Year-Round Schools Make Sense - 1975 Editorial

Year-Round Schools Make Sense

July 2, 1975

The annual American madness known as Summer Vacation is now underway and reminds us again that year-round schools make a lot of sense in more ways than one.

For well over two centuries, our education system has been geared to an agricultural economy that demanded youngsters to be free in the summer to help with the farming.

Today, when the industrial and technological eras have long superseded our rustic beginning, we continue to force two thirds of the population to compete madly for three months of fun and games.

Motels, resorts, national parks and scenic highways - almost deserted for most of the year - now cram in the customers and charge three times the going rate for everything in order to carry the facilities through the next "off season."

Schools stand idle, inviting vandalism; and businesses struggle with summer slump and overworked staffs filling in 'behind vacationing employees.

What slaves we humans are to habit.

A few communities around the country have found a better way - one all of us might find worth while looking into.

In 28 states, two million children are attending year-round schools, or have an option to do so. They get the same amount of vacation as before, but it is spaced out over the year.

A popular plan consists of four "attendance groups" having 45 days of school followed by three-week vacations. The breaks are scheduled in rotation so that when one group starts a new group returns to fill the school rooms, at any given moment, 75 pct. of a student body is a school.

Advocates of this plan are enthusiastic. It cuts down the need for classrooms and equipment, keeps the expensive school buildings operating year around, and improves the quality of education.

It is the latter advantage that sparks a growing interest in the arrangement.

"We're convinced it provides a better education," says Bruce Campbell, a New Jersey State school official who helps promote the growing movement through the National Council on Year-Round Education.

The U.S. News and World Report found that about 78,000 students are now on 12-month schedules. Most districts discovered through achievement tests that there was slight improvement in average scores. The biggest gain in education quality appeared to be an increase in pupil interest, and decreases in absenteeism and vandalism.

Breaking the year into shorter segments with more frequent vacations reduces boredom, tension and disorder. It gives more opportunity for elective courses of short range but high interest. Students who fail can make up quickly without falling behind their classmates. Gifted pupils have a larger selection of subjects to fill their minds.

The National Association Education was skeptical at first, but now says teachers usually decided they like the system after a fair trial.

Personally, I dislike summer vacations. All travel facilities are crowded, and I miss two or three weeks of wonderful weather in my own Beautiful Ohio. I like eating under my grape arbor, barbecuing hot dogs with friends, and playing golf on the course five minutes away.

I get grumpy when I find the gates of Disney World closed at 9:30 in the morning, or all the camping spots taken, or the "No Vacancy" signs winking at me in the dead of the night.

I much prefer winter vacations when I can join all other "snow birds" in sunny climes, but the sacrosanct school custom pushes me out on the turnpikes in search of a change of scenery for my youngsters.

But I must cut this short.

The family is waiting impatiently in the Magic Chariot, and we've got to put 600 miles behind us before we get to sleep in a strange bed.

When I get back I promise I will go around to the Board of Education and try to sell them on the idea of year-round schools.

Cleveland Schools Open Applications for New Magnet School

John Hay High School

John Hay High School is poised to host the two newest additions to the Cleveland Schools' long list of academically challenging magnet schools. Rather than focusing on only one discipline, John Hay High School will develop two completely separate programs for specially selected students. As part of its mission to better serve the students of the Cleveland Public School District, the school will screen applicants in two interesting and academically rigorous fields. One program will focus on Architecture and Design. The other will focus on Science and Medicine.

The Cleveland School of Architecture and Design

The Cleveland School of Architecture and Design is open to students in the Cleveland Public School District, including some qualified home school students. The school is focused on the commercial and applied arts as part of a highly competitive four year, rigorous, public, college preparatory program. In addition to their regular coursework, students will have the opportunity to take advanced coursework on campus as well as participating in activities and learning experiences at nearby institutions such as the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Cleveland Public School District students will have to take on extra work in order to qualify for this unique opportunity. The school will have an extended school year and require students to participate in activates beyond regular school hours. All students will also have to maintain a high standard of personal and academic achievement, including following a rigorous code of conduct, a dress code, in addition to maintaining a high grade point average and school attendance record.

To be considered for the school, Cleveland Public School District students must have an overall high grade point average in addition to showing talent in the arts. Exceptional talent in the arts, including design and computer art, are weighed alongside potential for leadership and the demonstration of ethical behavior.

The Cleveland School of Science and Medicine

Like its counterpart in Architecture and Design, the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine is open to students in the Cleveland Public School District, including some qualified home school students. The school is focused on the fields of science and medicine within a rigorous academic institution. In addition to campus based learning, students will have opportunities to study at Case Western Reserve University as well as major local health care organization and the world renowned institutions in the University Circle neighborhood.

Like students at the school of Architecture and Design, the Cleveland Public School District students who join the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine will have to participate in educational activities outside of regular school hours as well as attend an extended school year. They will also be held to rigorous academic standards, including a high grade point average.

Cleveland Public School District students eligible for the program must show a demonstrated interest and talent in science, medicine, and mathematics and will be judged by the coursework they have already completed as well as their personal and ethical behavior. Like their fellow students in the school of Architecture and Design, the Cleveland Public School District students accepted into this program must follow a strict code of personal conduct.

Applying for Scholarship Grants for Nursing School

Scholarship Defined

Scholarships can be confusing for parents, but they can save them thousands of dollars. There are different forms of scholarships, but all of them are essentially gifted money for college. Unlike loans, scholarships don't have to be repaid. Some scholarships are paid to the student, while others go directly to the university. Scholarships are awarded by government, clubs, charities, businesses, schools, and other organizations.

Who can get scholarships?

Scholarship isn't limited to straight-A students, and many students who believe that they aren't academically qualified fail to apply for scholarships in their schools. There are, however, different types of scholarships for all students, including those with less-than-perfect academic records. There are athletic scholarships, scholarships aimed at students in a particular field of study -- why, some providers give scholarships just for living in a particular state or city. Another misconception about scholarship is that only college-bound high school seniors are allowed to apply for awards. Scholarship is available to all levels of college study, from freshmen undergrads to graduate and even PhD students.

Scholarship Grants for Nursing Students

There are four types of financial aid available to meet the educational expenses of nursing students: scholarships, grants, work study and education loans. Most nursing students use a combination of all four to fund their education.

Scholarships are awarded based on everything from special abilities to your religion. There are many sources of scholarships, and an Internet search should uncover a number of scholarship providers.

Here's how to get the scholarship you want:

o Take initiative

If you want to a scholarship, you'll need to do the legwork yourself - no one's going to track you down just to give you a scholarship. Look for scholarship grants whose criteria you meet, and then contact the provider and request a scholarship application packet. Applications may be requested by e-mail by sending in a self-addressed stamped envelope. You'll never get a scholarship if you don't try, so be proactive in requesting information for yourself.

o Be punctual

All scholarships providers set deadlines to which you must adhere, or else you'll lose any chance of getting the scholarship. Don't miss the deadlines - if you can submit all the required materials before the due date, do so.

o Be organized

Good organizational skills can really pay off. Try to keep your applications ordered by deadline date and give yourself plenty of time to complete the applications and send them in before the due date. Always keep letters of recommendation and transcripts on hand so you don't have to get new copies every time they are required for an application. By doing this, you'll not only save time but also money. Create copies of your completed applications before you send them in and then file them in folders with labels containing the deadline dates, mailing addresses and phone numbers of the scholarship provider. Call before the deadline to see if your scholarship application was received. If your application was lost in the mail, you can send the extra copy that you made.

o Be persistent

Don't expect for the scholarship process to happen overnight. You must be diligent about looking for new scholarships to apply for. Remember that the more applications you send to various scholarship providers, the better is chance of obtaining a scholarship.

o Be optimistic

Stay positive about yourself and your chances of getting a scholarship. Your hard work and the time spent searching for scholarships will eventually pay off.

Finding the Right Online Nursing School for You

The nursing profession is a noble career involving direct patient care in all settings. Nurses assist doctors and other medical professionals in every place from hospitals to free clinics. Nurses can specialize in virtually any medical field.

There are several types of nursing programs available leading to different nursing degrees. The Associate Degrees Nurse (AND) program entails two years of study and deals with the basic, practical elements of nursing. The Bachelor of Science Nurse (BSN) program is a four-year program. After completion of the aforementioned programs, nurses may take a board exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN). The exam is known as NCLEX-RN.

In choosing a nursing school, it's important to confirm that the programs offered by the school is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). You must complete an accredited program to take the board exam. Taking a nursing course today is very ideal, as there is a shortage of nurses in the United States.

At present, more and more nursing schools are offering web-based programs, designed for adult learners who have the desire for a learning experience that would fit their busy lifestyles. These programs offer convenient, quality courses, personal academic advisement, experienced nursing faculties, career mobility and advancement, and financial aid for those who qualify. Other advantages of enrolling in a web based nursing programs include convenience of scheduling, focus on core concepts applicable to professional settings, respect for previous work experience and interaction with peers who share similar professional experiences and values. There are many online nursing schools to choose from. Be sure to confirm that the program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Likewise, licensed practical nurses (LPN) who wish to pursue an Associate of Science in Nursing Degree (ASN) may choose between campus-based and web-based learning. The difference between the two is that students choosing the campus-based option meet in traditional classrooms and engage in group clinical experiences, while web-based students study and take tests via the Internet. The only advantage of a regular clinical learning experience is that it enables students to apply theory to real situations. Web-based students are responsible for facilitating their own clinical experiences.

Student Finance for Chinese Universities

Chinese universities have recently started to attract a lot of students from abroad. The trend began in the 1950s and recent statistics shows that there were close to 410000 students studying in China as at end of the last decade. There were students from 125 countries and regions. There are undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral students, trainees, scholars, and students pursuing research coming to China. China is one of the attractive education hubs. Infact, statistics shows that China was the 10th most popular destination for US students going abroad and third most popular non-western nation. However, foreign students cannot be employed in China while at study. Therefore, students must be able to support themselves and arrange for student finance before enrolling in a Chinese university. If you are one of them, how do you go about getting China university student finance? Read on.

Government help to students seeking finance to study in a Chinese University

Good news is that the Chinese government is encouraging its colleges and universities to expand the scholarship amounts and widen the horizon of fellowships and scholarships to foreign students and China university student finance. They are also encouraged to collaborate with private sector and come up with attractive scholarships for outstanding foreign students.

Already the Chinese government has approved finance worth $362 million to around 350,000 students looking to study in Chinese universities since the introduction of subsidized loans since 1999. The extent of subsidy provided by the government is 50% of the interest amount which is paid by the government and the remaining is paid by the students along with the principal.

However the government itself recognizes that the percentage of students who actually got the loan approved stands at 31.2% which is low and the government would like to grow this figure. The main cause for the low percentage is attributed to the fact that the private sector banks are not too keen on providing finance to students who want to study in Chinese universities as the loans are not required to be backed by collateral. Whether loans will be given out or not is determined based on the credit worthiness of the students and the absence of collateral is a deterrent in providing finance. As of now the People's Bank of China has appointed four main commercial banks to provide finance to Chinese students which are Bank of China, China Construction Bank, the Agricultural Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of china.

However such finance schemes which look at subsidizing interest repayments are at present only available to Chinese students who are Chinese citizens and have passed the requisite academic examinations

I am not Chinese, can I still get finance to study in a Chinese University or China university student finance?

There are finance programs available to international students who want to study in a Chinese University. One of the popular sources which the students are using today is to go to china by enrolling in an exchange program in a university that offers this option. Normally a host of universities have exchange programs going in which students from their universities visit universities abroad and students from universities abroad come and study in their colleges. These schemes exist not only for students who want to study but also for students interested in internship and working in these countries.

The main requirements of getting finance are credit worthiness, passing the requisite tests and getting through interviews and in some cases having collateral against the loan as well. However in the case of China some universities additionally put up the condition that the students should have a working knowledge of Chinese or Mandarin to be eligible.

There is a growing number of American students who are now interested in studying in China while in the past this was to gain exposure culturally and most of the students were of Chinese origin born in American the trend is changing now. More and more students are coming to China not only to gain cultural knowledge but also advance their careers professionally when they get back home. As a result commercial banks have also designed specialized finance programs with the needs of the students in mind and it is becoming increasingly easy for students to find such loans as China's Universities are becoming popular as an international destination for further education.

Modification of HS History Books to Keep the Politically Correct Minority Happy

Well here we go again modifying history and then using it as a tool to further indoctrinate our children. Sometimes I wonder if all the purported written history mankind has to offer is complete and utter hokum. Today they are considering taking historical figures in the past who were homosexuals and somewhat embellishing the storyline for use in Grade School, Middle School and High School Text Books.

But in doing so they will be basically changing or modifying history in order to make a point and get children to accept homosexuality as a choice and perfectly natural thing? Recently in a highly controversial political Blog one gentleman stated:

"Hey there is nothing wrong with honoring historical figures, but lets not rewrite history AGAIN for the mere sake of being PC and helping a minority trend and the homosexual movement. That is wrong, no matter how you feel about the gay issue. I think we need to close all public schools forever they no longer serve us and private enterprise could do it for half the cost and twice as good. This is too far over the line really. Debate me. I have facts."

Interesting how one subject or controversy of contention can bring up another sore subject about the problems and inefficiencies in our school system. Some might say that the real root of the problem is much bigger that this one issue, as it seems to be a trend causing further decay in our school system. Other commentors have ask; What on Earth is the World coming too? And indeed they seem believe many of the problems are coming from our school system? What do you think?

Students - Sharpen Your Focus and Banish Your Stress Too

Do you come home stressed from college? Does researching for that assessment leave you frazzled? Do you lie awake at night worrying about your exams? What do you do? Reach for a drink? Watch the TV? Complain to your friends? None of these solves the problem.

You can now simply listen to a special type of music and quickly feel relaxed, energised and sociable again. Some of us already listen to music whilst we are studying, but how do you know you have the right sort of music to help you to concentrate?

There are now special pieces of music, which students can listen to, to lower stress levels, improve concentration and memory, and help cure insomnia.

Many of these CDs on the market contain three types of sound:

Sound #1 Gentle relaxing music. Sound #2 A special tone called a binaural beat (more on this in a minute). Sound #3 Subliminal affirmations, which are only just above the normal conscious hearing threshold.

You all know what relaxing music is, but did you know that you read and study much more effectively when you are relaxed?

You may not have heard of binaural beats, sometimes called binaural music. Binaural music is a special type of music discovered in Germany in the 19th century. It works to 'tune' your brain from a state of high activity to a much more relaxed state. Just to reiterate - studying is massively more effective when you are in a relaxed state!

The power of subliminal messages or affirmations has been proven over many years to be a highly effective way of programming the unconscious mind. In fact, subliminal messages are so powerful in the way they work on the unconscious mind, that in 1974 the US government banned all forms of subliminal message advertising on radio and television.

Subliminal messages reach the unconscious mind by working at a level that cannot be detected by the conscious mind. The conscious mind therefore never has an opportunity to reject them and the unconscious mind can receive and act upon them. Subliminal messages can be transmitted either visually or via audio.

Some examples for students might be:

I am motivated. My motivation comes easily. I get things done early. I complete everything on time. I start every project early. I keep myself rested. I recall lectures easily. I use questions to find answers. Answers come to me easily. I listen to my intuition. I write my ideas legibly.

Audio subliminal messages are played at a frequency that is just above the normal threshold of human hearing.

Listening to binaural music with added affirmations is a really easy and enjoyable way to ensure stress doesn't damage your health.

Users of such tracks have reported:

· Massively improved learning ability

· Sharpened focus

· Significantly better memory

· Heightened creativity

· Reduced stress

· Greater happiness

· More restful sleep

For those who are interested, here's a bit of the 'theory' behind binaural beats:

Binaural beats were originally discovered in 1839 by the German H. W. Dove. He discovered that if signals of two different frequencies are played separately to each ear, the brain detects the phase variation between the frequencies and then tries to "reconcile" that difference between the two frequencies. This causes the brain to create its own third signal known as a binaural beat, which is equal to the difference between those two frequencies.

Research has shown that introducing a binaural beat will cause the brain to begin to and then continue to resonate in tune with the specific frequency of that beat. This was researched in 1973 by bio-physicist Gerald Oster at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and subsequently published in Scientific American journal.

There are many benefits students can gain from using binaural beats. At any particular moment in time, the predominant brainwave frequency determines our capabilities. In a highly stressed state it is almost impossible to study effectively. When the brainwave frequency is calmed down by using binaural beats, this can lead to very high levels of focus, concentration, learning ability and relaxation.

The tracks can be used by students to help you study and dramatically improve your focus and concentration. They can also help you relax, let go of stress, boost your creativity and help you remember more. The relaxation tracks help you to tap into what scientists call "whole brain thinking" - characterised by creativity, clarity and inspiration. This is the type of brain function associated with geniuses - the Einsteins and Mozarts of the world. Finally they can allow you to sleep better, wake up refreshed and prepare you for ultimate exam success.

The powerful combination of the gentle relaxing music, the binaural beats and the subliminal affirmations make binaural music a truly effortless way to get amazing results.

Copyright 2006 Lisabeth Protherough

Lisabeth Protherough is a qualified Chartered Accountant from the UK, with 20 years experience training and teaching students in the university and business sectors. She is passionate about great education and the life changing impact it can have. She is on a mission to make education interesting and to help students unlock their potential.

Having a Positive Online Tutoring Experience

Struggling to learn something new can be very frustrating. When a child tries and tries to learn something, but he just can't understand it, the child's motivation to learn can be affected. An effective way of getting a child the help he needs is a tutor, specifically an online tutor. But, as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The same is true with children. Some don't seem to want to learn. So, though you want the best for you child, he often will resist help. With a bit of finesse, you can make sure he still has a positive online tutoring experience.

Online tutoring can be in many forms and many subjects. The key is finding the right one for your child. Does your child learn better from seeing or reading about something or hearing it? Different tutoring services are suited for different kids, and choosing the right one will help your child experience positive online tutoring. Some services offer voice-to-voice communication, and that is really helpful for kids who have weaker reading comprehension skills. But, a child that is a visual learner can be helped quite a bit by seeing the math problem, for example, be worked out.

Another important aspect for getting a positive online tutoring experience is to be prepared for the sessions. The more the student knows going in, the more he'll get out of the sessions. If completely unprepared, he will get less from the session as he is trying to learn the material for the first time. If, however, he as already seen some similar problem, but maybe is tripped up on one or two concepts, he will be in a better position to gain from a tutoring session. In addition, if he has already attempted to learn the material on his own, tutoring will greatly act to re-enforce the material--repetition is one of the best learning tools. As you can see, one of the keys to having a positive online tutoring session is preparation.

Lastly, and this is probably the toughest to do, is to go in with the right attitude. Attitude is another key component to getting positive online tutoring. If a child simply does not want to learn, it will be very hard to force him to. If, however, the child is convinced he is going to get something out of a tutoring session, he probably will. Undoubtedly, some kids will be embarrassed about having to get help, and others believe that they have mastered a topic, but their grades say otherwise. Positive online tutoring can help these kids, but only if they are willing to learn. Convincing a child to take the time to learn is something that is not only difficult but very tricky. However, once a child starts to see gains from 1 or 2 tutoring sessions, he'll be eager for more!

Improving Customer Relationship Skills with Online CRM Training

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) training is useful to know the customers of a company and how to effectively interact with them to achieve your business goals. Computer based training on CRM system allows the beginning of this mission-critical learning.

A typical computer training class emphasizing on developing and enhancing customer loyalty is a collaborative job between the employer, providing the CRM guidelines and the employees accepting the challenge to take computer based training.

CRM training can help companies to retain their valuable customer data, but also to expand it making the business grow, as the employees become successful business professionals. Viewed from any angle it is an advantageous situation for each of the participants.

Computer training courses may include one of several of the following component: tutorials, online study guides and manuals, CRM systems, self-study materials and programs, educational videos, Internet computer training class, and other educational resources.

Customer Relationship Management is considered more than an art, the true science of building profitable and mutually beneficial relationships with customers, providing professional training, business and management skills courses, and even exam preparation to obtain CRM certification.

Although CRM Systems were originally a series of server-based applications for marketing, sales, and support business functions, today the terms is usually used to refer to a plan developed to track and analyze customer needs, linking actual marketing campaigns to sales results, and monitor sales activities to improve forecasting accuracy.

Computer based training can provide employees with the adequate tools to identify all the different stages that integrates CRM planning. Several organizations providing computer-training courses through an Internet computer training class, simulating the customer's activity to better understand the goals of the course.

It is estimated that CRM systems are the force that make Virtual Teams Work because, in fact, many companies stick to the original concept involving software developed to assist the individual in every step of the Customer Relationship Management.

Computer based training often comes with samples or full applications of programs such as Business Intelligence, CRM OnDemand, Customer Data Integration, Sales Analytics, Sales Forecasting, Incentive Compensation, Marketing Management, Email Marketing, Event Planning, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Resource Management, Call Center and Service, Help Desk, Self-Service, e-Billing, Sales Training, and other.

Chicago Schools with Mostly Low-Income Students See Inequitable Funding Standards

Most parents assume that their children are getting an equitable education, regardless of where they attend school or in what district. However, Chicago may differ in educational opportunities, depending upon several factors -- the most prominent being the percentage of low-income students and the quality of property values within the different districts. With many of the schools providing education to low-income students, these factors impact the quality of education your children may receive.

Let's look at schools in Chicago General George Patton School District 133. Its low-income students comprise 97 percent of the overall students educated within the district. The state standard per student funding is $8,786. Patton receives $10,144 per student, 15 percent above the standard. Sounds good? It's not.

Low-income schools must provide for the special needs of the low-income students, such as extra tutoring programs, remedial programs, preschool, and free lunches. Once the normal costs of special education and transportation are added in, there is little left of the school's budget for typical needs, let alone educational enhancements. Some of the Patton students cannot even take textbooks home to study, because there are not enough for each student.

Low-income schools must provide such services to ensure the children living in poor families have the same education advantages as their other children. With no formal education before kindergarten, they need the extra schooling that many times must continue throughout elementary school.

Now let's compare Patton to Northbrook School District 27 (not in the Chicago area). It has a school budget of $20 million per year for 1,310 students -- $15,308 per student. It has only 0.6 percent low-income students and a sky-high property tax base from which to draw funds -- according to the Northern Multiple Listing Service, the average home in this school district carries more than $2 million in value.

Northbrook spends very little on low-income student services. They can afford well-educated teachers. Students have access to wireless laptops starting in fourth grade. They provide continual teacher professional development and administration support. Student has daily physical education classes, art and music twice a week, and daily interaction with technology -- they have over 700 computers and a seven-person technology staff. Their gifted program meets several times a week for children in kindergarten through third grade, and daily for as long as three periods for fourth graders. They provide after school activities, such as the broadcast club, chess club and competitive sports.

The low-income Chicago schools cannot compete with wealthier districts, and the children are not as prepared for college or post-graduate careers. Chicago schools education advocates are concerned with the wide variation in school district per student funding amounts across the state, which ranges from $4,437 to $23,798 per student. They believe it is unfair that poor Chicago schools have to choose between the basic needs of children in poorer families and education enhancements that are demanded by parents in wealthier Chicago schools.

Some of the contributing factors for inequalities in Chicago schools are:

o Chicago schools have to pay teachers more than rural schools, since their cost of living is higher in Chicago; but much less than wealthier schools -- many teachers do not have a college major or minor within the subjects they teach (mathematics, for instance),

o Most Chicago schools spend more on bilingual education to serve the growing immigrant populations,

o Low-income Chicago schools have higher costs for administration and support services to address the students' attendance, emotional and academic issues, and

o Low-income Chicago schools receive most of their funding from state and federal government grants; whereas, wealthier school districts receive the bulk of their funding locally, most of which is from property taxes.

The funding source also causes difficulties for low-income Chicago schools. State and federal grants come with more strings attached than local funding. They dictate to the Chicago schools how the money is used and cause more administrative costs in dealing with the associated red tape. These Chicago schools are vulnerable to the whims of the politicians, who may create or cancel a program to ensure reelection. The financial status of the state and federal budgets affect low-income Chicago schools annually. Lastly, many grants are tied to specific programs and initiatives, taking away a lot of the choices and flexibility that the wealthier schools enjoy.

So, when choosing a school for your children from the Chicago schools system, determine the percentage of low-income children that make up the school's student body and research the median property values for the area. Ask the school principal what percentage of their funding is from government grants and what comes from local funding. You will be glad you did -- and so will your children!

Graphic Design Training -- Enhancing Your Computer Graphic Design Skills

Graphic designers nowadays require not only creative abilities, but also some understanding of other graphic design-related areas such as computer graphic design.

During the 80's, the advent of desktop publishing and of design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Fireworks, put the power and versatility of the computer at graphic designers' fingertips. Designers for the first time were easily able to manipulate images and create 3D images using the computer. Computers are now considered to be an indispensable tool in the graphic design industry, though some traditional graphic designers may still prefer to use manual and traditional tools for their creative endeavors.

With modern graphic design concepts and methodologies always changing, graphic designers need to continually advance their knowledge of different graphic design techniques, innovations and graphic design software packages. At present, the basic instructions in graphic designing cannot guarantee for a competitive product anymore without the use of high technology, so that the demand for highly skilled graphic designers is higher than ever.

To become a computer graphic designer, the basic requirements include good creative abilities, good computers skills, and good communication skills.

Computer graphic design helps graphic designers complete their tasks faster and easier. They can effortlessly translate ideas into visual imagery, save it onto their computers and edit it whenever alterations are necessary.

There are great many benefits if you undergo computer graphic design training geared towards arming you with a wider range of cutting edge graphic design skills. Having computer design training also means a greater choice of employment. Computer graphic design skills are in great demand in such sectors as:

1. Advertising agencies - You can use your newly acquired graphic design skills to design appealing and eye-catching advertisements for different media.

2. Web design companies - Help design appealing web pages.

3. Design studios - Apply your design skills to photo editing such as editing the contrast and the brightness of colors on the photos.

4. Publishing houses - Perform layout design and editing tasks. Publications usually follow a distribution schedule; so make sure you are able to meet deadlines.

5. Corporate advertising departments - Design professional corporate ads.

6. TV and film companies - out of all the other jobs, this is where a graphic designer is most suited as it requires a comprehensive application of the designer's skill and ability, especially if working on animation films.

Your computer graphic design training will open new doors for you into a world of greater opportunities. Your computer design knowledge, combined with your dedication and commitment, will surely help you reach your goal.

Reference and Education Article Category

Using calculators is a part of our modern way of life. Today it is not a problem for kids to get a calculator and put it into practice. Really, why must they toddle if they may ride a bike? On the face of it using calculators at school allows keeping away from many troubles.

By the help of a calculator we can carry out complicated mathematical operations quickly and accurately. Calculator proponents claim that calculators simplify tasks and allow students to spend less time on monotonous calculations and more time on understanding problems and determining the best methods for solving them; calculators allow students who would normally be turned off to math because of dissatisfaction or boredom to increase their mathematical understanding. Furthermore, every teacher of mathematics knows that there are graduating pupils in primary school who had not mastered the multiplication table, have difficulties with subtraction within the limits of 20 and so on. Give all of them calculators and they will obtain desirable result without sweating, puffing and having a dread of mistakes and therefore will become more confident about their math abilities.

But this good-looking picture is too charming to be a realistic one. There are several circumstances which make using calculators at school not so attractive. Firstly even a brand new modern calculator which has amazing computational power is a device only. Each calculator is as good and as accurate as its operator. To use it in proper way a pupil must know its manual well. Calculators of different kinds use different orders for carrying out mathematical operations, pressing keys, and their manuals have a bad habit to get lost. It is very easy to make simple mistakes when using one. You must think of the rough size of answers, so that you can see if an answer is sensible or not. To avoid mistakes you must repeat all calculations. If you get two different answers, then you must repeat all calculations for the third time.

Very often even advanced students make mistakes - pressing wrong buttons, forgetting to change a mode, rounding values too soon, forgetting to use brackets rightly ... And what about bad achieving pupils? Can you imagine that a pupil who does not know what brackets are for can use them correctly? How can a kid who cannot mentally multiply 8 by 7 weighs up a result?

For advanced students a calculator is a comfortable vehicle, which helps him to reach their aim more rapidly and more easily, but in case of need they can go out of it and move themselves. And what is more they very often perform better without a calculator since in many cases mental computations are quicker, easier and more errorless then computations with calculator.

Whereas for bad achieving pupils a calculator is a motored wheel chair for cripples, without which they cannot move. They are afraid to carry out mentally simple arithmetical operations and waste precious time when pressing keys.

Besides that there is another significant hazard. A person who all the time uses a calculator gradually loses his/her mental computational skills. Very often even advanced pupils take calculators when they need to make simple computations which can be easily implemented in head. Their brains slowly but surely get accustomed to walking on crutches and became indolent to use mental computational abilities, whereas skills, which are not used, became forgotten very soon. In certain cases it leads to difficulties in math's learning.

Both my experience (32 years in the classroom) and my investigations (20 years of studies) shows that pupils with unsteady elementary mental computational skills (addition and subtraction within the limits of 20, multiplication and division within the limits of 100) have great difficulties while learning the other basic topics of arithmetic and algebra. In other words they are doomed to poor progress in school math. Even calculators cannot help them. If you want to see some figures and diagrams you can read my article "Influence of a Level of Elementary Mental Computation Skills upon Success in School Mathematics" at my web site Prevention of Failure in School Mathematics (reference - My Articles).

Do not think that I am trying to stop progress and calling to finish with any computing stuff at school. It is obvious that we can not manage without calculators today, but we must remember about simple mental computations and their significance for success or failure in math. I consider that it is necessary to lay emphasis once more - extensive using of calculators (especially at the first six or seven grades) leads to degeneration of pupils' mental computational skills and afterward to deterioration of their learning ability. This is the main hazard of using calculators at school.

The Power Of The Unconscious Mind - The Secret To Student Success

One of the best ways I know of to give a massive boost to your ability to learn and to enhance your grades beyond all recognition is to leverage the immense power of your unconscious mind.

'The thinking process is unconscious. We become aware of the results consciously. All change takes place at the unconscious level. We become aware of the change consciously when we are ready.' Joseph O'Connor

What on earth does this mean???

Well, read on ......

Roughly two million bits of information per second come into the human nervous system. We are literally bombarded with information. To maintain sanity, our conscious mind filters out most of the stimuli and Miller (1956) discovered we can consciously handle only seven plus or minus two bits of information at a time.

The unconscious mind deals with everything else over and above the seven (plus or minus two) bits of information that you are not consciously paying attention to at a particular time. As soon as we switch our attention to something, then it becomes conscious. Some parts of your physiology will always be unconscious. This should not surprise us really. Our unconscious mind takes care of us all the time! We do not run our heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system etc... consciously do we?

I want to show you how to bypass the conscious mind in order to access the immense powers of your unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is around 90% of your total mind power as opposed to the 10% of the mind that you usually use in your normal daily waking state. The unconscious mind is a source of great treasure - of skill, of memory and experience.

The power of positive thinking can be significantly enhanced and reinforced by the use of affirmations. An affirmation is a short statement in the present tense repeated frequently to impress itself onto and be accepted by the unconscious mind. The ideal affirmation must be short and totally unambiguous. This is important, as the unconscious mind cannot easily assimilate long or complex statements. The unconscious mind is much more easily influenced by short, appropriately worded statements.

The majority of people however, are in the habit of negative thinking - of dwelling on problem areas in their life by repeating exactly what they do not wish to happen. This often ends up compounding the original problems and making them even worse. For example, a student might keep on saying to themselves:

"I will never be successful in my examinations".

Or: "I always get sidetracked when I am studying".

Or: "I simply can't concentrate".

The student who constantly repeats these negative affirmations, either consciously or unconsciously, will be much less likely to succeed in their examinations, and may never be able to concentrate or get their studying done.

Underlying almost every negative emotion is a thought or belief, and most often these are unhealthy thoughts or beliefs. By unhealthy I mean they are not effective in getting you what you want in your life. They don't serve you.

The belief (often unconscious) is like a trigger. It sets you up to fail in certain situations.

Remember this! If you do not THINK and fill your head with positive thoughts and beliefs, then negative ones will always come in to fill the gaps.

Please NEVER, ever, ever, ever underestimate your own abilities. It is never a question of can you do something. The real question is will you?

In the examples above, the student was repeating the negative affirmations in their head. They should instead replace them with the equivalent positive affirmations. Such as:

"I know I will be successful in my examinations ".

Or: "I am focussed when I sit down to study".

Or: "my concentration is improving".

This might well seem difficult to do, particularly in what may seem to be difficult circumstances or where the reality appears to be totally the opposite. However, believe me, like most things, it is just a question of practice.

Where attention goes, energy flows! You become what you think about most of the time.

The more often an affirmation is repeated, consciously or otherwise, the more quickly and effectively it will become real. But take care because this works just as effectively for both positive and negative affirmations. A great time to repeat positive affirmations is just before drifting off to sleep at night or just after waking in the morning before you get up. At these times your conscious mind communicates best with your unconscious mind. If you can repeat the affirmations throughout the day and even write them down and place copies around your home, so much the better.

An even more powerful possibility exists as an alternative to affirmations that are stated aloud or within the mind. This is the power of "Subliminal messages".

The power of subliminal messages has been proven over many years to be a highly effective way of programming the unconscious mind by using either audio or visual methods. In fact,subliminal messages are so powerful in the way they work on the unconscious mind, that in 1974 the US government banned all forms of subliminal message advertising on radio and television.

Subliminal messages reach the unconscious mind by working at a level that cannot be detected by the conscious mind. The conscious mind therefore never has an opportunity to reject them and the unconscious mind can receive and act upon them.

There are two main ways of using subliminal messages in a most powerful way - visual and audio.

Visual subliminal messages are affirmations that are flashed before the eyes so quickly that the conscious mind cannot perceive them. The affirmations therefore go directly to the unconscious mind, which perceives and acts upon them immediately.

Audio subliminal messages work in a similar way by being played at a frequency that is just above the normal threshold of human hearing. Again, as with visual subliminal messages, although the conscious mind cannot perceive these affirmations, the all-powerful unconscious mind can perceive them, and will therefore immediately act upon them.

Driving School - Learn How to Drive

Driving schools are becoming more popular by the day. Everybody wants to know more and more about them. This includes young people who can't wait for the opportunity to take the wheel in their hands, and also the concerned parents looking for a good school to send their kids. Gone are the days when fathers used to take their kids out of the city to teach them how to drive. Blame it on the constraint of time and their working hours which do not permit them to do it. Now though, thanks to the number of driving schools around, their worries can be put to rest. Driving schools can help young drivers become more aware of proper driving techniques and etiquette.

Driving schools are very reliable:

Driving schools take care of almost everything that has to deal with driving; from teaching the students about driving different cars, to teaching about the engines and also about defensive driving. The good thing about joining a driving school is that by attending at a qualified driving school you can actually reduce the tickets and fines you get, and you may even lower your auto insurance premiums. But the question is how to find a qualified or a good driving school? Keep in mind that the best driving school can be the one that has been recommended to you by a friend or relative. You can also rely on your local auto insurance dealer or contact the public safety office in your state.

Know your school well:

Even after choosing a driving school, there are certain things that you should enquire about, which may help you decide if this driving school is for you. The driving instructor should be your first concern. Ask how long your instructor has been a driving instructor. The instructor should be able to offer you combined and integrated tuition providing both theoretical and practical training. Ask about the cars they use, how old they are and if you will have an individual pick up service. You should also find out about their rates or if they have discounts for block booking.

Defensive driving:

In this course you would learn how to determine fitness of yourself and your vehicle for safe driving. This is for all driving; a motor vehicle for personal, or commercial use. They would teach you how to drive defensively, and the importance of using safety belts and air bags. You would also be taught about how to look out for pedestrians and other vehicles etc which are using the road along with you, as many people tend to ignore or miss them resulting in unwanted accidents.

If you are attending a driving school for a certain purpose, you may be required to attend certain driving schools designated by the agency for which you wish to receive credit.

Online course:

There are also many online schools now on the internet that you can easily enroll. You just have to browse through and look out for the school that suits you best. These driving schools provide quality courses for safe driving in both content and user interface. Many people join these courses which are well prepared, and may include text, videos, and animations to help you become a better driver in an interesting and interactive way. They cover everything from the traditional driving safety information to specific rules and regulations like the speed limits and so on.

Is Your Student Home from College? Now's the Time to Prepare for Fall

If you've got a student arriving home from college with all her stuff, maybe now is the time for you to plan for the trip back to school in the fall.

Your child may show up with every stitch of clothing she owns, both clean and dirty; piles of books, notebooks, and papers; computers, portable TVs, DVD and CD players, microwaves, and miscellaneous cooking utensils; and all sorts of sports gear - all of which lands at your front door, possibly in one big heap.

You might want to give your returning college student a week or so to decompress - sleep late, catch up with friends, hang out at the mall or on the beach. Then offer to help tackle the task of organizing her belongings.

Separate the stuff into categories, then divide each category again, into the stuff your student needs right now and the stuff to be stored. Clothing for the current season, DVDs and CDs, summer sports gear will end up in the student's bedroom or the family garage, available for easy access. The rest can be stored in one spot, either in the home or in your off-site family storage unit, ready to be repacked and taken back to college.

For clothing - make sure it's all clean, then sort into summer clothing and off-season clothing. Weed out any ripped garments and either mend or discard; also throw out any permanently soiled items. (Make sure you're not throwing out any lucky T-shirts!)

Your daughter probably won't need her microwave or cooking utensils this summer; pack and store them for easy access in the fall. She probably will want her DVDs, CDs, and electronic equipment, including her computer. Her books and notes can be separated into three categories: those she will need in the fall at college, those she won't need but wishes to keep, and those she doesn't ever want to see again. She might want to advertise the last category of books on the Internet, on amazon.com or half.com. If the books are a current edition, she might be able to get quite a bit of money back.

Be sure to keep a list of the stuff you store, and have your daughter review it as she gets ready to return to college. Organizing her belongings now - storing it in one spot and keeping an inventory of it - will simplify the process of packing it up and making the journey back to college in the fall.

Special Kid Organizational Budgets and Small Business Solutions

Many groups in our nation need our support and financial support, unfortunately there are so many worthy causes that they all end up competing against each other. Sometimes the answer is to get a little creative and try something new. How so you ask?

Well let me tell you about just such a creative solution that I was involved once. You see in our company we set up mobile car wash franchises. And a program director came to me and said; we would like to set up one of your franchises to help fund our special kids group. So, this sounded like a good plan and I worked with the program director of the Special Kids Group on a plan to allow them to operate one of our franchises without paying the franchise initial fee or the on-going royalties, instead the royalties would be given back to the group. Basically it was free to help the Special Kids work and learn how to be self-sufficient.

To make all this work I had lined up a free truck to mount the mobile car wash equipment on from Ford Motor Co as well as some customers in the Corporate Office Parks in Trenton, luckily the group had also lined up some customers too. The project unfortunately got cancelled, but I learned a lot on how these things can work in the future, one day I will probably write down the entire plan in an eBook and put it online for everyone.

My point is sometimes you have to think out of the box, as there are always ways to solve mankind's problems through networking, free enterprise and cooperation with public agencies, unfortunately there is too much bureaucracy and often great programs, fully funded, which do not burden the taxpayer get lost in the shuffle. Perhaps this article will spur on your imagination to think outside your organizations funding needs box and come up with something which might work for you.

Reservation in Higher Education and Jobs- Divide and Rule Strategy

Introduction:

"Reservation in Higher Education and Jobs in Private Sector"...Yes or No? There has been lot of debate on this subject across the country. People are agitating...people are on hunger strike; Students have different views...professionals have different views. As per the interview with Cabinet Minister, (Human Resourse Development) Mr. Arjun Singh...on CNN-IBN, he is not willing to accept any facts and fingers. In short, after the interview he looks like a confused person...might be an effect of his age. Lets start from the very beginning, on the 27th of June 1961 Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru (First Prime Minister of India) wrote to the Chief Ministers: I dislike any kind of reservations. If we go in for any kind of reservations on communal and caste basis, we will swamp the bright and able people and remain second rate or third rate. The moment we encourage the second rate, we are lost. And then he adds pointedly: This way lies not only folly, but also disaster.

Lets have a look at some other figures..."Learning from Past Experiences"...

NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference? A study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working. Parliamentary Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes says that "looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000, just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled."

Sukhdev Thorat, the Chairman of the UGC. He points out that today, at higher education levels - that is all universities, IITs and IIMs - there is already a 1.2 lakh vacancy number. 40 per cent of these are in teaching staff, which the IIT faculty themselves point out that they have shortages of up to 30 per cent.

Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.

In short, reservations mean that a lesser-qualified candidate gets preference over a more qualified candidate, solely because in this case, he or she happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upper castes are being penalized for being upper caste.

Why Quota? Why Reservations? Will this help "underprivileged" communities to come at par with others? I don't think so. If the foundation is not strong...one cannot make strong building on it. If you really want to bring everyone on same platform...strengthen the Primary Education; Improve the course material; provide teachers at that level and make people strong enough to compete with each other...provide the platform for institutes and corporates to choose the best.

Mandal Commission...A regretful step...First Major Step towards reservation and quota system...beginning of caste based politics...

1) The Mandal Commission was officially called Second backward Classes Commission.

2) It derives its name from parliamentarian BP Mandal, who chaired the Commission.

3) The Mandal Commission was constituted by the Morarji Desai government in 1978 to consider action politics for backward classes, aimed at redressing caste discrimination.

4) The Commission Report was submitted in Dec 1980. It sought reservation for 27 per cent of all services and public sector undertakings under the central government and 27 per cent of all admissions to institutions of higher education for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

5) The percentage was over and above the existing 22.5 per cent reservation for SCs/STs.

6) In Aug 1990, the then Prime Minister VP Singh assured its implementation in government jobs.

7) It led to widespread protests, which finally led to his resignation.

8) There were many self-immolations attempts, including that of Rajeev Goswami, a DU student.

9) In 1993, the Supreme Court upheld 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.

10) But it was subject to the exclusion of socially advanced persons/sections from amongst the OBCs.

11) Children of Class I officers with income of Re one lakh were also excluded.

12) The exclusion-income limit was revised to Rs 2.5 lakh in 2004.

13) The reservation came into effect in Sept 1993 after the recommendations were accepted.

14) In Aug 2005, the SC abolished all caste-based reservations in unaided private colleges.

15) On Dec 2005, the Lok Sabha passed the 104th Constitution Amendment Act 2005, rolling back the SC judgement.

16) The new clause allowed reservations for SC/ST and OBCs in private unaided educational institutions.

17) The latest controversy erupted over the government's proposal to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in central government-funded higher educational institutes like IITs and IIMs.

Earlier Mandal Commission identified 11 indicators for providing reservation and quota is higher education. They were:

Social

Castes/classes considered as socially backward by others.

Castes/classes which mainly depend on manual labour for their livelihood.

Castes/classes where the percentage of married women below 17 is 25% above the state average in rural areas and 10% in urban areas; and that of married men is 10% and 5% above the state average in rural and urban areas respectively.

Castes/classes where participation of females in work is at least 25% above the state average.

Educational

Castes/classes where the number of children in the age group of 5 to 15 years who never attended school is at least 25% above the state average.

Castes/classes where the rate of student drop-out in the age group of 5-15 years is at least 25% above the state average.

Castes/classes amongst whom the proportion of matriculates is at least 25% below the state average

Economic

Castes/classes where the average value of family assets is at least 25% below the state average.

Castes/classes where the number of families living in kachcha houses is at least 25 % above the state average.

Castes/classes where the source of drinking water is beyond half a kilometer for more than 50% of the households.

Castes/classes where the number of the house-holds having taken a consumption loan is at least 25% above the state average.

We have seen even during those years that "Reservation" is just not acceptable. Even if after Close to 60 yrs of Independence (we will be celebrating our Diamond jubilee year of Independence between 15th August 2006-15th August 2007), we are saying that we have not done anything to bring up the social status of people then we are just nullifying all the achievements. Had this been done 5 yrs or 10 yrs after the independence...it would have been acceptable but not after 55 yrs of independence.

Conclusion

Need is to improve the standard of education at "Primary Level", make people competent enough to fight in "Open Competition" and not to reserve the seats or provide any type of quota. The vociferous protest against reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the growing unease about reservations for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes reflects the sharp conflicts which are erupting in Indian society over the distribution of a limited number of Government jobs and educational resources. It should be noted that the vocal opposition to the reservations for OBCs goes hand in hand with a more disguised resentment against reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes. One has only to recall to the Gujarat anti-reservation movement of 1981 and the recent December, 1989 U.P. agitation against the Parliament extending the reservation of seats in legislatures for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for another ten years.

The movement against reservations in the present Indian context is definitely retrograde and objectively serves the interests of those who seek to preserve the dominance of the upper castes. The plea against reservations is advanced on the basis of equality of opportunity and merit. In an unequal society like India, where scheduled castes, tribes and shudras (the bulk of whom are the OBCs) have been discriminated against in choice of occupation, social mobility and control over the means of production, all talk of equality, without taking into account this reality, reduces equality to the concept of formal equality.

As for merit, it is perfectly possible in India to discriminate in recruitment and promotions, on the basis of caste prejudices or preferences, militating against merit. Further, merit, as the Mandal Commission and a host of other commissions and Supreme Court judgments have pointed out, must be seen in the context of achieving real equality of opportunities, social environment and compensatory discrimination to ensure social justice.

I sum up my feeling through the lines of following poem by Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) about accumulation of State power by the targeting of specific groups one at a time captures the slippery slope of the law very well:

First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Before I conclude, here are views of Mr. Sam Pitroda (Chairman, National Knowledge Commission), on reservation in Higher Education and Jobs:

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the quota system as long as it is applied judiciously and at the right levels. It cannot become a blanket solution for all time to come. It is my considered position to reject labels on the basis of anyone's birth. It is an outdated, antiquated thinking to keep talking about caste based disadvantages. The first step for me is to reject all such labels in the 21st century and focus on equality for youth. In my case, hard work, good education and focus on technology helped me a great deal to overcome any disadvantages that I had because of what people still obsessively describe as caste.

Technology gave me an equal footing for everything I have done in my life and career. I have said this before. Technology is a great leveler, second only to death. I have always negotiated challenges on the basis of my whatever little intrinsic merit quality and perseverance. I have never taken the route of quota or reservations. I hope this shows that it is possible.

What we need is to create opportunities for everyone of equal merit to have proper access. On this subject there are many views and many sentiments. At times people look at this in terms of black and white while there are many shades of gray.

Proper primary education is the key to building a sound foundation for higher education in the university. I wish we focus on this first. I also believe that every child must have opportunity for good education without worrying about caste or income levels. If the student is qualified we must find funding to support them in colleges. It is time to go beyond labels that stigmatize an entire group of people. I believe now in the early part of the 21st century we should make fundamental changes in the way we approach the concept of education, employment, equality and empowerment. But the point is it is time for a whole new approach in the 21st century. We cannot build the nation in the 21st century with the 19th century mindset.