A Comparison between Private and Public Schools an Example by

A Comparison between Private and Public Schools Introduction Does paying for an education matter? (Shortt 5). In arguing that private school is still a much better alternative than public school, a clear context of the issue should first be described beginning with the definitions of what constitutes a public and a private school. In most countries including the United States, the distinction is simple and is mainly with regards to the source of funding that a particular school enjoys (Hochschild & Scovronick 7). A public school is state funded. This means that the government pays for most if not all of the operational expenses of a school with minor assistance from outside contributions and donations. Public schools normally have minimal if not non-existent tuition fees and are designed to make education accessible to all the citizens of a country regardless of financial capabilities. Need essay sample on "A Comparison between Private and Public Schools" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed As a consequence, public schools are also government run, usually under a particular state department for education. On the other hand, private schools are mainly funded by its customers, which are primarily the schools students usually through their parents who pay for their education. A private school is run by an internal school board that is registered but not significantly beholden to the states Department of Education (Hochschild It cannot be denied that any argument against public schools should be balanced with the fact that it is free, hence a balance of interests must always be present (31). Therefore, any supposed advantage that a private school has over public schools should be weighed according to the price that students are paying for it. There are three main standards of comparison by which this paper makes its assessment of public and private schools. These three levels are facilities, curriculum, and environment. Facilities Obviously, public schools constantly depend on government funding to maintain operations and modernize equipment. For many governments in poorer countries, this has been one grave reason for public school being extremely worse than private schools. Non-existent facilities such as science or speech laboratories, inadequately furnished classrooms, and an overcrowding of students characterize public school in the Third World. In some countries such as Vietnam or the Philippines, student-teacher ratios can shoot as high as eighty to one (Shortt 22), making it a near impossible task for any teacher to effectively keep track of each students learning progress. In more affluent countries such as the United States, having sizeable budgets for public education has not seemed to result in better school facilities either. Gross claimed that even if the U.S. Department of Education spends an average of $10,000 per student a year, most of these expenses are from administrative and faculty costs with only as small as 10% going into the improvement of facilities, this is contrary to private schools that dedicate ample funding for improving school facilities, most of the time even requiring a separate fee for modernization from their students (71). Since private schools are in heavy competition with one another over the scant number of people who can afford it, they need to devote considerable funding to modernize facilities in order to attract more customers. This atmosphere of competitiveness is absent in the typical public school set-up, wherein students are allocated depending on where they live. Curriculum Taking academic performance into consideration, historical data shows that private school has fared relatively better than public schools (Gross 92). In an international study conducted on the top 21 industrialized countries, basic education in the United States ranked 17th in terms of mathematics and science. However, a cross-sectional observation reveals that the low rank is mostly due to public school contribution. Separately, public and private schools would rank 19th and 14th respectively (93). Public school curriculum is generalized throughout schools in a particular state by an umbrella school board. Since new curricula are implemented across all public schools, the processes involved in implementation, monitoring, and assessment of such new material takes substantially long. Private schools are not required to conform to the entire prescribed curricula of the Department of Education. Hence, this freedom allows them to incorporate materials, strategies, and entire curricula that could suit their students better, as opposed to public schools that are constrained within the exact recommendations of the state. The ability to choose tailor-made ways to address student learning puts private schools in a better position than public schools in drafting and revising the substance of education offered. Because of the smaller scope of implementation, assessing results of particular implemented curricula is faster, making private school curricula more comprehensive and up-to-date. Environment Since public school is open for everyone, many socio-cultural problems arise to hinder learning and even threaten student safety. In Zimmerman, it was described that most cases related to racial or gender discrimination happen in public schools(18). Furthermore, it is more than twice as likely to get bullied in a public school as in a private school (23). Although governments such as the United States have been fervent in implementing policies against discrimination and bullying, the inherent mass of public school students makes such policies a lot harder to implement effectively than in private schools. Hence, private schools are able to provide a better learning environment for their students than their public counterparts. Conclusion Based on the given three standards, it can be concluded that private schools are still better than public schools in terms of facilities, curriculum, and environment. Even taking Shortts words into consideration, the fact that Americans pay more in taxes for their public schools than the tuition that private schools charge means that the insufficiency of money is not a factor that should neutralize the disparity between public and private schools. Works Cited Gross, Martin L. The Conspiracy of Ignorance: The Failure of American Public Schools. N.J.: Harper Paperbacks, 2000. Hochschild, Jennifer L. & Scovronick, Nathan. The American Dream and the Public Schools. Oxford University Press, 2004. Maddoux, Marlin. Public Education Against America: The Hidden Agenda. I.N.: Whitaker House, 2006. Shortt, Bruce N. The Harsh Truth About Public Schools. N.J.: Ross House Books, 2004. Zimmerman, Jonathan Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools. Harvard University Press, 2002.

Battle of Algiers essays

Battle of Algiers essays Pontecorvos Battle of Algiers Gillo Pontecorvos Battle of Algiers, though filmed in the late 1950s, remains one of the most powerful and emotionally stimulating films of the modern age. The realism captured by the director of photography, Marcello Gatti, laid the blueprint for directors and photographers to mold and shape equally great works in years to come. Gattis revolutionary use of the hand-held camera was instrumental in creating the simulated eyewitness account. So much so, that the statement not one foot of newsreel footage was used in its manufacture was needed so audiences were not confused or misled. The films most intriguing scene is undoubtedly the bombing of the downtown coffeehouse found near the casbah. Approaching the eve of our own countrys tragedy, emotion and confusion continue to run high, and Pontecorvo and Gattis ability to capture such a catastrophic event in such an apocalyptic manner, cant help but fuel the emotional fire of modern audiences. As one New York firefighter said as Americas famous towers burned, Its almost a beautiful thing. One cant help but feel angered or confused by this statement, but it hold true for all modern tragedies. The power of Pontecorvos coffeehouse scene is finding beauty in the hideous, capturing a heinous crime against humanity so realistically that in all of its horrific forms it still remains awe-inspiring. It also strikes a nerve on a personal level, as the world arms itself for all-too-familiar religious warfare. The sequence in which the female Algerians shed their religious clothing and arm themselves with explosives is yet an other example of the magnificence of modern tragedy. When you live a life of war, its the enemy that you dont see coming that always delivers the fatal blow. This story can be seen in modern times just as it was ree ...

RBC bank (Canada) & sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

RBC bank (Canada) & sustainability - Essay Example and 56 other countries1. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability The company claims to have positive economic, environmental and social impact in its areas of operations. In the view of the President and CEO of the company Gordon M. Nixon corporate responsibility for the company is about the way company uses and makes money2. Company has set six priorities for its corporate social responsibility which are operational integrity, economic impact, market place, work place, environment and community. Within the environmental priorities company is determined to reduce the intensity of the environmental footprint of RBC Canada, promote environmentally responsible business activities and offer environmental products and services3. Sustainable Growth and Priorities of RBC Canada RBC Canada has developed and adopted significant policies and procedures for the sustainable developments which are included in the corporate priorities. Some of these are as follow: Reduce the Intensity o f the Environmental Footprint of RBC RBCs environmental footprint consists of range of activities of the company from the internal environment to the external environment. Company has tracked all the areas of operations that can have environmental impact and identified the ways to minimize the environmental impact. These include use of energy, paper consumption, and water use and procurement activities. In these areas company is minimizing its environmental footprint. Vital statistics4 Greenhouse Gas Emissions The company studied and identified the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission by the company. This includes the source of electricity, production and distribution of documents and employee travel5. The company has Carbon Disclosure Project submission6. The key highlights of the progress of the company indicate that there are number of energy and greenhouse gas related initiatives. They launched a multi-year Energy Management Plan across the retail branch network in Canada . This consists of 200 lighting retrofits and 80 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) efficiency assessment7. The company has drafted a comprehensive policy for their environmental and risk management policy. As per this policy all the management decisions should be consider social and environmental risk. There have been tremendous developments in order to make this policy workable in the organization such as assessment of client’s environmental management systems, liabilities, community relations, environmental and labor regulations, community relations and the overall impact on air, land and water. They provided training to 250 employees of RBC Capital Market and Group Risk Management. These people were trained so that the new policy can be applied successfully. In the commercial lending activities, company has been taking care in the commercial lending activities in accordance with this policy. There have been various training provided to risk managers on envir onmental risks and risk management in various lending and investment banking. It has also transferred many of the paper related activities through the electronic documentation process and saved nearly 11.3 million sheets of

Influences in Conference and Banqueting industry Assignment

Influences in Conference and Banqueting industry - Assignment Example The paper tells that hospitality industry encompasses the establishments that provide accommodation, meals, drinks, conferencing services among other related services. The hospitality industry provides two major services, which are the overnight accommodation and sustenance for people. The UK tourism industry has recorded tremendous growth over the years, and even during the recession, the industry continued to expand. In 2010 July, the amount spent overseas visitors was  £1.96b, which represented a 15.9% rise as compared to the 2009 value of  £1.69b. This shows how the industry has potential for growth. Therefore, hospitality industry contributes significantly to the economy and employs millions of people. Conference and banqueting is one of the fields under the hospitality industry. This field provides conferencing activities to several people including local residents to international tourists. Banqueting is currently a lucrative business especially with the growth of conferen cing facilities. Banqueting refers to the act of serving food and beverage to a group of individuals eating together, for example, in cerebration or conference. It is a highly profitable venture, and as such, most facilities in the hospitality industry have incorporated it in their services. The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries, and indeed, the largest in the world. In the UK, this industry makes up a significant part of the economy, with its over 50, 000 guest houses and hotels and an annual turnover of  £ 50 billion. In addition, the industry employs over 1.7 million workforce. (British Hospitality Association, 2008). This industry is large and wide, and ranks third among the top sectors that provide employment. The industry is diverse due to ownership, innovation, grading system and classification, leisure facilities, level of service and future trends. Narrowing down, the conference and banqueting industry contributes ? 18.8 billion to the economy of UK according to the UK Events Market Trends Survey results. The business prospect of this industry increases annually, thus, it has attracted many investors especially during the preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Currently, the industry does not only provide meeting and food services, but there are additional services such as shops, nightclubs, hair and beauty salons, internet, gymnasium, shops, and laundry services. Conferencing services are mostly for business people whom after the meetings would prefer to have a little leisure and relaxation. Thus, the conference and banqueting industry has included the mentioned services to ensure that the guests do not leave the premises to go and look for leisure activities elsewhere. Research reveals that most hotels have special facilities in built for conference and banqueting events, as it has emerged a very profitable business area. An example of hotel or hospitality provider that has excelled in the area of conference and banqueting is the Villa Park or Aston Villa. The hotel that offers hospitality and events services emerged the best in the category of ‘Best UK Unusual Events’ during the prestigious M&IT Awards. Apart from excellent services, Villa Park is located centrally less than two miles from the M6, and offers spacious free car parking spaces, which makes it a perfect venue to host events. Another example of facility that offers good conference and banqueting services is The Royal Over-Seas League, which is a Private Members’ club that offers unique services for all kinds of occasions. Referred to as ROSL in short, the facility has eclectic collection of events and meeting rooms, as well as styles and designs that offers exquisite views of various places. Factors that have

My life In Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

My life In Hong Kong Essay Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, had said, â€Å"Ang taong hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan.†[1]   One must always know how to go back to one’s roots.   The essence of one’s life is greatly reflected by the ability to remember the path taken to get to where one is headed.   One’s achievements are also highlighted by the reflections brought about by the environment that shaped one’s own vision and mission in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At this point in my life, where career opportunities are being shot at me from every direction, indecisiveness slowly creeps in to the corners of my mind:   what do I really want to do?   And one answer always keeps coming up:   I want to change the world.   Clichà ©, yes.   Probably impossible as well.   However, all grand actions in this world began with baby steps.   As for me, this research paper is my very own baby step.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite still being undecided as to what the conclusion to my studies would be, as to what career path I would take, as to which country I would serve, this research paper will aid me in whatever ministry I decide to do. This research paper will lay down the path of understanding diverse professional and career opportunities.   If I decide to enter the corporate world and work under its marketing, sales or any other economics-related division, this research paper will bring about a deeper understanding of the economic policies of Hong Kong – why Chinese products and services are more acceptable to Hong Kong companies, rather than those offered by other countries, especially the United States and Great Britain.   If I do decide to enter a career in the academe, this research will pave the way for a deeper understanding of colonization, state freedom, and shifts in political, economic, social and cultural environments. On a personal level, this paper will help me understand immigrants in a deeper sense.   Just like Hong Kong nationals, immigrants experience a change in environment, and the struggle to balance embracing a brand new culture and holding on to age-old traditions passed from generation to generation. Either way, this research paper will not go to waste as it brought me back to the place that gave birth to my being. It’s been a long time since I’ve lived in Hong Kong.   Many times, I forget what it means to be Chinese – choosing a burger over dumplings and noodles, partying in Times Square on the eve of the new year and yet sleeping through the eve of Chinese New Year, not calling my family during holidays or even just to tell them how I am doing.   Living in a foreign country brings about either one of two things: craving to go back home or completely forgetting what home is like.   This research paper made me go through a journey that I was trying to evade – to remember where I came from. It is not easy to do a paper on a place that had been a part of my life.   And yet the perspective brought into the paper is the perspective of a third person – one who is not a Hong Kong local, Chinese national or British citizen.   This research paper on Hong Kong is done by someone from Hong Kong and yet all information and data are taken in a very objective view in order to report an unbiased analysis.   The need to present all sides of the issue is necessary for a better understanding of the conflict being presented in the paper. And this is what distinguishes this research paper from other research papers. [1] â€Å"A person who does not know how to remember where he came from will never get to where he wants to go.†

The Health Risks of Smoking Essay -- Cigarette Smoking Health Nicotine

The Health Risks of Smoking Every year nearly one in every five US deaths are related to cigarette smoking, that means that every year 440,000 people alone die from cigarettes. Deaths caused by alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined are actually less than the number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking. Being the grandchild of a grandpa who died of lung cancer from smoking, I know and understand what cigarette smoking can do. Tobacco smoke is a mixture of gases and of small particles made up of water, tar, and nicotine. The tar is a mixture of thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. Many of the gases in tobacco smoke are harmful to the human body. These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and other toxic irritants such as acrolein and formaldehyde. Due to the high temperatures of over 1400 degrees F, the burning end of a cigarette is like a miniature chemical factory. Aside from the tar in cigarettes there is also another very potent and harmful carcinogen called Nicotine. Nicotine causes addiction to cigarettes that is similar to the addiction produced by using heroin and cocaine. Almost 80 percent of people who try smoking become addicted and only 1 in 5 smokers who try to quit succeed on the first try. A person can become addicted to nicotine in the first few weeks of trying it. Most people are unaware that nicotine is a psychoactive drug. A psychoactive drug is... The Health Risks of Smoking Essay -- Cigarette Smoking Health Nicotine The Health Risks of Smoking Every year nearly one in every five US deaths are related to cigarette smoking, that means that every year 440,000 people alone die from cigarettes. Deaths caused by alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined are actually less than the number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking. Being the grandchild of a grandpa who died of lung cancer from smoking, I know and understand what cigarette smoking can do. Tobacco smoke is a mixture of gases and of small particles made up of water, tar, and nicotine. The tar is a mixture of thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. Many of the gases in tobacco smoke are harmful to the human body. These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and other toxic irritants such as acrolein and formaldehyde. Due to the high temperatures of over 1400 degrees F, the burning end of a cigarette is like a miniature chemical factory. Aside from the tar in cigarettes there is also another very potent and harmful carcinogen called Nicotine. Nicotine causes addiction to cigarettes that is similar to the addiction produced by using heroin and cocaine. Almost 80 percent of people who try smoking become addicted and only 1 in 5 smokers who try to quit succeed on the first try. A person can become addicted to nicotine in the first few weeks of trying it. Most people are unaware that nicotine is a psychoactive drug. A psychoactive drug is...

Destiny

Have you ever heard of the word â€Å"destiny†. Well, of course you could’ve red that word somewhere. Three-year-olds have heard of that too. So, what is it? There are just certain thoughts when you hear words like that. For kids, they would say it’s all about Cinderella and Ariel and any Disney princesses and cartoons that make people fantasize and believe that dreams do come true, right? But let’s have it the other way around. No child play, just plain serious and sensible talk. Destiny is something not played, it would play with you and you’ll never like what happens next. Its mere existence depends on people’s variations. Destiny. Come on! Destiny? It is not planned, it is never a coincidence. Ever heard of this quote: â€Å"There are no coincidences in this world, it could’ve been destiny playing along with people†. I don’t know who said that nor I even care on his biography†¦ but whoever thought of that plain statement is a sworn genius. Now, let’s have some talk about deeper sense. Fiction novels no matter how great of a fantasy it is have roots coming from reality. They say that those two realms clash, but I don’t think so. Every single character described by the author has his/her basis on people around him/her. Now, where on earth can we relate this thing to destiny? Simple! Many books have plots revolving on this word—mostly, romance novels of course. When the guy meets the girl and the guy is the long lost son of the girl’s stepmother, or something like the guy was once an assassin and killed the parents of the girl he loves the most. Is that plain coincidence? I believe it’s not. Not yet convinced how destiny is real? Let’s say it’s a fantasy book. Destiny comes from the word ‘destined’. There are just people no matter what race they are, what kind of monsters they are, or just things like that are just destined to be together no matter what. Let’s take it from the children’s heroes. Familiar with the movie little mermaid? Yeah, the prince? And the mermaid? Remember? Two lovers whose origins were from a high land and the deepest of the seas, respectively. But the two met, by accident? Nope. It was the plot created by destiny. Same goes with real life. You shouldn’t expect what happens next, unless you have a special power to predict.