Year Round Schooling Essays - Summer, Education Policy,

Year Round Schooling For more than twenty years the educational and economic benefits of year round schooling have been debated in the United States. Experts agree that year round schooling may not be the answer to the problems of all school districts. However in more than 205 districts nation wide, problems have been resolved by year round schooling. First I need to explain that this is different from extending the school year; on a year round schedule, students attend school the same number of days-180-as students on the traditional nine-month calendar. The difference is that year round education (YRE) students have several short vacations rather than one three-month summer break. Most year-round schools operate on a multi-track calendar, and group students in three or four tracks with different vacation times. While one group is on vacation, another track is using the building. There are many benefits to year-round schooling. One positive aspect of this type of schooling is better retention for children. After a short break the children are refreshed and ready to start again without having to review what has been lost over the summer. At traditional schools, teachers spend weeks reviewing to bring children up to presummer levels. Kids on a year-round calendar learn faster, better and retain more. With shorter breaks, teachers have a much better chance of maintaining their academic skills. Not only do the children come back refreshed and ready to learn but the teachers themselves are refreshed and energetic. There's no meltdown in the spring when the three-month summer vacation is about to begin. Better retention results in improved academic performance. Studies have repeatedly shown that American high school students score well below students from other advanced countries in core academic subjects such as mathematics and history. These countries typically require longer instructional days and more of them than most American schools, where the eight-hour-per-day, 180-day-a-year model is standard (Worsnop,96). This type of schooling may be the answer to the decades-old concern that American students are being ill-prepared to compete with their counterparts overseas. By the most objective measure, test scores, year-round education seems to be working. For example, before switching to its new schedule, Socorro schools had some of the lowest test scores in the country. Now Socorro students outscore the state average on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (Blackman,99) For many school administrators, the most persuasive argument in favor of YRE is that it offers a cost-effective way of relieving classroom overcrowding. Instead of renting commercial space, portable classrooms or constructing new schools-- administrators can enlarge the capacity of existing facilities by converting them to year- round operation. Implementing a year-round calendar extends the capacity of a school by 33 percent, according to NAYRE (National Association for Year-Round Education.) The Oxnard Elementary School District is considered the pioneer of year round educational systems. Oxnard first reorganized their schedule in 1976. The driving forces behind the updated schedule were the increasing number of students in the buildings and lack of funds. Oxnard has had success with this arrangement. Building capacity has been raised by 2,000. Had Oxnard not been able to reorganize the traditional schedule, they estimate that the spending of more than 20 million dollars, would be needed to build new schools (Pritchett,96). A year-round schedule makes fuller use of existing facilities, thus eliminating or postponing the need to build additional classrooms. The net effect of such arrangements is to substantially increase the number of students the school can accommodate. Some experts argue that year-round scheduling helps to deter juvenile crime, thus benefiting the entire community. Although juvenile crimes occur throughout the entire calendar year, the school vacation periods and the peak periods of juvenile delinquency are closely related (Worsnop,96). In Chicago's Oakland neighborhood, where almost three out of four people live in poverty and violent crime is an hourly occurrence, Holy Angels Elementary School provides the safety and structure its pupils need to make the most of their education, so most don't mind taking a mere three week summer vacation (Worsnop,96). According to Charles Ballinger, executive director of NAYRE in San Diego, The September-June school calendar has outlived its usefulness. It's an invention of agricultural economy; Young people had to be free during summer months

Alasia Hotel Resorts Companys Risk Management

Alasia Hotel Resorts Companys Risk Management Introduction Understanding risk and risk management in an organisation requires one to understand that risks are varied depending on the type of organization in question. Risk management is the system of strategies, policies and practices that minimize an organization’s exposure to risk, cushioning it against the effects of those risks (Investor Glossary 2011; McNeil, Frey and Embrechts 2005).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Alasia Hotel Resorts Company’s Risk Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To understand the nature of the dynamics of risk requires one to also consider the variety of business interests and business fields such as health, transport, finance and other (Hutter and Power 2005). Thus, risk management in the business environment assumes different perspectives depending n the organization and the risks in question. However, Hutter and Power (2005) adds that risk management is not something an organization chances to do, but should be a deliberate effort to prepare the organization to deal with future emergencies. Thus proper and effective risk management ensures that the future of the organization is assured. This does not however mean that organizations understand the nature and type of risks that they will encounter in the present and in the future. It means that organizations must implement the correct strategies to deal with dynamic risks as they arise and minimize their effect (Hutter Power 2005). Company outline Alasia Hotel Resorts (AHR) Alasia Hotel Resorts (AHR) is owned by Alexia Limited which was registered in 1984 as a private limited company. AHR is an exclusively full service establishment with fully owned hotels and resorts in these exceptional cities; Berlin, Frankfurt, Budapest, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Sydney and Hamburg. The company has also franchises in London, New York and Florida. It offers a variety off services and products, and c aters for individual, group and corporate clients on full board, half board and customized services. AHR has well established restaurants, coffee shops, bars, catering and cocktail lounges with full service personnel. AHR also offers accommodation services in our main resorts or condominiums with room and personalized services. Condominiums are only for private full board accommodation for small groups or families and guarantees all services offered at the he main hotels. All our large hotels also have exclusive retail shops such as gift shops, boutiques and chemists.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Our hotels and resorts offer other services such as beauty parlors, ballrooms, fitness centers, health amenities, laundry and valet service. Other than these, AHR also has the facilities for exhibit halls, seminars, conferences, private functions such as wedding and ot her types of meetings. To facilitate easy movement of clients, AHR has secured coaches and saloon cars available upon request. As Hutter and Power (2005) explains, risk management is a deliberate effort that is part of AHR’s core business; the same can be said of AHR. The nature of AHR’s business, deals with risks every day, therefore risk management is a core function in its daily operations. As such, risk management becomes the culture and therefore in the business practices at the company. The company has tailored its risk management to suit its business model, nature of business and other factors, such as future expectations (AS/NZS ISO 31000, 2009). The company has thus had to implement risk management strategies as well as processes and a criterion of evaluation to ensure that risk management procedures meet the necessary criteria. Risk management practices at AHR The Company has realized the potential danger of the risks that it is exposed to and as such has for med a risk management department whose membership incorporate all the departmental heads under the leadership of the Risk Evaluation And Management Officer whose is assisted by the company’s chief finance officer and chief operations officer. The mandate of this department is to device and implements best risk management practices. The following are some of the risk management practices implemented by the Risk Evaluation and Management Unit at AHR. The company’s risk management practices are based on Hubbard’s (2009) theory of calibrating and quantifying risks through actuarial science methods as well as creating a community for risk analysis. This helps to give accurate values of the value and effects of risks to then company and means that risk are quantified in terms of probabilities. The best alternative for each probability is quantified and recorded ready for implementation in case risk happens. The method is anticipatory and forwarded looking and more eff ective basis for dealing with respective risks. This theory provides the basis for implementation of the following risk management practicesAdvertising We will write a custom report sample on Alasia Hotel Resorts Company’s Risk Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Human resource risk management Reducing the human resource risk involves a very comprehensive recruitment and selection exercise for the best employees, which is later accompanied by empowering the employees through comprehensive and continuous training and giving them the authority to solve any problem regarding any client issue. Training program also includes leadership development; equipping all employees with leadership skills improves accountability (Enz and Siguaw 2010). This greatly improves the employee’s skills and knowledge thus ensures high productivity levels are maintained. It also encourages non-performers to seek career prospects elsewhe re thus reduces non-productivity risk that would have arisen. For long term commitment the company has implemented an attractive compensation for employees who engage on long term basis (Huselid 1995). Compensation for performing employees includes vacation in one of the international hotel for employee and their immediate families, paid leaves, allowances for extra time duties, among other packages. The objective of this management practice is to improve employee morale and productivity while empowering them to offer satisfactory services to guests and thus ensure that guest are satisfied with AHR’s services. Financial risk management Minimizing financial risk involves controlling the company’s revenue and income by calculating the equilibrium pricing and controls. Because the company operates in various countries, its finances rare also exposed to foreign exchange rates fluctuation (Prindl 1978). Managing the forex rate fluctuations, the company has identified a repo rting currency, US dollar, in which it converts all its assets. This decision is based on the concept of the stability of the US dollar and its universality, which makes financing its international operations easier. Alasia transacts its daily international business through a pre-agreed exchange rate that is not affected by any variation in foreign exchange rates. As such, the company profit margins are insured against any loss. The company and the Risk Evaluation and Management Unit came up with the following equation for hedging;Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More h=E-1 Where E is equal to the amount of foreign exchange exposure risk and varies from 0 to 1. If total hedging is done, the amount of E will be equal to 0 and thus not sensitive to any fluctuations in foreign exchange (Kroner and Sultan 1993). Managing insurance premiums The company has also engaged in insuring all its assets for any loss of value and damage. Depreciating assets such furniture, kitchenware and vehicles have been well insured and thus any loss of value is compensated. Other than this, the nature of the business as well as the international political climate exposes the company to rising insurance premiums. This affects the company revenues. As such, the company has integrated a training program for all its employees in risk reduction. This is aimed at helping reduce claims and as such has kept the insurance premium rates for the hotel relatively low. The company entered into agreement with its underwriter for discounted insurance premiums if the company manages its claims. Negotiations are in their final stages and this arrangement is expected to come into force soon (Hill 2004). Effective risk management practices Hedging One of the most effective risk management practices the company is the hedging that incorporates the value and nature of assets. This means that the company incorporates the value of the asset in determining the hedging value. As such, the asset value is part of part of calibrating the hedging ratio (Kroner and Sultan 1993). Hedging has also seen the group run its international business efficiently without incurring any losses associated with changing forex rates. As such the company has managed to make long term plans for its international business operations (Chowdhry d Howe 1999). The company has seen the rise of its hedged assets such as franchises and other outsourced services like chattered flight for its clients. As such, the company has seen its international business operations done at optimal rates and therefore sw ells the company’s profits margins. Insurance and its benefits Hedging may not guarantee the protection of the company’s physical assets, thus the insurance policy against loss of value is a novel idea. It ensures that the company’s loss in the value of its company depreciating assets such as vehicles, furniture and others is easily recovered is recovered during liquidation. As such, the company’s capital investment is protected against loss as well as guaranteeing better returns in investment. As such, these make the company more fluid in increasing its acquisition and replacement of such assets (Gustavo and Stavros 2011). Ineffective risk management practices Some of the practices in the company’s risk management have not been effective and may not necessarily reduce the effects of risks to the company. Such activities as managing the insurance premiums are not sustainable. This is because the causes of the said rising in insurance premiums are e xternal and outside the group sphere of influence. Such issues as terrorism affect global travel therefore forcing people to stay in their homes and avoid such risk. In effect of the rising threat, the underwriter automatically appreciates insurance premiums due to the increased threat as such situations are not covered by discounted rate agreement. As such, the hotel industry suffers most damage when such threats are high (Hill 2004). The group has one of the best recruitment exercises in the market. It helps in establishing the best quality workforce for the company. It guarantees that the company hires the best brains in very field. However, the exercise ignores one of the fundamental aspects of human resource development, which is developing and growing its own human resource through internship and apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is a very efficient method of grooming potential replacements as well as ensuring a reservoir of workers in a company as well as tapping the best talent while still raw and developing it to fit into a company’s needs (Enz and Siguaw 2010; Huselid 1995). Lastly, the company is not entirely secured by establishing the dollar as the principle currency of trade. The dollar despite being a relatively stable currency is not immune to fluctuation. Due to the company’s large volumes of trade, even the slightest negative change in the value of the dollar will affect the company’s income (Kroner, and Sultan 1993). Recommendations To improve its risk management practices, the company should consider the following recommendations; Alternative currency The most viable option to cushion this effect is to establish an alternative currency such as the Euro as its principle currency of trade, which the company will use to conduct business with, should the dollar fluctuate significantly (Prindl 1978; Malevergne Sornette 2006). Workplace issues The company’s human resource risk management practice is very efficient in man aging how employees work. However, it does vaguely cover employees’ claims concerning harassment, discrimination as well as other workplace issues. As such, the company should keep a regularly updated company policy on discrimination and train all employees on policies concerning these issues and how to avoid them at the work place (Hill 2004). Insurance industries research The insurance industry is also so unpredictable and as such company risk losing their investment when an underwriter is dissolved. To reduce this risk the company should conduct a research on possible insurers based on the highest claims rating. More important, the company should engage insurers who have the best solvency ratings (Hill 2004). Reference List AS/NZS ISO 31000., 2009, Risk management principles and guidelines. Sydney: Standards Australia. Enz , C., Siguaw, J., 2010. The human dimension: a review of human resources  Management issues in the tourism and hospitality industry Cornell Hotel an d Restaurant Administration Quarterly May Web. Hill, J., 2004. Right this way! Hotels make room for risk management. Web. Available at  https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-coverstory/2004/08/23/45573.htm [13, March 2011]. Hubbard, D., 2009. The failure of risk management: why it is broken and how to fix it. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Hutter, B., Power, M., 2005, Organizational encounters with risk. New York: Cambridge University Press. Huselid, M., 1995. The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices on Turnover,  Productivity, and Corporate Financial Performance. The Academy of Management Journal. Vol. 38, No. 3. Kroner, K. , Sultan J., 1993. Time-varying distributions and dynamic hedging with  Foreign currency futures. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 28. Malevergne, Y., Sornette, D., 2006. Extreme financial risk: From dependence to risk  management. New York. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. McNeil, A. J., Frey, R., Embrechts, R., 2005, Qu antitative risk management. New Jersey: Price Town University Press. Prindl, A., 1978. Foreign Exchange Risk. The Journal of Risk and Insurance. Vol. 45, No. 4.

Michael Lemonick's Are We Losing Our Edge Essay

Michael Lemonick's Are We Losing Our Edge - Essay Example Thus, through such competition, any country that has even a little bit of ambition and grit is being able to establish itself within the rest of the world as a global superpower in terms of its trade and economy. As per the words of Shirley Ann Jackson, America is thus facing what is called, a ‘Quiet Crisis.’ (Lemonick, Michael D.) Various kinds of aspects have together helped to stem the kind of growth that American was having in the last few decades, and compared to the current levels of growth, how the same has slowed down due to processes within the government framework and structure. For example, the author writes that during the period of George W Bush, a large amount of hostility was shown towards various topics under science, which were not given ample grants or potential for research and testing. This has further led to the growth of the meltdown that the country is facing on a global scale today. (Msurjapu) The inadequacies of growth going in America have been further highlighted by the kind of slow down that has been brought about in the corporate sector as well. These industries are not being given enough government support unlike other companies around the world in other countries are receiving; furthermore, they are cutting back on their investments and production for fear of going into losses and not being able to cover their initial and variable costs. According to personal opinion, the reign under Barack Obama has done far better in trying to perfect this global meltdown that America has been going through since the time of Bush. During his time, not much emphasis was given to various sectors that were at that time waiting to explode into fully potential fields of growth and development. Since areas like nanotechnology, supercomputing and alternative energy were not given as much importance in America at the time, other countries like India and Japan were trying their best to exploit these areas and emerge as victorious superpowers in the same. The final result was that these other countries had been successful in their operations and left America a step behind in terms of such development in the fields of science and technology. By the time it was time for Bush to step down and Obama to take control and fix these factors, other countries around the world had established their own levels of competition in the global market with respect to these full of potential growth aspects of life. That is why, America has been said to be losing out on its edge; the same edge that it held over the global market earlier, due to such intolerance towards research in newer fields. This has been taken up by other nations around the world now, leading to American being put into the competition at the same level, and not a cut above the rest; a position that the country used to maintain in the past. Lemonick has made use of a number of rhetorical strategies to write his article. These are strategies used in order to make the wri ting more powerful and persuasive for the reader, and help him understand a person’s point of view better. However, each piece and kind of writing requires a different kind of strategy to be used, and not all of them can be used within the same article. Lemonick has made excellent use of exemplification within his article. This includes providing facts and