Aids and Society Essay Example For Students

Aids and Society Essay The number of newborns infected by vertical transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus is increasing as the prevalence of HIV-positive women increase within the United States. It is estimated that while seven thousand HIV-positive women become pregnant each year, between one thousand and two thousand of their newborns will be HIV-positive. This research paper will concentrate on the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus from mother to child, the benefits of drugs intervention, and whether or not the HIV-screening process of pregnant women should remain voluntary or become mandatory. The HIV-virus has proven that it is not a disease to be taken lightly or ignored. I chose this topic because I want to be informed about the virus and its rate of vertical transmission so that I will be able to inform others about such ethical topics: Does the baby have rights and should a pregnant women be denied her right to privacy with respect to HIV?Data shows that AIDS is now increasing faster among females than males, with women accounting for seven percent of cases in 1985 and nineteen percent in 1995. The incidences of HIV-positive heterosexual women have risen dramatically over the past decade, and AIDS is now the third leading cause of death among women ages twenty-five to forty-four. The one thing that all of these women have in common is that they all are of child bearing age. Consequently, the incidences of HIV-positive newborns have alsoincreased. As mentioned previously, about seven thousand HIV-infected women give birth each year, and about twenty-five percent of the ir babies are HIV-positive. Maternal transmission accounted for ninety-two percent of all new AIDS cases reported in children in 1994(Davis15). A major breakthrough in drug intervention began in February 1993. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group administered a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of zidovudine, also known as AST. Four hundred seventy-five women were enrolled in the study. These women were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received zidovudine while the other, the control group, received a placebo. The administration of either zidovudine or placebo began in the second trimester of pregnancy and continued through labor. For six weeks after birth, the babies received the same treatment as the mothers in a syrup form. Because it was a double-blinded study, neither the researchers nor the patients knew who was actually receiving the zidovudine. Only three hundred sixty-four babies of the four hundred twenty-one born were available for testing. R esults showed that, of the three hundred sixty-four available for testing, fifty-three were infected with HIV; thirteen were born to mothers receiving zidovudine and forty to mothers on placebo (FDA Consumer 3). According to this data, when both mothers and babies received zidovudine, there was a transmission rate of 8.3 percent. This was a dramatic decrease in the rate of transmission when compared to the control group who had a transmission rate of 25.5 percent. With results such as these, drug intervention with respect to both pregnant women and newborns should become more commonplace with each day. For example, if the decrease in maternal transmission rate is duplicated from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group study, and the estimated seven thousand HIV-infected women deliver infants while accepting treatment with zidovudine, one will conclude that under these hypothetical conditions, as many as two-thirds, or twelve hundred, of all vertically acquired HIV-infections could be prevented annually(Davis 15). This decrease in maternal transmission would be ideal if all conditions were met, but there seems to be one major flaw. Many pregnant women do not know they are infected with HIV. The problem now is how to identify HIV-infected pregnant women at an early enough stage, so that the use of AZT could drastically reduce the chances of the baby being born with HIV. It is critical that the physician know of a womens HIV-infection prior to or early in her pregnancy. Because many women who are at risk are completely unaware of it, a growing national debate has centered on mandatory HIV testing of all pregnant women. This notion of mandatory screening has raised many ethical issues. It is certain that those who test positive and accept treatment with AZT would have a decreased transmission rate,

Opportunities and challenges of Digital marketing to organizations

Introduction Digital marketing refers to the use of internet, which is a major communication and marketing medium, to engage customers through online advertising to conduct promotions of products and services.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Opportunities and challenges of Digital marketing to organizations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Digital marketing uses devises like web browsers Smart Phones, social media, and game consoles. Therefore, digital marketing is the use of a combination of internet technologies to do marketing campaigns (Martin Todorov 2010, p. 62). Social technologies help drive revenue high as they fit in the large market. In this regard, the five-element formulas of digital marketing are (Klososky 2012, pp. 42-43); Elements of digital marketing Building productive websites. Providing social technologies. Mobile tools. Driving online traffic. Measurement systems. Building productive webs ites This refers to the sites that contain information that has been stored where people can gain access to the information they need and conduct their transactions. People come to these properties with specific reasons (Klososky 2012, p. 42). Providing social technologies This refers to the tools used for communication and they help build relationships with potential clients and existing customers. The tools, which are for sharing and disseminating information, are important in that they develop long-term business prospects. Social technology includes; Social media – sites for uploading documents, videos, presentations, graphics and photos and then sharing them with the target group through YouTube , Slide-Share, Flicker and Scribed. Social relevance – it touches on how well a company has managed to popularize itself online to improve its reputation. Social networks – this is the internet-based sites such as, twitter where the firm gets in touch with its clien ts, and would be clients. They include sites such as twitter, face book, Linkeldn among others (Klososky 2012, p. 42). Mobile tools Mobile tools are instruments that a firm relies on to connect with their customers on a daily basis be it during the day or during the night. The business connection through mobile is important as customers like connections all the time with their service providers. Organization requires this mobile tool to connect to their clients (Klososky 2012, p. 43). Driving online traffic Once a business integrates the elements of social technology, mobile tool, and productive websites, it can now drive large volume of traffic than the existing relationship net. To do this, a business can use the traditional approach such as advertising on billboards, search engine optimization, as well as the pay-per-click campaigns (Klososky 2012, p. 43).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Measurement systems It is an agreed concept that whatever gets measured gets done. Once the above four elements are in place and fully integrated, it is important to have a full suite of measurement to know what works and what needs improvement for corrective action (Klososky 2012, p. 43). Social technologies play an essential part in the life of a company in that they are the building blocks of an ongoing conversation between a firm and its constituent. Businesses should build value added relationships to help them grow in terms of revenue and clients retention. A combination of social tools with mobile applications and web properties give strong tools for augmenting a company’s ability to do this (Klososky 2012, p. 43). Opportunities for digital marketing The modern digital market has opportunities in various locations, which are touch points where brands interact with clients in different time, locations and at different activity levels and platform. An opportunity arises where the digital marketers bridge the gap of reaching consumers. Consumers have different preferences and wants. Therefore, the brand has to be relevant to consumers. The digital market also creates a synergy across the different touch points. The achievement of this is by connecting activities that extend customer experience in the different places where the customer engages the brand. 1. Convergence platforms – they offer opportunities for digital marketers to have their products and brand known to consumers. They include videos and televisions displayed at the various positions of the business where clients meet. The idea of having to watch full HD resolution is enticing to digital marketers. Consumers can do it on the go, at home or at any shopping mall regardless of the device they are using. The ability to watch a favorite program whether on YouTube shows a promising marketing opportunity for digital marketers since they can have their products known to people as they watch their programs (Martin Todorov 2010, p. 64).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Opportunities and challenges of Digital marketing to organizations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 2. Mobile platform – very many people today own a mobile phone. In fact, a study shows that three out of five people own a mobile phone. The mobile phones come with different applications and they are of different make. The opportunity surrounding the mobile platform is wide for marketers. Mobile phones are becoming better and more advanced and the mobile makers have very good networks of distributing their mobile making them readily available to customers. This creates an opportunity for digital marketers since they can market goods that are tailor made to their clients. The phones have very fast internet speed (3G and 4G), that are changing and pushing innovations to new heights and thus pulling markete rs. Phones are getting better with tools such as GPS and AR (Martin Todorov 2010, p. 64). Challenges for organizations using digital marketing Regulation – the advent of digital marketing leads to massive legislation that eats into revenue of firms. Consumers are more knowledgeable and they expect high standards just like in the traditional media. Therefore, digital marketing and need for consumer protection and the maintenance of high standards pose a challenge to companies using digital marketing (Hollis Fitch, 2009, p. 208). Digital marketing uses the internet and mobile as well as computers. Most of the consumers are not computer literate. They don not know how to use the applications and this means that the products marketed are not well known. People also tend to have a negative attitude towards products sold through the digital media due to fraud and hacking challenges (Hollis Fitch, 2009, p. 212). Ways organizations learn to use digital marketing Customer acquisi tion – this is by selecting the best media tools to acquire new customers (Weber 2009). Developing digital marketing department – this will replace the traditional marketing with media type of advertising. Firms need to train and assess their marketing teams with the new skills of digital marketing (Jones 2012). Customer conversion – The conversion method requires the firm to understand and define its online experience and the integration of channels to maximize revenue (Parkin 2009). Reason organizations adopt digital marketing Organizations should adopt digital marketing to take advantage of growth in computing and mobile industry. It helps marketers send information to many clients quickly Digital marketing is cost effective since one is only required to have very little work and the adverts are traceable. Digital marketing tools are easily accessible. Justification This will help the firms reach their target audience within a very short period. It also hel ps firms avoid pitfalls that hamper the delivery of benefits to ends users (Hollis Fitch, 2009, p. 213).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Hollis, N Fitch, D 2009, ‘Is global marketing as rewarding as it first appears?’, Journal of sponsorship, vol. 2 no. 3, pp. 206-214. Jones, C 2012, Understanding Digital Marketing: Marketing Strategies for Engaging the Digital Generation, Kogan Page Publishers, London Klososky, S 2012, Social Technology, Thompson Learning, South Melbourne Martin, K Todorov, I 2010, Journal of interactive advertising, Vol. 10 no 2, pp. 61-66 Parkin, G 2009, Digital Marketing: Strategies for Online Success, New Holland, Hague Weber, L 2009, Marketing to the Social Web: How Digital Customer Communities Build Your Business, John Wileys Sons, New York. This report on Opportunities and challenges of Digital marketing to organizations was written and submitted by user Cristian Z. 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.

Root Square Mean Velocity Example Problem

Root Square Mean Velocity Example Problem Gases are made up of individual atoms or molecules freely moving in random directions with a wide variety of speeds. Kinetic molecular theory tries to explain the properties of gases by investigating the behavior of individual atoms or molecules making up the gas. This example problem shows how to find the average or root mean square velocity (rms) of particles in a gas sample for a given temperature. Root Mean Square Problem What is the root mean square velocity of the molecules in a sample of oxygen gas at 0  °C and 100  °C?Solution:Root mean square velocity is the average velocity of the molecules that make up a gas. This value can be found using the formula:vrms [3RT/M]1/2wherevrms average velocity or root mean square velocityR ideal gas constantT absolute temperatureM molar massThe first step is to convert the temperatures to absolute temperatures. In other words, convert to the Kelvin temperature scale:K 273  °CT1 273 0  °C 273 KT2 273 100  °C 373 KThe second step is to find the molecular mass of the gas molecules.Use the gas constant 8.3145 J/mol ·K to get the units we need. Remember 1 J 1 kg ·m2/s2. Substitute these units into the gas constant:R 8.3145 kg ·m2/s2/K ·molOxygen gas is made up of two oxygen atoms bonded together. The molecular mass of a single oxygen atom is 16 g/mol. The molecular mass of O2 is 32 g/mol.The units on R use kg, so the molar mass must al so use kg.32 g/mol x 1 kg/1000 g 0.032 kg/molUse these values to find the vrms. 0  °C:vrms [3RT/M]1/2vrms [3(8.3145 kg ·m2/s2/K ·mol)(273 K)/(0.032 kg/mol)]1/2vrms [212799 m2/s2]1/2vrms 461.3 m/s100  °Cvrms [3RT/M]1/2vrms [3(8.3145 kg ·m2/s2/K ·mol)(373 K)/(0.032 kg/mol)]1/2vrms [290748 m2/s2]1/2vrms 539.2 m/sAnswer:The average or root mean square velocity of the oxygen gas molecules at 0  °C is 461.3 m/s and 539.2 m/s at 100  °C.

Understanding the Threats to Animals and Wildlife

Understanding the Threats to Animals and Wildlife Living things face a constant barrage of external stresses or threats that challenge their ability to survive and reproduce. If a species is unable to successfully cope with these threats through adaptation, they may face extinction. A constantly changing physical environment requires organisms to adapt to new temperatures, climates, and atmospheric conditions. Living things must also deal with unexpected events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, meteor strikes, fires, and hurricanes. As new lifeforms arise and interact, species are further challenged to adapt to one another to deal with competition, predation, parasitism, disease, and other complex biotic processes. In recent evolutionary history, threats facing many animals and other organisms have been driven primarily by the effects of a single species: humans. The extent to which humans have altered this planet has affected countless species and has initiated extinctions on such a vast scale that many scientists believe we are now experiencing a mass extinction (the sixth mass extinction in the history of life on earth). Preventable Threats Since man is indeed part of nature, man-made threats are merely a subset of natural threats. But unlike other natural threats, man-made threats are threats that we can prevent by changing our behavior. As humans, we have a unique ability to understand the consequences of our actions, both present, and past. We are capable of learning more about the effects our actions have on the world around us and how changes in those actions could help to alter future events. By examining how human activities have adversely impacted life on earth, we can take steps to reverse past damages and prevent future damage. The Types of Man-Made Threats Man-made threats can be classified into the following general categories: Habitat Destruction Fragmentation - The destruction or splitting up of once continuous habitat to enable humans to use the land for agriculture, development of towns and cities, construction of dams, or other purposes.Climate Change - Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, have altered the Earths atmosphere and have resulted in global climate changes.Introduction of Exotic Species - Accidental and intentional introduction of non-native species into regions never before occupied by the species have resulted in the extinction of numerous endemic species.Pollution - Pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms.Over-Exploitation of Resources - Exploitation of wild populations for food has resulted in population crashes (over-fishing, for example).Hunting, Poaching, Illegal Trade of Endangered Species - Some endangered species are targeted for their value on illegal markets.Accidental Deaths - Car hits, window collisions (birds), collisions with ships (whales).

Corporate Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Taxation - Essay Example First, we must discuss the subject of corporate taxation so that we can understand what it is and what it is all about, and this includes surveying the principle features and recent history of corporate taxation, followed by the consideration of the incentives that tax systems provide for the behavior of corporations, and then as well we must discuss the scenarios that have taken place over the last 20 years in regards to tax changes, and finally, we must examine how these changes have affected corporate taxation, and all of the key and related issues as well. By doing this, we will be able to come to a much more aware and intelligent understanding on the subject matter at hand overall. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Corporate taxation is considered as being an incredibly important source of government revenue across the world, and as well it is a significant and major consideration in regards to the planning of business activities. Corporate tax is a term which refers to "a tax levied by various jurisdictions on the profits made by companies or associations. As a general principle, the tax varies substantially between jurisdictions. In particular allowances for capital expenditure and the amount of interest payments that can be deducted from gross profits when working out the tax liability vary substantially. Also, tax rates may vary depending on whether profits have been distributed to shareholders or not. Profits which have been reinvested may not be taxed" (Wikipedia, 2007). Bigger businesses are the businesses which end up spending the most attention and devotion to corporate tax however this is for good reason, as corporate income tends to be most highly concentrated in a relatively small number of large companies. The impact of corporate tax on economic behavior is very great and significant, and "The taxation of corporate income encourages entrepreneurs and managers to structure and conduct their business operations in ways designed to avoid taxes. Corporations generally reduce their tax obligations, and those of their shareholders, by using debt rather than equity finance, investing in assets that can be rapidly depreciated for tax purposes and those for which generous tax credits are available, and avoiding dividend payments or other tax-disadvantaged distributions to investors" (Hines, 2001). However, although corporate taxation is one of the most known forms of taxation, it is actually the least properly understood, and not only that, but most economists for quite some time now have considered it as being the least efficient and least defensible of all forms of taxation. Statistics show that corporate taxation has increased dramatically over the years, especially over the past few decades in particular, as "In the forties and early fifties the corporate income tax provided about a third of federal revenues, and as recently as 1966, the proportion was 23 percent. It declined steadily for the next twenty years, reaching a nadir of 6.2 percent in 1983. This was partly by design. The top corporate tax rates fell from 52.8 percent in 1969 to 46 percent in 1979" (Norton, 2002). There are more problems than just this however that are considered as being involved in regards to corporate taxation, and in particular, the central problem with the corporate tax, from an economic point of view, is that "ultimately, only people can pay taxes. Economists have had great difficulty in assessing the

Visual Analysis writing assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Visual Analysis writing assignment - Essay Example Inventory Image of a young girl from the back wearing white cotton skirt, and looking into a circular hole or what appears as a circular window in a dramatically patterned wall. A wide-brimmed hat obscures her head and echoes the shape of the entryway. She is bare feet and stands tentatively on her toes with the right foot overlapping the left one as though she wants to create stairs with her feet. She seems to be investigating something mysterious from inside the tunnel in which her right hand has disappeared into the unseen contents of the void. Intense sunlight is revealed with the distinct shadow cast by the girl’s body on the wall. The girl appears to be searching for an unknown thing, which leaves us investigating the contrast between the fearful unknown and her innocence. Composition One of the evident principle of design in this composition is emphasis whereby the artist pulls our eyes to the void through which the subject seems to be searching for something. ... The circular shape creates a sense of substance and space particularly positive space taken up by the subject. In addition, shape is also seen in the complex and dramatic pattern of the rectangles and squares of the wall. The surface texture of this image appears rough with black and white value that creates timelessness. Finally, there is repetition particularly of the circular shape, which results into a composition with unity and balance. Visual cues Black and white is the color of this photo, but with various tones. In addition, there is a sharp contrast created by the shadow revealing the photo was taken during intense sunlight. With respect to form, the circular shape of the heart leads the eyes of the audience to peep into the circular tunnel that seem to capture all the attention of this girls as she looks for an unknown inside the circular hole. When it comes to depth, only the foreground is focused, as the background is invisible due to the dramatically patterned old wall t hat blocks it. However, depth is visible in the circular portal, which appears to go deep inside beyond the wall. Finally, there is little movement with the only one created by the girl struggle to see what is inside or beyond the hole. This minimal, restricted movement creates a sense of fear. Semiotic signs and codes The element of semiotic signs and codes in this photo is the exaggerated big hat, which resonates with the Mexican people. The kind of hat in this photo is particularly used for those who work in plantations perhaps to shield them from intense sun, as well as for some cultural festivities. Along with the long white skirt, these two semiotic signs and codes play a significant role in determining the narrative of this image. Cognitive elements The cognitive

Education Reform Essay Example for Free

Education Reform Essay Introduction 1. How many of you had a senior class with a 100% graduation rate? 90%? 80%? 70%? Less than 70%? I graduated in 1985, tenth in my class. There were 500 kids in my senior class, and all but three of us graduated. That’s over a 99% graduation rate. Yet, we had been told just two years prior that our schools were not doing their jobs, and that we would be the first generation that would not exceed our parents’ generation educationally. What does that say about your generation? Is it your fault? Or your teachers or parents? Is it because of or in spite of education reform? 2. Today I will speak to you about education reform. First, I will discuss a bit of the history of reform, especially in the latter half of the 20th century. Next, I will speak about how the reform of today is actually hurting both students and teachers, and creating problems for future generations. Finally, I will talk about some possible solutions to give teachers more autonomy in teaching and children more joy and interest in learning. 3. I am qualified to speak about this topic because of my own experiences with education reform, the past ten years of extensive research I have done on this subject, and the papers I have written about it. (Transition: Let me begin by giving you a brief history of education reform. ) Body 1. Education reform is nothing new. A look at the history of public schools in the United States shows accountability standards have been around for nearly 200 years. Who is accountable to whom and for what have changed, but the basic premise has been in place a long time. In 1897, Dr. Joseph Mayer Rice began the push for standardized achievement tests to evaluate curriculum and instruction. While unsuccessful at first, by World War I school boards across the nation were using achievement tests in elementary and secondary schools. Accountability was placed on the administrators, superintendents, and the school boards. Until just after the Second World War, schools in modern buildings with sufficient rooms, desks, and textbooks for students, qualified teachers, and indoor plumbing were viewed as good schools. A. With the launch of Sputnik by the Soviets, education standards in America began to change. The upheaval of the 1950s and 1960s gave way to higher standards and the onus of accountability was beginning to shift to teachers. B. In The Schools our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and â€Å"Tougher Standards†, published in 1999, Alfie Kohn writes that by the end of the 1970s, two thirds of the states had mandated that high school students had to pass minimum competency tests to graduate. C. The 1983 report A Nation at Risk states â€Å"†¦the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people. What was unimaginable a generation ago has begun to occur—others are matching and surpassing our educational attainments. â€Å" Reforms continued through the 1980s and 1990s, but it wasn’t until the much maligned No Child Left Behind was enacted in 2002 that education reform was once again at the forefront of our attention. (Transition: That brings me to my second point, which deals with the problems with education reform, most especially NCLB) 1. Teachers are being held to tougher and higher standards than ever before, and they are feeling the pressure. Many excellent teachers have either gone to teach at private schools or quit teaching altogether to avoid the demands made on them. Others have done their best to teach students in what has become a decidedly unfriendly environment. Decisions made by people who either have no experience in teaching children, or are so far removed from the public school setting are causing a rift in our educational process and a loss of respect for teachers. Teachers are now held accountable for the test scores and graduation rates of their students. Teachers are an easy target, and teacher bashing is all too common among policy makers. Some parents are also quick to blame the teacher instead of themselves or their child for poor test grades. It is little wonder that some teachers are seeking different jobs. The pressure of being a teacher is tremendous. To be held responsible for that over which they have little or no control is no way to keep current or attract new teachers to the profession. A. In their 2002 book High Stakes: Children, Testing, and Failure in American Schools, Dale and Bonnie Johnson make comparisons between jobs in education and other service-oriented jobs, saying â€Å" Dentists are not held accountable for patients who develop cavities. We do not blame social workers for clients that cannot get jobs. Lawyers are not accountable for clients who end up in prison. † B. A lack of autonomy and decision-making power over structures and procedures that affect their day-to-day work is one of the working conditions that teachers find intolerable. Elaine Garan, in her book In Defense of Our Children: When Politics, Profit, and Education Collide, published in 2004, says that â€Å"Teachers’ control over matters closest to them, such as pedagogy and curriculum content, has diminished because poor test scores lead to increased pressure to teach the standards and a tighter monitoring of teachers’ work. † C. It is not only the teachers who are affected by these standards. Children are also losers in this era of high stakes testing. An article titled High Stakes Testing Has a Negative Impact on Learning by David Berliner and Sharon Nichols in the 2008 book Has No Child Left Behind Been Good for Education? , states â€Å"By restricting the education of young people and substituting for it training to perform well on high stakes examinations, we are turning America into a nation of test-takers,  abandoning our heritage as a nation of thinkers, dreamers, and doers. † (Transition: Now that I’ve spoken about the problems with current education reforms, I’d like to talk about my third point: possible solutions that might allow teachers to be more autonomous and students to learn effectively. ) 1. In my research, I’ve come across a few interesting ideas for education reform. Two ideas that have some merit are learning community schools and child-centered schools. A. Charles Myers and Douglas Simpson write about learning community schools in their 1998 book Re-Creating Schools: Places Where Everyone Learns and Likes It. They say â€Å"When schools are thought of as learning communities, they are cultures rather than physical locations. As cultures, they have a moral purpose, a mission, and a shared set of core values. Their moral purpose is to educate students and their central goal is all students learning at the highest possible levels. † Obviously, these are common missions and goals of all schools, but the difference in learning community cultures, the mission and goal are used more consistently to create better learning for children and teachers alike. B. In his 1993 book, What are we trying to teach them anyway? A Father’s Focus on School Reform, Ronald Pierce advocates for child-centered schools. He writes, â€Å"Child-centered educators believe that each child needs to develop their own commitment to and style of learning, and that can only occur in an environment where the child largely directs his own learning. † In this setting, acquiring knowledge is still important, but not as much as the overall psychological and emotional development of the child. Conclusion 1. In conclusion, today I have spoken to you about the history of education reform, the problems with the current ideas, and some solutions that might make things better for teachers and students. 2. A teacher making $25,000 per year, buying their own classroom supplies, paying bills and possibly supporting a family is under a lot of strain. Add to that the stringent guidelines and the accountability standards of education today and it becomes obvious why so many young people are abandoning the profession or not entering it at all. Veteran teachers with a few years’ experience may make a bit more, but the same stresses are there. The mass firings of teachers, guidance counselors, principals and assistant principals in Rhode Island in February 2010 is an extreme example of the effects of high stakes education reforms. How are teachers supposed to do their jobs when the threat of being fired looms over their heads? We cannot expect our teachers to continue to work in conditions such as these, and we cannot expect our children to become automatons filled with facts that only glean the surface of what there is to learn. Bibliography Fisanick, Christina. Ed. Has No Child Left Behind Been Good for Education? Greenhaven Press. 2008. Print Garan, Elaine M. In Defense of Our Children: When Politics, Profit, and Education Collide. Heinemann, 2004. Print Johnson, Dale D and Bonnie. High Stakes: Children, Testing, and Failure in American Schools. Rowman Littlefield Publishers. 2002. Print Kohn, Alfie. The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and â€Å"Tougher Standards. Houghton Mifflin Company. 1999 Print Myers, Charles and Simpson, Douglas. Re-Creating Schools: Places Where Everyone Learns and Likes it. Corwin Press, Inc. 1998 National Commission on Excellence in Education. A Nation At Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. April 1993. Pierce, Ronald K. What are we trying to teach them anyway? A Father’s Focus on School Reform. ICS Press. 1993.