Research countering the student-teacher ratio effect Essay Example for Free

Research countering the student-teacher ratio effect Essay Graddy and Steven (2005) examines several studies of secondary school performances throughout the U. K. and concluded that there is little to no effect of the student-teacher ratio on the achievement of students. Borland, Howsen Trawick (2005) also found no noticeable connection between student achievement and either reduced or enlarged class sizes. The Congressional Budget Office presented results and analysis of 1986 SAT scores. Analysis revealed a relationship between student performance and student-teacher ratios. Lower student-teacher ratios were consistent with lower SAT scores (as cited in Hanushek, 2000). School size, which is another important consideration that also affects the student-teacher ratio, does not demonstrate an effect on student performance either, according to Lamdin (1995). There is also very little long-term effect of student-teacher ratio on student performance and lifelong achievement. Though Vignoles (1998) found a slight correlation between student-teacher ratio and student performance on O Levels exams in the United Kingdom, the observed effect was so small as to be insignificant. In fact he argues that true effect on student achievement is actually non-existent. This conclusion is based on the finding that the effect of a lower student-teacher ratio was not reflected in later years on the job market and in terms of earnings 17 years later. True achievement, he argues, is measured not by the standard of achievement tests, but by later success in life. He safely concludes therefore that there is no true effect of class size on student accomplishments. Schweitzer (1991) suggests that moves by institutions to decrease the pupil-teacher ratio are counterproductive and will only result in additional government spending with little effect on student performance. He believes that the old-fashioned method of â€Å"hard work on the part of the student, good teaching by the faculty, and strong motivation by both† (Schweitzer, 1991, p. 297) are the key ingredients to improved student achievement. Thus, as Gursky (1998) surmises, there is very little magic to class size or student-teacher ratio. Some researchers have proposed that the optimal size for any classroom is between 15 and 17 students. What the research is confirming is that there is presently very little in the way of consensus on the issue of whether or not reduced student-teacher ratios result in improved student performance. In the comprehensive review conducted by Hanushek (2000), 14% of the researches showed that there was a positive relationship between increased student-teacher ratio and a similar 14% found the opposite association. The remaining 72% found the relationship to be too insignificant to matter (p. 5). It is fallacious to suppose that all factors that may impact student performance can be isolated and controlled in order to discover a causal relationship between the variables of lower or higher student-teacher ratios and higher student performance. As researchers such as Hanushek (2000) and Preece (1987) would argue, there are a myriad of home-environmental and societal factors over which the state or school have very little control but which may impact student performance in either direction regardless of existing student-teacher ratios. Without a doubt the family background from which the students come plays a significant role in impacting achievement. Dustmann et al. (2003) proposes that the financial resources of the family, the quality time parents spend with children, the size of the family, a child’s birth order and the interest the parent shows in the child’s performance are important in analyzing factors that influence success in school. The socioeconomic context and location in which the child resides could also be a constraining factor. Preece (1987) adds that another factor, the heterogeneous nature of the classroom could be a significant key in understanding student achievement. He proposes that more homogeneous classrooms foster a better learning environment for students, regardless of class size or student-teacher ratios. Research has not proven either side of the debate but has demonstrated the possible merits of both. Educators seem determined, despite the lack of evidence to support the claim, to reduce the student-teacher ratios in an effort to impact student achievement. These educators are not completely misguided in their position however. It is a combination of factors too complicated to isolate that determines the how well each student achieves individually. Reduced class sizes have not proven to be harmful to any significant extent and thus existing policies to continue to reduce the student-teacher ratios cannot possibly do any notable amount of harm. ferences Alspaugh, J. W. (1994, Summer). The relationship between school size, student teacher ratio and school efficiency. Education, 114(4), 593-601. Borland, M. V., Howsen, R. M. Trawick, M. W. (2005, Mar). An investigation of the effect of class size on student academic achievement. Education Economics, 13(1), 73-83. Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Association of School Executives Colorado Education Association. (n. d. ). Believe in a better Colorado. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www. believeinabettercolorado. org/images Dustmann, C. , Rajah, N. van Soest, A. (2003, Feb). Class size, education, and wages. Economic Journal, 113(485), F99-F149. Ehrenberg, R. G. , Brewer, D. J. , Gamoran, A. Willms, J. D. (2001, Nov). Does class size matter? Scientific American, 285(5), 78-85. Graddy, K. Stevens, M. (2005, Apr). The impact of school resources on student performance: A study of private schools in the United Kingdom. Industrial Labor Relations Review, 58(3), 435-451. Gursky, D. (1998, Oct). Class size does matter. Education Digest, 64(2), 15-18. Hanushek, E. A. (2000, Aug). Evidence, politics, and the class size debate. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www. utdallas. edu/research/tsp/pdfpapers/paper19. PDF Lamdin, D. J. (1995, Apr). Testing for the effect of school size on student achievement within a school district. Education Economics, 3(1), 33-42. Morisi, T. L. (1994, Jul). Employment in public schools and the student-to-employee ratio. Monthly Labor Review, 117(7), 40-44. National Center for Education Statistics. (2001, Sep). Elementary and secondary school enrollment. Education Statistics Quarterly, 2(2). Retreived November 19, 2007 from, http://nces. ed. gov/programs/quarterly/Vol_2/2_2/q3-3. asp Preece, P. F. (1987, Jul/Aug). Class size and learning: A theoretical model. Journal of Educational Research, 80(6), 377-379. Sable J. Garofano, A. (2007, Jun). Public elementary and secondary school student enrollment, high school completions, and staff from the common core of data: School year 2005-06. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from, http://nces. ed. gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo. asp Schweitzer, T. T. (1991, Summer). Collective bargaining, teachers, and student achievement: Comment. Journal of Labor Research, 12(3), 297-298. Vignoles, A. (1998, May). Raising standards in our schools: Does class size really matter? Economic Outlook, 22(3), 18-23.

The Progression of Gender Roles in American Society Essay -- Gender Ro

The Progression of Gender Roles in American Society Throughout life every man and woman fits into a specific gender role. We are told what is expected of men and women from birth until death. Many people influence our view of how we should act and what we should say such as our parents, friends, and even the media. Males and females play very different roles and these differences are apparent in our every day lives. These differences are not the same as they used to be. Society has changed the way it treats men and women over time. Around the beginning of the 20th century men and women had very specific gender roles. Women in the past were usually looked at as the homemaker types. Very few women had jobs of any type during this time period. Women usually stayed home and cared for children and cared for the home. At this time women had no voting rights either. They were practically a man’s property. Men of this time period also played a different role than they do today. The males of this era made all of the money for the household. They were the ones who went to work and provided for the family. They were looked upon as the head of the family and were expected to act as such. Males were also the ones who voted, so all of the leaders around this time were elected by men. Women are still expected to care for the children and take care of the home, but it is more acceptable these days for a man to take a more active role in sharing those types of responsibil...

Organizational Goals Essay

Organizational goals are crucial to success in the workplace. This paper entails how to incorporate organization and goals into the workplace and the benefits it secures. The first step to running a successful company is to ensure proper organizational planning has taken place. Proper planning is an obvious route that allows a manager to prepare for and foresee any future issues. Setting goals and markers ensure that all departments are working within expected time restraints and budgeting time effectively. Planning enables a manager to predict how much time and energy needs to be spent on specific tasks and prioritize as well as anticipate upcoming hiccups and take preventative measures. Managers can often reflect back on previous blunders to learn from prior mistakes, and take actions to prevent them from happening again. Planning is often the manager’s responsibility, but the entire department is accountable for their productivity and therefore need to be honest and realistic when considering strategies and creating a game plan. â€Å"Planning and controlling are inseparable parts of the management system. Standards are set in planning, and the controlling system uses those standards to identify and correct problems.† Reilly, M., Minnick, C., & Baack, D. (2011). A manager should call a weekly meeting to review the past set goals and redistribute work when necessary. At these meetings a manager will assess how much time has been assigned to tasks and assist the team in any errors or mishaps that may come along. The manager is then able to realistically see how much time is being allotted to individual assignments and revise as necessary. The team can use this time to see the big picture and express any concerns or issues they have with the work thus far. The team should maximize the time spent in this meeting to ensure their responsibilities are well understood and any lapses in communication is put to rest. Once a team is in understanding of the assignments they are aware of what is expected of them and can divide the workload amongst the team and work at maximum efficiency. Setting realistic expectations and goals are crucial to providing an operational plan. Goals clarify performance expectations, establish a frame of reference for feedback, and provide a basis for self-management (Reilly, Minnick, Baack, 2011).Both parties need to be aware of their expectations in order to operate with little oversight and micromanaging. With a solid plan in place, a manager is able to expect a smooth road to completion and the team is able to work independently to complete their tasks reducing the amount of time wasted in communication breakdowns, fusses over workloads, and incompetence. Once a plan is in place, the second most important step is the art of organizing. Without a solid foundation of organization even the best planning can be worthless. Organization is an essential tool contributing to the success in business. Knowing your team and their abilities is the first step. Directing a team is the manager’s responsibility and in order to direct a team effectively, one must understand their team’s strengths and weaknesses. A manager must be able to rely on their workers and have full confidence in their abilities. One mistake often seen in the workplace is lack of organization. Knowing where and how the information you rely on as well as the materials you need will save you time, energy and stress. A vital role in organizing is ensuring your staff is well assigned to their duties and responsibilities therefore eliminating time wasted. Materials need to be made available to employees to implement their plans and provide a well-organized flow of work. Employee organization is fundamental when assigning tasks and projects. In most professions it needs to be clear on who is running what project and where they are able to seek help as well as distribute work they are unable to handle. Working within deadlines means that everything needs to run smoothly because time is not often a luxury. Often plans can go awry; and when that happens the most productive employees are the ones who know how to â€Å"put a fi re out† as well as who to seek in case of a problem; in other words, a well-organized employee. â€Å"Planning and controlling are inseparable parts of the management system. Standards are set in planning, and the controlling system uses those standards to identify and correct problems.† Reilly, M., Minnick, C., & Baack, D. (2011). Setting realistic company standards and ensuring your meeting those standards with regular meetings and oversight are great ways to ensure your planning for success. Overseeing goals and employee performance regularly can lead to new and more efficient planning processes. Giving extra attention to what processes have worked in the past and adjusting workloads accordingly are great ways to ensure that a company is planning and organizing for the future. This type of planning and organizing helps keep the company up to maximum potential. Rewarding quality work and adjusting where improvements can be made help keep the company on track and moving towards positive goals and benchmarks. When considering all the planning and organizing we need to remember that the absolute failsafe is hiring and staffing capable and competent employees. The first step to strategic staffing is identifying needs. Assess what positions are crucial to the company’s overall functions. (Carabelli, 2011) Hiring and employing a staff that’s capable and proficient directly reflects your department’s abilities and reliability. Staff planning for your department is maintaining, balancing, and preparation for a company’s human assets. Companies need to be able to retain workers that prove valuable and balance the overall skill and talent so that there are no shortages or surpluses. Shortages and surpluses of work talent can create unhappy workers or lower motivation while maintaining worker production in the case of a surplus. Preparation is perhaps the most important aspect as far as helping achieve organizations strategic objectives. Let’s compare a company t o a baseball team. In order to be successful, you need a team made up of a balance of different talents. You can’t have all pitchers, because you’re team most likely won’t bat well. If you have too many outfielders, some will have to sit the bench or play in the infield where they make more errors. A speedy player with great bunting skill is a huge weapon in key situations, but if you had a whole lineup of bunter’s teams would guard against it and make you play to your weaknesses because there is no balance. With the right balance of talent in each area of the team, offense, defense, pitching, etc., a team will be most effective. That’s why teams have to strategize what players to bring in or sign, they need to plan how to have a balance of good talent and put in them in the best position to make the most successful team. Companies are very similar; they analyze talent and try to create the best balance and mix of it under a budget to succeed. Organizing a team is a c rucial part of planning for success. A few loose cannons or lazy workers can create a world of chaos in an already stressful work environment and therefore careful selection as well as assessing work relationships among employees is vital. Employees’ who work well together will communicate more effectively, be more willing to work as a team and help each other out, as well as distribute work evenly and fair. Positive interoffice relations are important because the work flow is such a delicate process and a simple breakdown in communication can be fatal to a time sensitive project. People need to be able to rely on one another and be able to work with, as well as over and under their team. Recruiting quality staff isn’t easy, and although someone may be qualified, they need to be manageable. Someone with an oversized ego may be overqualified but difficult to work with. Another common issue in my workplace is someone feeling overworked and underappreciated. Employees should feel as if they are each pulling t heir weight and working together for the final project. If an employee feels abused or neglected they often perform under par and can therefore cause a weak link within your department. Rewarding quality work and adjusting where improvements can be made help keep the company on track and moving towards positive goals and benchmarks. Company moral is important when considering a happy employee is a fruitful employee. Ensuring employees feel validated and appreciated isn’t easy, but a manager who oversees their staff regularly and meets often is more aware of the employee’s issues and can help to resolve them before becoming a problem. A manager who often addresses any employee concerns when conducting weekly goals and actualization of projects can help prevent putting additional stress or strain on the team by correcting the issues before they become a major issue. Employee retention is an essential goal for a company and in order to achieve that goal one must consider the reasons employees succeed. Erg is a theory constructed of needs. The abbreviation E stands for existence needs. Existence needs are physical and material welfare needs. These existenc e needs are met with basic life motivators such as food, clothing and shelter. Often these are easily met but must be considered when regarding motivators. The abbreviation R stands for: Relatedness needs. The relatedness needs are â€Å"wants for satisfying interpersonal relationships.† (Schermerhorn, 2012) Ensuring an employee has their relatedness met is important because a healthy work/life balance is a great way to ensure a happy and content employee. The abbreviation G stands for: â€Å"Growth needs are desires for continued personal growth and development.†(Schermerhorn, 2012) This is the true motivator in manager’s eyes. Giving the opportunity for advancement in the workplace is a great way to motivate employees as well as better train and develop yours staff. There are no losers in this approach and therefore a top leader choice. Most employees succeed when they are well trained and developed for their roles. An employee who has confidence and the ability to do their job well; will often find satisfaction within their job and take pride in their work. When developing an employee; management can play a major role in aiding the employee to better educate and further train themselves therefore becoming more of a company asset. â€Å"Boosting motivation within an organization is a great way to keep things moving in a positive, efficient, and effective manner.† (Yousesef, 2012) Employees who are well educated and feel as if their company is willing to support them in furthering their education will often stay with a company rather than outgrow their position. Someone who was hired in an administrative position might educate themselves further to create more opportunity within their workplace and adding skills to their resume. Ensuring the staff is well maintained, trained, and motivated is a great way to realize your goals to the best of your abilities. Employees need to be well trained and efficient as well as willing to be developed to the best of the companies abilities. Developing employees is a great way to boost company moral because it shows the managers are aware of the hard work put forth by an employee and reward that with additional resources, attention, and opportunity. Continual training is a great way to see that your staff is operating at maximum potential. Knowledge is power and a more knowledgeable staff is a more powerful staff. On the job training can be used in downtime to further develop evolving employees and help them reach their full capabilities. When evaluating to see if education and training is effective testing and feedback are great ways to assess if the investment has held value. If an employee enriches themselves through training and therefore bring more to the table for the company, the company made a good investment. If the employee was incapable of learning from the training the company may want to reconsider investing any more time and money into training someone not able to make the most from the opportunity. Employees who value the opportunity and see it as a wager in their favor will take the opportunity seriously and put forth a solid effort to make the most from it. People who appreciate and value their jobs and wish to create a future within the company will put forth the effort, dedication, and commitment to further development. By creating a team that is fully capable, educated, motivated, and happy; you are planning for success. Retaining high aspirations and goals are great for workplace organization and planning, but within moderation. Creating a plan and sticking to it is easier said than done. Adjusting your plan as needed when hiccups do arise is key. Often; when plans fail people lose patience and faith. Planning can be frustrating, but understanding how the plan failed is important when considering how to plan for the future. REFERENCE: Schermerhorn, J., Osborn, R., Uhl-Bien, M., & Hunt, J. (2012). Organizational behavior. (12th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN: 9780470878200 Reilly, M., Minnick, C., Baack, D. (2011). The Five Functions of Effective Management. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Carl Carabelli, Demand Media. â€Å" What Are Some Overall Strategic Staffing Functions?† Houston Chronicle. (2012) Hearst Communications Youssef, C. (2012). Human resource management. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Analysis Of The Book Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By...

Name- Marlene Hight Date-10/7/16 Period-4 MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Author: Mark Twain Date of Publication: 1999 Genre: Satire Explain what makes this work an example of this genre. Explain what makes this work an example of this genre. Satire means to use irony, humor or exaggeration to show the context of society.I think that Twain uses Satire to compare the irony of life back then as it is today. Biographical Information about the Author: (include relevant reasons for writing work) -Born: November 30, 1835 -Died: April 21, 1910 Pen name: Mark Twain Real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens Born in Florida, Missouri, Samuel Langhorne Clemens also known as Mark Twain was born November 30th, 1835. About four years after Clemens was born, his family and himself moved east 35 miles to Hannibal, a port city along the bay. As a young kid, Clemens contained poor health, and so he was to be kept inside most times; however, when Clemens reached the age of 9, he had recovered from his poor health, and attended a private school in Hannibal. At age 12, Clemens father had passed away due to pneumonia, and by age 13, had to leave school to be a writers assistant. At age 17, Clemens left his school, and moved from Hannibal. Soon after, he had gotten his license as a river pilot, and soon developed Mark Twain which means safe to navigate. In 1870, Twain married and had 4Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1303 Words   |  6 Pagesare slaves. In the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck and Jim travel down the Mississippi river, and encounter a lot of the aspects of the antebellum south. Because of the society Huck has grown up in, he often overlooks his traveling companion, Jim. Throughout the story, Twain creates a division, that widens as the story evolves, between how Huck views Jim and how the reader views Jim as a person. This theme happens in almost every part of the book and it is very clearRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pagesyourself another†. TAG (Title, author, genre): The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain, satire full of adventure Context/Background: The story follows a teenager boy as he sets off on an adventure with Jim, a runaway slave. Together, they overcome a variety of obstacles and experience what it’s like to go off in the real world. Thesis: Throughout the novel, Mark Twain frequently Southern society through the use of satire. By doing so, Twain ridicules hypocrisy when he satirizes Miss WatsonRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1917 Words   |  8 PagesStereotype in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Civilization evolves over time, trading old ideas for new ones. Society grows in intellect and innovation. Though, despite the heights that humanity has soared, impurity still remains. Regardless of the best efforts, millennia of oppression have ingrained the tendency to hate into the psyche of man, despite centuries of reform. Racism continues to propagate every corner of the globe. Yet, in his modern American novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark TwainRead MoreHuckleberry Finn and the use of Satire Essay1109 Words   |  5 Pages Huck Finn and the use of Satire Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been controversial ever since its release in 1884. It has been called everything from the root of modern American literature to a piece of racist trash. Many scholars have argued about Huck Finn being prejudiced. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses satire to mock many different aspects of the modern world. Despite the fact that many critics have accused Mark Twain’s novel of promoting racismRead Morehuck finn introduction7490 Words   |  30 Pages Huckleberry Finn’s Road to Maturation Huck states to Judge Thatcher Please take it, and dont ask me nothing—then I wont have to tell no lies† (16). That quote is said by Huck to Judge Thatcher when Huck finds his pap is in town and pap will try to take his money. The Maturation of Huckleberry Finn is important because its about Huck making the right decisions to help him and Jim to freedom. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, begins with Huck introducing himself. He is wild andRead MoreAnalysis Of Mark Twain s Works Made A Huge Impact On Readers And Literary Critics1288 Words   |  6 Pages2/26/17 P:2 Outline Mark Twain’s works made a huge impact on readers and literary critics. His writing occurred during both the romantic and realist time eras in American Literature. He has simple, seemingly artless narrators and an understated style leads readers to arrive at the social commentary of his narratives on their own. Mark Twain’s writing influenced society because he created a new perspective on life with the views pointed out in his books. The distinctive trait of Twain s was his senseRead MoreAnalysis Of Mark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn And Henry James1557 Words   |  7 Pagesmisjudgment between Americans and exotic immigrants. Those famous authors like Mark Twain and Henry James wrote down social and psychological transformations bring out in the nation by creating removed, impartial status of daily life. In order to bring readers to be fascinated and thoughtful by their novels and to depict their character and the reader’s setting to life, Mark Twain in the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Henry James showed the reality of life in his story Daisy Miller. There areRead More Huck Finn Essay900 Words   |  4 Pages Tim Lively Critical Analysis: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Setting: Late 1800’s along the Mississippi River Plot: When the book begins, the main character, Huck Finn possesses a large sum of money. This causes his delinquent lifestyle to change drastically. Huck gets an education, and a home to live in with a caring elderly woman (the widow). One would think that Huck would be satisfied. Well, he wasn’t. He wanted his own lifestyle back. Huck’s drunkard father (pap), who had previouslyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1854 Words   |  8 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a one of a kind novel. The novel has been debated as controversial since it has been published in 1986. It has been considered racist, due to the â€Å"n† word. In its earlier days, racist people felt this book was a disgrace, because of the mingling of the two main characters. Among all of the negative comments, this book is truly a ma sterpiece. It is an unforgettable and enjoyable book for everyone to learn and scrutinize; it contains a multitude ofRead MoreHuck Finn Essay1835 Words   |  8 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain By Brenda Tarin British Literature 2323 Lois Flanagan January 27, 2009 Tarin ii I. Introduction II. Biographical sketch of author A. Past to present B. Experiences and achievements III Plot analysis A. analysis of plot structure 1. Exposition 2. Complication 3. Crisis 4. Climax 5. Resolution B. Theme of plot IV