Friday, November 29, 2019

Is the Rise of China a Threat or an Opportunity for Europe

Introduction The rise of China has become one of the most important phenomena taking place in the world. Policy makers and international relations scholars have come up with numerous debates due to the rise of China. The history of the Chinese government stretches over years, but it is not short of powerful dynasties.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is the Rise of China a Threat or an Opportunity for Europe? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most countries perceived the Chinese government as a great power in the 1940s. This perception was because of the efforts that were coming from United States, which was meant to enhance the status of China as a great power. This was done in order for China to counterbalance other countries, which had great power like the Japanese government (Blankert, p. 50). This paper focuses on the aspect of the rise of China and whether it is a threat to European countries. Perceptions con cerning China’s rise China’s rise has raised concerns among many policy makers. This is because of the various threats that have emerged from this aspect. Such threats have been identified as China’s economic threat, military threat, energy threat, and civilization threat among others. The perception of China being a threat has existed for some time now. For example, in 1949, the United States perceived china as a great enemy. The fact that China’s economy is opening up to the outside world can be regarded as a threat or an opportunity. China should not be underestimated at any point because it has large reserves for foreign exchange and surpluses in trade. Its increased capability to manufacture various products enabled the country to be ranked among the leading countries in the world economy (Xing, p.59). As pointed out by Lardy, China’s current market not only presents great opportunities for most of the businesses in Europe, but also the United States (para. 7). This is because the large business opportunities in China outweigh the loss of most jobs from Europe and the US.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has made Europe have a lot fear because this means that they will experience job drain to China. The rapidly expanding economic growth and large involvement in global trade have made China rise economically. This has also been contributed to by direct investments inflows from foreign countries. The European economy has come up with policies that try to react to China’s rise due to the fear they hold against China. Europe’s fear stems from the realization that Europe is in the midst of banking and sovereign debt crisis. The assertions in Europe by some policymakers over the European relations China have raised some questions. This is because of the approach used by the European countries to e mphasize on conditionality and encouragement of quality governance. Again, it is because of the approach of the Chinese to put emphasis on investment in infrastructure. The Chinese analysts noted that the real source of economic threat was the Europeans. This is because the Europeans were still in fear of the developments realized by the Chinese government both economically and in military dimension. Cooney and Yoichir believed that China was too weak to threaten the western power (p. 16). However, according to other policy makers, China is associated with numerous threats. China is said to be a threat to America and Japan, which serves as an affirmation to China’s national identity. In this case, the Chinese views the rise of China as a result of a pursuit of China’s rejuvenation. This rejuvenation is the psychological power which was embodied in the concept of China’s rise. This is reflected in the strong belief of the Chinese that the rise of China is meant t o restore the lost status rather than gaining any new prospects. Therefore, the rise of China as viewed by Chinese is meant to restore fairness instead of taking advantage of other countries. This explains why the Chinese people are yearning for increased advancement of their economy, which is too weak for China to go back to its position (Cooney and Yoichir, p. 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is the Rise of China a Threat or an Opportunity for Europe? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More China’s Economic Prospects China’s gross domestic product had grown higher than in the past years when the country’s economic reform program was officially launched. China has had the fastest long term rate of growth as compared to countries worldwide. Therefore, this has elicited a lot of fear in the neighboring countries like Japan, the US, and Europe. This has made the country expand and maintain its gr owth even in times of global recession. For example, in the year 2002, the expansion of Chinese economy was ten times higher than that of Japan. This made China be ranked third in the world economy. Again, the external trade in China has also expanded more than its economy has expanded. This has been reflected in the country’s openness. For example, in the year 1977, China contributed to 0.6 percent of the overall world trade, which ranked it the seven largest in the global economy. China’s trade performance had been very strong for quite some time since 1980s until 2001 when it shrank and began again to recover in 2002. Another factor that contributes to China’s rise is the inflows of foreign direct investment. This signaled China’s intention to open its economic sector after emerging the best in a joint venture law that triggered the creation of special economic zones. China’s economy continues to create a surprise to the neighboring countries. T his is because even when the global inflows continue to decline to low levels, the inflows to China continue to increase at a high rate. This has made China’s economy pose a threat to its neighbors. Although this can be a great threat to its neighbors, it is fair to say that its improved economic performance is not a clear guarantee of its success (Lardy, para. 8). Europeans view on China’s rise The rise of China leaves most of the countries with a great opportunity that is not limited to its economic coverage area. Some countries like the United States have resorted to frequent use of military solutions because of the slow process of diplomacy. China’s rise is aimed at power restoration and hence stability of the whole region.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some manufacturers and labor unions blame the factory jobs lost in European countries to the rapidly rising bilateral trade deficit that the European countries have with the Chinese government. The European governments continue to wonder what negative consequences that the rise of China will have on them. This means that the Europeans have the fear that China’s economic development will threaten their security. This has made the European countries consider China as a strategic threat. Some of the economists resolve that Europe should make an agreement on the sale of products within their territories. They should limit sale of any product that is of low standard. They should also increase job opportunities in their home country and stop Chinese from exploiting cheap currency (Cooney and Yoichir, p. 19). With its present rate of rising gross domestic product, china would soon go beyond Europe as it has happened with Japan. This is because the Chinese government acquires resourc es from various regions in the globe so as to increase the investments on infrastructure. It is also working on its currency as it targets the European currency, which is its strength. Some other scholars have resolved that they do not see China as a great threat to the European economy. This is because Europe can also form its own foreign policies and a good relationship with China. This can work out well and be beneficial if its structures are well galvanized. On the other hand, Europeans have reason to say that China is a threat to global stability more than the United States and other countries like Iran. This threat is not only viewed from the economic point of view, but from the military perspective. The Chinese government has been developing high-tech weaponry that threatens the Europeans. Their main objective in this is to project power at a given time (Lardy, para. 13). Again, China’s adequate labor and the absence of restraints in the environmental and the social se ctor mean that the country can threaten the whole world. These unfair acts are diminishing most of jobs in the entire world. Also, its demand, which has remained unsatisfied, has raised oil and mineral prices in the world. Another threat is the fact that China makes use of its economic power to hook up other countries. Its high investments have secured unhealthy acts across most countries in Africa. This has given it the power to make use of other countries’ economic resources and cause exploitation to their efforts. This has further been a great threat to Europe because China has engaged in colonization of some European countries. This has been witnessed where China has taken control of companies from the Portuguese. They have also taken the Greek ports and other opportunities because of the high economic power. In addition, China has hindered the spread of democratic values by the Europeans. On the same note, China’s economic progress undermines the European aspirati ons. This has seen China become an inspiration to other countries (Shi, p. 213). The rise of China has presented threats and opportunities not only for Europe, but also to the general global economy. The fact that it has an expanding trade has made it an engine of growth. This is because of the large amounts of capital goods that are imported and equipment used in the industry’s processing units. China has also become an important market for most of the Europeans firms giving European a great challenge. Again, it has been found to be a challenge to most of the countries producing manufactured goods that require a lot of labor. Such countries have started to invest directly in China resulting to unemployment in the home countries. On the other hand, China is determined to be among the leading global economic powers, and this will make restore its international pride. This is likely to be a threat than an opportunity to the Europeans. Despite many uncertainties brought about by the neighboring countries, the Chinese still believe that they will realize their great power dream. If the rise of China is taken as the country’s restoration, then China will reject the threat theory by Europeans and refer to it as western prejudice. It still appears that the Chinese are still confident of casting themselves as having responsible, great power (Hauser, p. 66). This is what helps China to be in a position of addressing other continents’ concerns as pertains to its rise. Again, from the European perspective, it is clear that the European countries will only accept the China’s economic growth and its rise so as to avoid seeing it as a threat to their economies. This will change the European perception towards China’s rise in an effort to reap some benefits from this move. This is only possible if the two players are ready to form strong economic ties (Schmitt, p.104). Conclusion The Europeans should see China’s rise as playing a ver y significant role in the world by recovering the economy. Therefore, they should allow China to take some roles in world affairs. This will contribute to a great advancement in science and technology in the world. Therefore, the rise of China can be heralded as having made positive contributions to the world. Although China is causing displacement of production in the European market, the challenge is not great. As has been discussed, there is no doubt that China’s rise has led to loss of job opportunities. This has forced the European economy to adjust to this aspect. Therefore, the rise of China can be viewed with mixed signals. It can be seen as a threat, as well an opportunity. However, the Europeans should take it as an opportunity so as to turn around and reap benefits that can be drawn from this phenomenon. Works Cited Blankert, Jan W. China Rising: Will the West Be Able to Cope: The Real Long-Term Challenge of the Rise of China. Singapore: World Scientific, 2009. Pri nt. Cooney, Kevin and Sato Yoichiro. The rise of China and international security: America and Asia respond. New York: Routeledge pub. 2009. Print. Hauser, Gunther. China: The Rising Power. Frankfurt, M: Lang, 2009. Print. Lardy, Nicholas. The Economic Rise of China: Threat or Opportunity? 2003. Web. Schmitt, Gary J. The Rise of China: Essays on the Future Competition. New York: Encounter Books, 2009. Print. Shi, Wei. Intellectual Property in Global Trading System: Eu-China Perspective. Berlin: Springer Berlin, 2008. Print. Xing, Li. The Rise of China and the Capitalist World Order. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Pub. Co. 2010. Print. This essay on Is the Rise of China a Threat or an Opportunity for Europe? was written and submitted by user Melanie Calderon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Terminator essays

The Terminator essays For the purposes of this essay I have chosen The Terminator, a science fiction B-movie feature from 1984. Although I intend mainly to study this purely as a single film, I do intend to study Terminator 2 in addition, thus making the essay a study of the series. In addition, I will be contrasting the theory written surrounding these films in relation to other contemporary postmodern theory, and as a result will be mentioning several other films by way of a comparison or contrast. The Terminator seems quite remarkable to me, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is one of many action films I watched in my early teens; a considerable number of which, like this film, starred the Austrian body-builder turned actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. What is so different about The Terminator though, is that unlike most of these films, this movie has enough depth and substance that, not only does it still bear watching now that I am older, but it also has an archive of academic theory written about it. The Terminator tells of a cyborg, a human shaped machine coated in flesh, that is sent back in time, from an apocalyptic future in which machines have got smart and acted on their own to destroy the human race. The cyborgs mission is to assassinate the mother of the humans great leader, the man who taught the survivors to fight back against the machines. The woman, a young waitress named Sarah Connor, is protected only by a lone warrior - Kyle Reese - sent back to protect her by her future son, John. Reese is in love with Sarah, a love formulated from a photograph he has of her. A sexual relation with her causes pregnancy that will result in Johns birth, before the pair manage to destroy the terminator, although not before Reese is himself victim to the wrath of the machine. John Connor has then in effect knowingly sent his own father back in time to his death so that he may himself be born. It is worth noting, that t...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Racism in the Air Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Racism in the Air - Essay Example To bring change on a large scale, we not only require leaders who portray and possess quality of good, but also individuals from different cultures and races for a prejudice free society. Minimizing the racial issues government has been playing its role and has worked hard to eliminate the causes of discrimination. But it’s high time for individuals to realize of their responsibility, especially the people from media who have huge impact on the audience by their thoughtless words. Our approach has to learn the right direction to deal with such intriguing matters. Author has tried to show us how people of different cultures and sects can leave significant mark on others due to their reactive and proactive approach.In this article there are two personalities with biracial identities. Barack Obama and Hella Berry, though they have been pronounced black but they both have traces of two races. There’s an urgent need to understand the multiracial background they are coming fr om and personal experiences. In the intergroup relationship with other social categories and the class becomes evident. Though interracial marriages are common since 1967 they are commonly accepted and frequently occurred. Multiracial backgrounds represent minority group in USA.   People who have biracial identities understand the racial discrimination with better understanding.The author points out in the article that how people of the same culture outcast the   biracial personalities thus keeping a low regard for other races and culture.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Pros and cons of globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Pros and cons of globalization - Essay Example The decentralization of economies and goods allowed trade, commerce and services to be transferred to other countries, regardless of distance. Globalization is not only confined to economic sectors, but it has also given rise to the adaptation of social, political and administrative aspects of other countries (Maharjan, 2006). For example the integration of EU made the region competitive by following the common EU foreign policy. EU remains an example where balance is maintained by social solidarity, allowing freedom of movement and establishment across different states (Steinmeier, 2006). The anti-globlist view globalization as a negative phenomenon that has is making rich more richer and poor more poorer. They argue that globolisation has increased poverty and diluted responsibility to the capital owners, slashed down the jobs and increased threats to resources in poor countries with no solution in place. While others mention that positive impact of globalization has removed barriers across the states, accelerating the growth of reforms and allowed greater information access to all parts of the world. (Kennedy, 2001). Globalization has pros and cons and has different interpretations in different continents, which will be discussed further in this essay. The arriv Benefits of Globalization The arrival of global market has allowed the aspiration of big players to expand their niche and derive maximum profit in the global market made possible through geo-economic expansion. Globalization guarantees this sustainable competitiveness through a steady leadership of technological networks, generating added value and production facilities with unlimited human capability. It contributes more to the global development producing greater scientific and technological resources. Even the countries that do not have such vast resources still play essential role in over all global development (Nikolayev, 2004). One of the most important roles of globalization is its economic role in international trade and economy. According to Visto (2002) globalization is competition and reorganization, attracting countries that were in need of investment and such investment improved their economic condition. One such example is Mauritius, where per head income has increased from $500 to 1600 due to foreign investment. The foreign direct investment involves a long reflects a lasting interest in the host country. It implies that the investors have enormous control in another country's economy due to its own interest, which ultimately leads to economic development. Thus any increase in FDI flow is directly associated with increase in GDP. FDI is undertaken by large and technologically advanced firm, which accelerate the speed of economic pace on one sided and also helps in transfer of technology in the host country with heavy return for the firms and provides more jobs in the countries where jobs are scarce. For example when Toyota setup car plants in countries outside Japan, it requires higher level of standard to maintain the quality of it products, which means training the local workers. Thus if Toyota gets the competitive advantage, the host countries gets the skills and jobs. The recent joint ventures of China with Japanese companies are also such move by the Chinese entrepreneurs to get skill directly

Monday, November 18, 2019

Text Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Text - Essay Example Four Stages of Development There are four stages involved in the development of tourism. They four stages of development majorly rely on advocacy, cautionary, adaptancy and knowledge. The four stages focus around the basis of changes that has occurred and are still occurring in the filed of tourism and the education of tourism as a subject. The stages were closely related as elements of each stage were found in the other stages thus their core role was to build on the principles found within each other (Airey, 2008). The Industrial stage This stage took place between the 1960s and 1970s. The stage was known to be professional but the knowledge which was possessed regarding the field was limited. This was because they did not have sufficient evidences to support the different educational theories that scholars were coming with. The stage was aimed at addressing the various issues that were being experienced in the tourism field as scholars had discovered that it was highly needed in t he development of the economy and also reserve different animal and plant species that were in the verge of being extinct. The stage also empowered students with the knowledge needed towards the development of their career and also equipped individuals tasked with the mandate of taking of the different tourism sectors with skills and expertise needed to carry out their task efficiently. Moreover, the stage also concentrated in providing information that was needed in the development of the different tourism programmes that would be offered by the scholars at different levels for individuals who were interested in pursuing the field as a career (Airey, 2008). The fragmented stage The stage was between 1980s and 1990s and it widely focused in harmonizing the curriculum that had been created in the industrial stage with the industry and learner needs which were growing rapidly during the century. It was majorly influenced by the development of new knowledge in the industry therefore cr eating a need to incorporate new programmes and information into the curriculum. Before its introduction, there were conflicts between the liberals of the subject and those who favored wanted a liberal approach in the tourism sector. Therefore, the need to create a new curriculum that would address and harmonize the issues of all the major players in the industry arose and was addressed by the fragmented stage (Airey, 2008). The Benchmark Stage According to Airey 2008, this was a stage where all the issues highlighted by the fragmented stage were addressed after consultations with the different key players and scholars in the industry. The new curriculum was approved by the quality assurance agency for higher education. However, despite the credibility of the new statement being proven, there were still questions regarding tourism as a course by different critics in the industry. The stage addressed various issues affecting the industry and offered various solutions that could be us ed in addressing the issues. Key among them was the ethical issue in tourism which advocated for a sustainable tourism in all major corners of the globe. In addition, business and management was introduced and stressed upon in the field during the stage as the filed was widely being accepted and incorporated into the systems by nations around the world thus there arose a need to manage the industry effectively. The Mature Stage It was a

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Relationship Between Management And Leadership Management Essay

Relationship Between Management And Leadership Management Essay 1.1: Explain the relationship between management and leadership. Management and leadership, these two terms are often used interchangeably; management is more usually viewed as getting things done through other people in order to achieve organizational goals. The managers may react to specific situations and more concerned with short term problem solving. Management is regarded as related to people working in a structured organization and with prescribed roles. The emphasis of leadership is on interpersonal behaviour in a broader sense. Belbin (1997, p 98) suggests that, there is a clear implication that leadership is not part of the job but quality that can be brought to a job à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The work that leadership encompasses in the context clearly is not assigned but comes about spontaneously. Leadership is one of the many assets of a successful manager which they must have. A leader can be a manager but it is not necessary that a manager must be a leader. The most important aim of a manager is to maximize the organizational output through managerial performance. But leader always seeks new possibilities and understand new possibilities in organization. Most of the workgroups are more loyal to leaders than managers. According to John P. Kotter (1999, p 67), All the managers must know that how to lead as well as manage. Because in this era, organizations may face the threat of loss if their managers do not know how to lead as well as manage. Organizations hire managers and give formal authority to manage people and other activities to fulfil organizational goals. Employees gladly follow the leaders because they want to, not because they have to. Leaders may not have the power to give rewards to the people. However, employees give power to the leaders by fulfilling what they want. On the other hand, managers may rely on formal authority to get employees to complete goals. Management, by its very nature, is challenging, precise, detailed and involves specific and usually, timed, actions.   Leadership, on the other hand,  requires a much broader sense and involves aligning, goal-setting, vision-sharing, inspiration and an inherent lack of any time criticality.  Good management includes aspects of good leadership and good leadership includes aspects of good management.   A leader devoid of management skill and a manager lacking any leadership capability will  each fail.  From my point of view, management is a science and can be learned. Leadership, however, is an art. While some  of the  capabilities necessary to being a great leader can be acquired over time, much of what makes  terrific  leaders great is inborn or, at the very least, was learned much earlier in life.   A successful organisation  cannot exist without both strong leadership and great management.   Over time, an organization will need to expand its team of managers to keep up with  its increasing number of deliverables.   The leadership team, however, will grow at a much slower rate or, perhaps, not at all.   Too many leaders, like too many chefs, will really foul things up. Despite a continuing debate on differences between management and leadership, there is a close relationship between them and it is not easy to separate them as distinct activities. 1.2: Analyse how management and leadership style impacts on the achievement of the objectives of your chosen organisation. Leadership in Nokia As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia Group, Jorma Ollila has very high educational background, he earned a masters degree in political science from the University of Helsinki, a masters degree in economics from the London School of Economics and a masters degree in science from the Helsinki University of Technology. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in political science from the University of Helsinki, and in 1998, an honorary doctorate degree in technology from the Helsinki University of Technology. As a worldwide successful leader, he is an expert in the information and communications technology industry, he has plenty experience in this area. He does not only serve for Nokia, he also serves on the boards of Ford Motor Company, Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd and UPM-Kymmene Corporation. Besides these, he is also a member of several professional organizations in the information and communications technology industry. Jorma has earned the worldwide respect. He is an Honorary Citizen of Beijing, China, and holds the Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany; the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic; and the Officers Cross, Order of White Star, Estonia. He is Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau and Commander, 1st Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland. Jorma has led Nokias reinvent as a company that sets the benchmark for mobile communications. As CEO he presented an ambitious strategy that successfully restructured the former industrial conglomerate and accelerated its growth into one of the most successful companies in both the mobile phone and telecommunications infrastructure markets. Under his leadership, Nokia has achieved global market leadership and is listed on six major exchanges. Jorma has his distinctive leadership; he concerns both employees and employees tasks. He provides equal opportunities and openness towards people and peoples new ideas are also key elements he wants to nourish. Employees are encouraged to be responsible for their own development and to take advantage of the various development opportunities available He encourages his employees to open discussion and debate, We listen to the views of our employees and act on them when designing our people policies and practices Jorma said. He also set up the investing-in-people program (IIP), which is a coaching and training program for the employees; such programs are very much focus on develop the managers. He provides the flexible working time to the employees; depending on the local market conditions, employees may take advantage of flexi time including flexible working hours and part-time working. Furthermore, Nokia has very good welfare service for the employees, and very good working environme nt. Moreover, he was also concerned about employees tasks. The concept of Nokia value is a guideline for the employees, wherever they are in the world. In order to encourage employees to working hard on the tasks, Nokia has Bonus system, which based on the employees working result. By applying the 360-Degree Feedback analysis, we can see that Jorma is a successful charming leader, who has achieved a high level of self-knowledge. He has the ability to motivate his employees, and very persistence on his career. He owns plenty leaderships, he know is business very well, and set clear performance to the employees. Besides, he is respected in the worldwide. Task 2: Understand management and leadership skills 2.1: Explain the personal and professional skills required for effective management of your chosen organisation. Leadership Requirements / Needs/ Skills: Leadership, as defined by most dictionaries, means to go before, or with, to show the way; to induce. Every organization needs a leader (and preferably several leaders) to show the way to others as the organization strives to define and achieve its goals. Whether these goals are entrepreneurial or humanitarian or both the leaders work is to instill a sense of purpose and passion to the work that the organization undertakes. Identifying, developing and sustaining leadership within the organization must be one of its strategic objectives. Without leaders at every level of organization, the organization may well under-perform. It may miss strategic opportunities, stifle innovation, underutilize its employees, and fall short of its goals in customer service, quality, productivity, and profitability. Russell Consulting, Inc. can guide an organization in identifying and developing its leaders. Organizations also help to develop the key competencies that will help develop and sustain leadership, but also sustain your companys long-term success. Leadership at every level makes all of the difference as to whether the company will be around for the long haul. Companies should invest in leadership today to sustain their success for tomorrow and beyond. The Proposed Competencies of Leadership to be develepoed at RCI: RCI has been developing leaders in its client organizations since 1987. It has designed and developed leadership programs that help define an ambitious role for leaders at every level and then build the competencies to fulfill this role. Some of the competencies that RCI has defined as core to the role of leaders include: Strategic Thinking Coaching Problem Solving Decision Making Systems Thinking Delegation Performance Management and Accountability Inspiring a Shared Vision Managing Conflict Building and Sustaining Teamwork Leading Change Quality and Productivity Improvement Servant Leadership Emotional Intelligence Innovation and Creativity Customer Service Employee Development Develop Trust Dealing with Ambiguity 360 degree feedback leadership style Transformational Leadership style Participative Leadership Participative Leadership Skills required by a manager: A perfect manager is a boon for any company. A good manager needs to have a strong knowledge about the functioning of a company. There are few who are born with natural skills where as there are some who need to work their way towards it. So, what are the skills needed to be a good manager? Which are the qualities he/she needs to have in order to ensure a smooth sailing at work? Well, lets look at what makes a good manager and all about corporate leadership. What are the Skills needed to be a Good Manager? A good manager should have all the basic leadership skills. There are various ways in which a person can handle different situations through various leadership roles. A good leader should be able to guide his/her teammates to be able to perform well. Leadership does not mean dominating people. One of the most important skills of a good manager is the knowledge of effective time management. A person who manages to plan the schedule and divide time equally between tasks can be an asset for the organization. A good manager should also have a visionary sight for the benefits of the company. He/she should plan the future steps for the growth of the company. For a team to perform well, a good manager should be able to motivate the team for their tasks. He/she should encourage talents. In case of people with low performances, he/she should tackle the situation with professionalism to reach a positive conclusion. Even in a crisis situation, a person with good managerial skills should be able to perform well. He/she should be mentally tough to handle any kind of situations. He/she should also be responsible enough to maintain a good office atmosphere. A manager should be sensitive towards others in the workplace. A happy atmosphere would only lead to more productivity for the company. With these skills, a person can definitely strive to be a good manager and thus be an asset for any organization! 2.2: Compare any four (4) skills and attributes of three (3) successful leaders you know. LEADERSHIP OF JORMA OLLILA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia Group, Jorma Ollila has very high educational background expert in the information and communications technology industry, he has plenty experience in this area Jorma has his distinctive leadership; he concerns both employees and employees tasks. He provides equal opportunities and openness towards people and peoples new ideas are also key elements he wants to nourish. We listen to the views of our employees and act on them when designing our people policies and practices Jorma said. He provides the flexible working time to the employees; depending on the local market conditions, employees may take advantage of flexi time including flexible working hours and part-time working. he was also concerned about employees tasks. LEADERSHIP OF REYMIN ZHANG His leadership is more task-orientated He set up a very clear and straightforward goal for his employees, and renews the companys regulations In order to achieve companys goal to build up the international brand, he divided the tasks to each department in a very specific way. He attaches importance to the employees recruitment, he recruits thousand of new blood every year, additionally, he have very close contact with the well known universities, 15% of his employees were signed contract with Hair when in the last year in the university. 2.3: Assess the expected impact of your own leadership styles on your work How Leadership Can Affect Change In An Organization: The leadership of an organization provides the direction and guidance for the future and can create an environment for growth or destruction dependent on the leadership style and technique that is utilized.    It is inevitable that there will be changes in an organization, whether it is related to downsizing, economic issues or location changes; these are just a few of the current changes that are being dealt with nation-wide.    The leadership of an organization sets the tone and process for others to follow during change.    Decisions that are made and the actions of the leadership mandate what the future holds for an organizations employees. Leaders have different traits that are inherent in their management techniques, those traits can be magnified during change and can help or hinder their leadership opportunities.    During organizational change, goals are set and a leader must possess the aptitude to help employees reach those goals.    A study by R.M. Stogdill discovered that the conception of a leader was someone who acquired status by showing the ability helps a group attain its goals (Yukl, 10.2.1, 2010).    Related to that study, it was noted that relevant traits included intelligence, alertness to the needs of others, understanding of the task, initiative and persistence in dealing with problems, self-confidence, and desire to accept responsibility and occupy a position of dominance and control in leaders (Yukl, 10.2.1, 2010).    Not all traits are universal, as noted by the study by Stogdill (Yukl, 2010), but the relevant traits appear to be found in many leaders.    Self-confidence is a powerful tra it for a leader to possess, but excessive self-confidence can make a leader overly optimistic about the likely success of a risky venture, and it may result in rash decisions and denial of evidence that a plan is flawed. A small company had been acquired by a larger firm. With this, the current leader had been let go and a new leader was appointed to take charge. Anticipate and Prepare-Being acquired by a larger firm may bring more awareness to a company or provide better benefits, but several cons may get in the way at first. During a transition period, many employees are sometimes left without a job, or have decided to move on to other things in the wake of unsatisfied changes. It was no different when a well-liked president of the company was phased out due to financial setbacks. The firm took a lengthy process to make a move until finally appointing an internal employee to serve as the interim president. Left with a lot of the dirty work, the new leader immediately went to work and restored and initiated productivity with his employees. His biggest attribute was that he was prepared for this new role before he was even appointed as the new president. His natural work ethic had already groomed him for charismatic leadership and when the opportunity for advancement came, he wasted no time in taking charge and continuing the work. Likewise, a strategic leader will be able to pick up the pieces and restore work productivity regardless of a drastic change. Being the cheerleader and still an enforcer, Teams leaders are versatile figures held accountable for their employees work performance. Get positioned for the future- A team leaders major objective is to keep worker performance at a high and encourage improving results that would ultimately lead to a brighter outlook and future. Preparing employees now enables them to do such. Team Leaders have a weekly, monthly or even yearly report to give so their main motivation would be to constantly focus on the progress and performance of their individuals. In order to maintain and continue a future of positive results, an effective team leader will use strategic planning in his/her strategic management. Mentally, he/she will find ways to encourage employees to perform high to obtain team incentives, but will also encourage strategic planning at the individual level. Training employees to strategically plan in their prospective territories will alleviate the leader with multiple responsibilities and generate a more productive outcome in the work area. With a focus on the individual employee, a team leader will have the power t o influence his/her employees to control their progress and look towards a better outcome. One department is flourishing with work productivity, while one department is far behind. Focus on the right energies- In a business world where deadlines are demanding and profits are important, companies and their leaders will hold work productivity as a high priority. A strategic leader will observe less than optimum circumstance and move quickly to create beneficial change. Saving time by focusing only on the right energies will help a company profit. For example, an employee serves in two departments, splitting duties between each. It is evident that his/her skills are stronger in research and development rather than in the sales department. A strategic leader may see more value in changing this employees role to work in this stronger area of expertise. At the same time, a strategic leader will realize that this employee may be able to provide unique insight across both functions that others can not. Strategic leaders will observe these situations quickly and waste no time in shifting employees to areas where both the individual and organizations can benefit the most . These glimpses give you some helpful scenarios of how strategic leadership can be applied in your work environment. Should you have any future problems with work productivity, profits or even issues with your employees, address those concerns with some professional guidance and youll discover how an investment in your team will result is bottom line results. Task 3: Be able to apply theory in an organisational context 3.1: Select four (4) appropriate theories of management and leadership to identify leadership requirements in given situations in your chosen organisation 1. Trait Theories: Similar in some ways to Great Man theories, trait theories assume that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Trait theories often identify particular personality or behavioral characteristics shared by leaders. If particular traits are key features of leadership, then how do we explain people who possess those qualities but are not leaders? This question is one of the difficulties in using trait theories to explain leadership. 2. Contingency Theories: Contingency theories of leadership focus on particular variables related to the environment that might determine which particular style of leadership is best suited for the situation. According to this theory, no leadership style is best in all situations. Success depends upon a number of variables, including the leadership style, qualities of the followers and aspects of the situation. 3. Situational Theories: Situational theories propose that leaders choose the best course of action based upon situational variables. Different styles of leadership may be more appropriate for certain types of decision-making. 4. Behavioral Theories: Behavioural theories of leadership are based upon the belief that great leaders are made, not born. Rooted in behaviourism, this leadership theory focuses on the actions of leaders not on mental qualities or internal states. According to this theory, people can learn to become leaders through teaching and observation. 5. Participative Theories: Participative leadership theories suggest that the ideal leadership style is one that takes the input of others into account. These leaders encourage participation and contributions from group members and help group members feel more relevant and committed to the decision-making process. In participative theories, however, the leader retains the right to allow the input of others. The Advantages of Emerging Leadership Theories During the first half of the 20th century, leadership theories focused on traits and skills that were inherent in leaders and assumed that leaders were born, not made. Around 1960, new theories of leadership were developed that considered the impact of followers and tasks on leader effectiveness. These emerging styles, also called modern or current styles, include contingency models, situational and transformational leadership. Predictability Flexibility with Precision Lasting Motivation with Better Results The Advantages of Participative Leadership Theories Participative leadership theories encourage participation from employees on the decision-making process with organizational management. Sometimes the democratic style of leadership allows the employees to give suggestions on how a corporation operates and on decisions that facilitate change. Advantages of the participative theories include better employer and employee relationships, the discovery of future leaders, motivation, team spirit and employee productivity. Team Spirit Employee Productivity Motivation Employer/Employee Relationships Future Leadership Discovery 4.2: Plan the development of management and leadership skills for a given job role in your chosen organization. 4.3 Make justified evaluations of the management and leadership development methods selected in 4.2 above Plan the development of management and leadership skills and evaluation of these skills Strategic leadership is a self-explanatory term, and even when separated, still provides a meaningful definition. A definition of strategic leadership can be summed up as the ability to anticipate, prepare, and get positioned for the future. In past experience, company has been able to pinpoint specific examples of colleagues who have exemplified strategic leadership in their professions. Here are some examples of how strategic leadership is essential to a work environment. A small company had been acquired by a larger firm. With this, the current leader had been let go and a new leader was appointed to take charge. Anticipate and Prepare-Being acquired by a larger firm may bring more awareness to a company or provide better benefits, but several cons may get in the way at first. During a transition period, many employees are sometimes left without a job, or have decided to move on to other things in the wake of unsatisfied changes. It was no different when a well-liked president of the company was phased out due to financial setbacks. The firm took a lengthy process to make a move until finally appointing an internal employee to serve as the interim president. Left with a lot of the dirty work, the new leader immediately went to work and restored and initiated productivity with his employees. His biggest attribute was that he was prepared for this new role before he was even appointed as the new president. His natural work ethic had already groomed him for charismatic leadership and when the opportunity for advancement came, he wasted no time in taking charge and continuing the work. Likewise, a strategic leader will be able to pick up the pieces and restore work productivity regardless of a drastic change. Being the cheerleader and still an enforcer, Teams leaders are versatile figures held accountable for their employees work performance. Get positioned for the future- A team leaders major objective is to keep worker performance at a high and encourage improving results that would ultimately lead to a brighter outlook and future. Preparing employees now enables them to do such. Team Leaders have a weekly, monthly or even yearly report to give so their main motivation would be to constantly focus on the progress and performance of their individuals. In order to maintain and continue a future of positive results, an effective team leader will use strategic planning in his/her strategic management. Mentally, he/she will find ways to encourage employees to perform high to obtain team incentives, but will also encourage strategic planning at the individual level. Training employees to strategically plan in their prospective territories will alleviate the leader with multiple responsibilities and generate a more productive outcome in the work area. With a focus on the individual employee, a team leader will have the power t o influence his/her employees to control their progress and look towards a better outcome. One department is flourishing with work productivity, while one department is far behind. Focus on the right energies- In a business world where deadlines are demanding and profits are important, companies and their leaders will hold work productivity as a high priority. A strategic leader will observe less than optimum circumstance and move quickly to create beneficial change. Saving time by focusing only on the right energies will help a company profit. For example, an employee serves in two departments, splitting duties between each. It is evident that his/her skills are stronger in research and development rather than in the sales department. A strategic leader may see more value in changing this employees role to work in this stronger area of expertise. At the same time, a strategic leader will realize that this employee may be able to provide unique insight across both functions that others can not. Strategic leaders will observe these situations quickly and waste no time in shifting employees to areas where both the individual and organizations can benefit the most . These glimpses give you some helpful scenarios of how strategic leadership can be applied in your work environment. Should you have any future problems with work productivity, profits or even issues with your employees, address those concerns with some professional guidance and youll discover how an investment in your team will result is bottom line results. How Leadership Can Affect Change In An Organization: How Leadership Can Affect Change in an Organization The leadership of an organization provides the direction and guidance for the future and can create an environment for growth or destruction dependent on the leadership style and technique that is utilized.    It is inevitable that there will be changes in an organization, whether it is related to downsizing, economic issues or location changes; these are just a few of the current changes that are being dealt with nation-wide.    The leadership of an organization sets the tone and process for others to follow during change.    Decisions that are made and the actions of the leadership mandate what the future holds for an organizations employees. Leaders have different traits that are inherent in their management techniques, those traits can be magnified during change and can help or hinder their leadership opportunities.    During organizational change, goals are set and a leader must possess the aptitude to help employees reach those goals.    A study by R.M. Stogdill discovered that the conception of a leader was someone who acquired status by showing the ability helps a group attain its goals (Yukl, 10.2.1, 2010).    Related to that study, it was noted that relevant traits included intelligence, alertness to the needs of others, understanding of the task, initiative and persistence in dealing with problems, self-confidence, and desire to accept responsibility and occupy a position of dominance and control in leaders (Yukl, 10.2.1, 2010).    Not all traits are universal, as noted by the study by Stogdill (Yukl, 2010), but the relevant traits appear to be found in many leaders.    Self-confidence is a powerful tra it for a leader to possess, but excessive self-confidence can make a leader overly optimistic about the likely success of a risky venture, and it may result in rash decisions and denial of evidence that a plan is flawed. CONCLUSION   In conclusion, The process of accessing a persons leadership ability is a complex and often a difficult task; different leaders has different leadership style, there are many factors influence them on their leadership, such as the personal characteristics, the situation they have involved, and also the people need to manage, etc. Jorma have a very people-oriented style of leadership, he concern about his subordinate; conversely, Reymin is a more product-oriented leader, he paid big attention on the employees task more them employee themselves. There many leadership models can be adopted to analyze those two leader, but there are three most suitable models have been adopted, whatever the models have been used, it is all exactly reflect Jorma and Reymins personal leadership style.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

A discussion of the theory that class-based differences in educational

A discussion of the theory that class-based differences in educational achievement are mainly due to familial factors. Throughout the twentieth century, there have been many changes made to the structure of the education system. These include the 1944 Education act which made secondary education compulsory and introduced the tri-partite system of school, though the move to a comprehensive system of schools in the 1960’s, to the introduction of the National Curriculum in 1988. While official statistics have shown that all these measures have served to increase the overall levels of educational attainment (as defined by attainment of qualifications), both official and sociological evidence indicated that class-based inequalities in educational attainment have shown no tendency to decline. It has been suggested that class base differences in educational success are due to home and familial factors: that children from lower social backgrounds are more likely to fail because of what they experience inside the home environment. This approach is based on the belief that those from different social classes have significantly differing home lives. It is possible to split home and family based factors into two categories: material factors and cultural factors. As educational success generally rises with family income, many researches see material deprivation as the major cause of inequality in educational success. Hasley, Heath and Ridge examined the education careers of males, and found that those from higher social backgrounds were much more likely to stay in education past the minimum leaving age than those from working class backgrounds. They pointed out that a major reason for this was the cost of stayin... .... Similarly, Bernstein’s theory of language codes, although regarded as a structuralist explanation of education failure, owes much to primary socialization within the family. It may therefore be argued that family factors are the root cause of other explanation of failure. Finally, it has been suggested that class-based differenced in education attainment are purely to do with the genetic distribution of IQ and therefore family factors (and any other social factors) are irrelevant. In conclusion, there are many different explanations of class-based differences in educational success. However, they are not necessarily isolated, and the factors identified on one theory may be a cause of the factors outlined in another. The reasons for class-based differences may therefore be very complex, and not able to be explained by a single factor in isolation.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Ban Fire Crackers

Diwali is celebrated with great vigour all across the nation. Bursting firecrackers is a tradition on Diwali. Diwali is also known as Deepavali in India. Firecrackers! Just the term creates joy and excitement in one’s mind. The heart flutters with thrill and enthusiasm developed by the sight those colorful showers and sparkles from the fireworks in the sky. But is it all about fun? Have you ever wondered how many harmful effects and disadvantages do these fireworks create for the environment?. It is yours, theirs and everyone’s duty to take care of the environment, fellow humans and other living beings. You may wonder why and how.You may be having a great time celebrating and enjoying, bursting those boisterous fireworks. But it need not be the same for the others around you! What about your neighbors? Your neighbor could be sick, or many may have an important appointment the next day. He/she could also be having a test or an exam the next morning and they may need some rest. Burning firecrackers late at night at odd hours disturbs everyone living in that community and disturb their sleep and make them less concentrated in their next day.Firecrackers produce very high level of sound and the vibrations can travel over a long distance. These are sometimes over 140 decibels! A human ear can bear a maximum of 85 decibels. Sounds above this limit create disability in hearing and causes permanent damage to the ears. Firecrackers when burnt release a large amount of very tiny toxic particles that can easily enter our lungs and damage the respiratory system. The smoke from firecrackers contain sulfur compounds, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals and harmful fumes of gases such as sulfur dioxide, ozone etc,. People with asthma, multiple chemical sensitivity and other breathing problems suffer largely due to the toxic emissions from these fireworks.Crackers are unnoticeably affecting all of us. We should understand what it’s doing & how itâ€℠¢ll threaten our very existence in future. Governments should take it very seriously & should:†¢ban the production of crackers †¢enforce laws on its production, sales, use, & advertisement †¢popularize the idea of not using crackers among publicThere’re a lot of causes of global warming & pollution. All the other sources are important for our living despite their ill effects. But cracker is absolutely nothing more than garbage. Be smart, be civilized, use your knowledge, don’t worry about what others think, don’t care about society, & DON’T USE CRACKER.Let each one of us take a pledge this Diwali to say NO to firecrackers and invest in a safer and greener future. Diwali is the festival of lights and we must enlighten our lives with the sparkle of joy and goodwill, forget past grievances and look ahead towards a brighter and happier future.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

How to Answer Awkward Questions from Your Family on Thanksgiving

How to Answer Awkward Questions from Your Family on Thanksgiving At last! That much needed Thanksgiving vacation is just around the corner. This means your moms home-cooked meals, seeing all your family and †¦ answering those annoying questions your relatives love to ask. Dont be surprised that your family will ask highly personal questions about your relationship, college life and future plans. â€Å"When are you getting married?† â€Å"How are your grades?† â€Å"How is the weight loss going?† And thats just the beginning Your grandparents, aunts and uncles will ask about sensitive topics and you should be prepared to answer politely, in a humorous or even a bit sarcastic way. After all, this is a holiday and you dont want to fight with your family. Here is some advice on how to cope with awkward questions youre going to face. 1. Are You Dating Anyone? Almost everyone around the table will want to hear the answer. Your relatives are worried that you might be lonely, they think that it is not OK if a young person like you isnt in a relationship. Remember, you shouldn’t be embarrassed either youre single or just dont want to tell your family about a new boyfriend/girlfriend to avoid further questioning. Answer #1: â€Å"Im focused on my classes and getting a great job after graduation, so I dont have time for dating.† This diplomatic response will persuade your family that you are serious about your education. Answer #2: â€Å"Im dating several people right now, just cant decide who I like more.† Some humor will defuse a situation. 2. When Will You Start a Family? Marriage? Kids? If this is not in your upcoming plans, better prepare a nice answer. Your parents look forward to organizing â€Å"a wedding of the year† and having grandchildren in the near future. Try not to upset them. Answer #1: â€Å"Im not sure that Im ready to take on a responsibility of having a family.† It may lead to a lecture about how a great person you are and that you can cope with all the duties. Answer #2: â€Å"Family? Are you kidding me? Im a child myself.† It may cause some shock, but your relatives wont ask about your personal life anymore. Answer #3: â€Å"We are thinking about it right now. Ill tell you more details later.† This answer will give some hope to your family, and probably they wont ask about it till the next Thanksgiving. 3. What Do You Plan to Do After Graduation? It is absolutely normal if you havent decided what you are going to do after college, and it is not necessary to tell your family about that. However, if you want to hear a piece of advice, just ask. No doubt, your relatives want to teach you how to live. Answer #1: â€Å"Im going to †¦ (tell about your real plans).† Answer #2: â€Å"Im considering a few options: volunteer in a Buddhist Monastery in Nepal, catch fish in Alaska or (insert other crazy options). Which one do you like better?† 4. When Can We Come Visit You? Never! Never! Never! Surely, you dont want your parents to talk your my roommates or listen to what you should change in your apartments. Answer #1: â€Å"Let me think about it. I have a very busy schedule. Ill tell you when I have some free time.† And then you can always tell your parents how busy you are at college. Answer #2: â€Å"Visit me? Why? No, Ill come home more often.† 5. Why Dont You Eat Meat? Oh, again Because Im a vegetarian!.. Even if youve told your family that you dont eat meat for a hundred times, someone will ask you why youre refusing from that delicious turkey. Answer #1: â€Å"It is a personal choice and I hope that you can understand and support it.† It sounds like the answer of a grown-up, so your parents may be proud of you. Answer #2: â€Å"I dont eat tortured animals. Oh, let me show you one video and I suppose you also wont eat meat.† But be careful, your relatives might hate you after that. Meeting with relatives is fun until they start asking those awkward questions. However, with most families, it is inevitable. Just be prepared to hear these annoying questions and add some humor to your answers – it always saves the situation!

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

À Peu Près - French Expression

Peu Prà ¨s - French Expression The French expression peu prà ¨s (pronounced  [ ah peu preh])indicates that whatever phrase it precedes or follows is a rough guess or estimate. It literally means at little near and is used to mean  about, around, approximately, pretty much or more or less. When used with numbers and amounts, peu prà ¨s is synonymous with environ and plus ou moins. It has a normal  register.   Examples and Usage Jai peu prà ¨s 10â‚ ¬ / Jai 10â‚ ¬, peu prà ¨s.I have about 10â‚ ¬. Il pà ¨se peu prà ¨s 20 kilos / Il pà ¨se 20 kilos, peu prà ¨s.It weighs about 20 kilos. Tu as peu prà ¨s son à ¢ge / Tu as son à ¢ge, peu prà ¨s.Youre about the same age as he is. peu prà ¨s is used with adjectives, nouns, pronouns, and clauses to describe something or someone as approximately, more or less ___. Here, peu prà ¨s is synonymous with presque and plus ou moins. Les rà ©sultats sont peu prà ¨s normaux.The results are fairly / more or less normal. Je suis peu prà ¨s certain.Im fairly / almost certain. Ils sont peu prà ¨s les mà ªmes.Theyre about / almost the same. Cest peu prà ¨s tout.Thats about / pretty much all. Je vois peu prà ¨s ce quil veut dire. I kind of / pretty much / more or less see what he means. The invariable compound noun -peu-prà ¨s refers to a vague approximation. For example: rester dans l-peu-prà ¨sto be very vague, to stick to vague approximations à ©viter les -peu-prà ¨sto avoid approximations Theres also  an   peu  prà ¨s  gesture   and an   informal synonym, au  pif.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Darwinian Fundamentalism Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Darwinian Fundamentalism - Term Paper Example However, this was not the crux of the battle that ensued between scientists and the church. Christians have traditionally believed that the origin of life traces back to the creation of Earth along with all the life forms by God, roughly 6000 years ago. Meanwhile, the scientists argue that the origin of life can be dated to millions of years ago, when life began to evolve by the process of natural selection. Besides the age of life-forms on earth, the most important clash between the two groups have been over the fact that according to the theory of evolution, life originated from completely inorganic sources, so to speak, from some complex chemical reaction of sorts, millions of years ago. In the course of this paper, I would like to examine the fundamental principles of both the sides also look into a rather interesting battle that has arisen amongst the scientists themselves. This concerns a Harvard Professor’s criticism certain supporters of the theory of evolution and his attempt to bring religion and science into coexsitance. Creationism ‘Creationism’ can be described in the simplest words as, a Doctrine or Theory holding that matter, the various forms of life and the world were created by god out of nothing, in the manner mentioned in the Genesis.1 The theory also stresses upon the centrality of God as the controller of everything. It describes God as omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. This is by far one of the few concurring ideas across different faiths which have represented God and his identity in different forms. They all subscribe to the belief that God has power over everything. They view him as the ‘Supreme Power’ who is both the creator and destroyer. According to the King James Bible, the Genesis, God created heaven and earth in the beginning, in a period of six days. Day 1: God said â€Å"let there be light†, and there was light. Day 2: God sad, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together u nto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Day 3: And God said, let the earth bring forth grass and the fruit tree yield fruit. Day 4: And God created great every living creature. Day 5: And God said, Go forth and multiply each living creature after his kind: and it was so. Day 6: And God said, Let us make man in our image and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and every other thing that moved on earth. Creationists also stress on the divine nature of the Genesis and therefore place it on higher merit than Science. Some Creationists have gone to the extent of denouncing all forms of science and blatantly disregard all scientific evidences. The primary reason behind this strong dichotomy is the fact that Science in itself questions the existence of god for want of evidence and proof. Therefore, in most circumstances, there is a logical deduction that science and atheism are on the same page, so to speak. Creationists strongly back faith over the reasons given by science, stating that if it is in the bible then it must be true. This strong belief system has over time ‘evolved’ into a cult of sorts, which has adapted with the changing arguments of the evolutionists. For instance, by 1920, some of the creationists had managed to ban the teaching of Darwinism in schools, which gave rise to the famous ‘

Saturday, November 2, 2019

A High School Teacher Proffesion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

A High School Teacher Proffesion - Essay Example Basically, a high school teacher works school hours (commonly spanning from 8 am to 5 pm) which varies depending on the school regulations or state laws. However, some high school teachers can, at their own leisure, work in the evenings, or weekends, to grade (mark) papers and prepare lessons (Maloy and Irving, 24). Most high school teachers do not, however, teach during summer, on public holidays and when schools close on April, August, and December. Judging from the nature of work of a high school teacher, and the amount of free time in a year compared to other demanding, all year round professions such as those of doctors, I think their median annual wage of USD 55,050 is fair. However, there is still room for improvement on this figure and more motivation because teachers are responsible for the important task of shaping the destiny of a nation by modeling students into better citizens, relatives, friends, leaders and employees/ employers (professionals) in all fields (Maloy and Irving, 43). High school teaching can come with its own fair share of challenges and stress. Teachers can often be at the end of unfair criticism from both their superiors, supervisors and students’ parents because of the students’ poor performances while they could have actually tried their best, or while the problem lies elsewhere (either in the school, at home or in the communities in which the students live). Moreover, teachers have too high school teachers have to accept that they will occasionally encounter utter disrespect and lack of motivation from students. Furthermore, high school teachers can find work difficult in schools with very large classes and an absence of critical learning/ teaching tools such as updated textbooks and computers (Haugen, 78).   Â