagram that illustrates the new equilibrium price and quantity of cocoa beans from Belgium. What will happen to the price at which Belgium plantation owners can sell cocoa beans? What will happen to the price paid by European consumers? What will happen to the quantity consumed by European consumers? Problem 2 On Tuesday nights, a local restaurant has a kid’s meal special. Nina’s son, Braden likes the restaurant’s chicken nuggets, but Braden seems to be growing bigger every day and the kid’s meal is usually not enough.The restaurant does allow for additional purchase of chicken nugget servings. Nina’s willingness to pay for each serving is shown in the table below. Number of Chicken Nugget servings(servings)| Willingness to pay for chicken nuggets(per serving)| 1| $5| 2| $4| 3| $3| 4| $2| 5| $1| 6| $0| a. If the price of an additional serving of chicken nuggets is $3, how many servings will Nina buy for Braden? How much consumer surplus does he receive? b. The following week, Nina and Braden are back at the restaurant again, but now the price of a serving of chicken nuggets is $4.By how much does his consumer surplus decrease compared to the previous week? c. One week later, they return to the restaurant again. Nina discovers that the restaurant is offering an â€Å"all-you-can-eat† special for $12. How many chicken nugget servings will Braden eat, and how much consumer surplus does he receive now? d. Suppose you own the restaurant and Braden is a â€Å"t ypical† customer. What is the highest price you can charge for the â€Å"all-you-can-eat† special and still attract customers?

Analysis of the battle of Beersheba Essay - 1017 Words

History learning task The Battle of Beersheba was fought on 31 October 1917, when two infantry and two mounted divisions of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), attacked units of the Yildirim Army Group garrisoning Beersheba. This EEF victory began the offensive, which six weeks later resulted in the capture of Jerusalem, during the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I. I think that the Australian soldiers were very effective in winning Beersheba although the charge was born of the desperation of having no water and needing to capture the wells in Beersheba. (Wikipedia 2013) (Australian reserve forces council 2013) 50,000 British troops attacked the Turkish defenses around Beersheba on October 31 1917 they were†¦show more content†¦Just after 4.30 they set off riding west into the sun and towards Beersheba over a long open wedge of ground shown on the map between the railroad and the Wadi Hora River. For most of the charge the Light horse was at the mercy of the Turkish field guns with shells in the midst of the charging soldiers but as they grew closer the field guns could not lower anymore and therefore could not fire anymore. That was when an even greater threat was unveiled machine guns they may not be as powerful as the field guns but there were more and they could be aimed. But some extreme luck, in the confusion of the charge many of the Turks forgot to change their sights from 1600m and therefore fired over the charging Australian’s heads if the Turkish machine gunners had adjusted their sights then the battle may well have turned sour for the Light horse. (The Australian, 2007) (Lancers, 2013) In source 2, which is believed to be the only photo to have been taken of the battle of Beersheba, you can see the light horse charging and that they are using swords. This was because in those days guns were unwieldy and hard to load so it was easier to just use swords this created an insane battle but the key to it was speed because as soon as the horsemen got passed the trenches the Turkish would be cast into disarray. Even as the horsemen vaulted the trenches a huge cheer went up from not only the English infantry but also some of the Turks, such was the magnificence of the feat. AfterShow MoreRelatedThe Debate over the 1948 Arab-Israeli War2889 Words   |  12 Pagesagreement on what actually happened during that war, because it has been, and still is subject of different interpretations. This paper aims at analyse a great debates over the 1948 war, the one between â€Å"old† and â€Å"new† historians. Particularly, the analysis will be focused on the critique to the old history traditon presented by the â€Å"new† historians, whose main representatives are Shlaim, Pappà © and Flapan. I found it very interesting to study how these historians interpret the events that took place

Lack Of Monetary Aid Creates Socioeconomic Problems For...

The cycle of poverty is a powerful weapon and those who are close or below the line of poverty are trapped in this vicious cycle. The viciousness of poverty is a universal problem, every country as to deal with poverty, but some people are more vulnerable than others to become victims of poverty. Often times society makes it appear as if people want to be poor because there are countless opportunities but this is not so. By just being close to the poverty line means limited access to jobs. There has been a scarcity of jobs because most of which have moved overseas for cheaper labor; or those which have been replaced by technology, or have been shut down such the automotive business. The lack of monetary aid creates socioeconomic problems for the poor. The poor face issues such as lack of effective resources and stable infrastructure of those children that attend schools in poor areas. There are many people that are unaware of the predicament of the poor. It is therefore my aim to en lighten the reader that the cycle of poverty is extremely difficult to escape, especially when they are faced with the above mentioned problems. The odds are against those in poverty and despite the numerous improvements in society that there is an extreme gap between the poor and the top one percent. Writer Eli Khamarov states, â€Å"Poverty is like punishment for a crime you did not commit.† No one wants to be poor and why should they be punished for being a part of a certain social class and race.Show MoreRelatedGentrification And Its Effects On Contemporary Urban Areas1381 Words   |  6 Pagesdisplacing low-income families and small businesses,† (dictionary.com, n.d.). People who argues for gentrification reasoned that it will help the poor neighborhoods grow financially, allows for people of different racial, ethnic, and class background to come together to intermingle. 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John Stuart Mill s On Liberty And Utilitarianism Essay

This essay examines and inspects liberty and order conflict based on the writings of philosopher John Stuart Mill, titled On Liberty and Utilitarianism. We will discuss how his philosophical views on equality as fundamental to what it means to be human. We will interpret John Stuart Mill’s theorist view on equality as fundamental to the good or bad functioning of the state? The question and debate we would also raise will be, is equality be integral the arrangements of power? Lastly, we would argue the theorist’s approach to liberty fundamentally influenced the way we view equality in the 21st century. In John Stuart Mill works of On Liberty, the piece focuses and concerns common and social freedom or, to take a gander at it from the opposite perspective, the nature and points of confinement of the power that can honest to goodness be practiced by society over the person. 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Organization Structure and Control System free essay sample

MNC,but many firms do not follow the stages model because they start their internationalization at a higher level of involvement ,perhaps a full-blown global joint venture without ever having exported for example,even mature MNC’s must make structural changes sometimes for example the reorganization of Aluminum Company of America(Alcoa) for example split the company into smaller,more autonomous units,thereby giving more focus to growing businesses such as automotive products where the market of aluminum is strong. The typical ways in which firms organize their international activities are shown in the following list: -Domestic structure plus export department: Many firms especially smaller ones start their international involvement by exporting,they may reorganize into a simple domestic structure plus export department. -Domestic structure plus foreign subsidiary: Some firms take a further step toward world wide operations by reorganizing into a domestic structure plus foreign subsidiary,this structure works well for companies with one or a few subsidiaries located relatively close to headquarters. -International division: With market expansion the firm may then decide to specialize by creating an international division,organized along functional,product,or geographic lines. -Global functional structure: To respond to increased product diversification and to maximize benefitsfrom both domestic and foreign operations ,a firm may choose to replace its international division with an integrated global structure. -Global product structure: For companies with diversified product or service lines and that are aimed at dissimilar or dispersed markets, a global product (divisional) structure may be more strategically advantageous than a functional structure. In this structure, a single product or product line has its own separate division, headed by its own general manager, and which is responsible for its own production and sales functions. Often each division is a strategic business unit (SBU) or a self-contained business with its own functional departments and accounting systems. -Matrix structure: The structure is developed to combine geographic support for both global integration and local responsiveness,also it can be used to take advantage of personnel skills and experience shared across both functional and divisional structures. In the matrix structure the lines of responsibility are drawn both vertically and horizontally. * Organizing For Globalization A firm’s structural choices always involve two opposing forces: the need for differentiation (focusing on and specializing in specific markets) and the need for integration (coordinating those same markets). The way a firm is organized along the differentiation-integration continuum determines how well strategies, along the localization-globalization continuum, are implemented. A globalization strategy treats the world as one market by using a standardized approach to products and markets. IBM is an example of a company reorganizing to achieve globalization. They are moving away from a geographic structure toward the use of centralized industry expert teams. A globalization strategy usually involves rationalization and the development of strategic alliances. To achieve rationalization, managers must choose the manufacturing location for each product based on where the best combination of cost, quality, and technology can be attained. This means different parts and components are often produced in different countries and that product design and marketing are essentially the same in all markets. As such, differentiation and specialization in local markets is minimized. Another risk associated with globalization is exposure to volatility from all corners of the globe. In their rush to get on the globalization bandwagon,many firms hsve sacrified the ability to respond to local market structures and consumer preferences. Managers are now realizing that depending on the type of products,markets,and so forth-a compromise must be made along the globalization-regionalization continuum,and they are experimenting with various structural configurations to â€Å"be global and act local† Levi Strauss is an example of a company attempting to maximize the advantage of different structural configurations. Levi Strauss gives foreign managers freedom to adjust their tactics to meet the changing tastes of their home markets. Additionally, although the company maintains centralized control of some aspects of the business, it decentralizes control to its foreign subsidiaries. The subsidiaries are supplied by a global manufacturing network. As such, Levi Strauss achieves local coordination and the flexibility to respond to ever-changing fashion trends and fads in denim shading. Procter amp; Gamble a well known global consumer products company is succeeding with its global-local four pillars structure. In January 2006, Gillette India announced merger plans with Proctor and Gamble (Pamp;G) India. Even though it would remain a separate legal entity, Gillette intended to take Pamp;G’s structure as a means of increasing reach, cost efficiencies, speed to market, and growth momentum. Pamp;G’s structure is divided into three heads: GBU(Global business units), MDO(Market development organizations), GBS(Global business services). Gillette will move form business units based on geographic regions to GBUs based on product lines. MDOs will develop market strategies to build business based on local knowledge. GBS will bring together business activities such as accounting, human resource systems, order management, and information technology. Pamp;G is the only consumer products company with global shared services, all supported by innovative corporate functions. Companies are increasingly abandoning rigid structures in an attempt to be more flexible and responsive to the dynamic global environment. Some of the ways they are adabting are by transitioning to formats known as: -Interorganizational Networks: MNC linkages with different companies, subsidiaries, suppliers, and individuals result in relational networks. These networks may adopt very different structures of their own because they operate in different local contexts within their own national environment. -The Global E-Corporation Network Structure: The organizational structure for global e-business ,in particular for physical products,typically involves a network of virtual e-exchanges and â€Å"bricks and mortar† services. Such a structure combines some global and some local functions. Centralized e-exchanges for logistics,supplies,and customers could be housed anywhere,suppliers manufacturers, and distributors may be in various countries, separately or together, wherever efficiencies of scale and cost may be realized. The final distribution system and customer interaction must be tailored to the customer-location physical infrastructure and payment infrastructure, as well as local regulations and languages. The end result should be efficiency and cost effectiveness throughout the chain. Dell is an example of a company that uses the global e-corporation network structure. -The Transnational Corporation (TNC) Network Structure: To address the globalization-localization dilemma,firms that have evolved through the multinational form and the global company seek the advantages of horizontal organization in the pursuit of transnational capability-that is the ability to manage across national boundaries,retaining flexibility while achieving global integration. This capability involves linking foreign operations to each other and to headquartes in a flexible way,thereby leveraging local and central capabilities. Choice Of Organizational Form Two major issues in choosing the structure and design of an organization are the opportunities and need for (1) globalization and (2) localization. As the company progresses through various stages from domestic to transnational the organizational structure must be adapted to accommodate changes in relative focus on globalization versus l ocalization, choosing a global product structure, a geographic area structure, or perhaps a matrix form. Signs of organizational inefficiency or any major organizational change usually indicate the organizational structure must change as well. However ,other,less obvious indications of organizational inefficiency also signal a need for structural changes: Conflicts between overseas units and headquarters staff,conflicts among divisions and subsdiaries over territories or customers,complaints regarding over seas customer service,and overlapping responsabilities,a change in the size of corporation,a change I key individuals,a failure to meet goals,an inability to get things done on time,a shift in the operational scope,duplication of administrative personnel and services†¦.. The best organizational structure is the one that facilitates the firm’s goals and is appropriate to its industry,size,technology,and competitive environment. Idelly a company tries to organize in a way that will allow it to carry out its strategic goals,the staffing is then done to mesh with those strategic goals and the way the organizational structure has been set up. In reality, though, the result is likely to be trade-off between the desired strategy and existing constraints. * Control Systems For Global Operations To complement the organizational structure,the international managers must design efficient coordinating and reporting systems to ensure that actual performance conforms to expected organizational standards and goals. The design and application of coordinating and reporting systems for foreign subsdiaries and activities can take any form that management wishes. MNC’s usually emply a variety of direct and indirect coordinating and control mechanisms suitable for their organization structure. -Direct Coordinating Mechanisms: Direct mechanisms that provide the basis for the overall guidance and management of foreign operations include the design of apopropriate structures and the use of effective staffing practices. They proactively set the stage for operations to meet goals, rather than troubleshooting problems after they occur. When McDonald’s first opened in Moscow in 1990, they anticipated their biggest challenge would be quality control of food products. In response to this challenge, they adopted a strategy of vertical integration for sourcing raw materials and built a large plant in Moscow to process beef, milk, buns, vegetables, sauces, and potatoes. The company also sent Russian managers for five months of training in Canada. Other direct mechanisms are visits by head-office personnel and regular meetings to allow employees around the world to consult and troubleshoot. -Indirect Coordinating Mechanisms: Indirect coordinating mechanisms include sales quotas,budgets,and other financial tools as well as feedback reports,which give information about the sales and financial performance of the s,which give information about the sales and financial performance of the subsidiary for the last quarter of year. Managing Effective Monitoring Systems Management practices, local constraints, and expectations regarding authority, time, and communication are some of the variables likely to affect the appropriateness of monitoring (or control) systems. The degree to which headquarters’ practices and goals are transferable may depend on whether top managers are from the head office, the host country, or a third country. Information systems and evaluation variables must all be considered when deciding on appropriate systems. Research by Ueno and Sekaran indicates that individualism may lead US managers to use more formal communication and coordination processes, whereas Japanese managers may be more likely to use informal and implicit processes. Likewise, because US managers are often evaluated on individual performance, they are more likely than their Japanese counterparts to build slack into budget calculations. Reporting systems require sophisticated information systems to enable them to work properly. Managers must receive accurate and timely information about sales, production, and financial results to be able to compare actual performance with goals and take corrective action when necessary. Research by Neghandi and Welge indicates that US companies use far more specific functional reports than do German or Japanese MNCs. Accuracy and timeliness of informational systems are often imperfect—especially in less developed countries. Problems may stem from false information provided by governments, differences in work norms, and inadequate technology. An additional problem is the difficulty of comparing performance data across various countries because of the variables that make that information appear different—which hinders the evaluation process. To combat some of these problems, some companies are taking advantage of the Internet to create Internet MIS systems for supply-chain management. It can be difficult to evaluate the performance of foreign affiliates because performance data is not necessarily comparable across countries. For example, factors like considerable inflation, which is beyond the manager’s ontrol, can have a downward effect on profitability. It is possible, though, that this manager may have done more to maximize opportunities for long-term profitability relative to a manager in a country with less inflation problems. One way to ensure meaningful comparison is to adjust financial statements for uncontrollable variables particular to each country where a subsidiary is located. Another way is to t ake nonfinancial measures into account. These include market share, productivity, sales, relations with the host country government, public image, employee morale, union relations, and community involvement.