Saturday, January 25, 2020

A Definition Of Postnatal Depression Nursing Essay

A Definition Of Postnatal Depression Nursing Essay One of the prime factors is considered to be the sudden postnatal drop in progesterone levels in the post partum days. (Nappi et al 2001) The placenta is responsible for the vast majority of circulating progesterone during pregnancy and its delivery is effectively responsible for the precipitate drop in levels post partum. There may also be other related hormonal changes including the fluctuations in prolactin levels (Hendrick et al 1998) and falling oestrogen and cortisol levels. (Halari et al. 2004) Symptoms can initially include irritability, tearfulness, insomnia, hypochondriasis, headache and impairment of concentration. There is a maximal incidence of these symptoms on about the fifth post partum day and these can progress to frank depressive symptoms over a variable period. (Ramsay et al 1995). There are various tools that can be used to measure the degree of depression and these include the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale,(Cox et al 1987), The Stein scale for maternity blues, (Stein 1980) and the Beck depression rating inventory. (Beck et al 1961) Key issues affecting vulnerable patients There have been a number of studies that look at the effectiveness of treatment of postnatal depression. One of the most recent publications (Dennis 2005) provides a meta-analysis of the factors which influence the outcome in the condition. The author concluded that the only strategy that was shown to have a clear preventative effect was intensive post-partum support from the healthcare professionals involved in the case. Curiously, this was found to be more effective than similar regimes which included an ante-natal component as well. The morbidity associated with postnatal depression has a number of potential consequences not only for the mother, but also the child and the rest of the family as well. (Oakley et al 1996) One of the most significant is the fact that one episode of postnatal depression is the greatest predictor (or risk factor) for another episode after subsequent pregnancies. The children are likely to have difficulties because of possible problems with bonding and the mothers possible negative perceptions of the behaviour of the children. (Cooper Murray 1997) Some studies have shown that mothers with postnatal depression have derived beneficial help from social support during pregnancy. (Ray et al 2000). It would therefore appear that the key issues in this area are identification of the predictive factors that make postnatal depression more likely and then the provision of prompt supportive measures if those factors are established. Local resources for support Apart from the more traditional resources of the primary healthcare team of the General Practice the Midwife and the Health Visitor, some centres have tried experiments with postnatal support worker provision (Morrell 2000). This particular study found that the patients found an high level of satisfaction with the service but no more so than with the services provided by the rest of the primary healthcare team. Analysis of the results showed that the postnatal support worker helped to achieve higher levels of breast feeding, but had little impact on the severity or frequency of postnatal depression. One significant factor that was found, however, was that support from a partner was a significant positive factor in preventing severe postnatal depression. Communication strategies Several recent studies have shown that healthcare professionals often fail to spot the signs of postnatal depression. (Bick et al 1995). Making the diagnosis is obviously the prerequisite of establishing a treatment regime so it is clearly vital for all healthcare professionals to be on their guard for warning signs sleep disturbance, irritability, mood swings and irrationality. (Ramsay et al 1995) Reflection and reflective practice is a vital part of effective nursing. (Gibbs 1998) . Each healthcare professional should ideally reflect upon their management of each individual case to decide whether they were communicating optimally with the patient and that they were fully receptive to all that was on the patients agenda. Communication is a two-way modality. Bulman (et al.2004) points to the need to understand, at a deeper level, just what it is the message that the patient is taking away from any interaction. Communication is therefore vital in the strategy to empower and educate the vulnerable patient. Role of midwife and Health Visitor The new mother is often at the centre of an emotional rollercoaster. The sudden culmination of nine months of expectation results (frequently) in a flurry of support from healthcare professionals and family, which then rapidly evaporates and the mother is left to deal with the new situation which is frequently stressful. (Kitzman et al 1997) The midwife can obviously help by preparing the ground in the antenatal period and offering support in the immediate postnatal period. (Dennis 2005). The health visitor is probably better placed to be aware of any developing warning signals that postnatal depression is developing, as they are likely to be in contact with the patient during the high risk period. (Cooper Murray 1995). It has been suggested that encouragement of the mother to attend the health visitor clinic rather than to have home visits is a positive way of encouraging social inclusion. (Seeley et al 1996) Studies which have looked at the cost-effectiveness of using community postnatal support service workers have shown no benefit over the more traditional midwife and Health Visitor support. (Morrell et al 2000) Back to: Essay Examples References Affonso DD, De AK, Horowitz JA, Mayberry LJ. 2000 An international study exploring levels of postpartum depressive symptomatology. J Psychosom Res 2000;49: 207-16. Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Baugh J. 1961 An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1961;4:561-71. Bick D, MacArthur C. 1995 The extent, severity and effect of health problems after childbirth. Br J Midwifery 1995; 3: 27-31 Bulman Schultz 2004 Reflective Practice in Nursing The Growth of the Professional Practitioner Third Edition Edited By: CHRIS BULMAN, School of Health Care, Oxford Brookes University SUE SCHUTZ, Oxford Brookes University 2004 Cooper Murra 1995 Course and recurrence of postnatal depression. Evidence for the specificity of the diagnostic concept The British Journal of Psychiatry 166: 191-195 (1995) Cooper P, Murray L. 1997 Prediction, detection, and treatment of postnatal depression. Arch Dis Child 1997;77: 97-9 Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. 1987 Detection of post-natal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh post-natal depression scale. Br J Psychiatry 1987;150:782-6. Dennis C-L. 2005 Psychosocial and psychological interventions for prevention of postnatal depression: systematic review BMJ, Jul 2005; 331: 15. Gibbs, G (1998) Learning by doing: A guide to Teaching and Learning methods EMU Oxford Brookes University, Oxford. 1998 Halari, V. Kumari, R. Mehrotra, M. Wheeler, M. Hines, and T. Sharma 2004 The Relationship of Sex Hormones and Cortisol with Cognitive functioning in Schizophrenia J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2004; 18(3): 366 374. Hendrick, L. L. Altshuler, and R. Suri 1998 Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum and Implications for Postpartum Depression Psychosomatics, April 1, 1998; 39(2): 93 101 Kitzman H, Olds DL, Henderson CR, Hanks C, Cole R, Tatelbaum R, et al. L 1997 Effect of prenatal and infancy home visitation by nurses on pregnancy outcomes, childhood injuries, and repeated childbearing. JAMA 1997; 278: 644-652 Nappi, F. Petraglia, S. Luisi, F. Polatti, C. Farina, and A. R. Genazzani 2001 Serum Allopregnanolone in Women With Postpartum Blues Obstet. Gynecol., January 1, 2001; 97(1): 77 80. Oakley A, Hickey D, Rajan L. 1996 Social support in pregnancy: does it have long-term effects? J Reprod Infant Psychol 1996; 14: 7-22. Oates MR, Cox JL, Neema S, Asten P, Glangeaud-Freudenthal N, Figueiredo B, et al. 2004 Postnatal depression across countries and cultures: a qualitative study. Br J Psychiatry Suppl 2004;46: s10-6. OHara M, Swain A. 1996 Rates and risk of postpartum depressiona meta-analysis. Int Rev Psychiatry 1996;8: 37-54. Ramsay. R and T. Fahy 1995 Recent Advances: Psychiatry BMJ, July 15, 1995; 311(6998): 167 170. Ray KL, Hodnett ED. 2000 Caregiver support for postpartum depression. In: Cochrane Collaboration,ed. Cochrane Library. Issue 1. Oxford: Update Software, 2000. Seeley S, Murray L, Cooper PJ. 1996 The outcome for mothers and babies of health visitor intervention. Health Visitor 1996;69:135-138. Stein GS. 1980 The pattern of mental change and body weight in the first post partum week. J Psychosom Res 1980;24:1165-71.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Book Review – Simply Jesus

We can go about Sunday after Sunday worshipping the Lord Jesus and praying out to him in our own ways but at the end of the day, are we ready to deal with the challenges of the â€Å"real life†? Would we question ourselves on the reality of Jesus' existence? â€Å"With Jesus, Its easy to be complicated and hard to be simple†, described the author. And it is so true that with our Limited ability to fully comprehend the works of Christ Jesus, he becomes rather â€Å"under-utilized†, grossly under-valued with Its full potential nowhere near realized. The gospels, like his computer, have every right to feel restated, says the author.Jesus, though he was actually king, did not come fully recognizable as â€Å"the king†, so that his believers need to â€Å"exercise faith† in believing that Jesus is indeed the real king through all his miraculous works! Jesus is unavoidable. But he is also deeply mysterious. While we know so much about Jesus, yet there Is only so little that we really understood of him. Jesus puzzled people then, and he puzzles us till this day! Firstly, we know that Jesus' world was a strange, foreign country. Those days the people then thought differently. They coked at the world differently in cultural habits, practices and lifestyle.Secondly, Jesus' God seem to strange to us! There are so many â€Å"gods† from some of the world's great religions that it is not sufficient Just to ask, â€Å"Do you believe? † but to also ask, â€Å"Which god dowdy believe In? â€Å". We need to get Inside Jesus' world and try to catch a glimpse of what he meant when he spoke of God. Only then, we can begin to look Into think you were allowed to do, and he explained them by saying he had the right to do them! Of course, with all that said, Jesus didn't have â€Å"authority' over us. Nevertheless, the right to â€Å"choose† still lies in our hands today.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Surveillance Technology For Law Enforcement - 1535 Words

In today’s society we are seemingly under increasing surveillance. We have cameras where we shop, on traffic lights, in parking lots, at the ATM machine, and even on our phones we carry in our pockets. Most of this surveillance we accept from the private sector based on security reasons, and we choose to carry a phone, but what about the usage of surveillance technology for law enforcement? Should the government be allowed to watch us in the privacy of our homes or monitor our every movement? This idea that Big-Brother could be watching us everywhere used to be a tale of science fiction; however, with the quickly developing technology of unmanned aircrafts (drones), this is not out of the realm of possibility. As technology changes, public policy must change accordingly, and questions about usage of these unmanned aircraft by the government must be considered. Do members of law enforcement have the right to use unmanned aircraft to gather information about citizens or is suc h actions a violation of our Constitutional rights? This analysis evaluates policy regulating drone usage and more specifically focuses on the Commonwealth of Virginia and the legislative actions the state has enacted regarding the usage of unmanned aircrafts for law enforcement purposes. Background: An unmanned aircraft system is defined as any aircraft that cannot be operated by a human from inside the craft (HB 2125), but instead the device is operated remotely by a controller or through aShow MoreRelatedThe Utilization Of Technology For Law Enforcement Surveillance2301 Words   |  10 PagesSeminarâ€Æ' Abstract: The utilization of technology for law enforcement surveillance is not new. In the mid-1990s, dashboard cameras became a tool for catching real-time experiences between the police and the general public (Blake, 2015). In spite of early disapproval, dashboard cameras gained widespread acknowledgment as research showed constructive effects on officer responsibility as well as a decrease in agency accountability. Closed circuit (CC) surveillance systems have similarly turned out toRead MoreThe Implementation Of Drone Technology And Surveillance And Biometrics1161 Words   |  5 PagesLaw enforcement organizations must continually look to the future for high-tech trends that will help them stay one step ahead of the criminal element. One has often heard that crime does not sleep and long gone are the days in which patrolling the neighborhood and responding to distress calls encompass the function of a police agency. Criminals are becoming more and more sophisticated in finding methods on how to break the law with every technological advancement. Two future trends that can potentiallyRead More Public Video Surveillance Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesPublic Video Surveillance INTRODUCTION Today’s technology has changed the way we live. It has changed the way that we view the environment, act when out in public, and the way we go about doing our daily task. Computers have greatly increased our capabilities to achieve our goals much faster. Human interaction between people has decreased because of this technology. The changes continue daily with an endless stream of new ideas and ways of doing things. There seems to be no end in site. Read MoreElectronic Surveillance and the Right to Privacy1025 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Outline: Electronic surveillance and the right to privacy Purpose: To inform the audience about electronic surveillance and the right to privacy Thesis: Electronic surveillance and the right to privacy is an increasingly controversial issue in modern American society. In this speech I will describe the technology, how employers and the government use the technology, and how the courts have interpreted the right to privacy. Organizational Pattern: Topical I. Introduction A. Attention Getter- IRead MoreThe Rights And Civil Liberties1558 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States Constitution. One right in particular I want to discuss is the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment is known as the right against â€Å"unreasonable search and seizures.† It is the basis of the law with regards to stop-and-frisk, search warrants, wiretaps, and other forms of surveillance. This Amendment states that â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be viola ted, and no Warrants shall issueRead MoreTechnology: (Advantages and Disadvantages) Essay846 Words   |  4 PagesDisadvantages of Technology This paper will discuss the pros of the use of stun guns and patrol car videos. This form of technology is being used every day by law enforcement agencies around the world. They are continuingly striving to make stun guns and surveillance cameras better. Patrol car videos have caught numerous illegal events by police and suspect that have committed a crime. Police stun guns and patrol car videos are very important to all law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement is expandingRead MoreThe Usa Patriot Act, By George W. Bush1420 Words   |  6 Pagesrural Somerset County, Pennsylvania (Smith ix).† The USA PATRIOT Act, enacted seven weeks after September 11 attacks, granted the federal government sweeping new powers to expand surveillance, curtail financing, and deport people in connection with terrorist activity (Stanford). The Patriot Act is one of the most powerful laws of modern day and has powerful ramifications for the future (Ibbetson 4). â€Å"True patriots realized th at one must protect the nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic (EtzioniRead MoreEncryption In Law Enforcement777 Words   |  4 Pagesposed by encryption for law enforcement agencies. [@lieu_australias_2017] [@beech_facebook_2017] In practice, this is apparently focused on warrants executed, not on the criminals planning destructive acts, but upon otherwise law abiding companies, and making criminals out of them if they do not comply. Law enforcement is no longer planning direct covert action against the potential perpetrators. They are seeking to co-opt law abiding citizens, who are otherwise servicing 99% law-abiding customers, intoRead MoreLaw Enforcement Cameras an Invasion of Privacy1083 Words   |  5 Pagesproliferation of law enforcement security cameras in public areas, with central London having more cameras than any other city. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, and central London, cameras can be found at almost every intersection. Terrorist attacks have been a major basis for this significant increase in law enforcement security cameras; however, privacy advocates, along with many of the public, feel that it’s an invasion of privacy. People are concerned that all this video surveillance, which isRead MoreImpact Of Technology In Law Enforcement1494 Words   |  6 Pages Technology has been changing for years. It has been improving and it has been improving very fast. Technology place a big role in law enforcement. Before all the improvements in technology it was usually the officer’s words against the subjects. That has change dramatically. Law enforcement personal wear cameras on their body to record their encounters with the people they are dealing with. This helps with the safety of the officers and also the people they are dealing with. Technology has also

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

The Peoples Republic Of China - 1261 Words

Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology: The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is engaged in a delicate balancing act; on the one hand to continue promoting economic liberalisation, and on the other, to maintain its communist ideological foundations. Market reform, or the transformation from a command economy to a market economy, has been on going since The Reform and Opening period, which was ushered in by CCP leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978. This contributed to huge social and economic development, which has had numerous positive impacts for the State, principally, allowing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stay in power. However, in order to embrace market reform, the State had to relinquish partial control on their monopoly of information. This loosening of power occurred through easing restrictions on information allowed into China, and relaxing controls on who could influence the market. However, the State has also adapted to changing communication that came with market reform to stay in power. It has done this th rough modifying the structure of its propaganda system throughout different eras and using political narratives as a way to reconcile the tension between the market and State. However, the market has also adapted to the State through influencing the information and ideas that come with changing communication flows. Private firms have made cosmetic shifts to appear more in line with socialist values. More importantly, mass media has createdShow MoreRelatedThe People s Republic Of China Essay1954 Words   |  8 PagesINTRODUCTION. 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Since then China’s economy has been growing faster than any other economy in the world, and creating relationsh ips with many countries including the United States. As China continues to boom and increase relations with the United StatesRead MoreThe People s Republic Of China1761 Words   |  8 PagesThe People’s Republic of China = The Republic â€Å"Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer in which we use to crush the enemy.† –Mao Zedong. This quote is saying that communism is a way to conquer your enemies. The People’s Republic of China shares many similarities with the Republic in the book Legend. They are both communist, militarily run nations, where the citizen’s rights are oppressed, and they are both totalitarian states. They both have authoritarian leadership, and they deny many of theirRead MoreThe State Council Of The Peoples Republic Of China1555 Words   |  7 PagesThe State Council of the Peoples Republic of China violates the Hong Kong Basic Law by purposefully creating a pro-Beijing majority in the Hong Kong Election Committee and thus denies citizens participation in the election of their Chief Executive. This social injustice forms part of a larger social justice struggle whereby the autonomy of Hong Kong is slowly being eroded by Central Government control. Hong Kong citizens have long been discontent with the Chinese Central Government over concernsRead MoreThe Old People s Republic Of China1373 Words   |  6 PagesChoosing spouse is one kind of important psychological, social cultural phenomena, as a member of the society, the standard of choosing a mate will reflects the direction of the whole social culture. In the old People’s Republic of China (PRC) society, which is before the great reform and opening (before 1970’s), Chinese think marriage is not a personal thing, to chose who will be the one to spend the life with is not completely depends on the favors and wills from both two parties, but more to theRead MoreChina s Influence On The People s Republic Of China859 Words   |  4 PagesWhen discussing Communism in regards to climate change and the importance placed upon its respecting policies it is perhaps best and most relevant to focus upon the People’s Republic of China. This is due to both Chinaâ€⠄¢s size and influence, along with its ranking as the leading producer of CO2 worldwide. Present day China is not a purely Communist country according to the teachings of classical/neo-Marxism or orthodox Communism. Rather it’s more of political Stalinism infused with market-orientedRead MoreThe On The Peoples Republic Of China s Economy3088 Words   |  13 PagesThe Peoples Republic of China’s economy is now the second largest in the world with an estimated gross domestic product of $9.24 trillion USD (China, 2014). This is the result of a strict economic reform policy put into place in 1978, which removed emphasis on the agricultural sector and moved to the energy intensive sector of manufacturing. The growing demand for energy often came in the form of highly polluting coal-fired power plants, but in 1992 the Three Gorges Dam was approved with constructionRead MoreBeijing, People s Republic Of China Essay1670 Words   |  7 Pages Taoism in china Omar Rmaili University of Business and Economics 2016 Beijing, People’s Republic of China Introduction Taoism is a very broad movement, it isnt a doctrine as such, nor a belief system, but is more like a personal experience. It is a way of living and understanding the world, away from the systematization and dogmas, which caused numerous trends. It was the historian Sima Tan (or Sima Qian) in the -I century who brought together all these trends under the name ofRead MoreThe Rise Of The People s Republic Of China2149 Words   |  9 PagesThe rise of the People’s Republic of China (China) in today’s world has evolved into a new reality. In this essay, it will be noted that although China is increasing its prominence in international politics, China will not be a dominant global actor in the near future. In this evaluation, the phrase â€Å"dominant global actor† will be defined, and the parameters for â€Å"near future† will be set to the next two decades from now. This essay will then outline examples on how China has increased its presenceRead MorePeople s Republic Of China Under Mao2151 Words   |  9 PagesPeople’s Republic of China under Mao The Great Leap Forward was a program designed as an economic stimulus model heavily focused on industry. Under this economic program, individual agricultural areas were merged into larger people’s communities and many of the peasants were ordered to work on enormous infrastructure projects and on the manufacture of iron and steel. Most privatization was banned; personal wealth was confiscated while livestock and farm implements were brought under collective ownership

Monday, December 23, 2019

Gender Inequality Across All Professions - 1799 Words

In the past half century, America has seen a historic decline in gender inequality across many realms of society. Women have reached levels of success that they never have before, finding equality in education, employment and political representation. Yet despite these gains, inequality remains a persistent issue. It is particularly prominent in the workplace, where women face the glass ceiling effect and a significant gender wage gap across all professions. A closer look at the competing explanations – broadly defined as meritocratic versus structural – shows that although the first may play a role in unequal pay, the second, which encompasses systemic problems of discrimination and gender â€Å"pay penalties,† contribute quite significantly†¦show more content†¦So why does a country that values economic growth and gender equality have such a persistent wage gap? Two basic concepts exist for explaining this inequality. The primary one is the â€Å"widely shared and deeply institutionalized belief in meritocracy† (Cech, 2010, p. 371). This belief infers that individuals will gain advantages in a society through their work and their will power, and that those who don’t manage to get ahead are responsible for their own shortcomings and losses. The second explanation uses systemic or structural factors in society that work against individuals to explain inequality. Examples of this include a person’s race, their pre-existing economic status, or disabilities they suffer, all of which could subject the individuals possessing them to social discrimination and thus provide a barrier to advancement or economic gain. Cech (2010) argues that these perceptions are significant in that they inform the specific decisions that people make in movements toward equality. While most Americans believe in the meritocratic explanation for inequality, Cech (2010) argues that different work and social situations will influence what people believe about gender inequality, whether it be meritocratic or structural. For example, lower-class workers tend to hold more structural beliefs, as do primary breadwinners/single mothers. Married women and those with higher-level jobs in their field have a greater tendency

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Becoming a Guidance Counselor Free Essays

string(130) " As a child that attended Montessori school I can say that many of my most memorable moments in my education were at that school\." Every classroom presents an exclusive community of learners that varies not only in abilities, but also in so many learning styles. In education it is my role as an educator to give children the tools with which to grow their own gardens of knowledge. To accomplish this goal, I will teach to the needs of each child so that all learners can feel capable and successful. We will write a custom essay sample on Becoming a Guidance Counselor or any similar topic only for you Order Now I will present curriculum that involves the interests of the children and makes learning relevant to life, but also be able to make sure that I am able to achieve the goals of the district in a manner that learning is enjoyable. I will integrate themes, integrated units, projects, group work, individual work, and hands-on learning in order to make children active learners. This allows children to have amazing teach-able moments. Finally, I will tie learning into the world community to help children become caring and active members of society. All of these beliefs will allow me to become a successful Guidance counselor. Becoming a guidance counselor allow me to have a more one on one relationship with students. In many cases you are able to teach children in small group setting teaching ideas that children are able to take for the rest of their lives. Having a guidance counselor that is able to advocate for the children is so important. Education has changed through the years in my option it has changed for the better. In the United States many children are able to attend Private, Charter, or Public schools. In the early 1840’s you were not able to attend any school unless you were able to pay for the education. It was in Horace Mann in Massachusetts and Henry Barnard in Connecticut where they saw a need for free education. They were able to show that there was a need for quality education in order to prevent crime in the community. It was then that at the end of the 19th century all American children were able to get free education. It was not until 1918 that all states passed a law requiring all students to go to at least elementary school. Private schools were then created by many Catholics because they disagreed with the beliefs of the public schools. With private, catholic, and charter it all raises an issue should all education be the same for everyone? If it was up to me I would have to say no. The logic is because I believe that teachers have the right to be able to decide the way that they would like to teach. As a teacher in a school I like to be able to share lessons with my colleagues but I want them to make the lesson their own. I think this is the same for schools; all schools should be able to have the same guidelines but be able to make it their own. In the 1990’s the public schools saw a signifying improvement among the graduation rates. In education I think it is so important that you are able to use each moment of the day as a teachable moment. This is not to say that everything in your day is going to be structured but you have to be able to use every moment as a teachable moment. An example of this is I had a child that every day would run through the cafeteria to get into the line to be first. After several warnings the child ran into a younger child carrying soup the soup then spilled all over the student and the other student that was running. It was then that I was able to use that time as a teach-able moment. I explained to the child that if they were to slow themselves down that this may not have happen. This is not to say that the child will never run again but they may slow down before going into the cafeteria. In the school that I teach in we would say that a â€Å"Windsor knight does what’s right even when nobody is looking†. This is part of character education to teach children that they have to follow the rules even if there is not a teacher around. â€Å"A teacher’s personal philosophy of education is a critical element in his or her approach to guiding children along the path of enlightenment. – Barbara Wilt† In Idealism believes in refined wisdom. It is based on the view that reality is a world within a person’s mind. As a result the teaching method is to teach on past heroes. This is something that I think was taught when I was growing up but seems to be pushed out. Realism it is based on the view that reality is what we observe. This shows children the order of society and all information is factual for the children to observe it. The one that I feel is the majority to the technique that I am is Realism. I think that I am capable to have articulated the reality of how things are and that most of the times the children are able to observe how it may be. I think that with technology today this is an easy way to provide this. A wonderful example that we did was that we were able to experience the winter Olympics as a whole school watching what was happening while it was happening. I think that this is also a great example of how in some ways Montessori also runs. Montessori was a philosopher that I wish so many teachers where more like. She was someone that was able to observe the children by giving them an activity in the environment and then allowing them to have the freedom to explore it. I think that many teachers do give them the activity except then are not giving them the freedom to explore. As a child that attended Montessori school I can say that many of my most memorable moments in my education were at that school. It is not only something that I can remember but have taken into my everyday life. It has brought wonderful insight on me as a teacher today. When you think of a teacher you think about the story book character that may be at chalk board. That is not the case. As a teacher you are not only a teacher, mom, staff member, friend, janitor, shoe tier, the list goes on forever. What you are is someone that has to wear many hats all in one day of work. In education you are not able to just have that 9-5 job. You are always thinking about making sure your lesson are finished, or did you get enough snack for all the kids in the class. You are always thinking about how the children may come in the next day: did they sleeping well for the test, are they eating well, and when was the last time they had a bath. This is all something that colleges do not tell you about. Just because your contract may say 8-3 that is not what you work. Your hours go above and beyond that. Many times during the holidays we as teachers have heard that a family does not have a holiday meal so we all get together and take it to them. This is something that as teachers we feel that it is important for every child to have a wonderful holiday. You have to be willing to change your hat whenever it needs to be changed. While working in the school I have learned more then I think any schooling could have ever taught me. I think that Curriculum for every school is important but the most important is how it is taught. Ideal curriculum was brought that there is an â€Å"ideal child† in every child. In this curriculum it wanted children to be able to build self- confidence allowing him/her to set goals and be able to achieve them. Allowing them to be part of an environment that teaches confidence, and endurance success. In this ideal curriculum learning is fun. The teacher is able to make the environment fun but it is up to the students to make the activity fun. I think that this is so important. Many times teachers get caught up with the curriculum and forget that learning is fun. I think that when teachers remember that they have to be there just as long as the students that making them enjoy what is going on in the classroom not only is a positive for the student but for the teacher as well. One way to do this is through Character Education. In the school that I teach in we do Character Education every day. In the morning we have a pledge that is said every day and a character word of the month is added to that pledge. At the end of the pledge we say â€Å"A Windsor knight knows what’s right even when know body is looking†. We are able to then follow this rule whenever someone may not be following it. On each Day 2 in the cycle a class then takes that character word of the month and comes up with a play or a skit for the school to see. This makes learning fun the children not only learn what the character word means but then it also gives them a learning experience. Many teachers may do role plays, or act out a book, make a movie, all done by the children with teacher assistance. In the teaching field you have to be able to change be able to teach on a variety of different stages. Instructional methods are used by teachers to create learning environments and to specify the nature of the activity in which the teacher and learner will be involved during the lesson. While particular methods are often connected with certain strategies, some methods may be found within a variety of strategies. It is the role of the teacher then to make sure you are using the right teaching method for the classroom. I am a believer that you method may change year to year depending on your class. As a teacher you are going to have to be aware of whether you method is working or not. In education the only way that you are able to see if what you have taught is sinking into these little brains is using assessments. As a teacher that is doing them daily before the end of school right now I would state I strongly dislike them. In the scheme of things they really are the only true way to determine how your students are doing. This is a tool that you are able to provide the teachers to not only track how they are teaching but how the students are doing. This is not to say that it should be used to evaluate any teacher but it should be looked at if a whole class assessment is low. These assessments are really used to be able to provide the right intervention for students. It is always an accomplishment in AIS reading when you have a student who comes in below grade level and with this intervention they then leave at the end of the year above grade level. This is not only an accomplishment for the child but the teachers as well. On the flip side I understand that education is now filled with tests and these children are always taking test and we are expected to know more now than ever. I don’t think this all bad. I think that if are able to use these as an assessment tool for the children. In doing this it allows the children to receive AIS services, Special education services, and enrichment, all from an assessment. In New York State we have state test which allow the students to receive AIS intervention programs if they score a low number on the test. It is a great way to see if these children need a little extra help. In schools today it is a teacher job to explain the rules and roles of everyone in the school. In many schools today we try enforce that just like teachers, aids, nurses, bus drivers, that they as kids also have a job and that there’s may be the most important one of all. Their job is to learn. School is supposed to be a learning environment and sometimes family’s think of it more as a daycare. With this in mind the thoughts then pass on to the children. It is our job as educators to let the children know the correct way to act as a student. It is important that children take school seriously. It saddens me to hear in elementary school that a child did not come to school because they did not feel like getting up in the morning and the parent had to work third shift and was not there to wake them. This is part of society but we have to make sure that the children in the society realize that a good education is the best gift that society is able to give them. As an educator in an elementary school I come across many cases that the child may have several strikes against them. One example of this is a mentor student that I have right now. There are 5 children in the family the parents work different shifts they have been kicked out of the house due to not paying their rent and now are living in a camper in the back of the grandmother house. Four of the children come to school and the baby stays home with whoever is home so they do not have to pay child care. The middle brother has a hard time in school. He is always feeling like nobody likes him and cares for him so he acts out in class. I have sat down with him and talked to him several times and he has told me that the only one that cares for him is his other grandmother and he is not allowed to see her unless he is good. We have many cases just like these in our school and every case is different. In the classroom many times the children act out for attention. They do not care whether it is negative or positive attention they just want that one on one interaction. Many times due to outside circumstances the children become below level grade level in the school work. In these cases intervention is something that would have to take place. After an evaluation you would be able to determine how much intervention the child may need. In this case this child receives AIS math and Reading because he many times is out of the classroom because he is in the time-out room due to an outburst in the classroom. He is also provided with a mentor that makes up a schedule with the child. I am actually his mentor and we meet twice a week. During this time we have a nice lunch in my classroom and then do something fun go outside, play a game, watch some of a movie, or sometimes have special desert. This is something that is one on one with the child in a non-negative situation. I also talk to him during this time about what is happening at home and things that he could do to improve his school work. Many times during the year he will come to me for help get a project done that he knows he may not receive the help at home. He also receives intervention from the social workers that come to the building they are able to do an assessment to tell whether he may need to be assessed further from an outside facility. All of these interventions are things that schools have to do to help these at risk students. I think that with the world as it is today children are dealing with things that they should not have to deal with at such an early age. We as educators have to be there to pick up many of the pieces. Times have changed and we are the ones that have to shape these children into whom they are and who they are going to be. In New York State the thought is that â€Å"The sooner problems are identified and intervention services begin, the sooner the children are on their way to academic success. † (NYSUT). It is so true once you are able to identify the problem then you are able to get the services that the child may need. In order to be able to identify you need to really understand that child, which sometimes takes time. In many jobs there may be a right way to do things and a wrong way but education is different. Teaching is something that not every person is cut out for. You really have to dig deep to see if you are cut out to be a teacher. I know that I am, I have worked in the school for 4 years and I could not have asked for a better job. It is a hard job and I work more the just what I am suppose to but that is because I want the best for the children in the school. I love to see their faces when they come in the morning smiling or if you have a sad face it is my job to figure what is wrong and try to make it right to have a better day. We are not just the teacher during the day we are the nurse, janitor, mother, father, therapist, shoe tier, and many more all these hats are done throughout the day. This is all while you are also teaching a lesson and making sure that 21 students are learning, safe, and attentive. There is no other job like this. There is also no other job as rewarding as being a teacher and watching you kindergarten class leave your room and then 12 years down the road watch the same children graduate and moving onto to college. I will leave you with a Chinese proverb â€Å"Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. † This is what education is all about. Bibliography Gurian, M. (1996). The Wonders of Boys. New York New York: Penguin. Graesser, A. 2009). Journal of Educational Psychology. Journal of Educational Psychology . NYSUT. (2010, June 14). Retrieved 2010, from New York State NYSUT: http://nysut. org/ais/index. html Richard Ogusthorpe. (2009). On the Possible Forms a Relationship Might Take between the Moral Character of a Teacher and the Moral Development of a Student. Teachers College Record, 111(1), 1-26. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Research Library database. Webb, L. D. , Metha, A. Jordan K. F. (2010). Foundations of American Education (6th ed. ). Saddle River, NJ:   Pearson Education Inc How to cite Becoming a Guidance Counselor, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Change in the Method of Accounting Analysis of Case of Cocoa Ltd

Question: Discuss about theChange in the Method of Accountingfor Analysis of Case of Cocoa Ltd. Answer: Introduction The accounting profession plays a crucial role in economic and social development of a country. Therefore, it is customary that the professionals in the field of accounting are abided by the rules and regulations so that compliance with the aspect of ethics and governance in financial reporting is ensured. It has been seen that big companies like Enron, Worldcom, and Tyco failed in surviving after committing frauds in financial reporting (Accounting Degree, 2016). In this context, a discussion on ethics and governance in the field of accounting has been carried out through analysis of Cocoa Ltd case. Principle of Ethics and Governance in Accounting The code of conduct is issued by every country that requires compliance with the principles of integrity and honesty by the professionals in the field of accounting. Further, at the international level, the code of conduct is issued by Internal Federation of Accountants (IFAC) (IFAC, 2006). As per the principles laid down in the code of conduct issued by IFAC, the professional accountants should ensure compliance with the principles of integrity, competence, and prudence, and principle of confidentiality. While discharging their duties, the professional accountants should ensure that they work in the best interest of the stakeholders (IFAC, 2006). However, it is crucial to note that the adequate implementation and adherence to the principles of code of ethics depends upon adequacy of the system of corporate governance in the company (Calder, 2008). The system of corporate governance encompasses rules and procedures framed by the management of the company. These rules and procedures are directed to control the business affairs and manage them in the interest of the stakeholders. Thus, the primary objective of corporate governance is to carry out the business activities in the best interest of different groups of stakeholders such as shareholders, suppliers, lenders, and government (Calder, 2008). The code of ethics requires that the accountant should be free of any inducement and perform their duties ethically. The breach of principles of code of ethics is punishable with high monetary charges and imprisonment, thus, the accountant should avoid indulging in conflicting situations (IFAC, 2006). Analysis of the Case In the current case, the management of Cocoa Ltd seeks to manipulate the financial statements to achieve anterior motives. The company is earning high profits and it is expected that current growth rate will continue for couple of more years. However, it is also expected that after the upcoming two years, the financial performance of the company will turn down. Considering these facts, the management of the company asks the accountant to reduce profits of the current years so that bad financial performance in the future years does not appear as complete collapse to the stakeholders. For the purpose of manipulating the financial statements, the accountant has identified depreciation as the item for adjustment and manipulation. In the current case, the accountant proposes to change the method of depreciation from straight line method depreciation to sum of years digit method without a suitable cause. Finding and Discussion As per the provisions contained in AASB 116, Property, Plant, and Equipment, the depreciation method selected by the management should result in a charge of depreciation which accurately reflects the future economic benefits (AASB, 2016). This implies that whichever method is selected for computation of depreciation, it should provide a charge that complies with the matching concept of accounting. The AASB further provides that change in the method of depreciation is permissible in the later years. However, it should be endeavored that consistency is maintained unless circumstances justify a change in deprecation method (AASB, 2016). There various methods that can be adopted to charge depreciation among the top used are Straight Line Method, Declining Balance Method, and Sum of Years Digit method (Weil, Schipper, Francis, 2013). The choice of method depends upon the managements judgment as to the appropriateness of a particular method in the given circumstances. The straight line method provides same charge for all the years throughout the useful life of the asset. However, in case of declining balance method, the charge of depreciation gets reduced as the years pass. In the later years, the charge of depreciation is reduced significantly due to its been charged on the written down value of the previous year. On the same lines, the Sum of Years Digit Method also provides for lesser charge in the later years (Weil, Schipper, Francis, 2013). The depreciation is one of the crucial most items which have great bearing on the financial performance of the company. Therefore, the change in the method of depreciation could have really a huge impact on the reportable profits of a company. The AASB 116 prescribes that the management of the company should have periodical review of the method of accounting to ensure that it remains relevant (AASB, 2016). Further, it is prescribed that when the management comes across significant changes that provide a hint that the pattern of future economic benefits to be earned from the use of asset has changed, the management should change the method of accounting. In essence, it could be articulated that there must be proper justification for the change in the method of depreciation (AASB, 2016). In the current case of Cocoa Ltd, it has been observed that the management is following straight line method of depreciation and considering now switching to Sum of Years Digit Method. The change in the method of depreciation would increase the depreciation in the initial years resulting in lowering the profitability. Whereas, the depreciation charge in the later years would be decreased resulting in enhancement in the profitability. There is no proper justification for the change in the method of accounting apart from achieving the anterior motives (AASB, 2016). The management just wants to do window dressing on the financial statements so as to keep the investors with the company. Changing the method of accounting in the absence of proper reason would be violating the provisions of the accounting framework. The AASB 116 requires proper discloser in regard to the change in the method of accounting by way of a note to the financial statements. Non-compliance with these provisions of the accounting standard clearly shows that the accountant is departing from her duties (AASB, 2016). Further, it was observed that the accountant of Cocoa Ltd agreed to carry out changes in the method of accounting on the request of management because she was concerned about renewal of her contract with the company. Thus, the accountant went into conflict of interest situation. In this situation, the accountant should not have agreed to carry the managements wishes. Changing the method of accounting just to manipulate the presentation of the financial statements is violating of the provisions of AASB 116 (AASB, 2016). Further, it also shows that the governance mechanism in the company is also quite weak. There must be adequate reporting and authorization system in the company so that unethical conducts are identified and rectified at the early stages (Lessambo, 2016). Carrying out business affairs in an unethical manner would affect all the stakeholders adversely. The investors will lose faith in the company on revelations of the breach of code of ethics and corporate governance principles. Conclusion From the discussion carried out in this paper, it may be concluded that the compliance with the code of ethics and rules and procedures of corporate governance is crucial to achieve the objectives and long term goals. The change in the method of depreciation as requested by the management of Cocoa Ltd is completely unjustified and violating the principles of AASB 116. Therefore, the accountant should not agree to change the method of accounting without a proper justification. References AASB 116. 2016. Property, Plant, and Equipment. Retrieved December 19, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB116_07-04_COMPjun14_07-14.pdf Accounting Degree. 2016. The ten worst corporate accounting scandals of all times. Retrieved December 19, 2016, from https://www.accounting-degree.org/scandals/ Calder, A. 2008. Corporate Governance: A Practical Guide to the Legal Frameworks and International Codes of Practice. Kogan Page Publishers. IFAC. 2006. Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. Retrieved December 19, 2016, from https://www.ifac.org/system/files/publications/files/ifac-code-of-ethics-for.pdf Lessambo, F. 2016. The International Corporate Governance System: Audit Roles and Board Oversight. Springer. Weil, R.L., Schipper, K., Francis, J. 2013. Financial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods and Uses. Cengage Learning.