Popular Music Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s, Rock And Roll

Popular Music Popular music is: "music that is enjoyed by the largest possible audience." It includes country music, folk music, rhythm and blues ( R musical comedy, jazz, marches, rock n' roll, and ragtime. Popular music is primarily listened to by young people. In his book, Sound Effects, Simon Frith said that popular music has been about growing up, and that it has been like this since the beginning of the century.1 However, the popular music industry is based largely on the sale of records. However, popular music can also do many great things for society. Harry Belafonte once said "A funny thing happened to the world in 1985, it cared."2 In the 1980's, many benefit concerts such as Live Aid and USA for Africa were held to raise money for people who were in need of help. Other benefits such as Hands Across America and Farm Aid showed that the listeners could get involved too. Popular music reflects the outlook of the listeners of that time period. The death of friends and family members during the first world war hardened people very much and this was reflected in the lifestyle of the twenties. There was much women's suffrage during this time. People began to smoke and drink more often, and generally became more irresponsible. Jazz had much musical freedom. It represented the way many people were feeling. Not everyone was smoking and drinking too much though. Many people still continued to lead highly respectable lives. For these people were the conventional songs. The big stage musical of 1921 was 'Blossom Time' which hit song was called 'Song Of Love.' This kind of song made people happy, something that was much needed in this post- war time.3 The teenagers of the twenties, on the other hand, were said to be carefree. 'Ain't We Got Fun?' by Dick Whitings was said to be a perfect theme song for that generation.4 The young people of that time were not experiencing the same kind of grief as the slightly older people. Many things happened in the 1920's. First of all, radio was beginning to gain much power. Many things were happening in baseball. And fun- loving Ouija boards were becoming very popular. Most of the songs of the 1920's were considered proper, however there was protest over the song "If I Met The Guy Who Made This Country Dry," by Jerome- Harry ven Tilzer. There were also the conventional songs with ballads and old-fashioned waltzes. Overall, the 1920's had good songs and lyrics in popular music with much emphasis on the musical stage.6 The great depression started in the 1930's. Because of this not many people could afford to buy records. But something new emerged out of the darkness. It was the radio. People could listen all they wanted, for free. People began to stop listening to the records and depended on their trusty radio. And not only could they tune into their favorite songs, but also hear the news and other forms of entertainment. During the 1920's, at least 40 million records were sold each year. During the early 30's, about one fourth of that amount had been sold. During this time big groups of jazz musicians started to play together. It was during the swing era and was known as the Big Band era. The songs were very optimistic and could bring up the mood of the listeners, who, at this time were very depressed.7 Swing music had a very loose feeling sound. It became more popular with the popularity of the radio. Duke Ellington once said in a song "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got swing." The soloists in Duke Ellington's band were said to be "Very individualistic, playing clarinet cries, saxophone moans, and trumpet grows to his hundreds of compositions."8 One of the leaders of swing was Fletcher Henderson who organized a successful "big commercial" band. In his bands were both white and black musicians. This took away many racial tensions many people were having, by making everyone equal.9 During the thirties many people immigrated to the United States. With them they brought the music from their country. This had great influence on American music. Some immigrant composers taught music or performed in orchestras. Some even

Review the education system essays

Review the education system essays Education is the essence of life. The primitive man was no better than a wild animal but that same man has now become dignified and coherent to a great extent only due to education. Education helps us throughout our life. An educated person is better equipped to face any kind of dangers or difficulties that come his way at various stages of life. He not only understands the problems better but is also able to derive more logical and enhanced solutions to the problems. An educated person knows his rights and duties and so does not sustain any wrongs done to him. Education being so important is given full attention to in India too. In India, the two most recognized patterns of secondary education are the CBSE and ICSE. Both of these are organizations that affiliate the voluntary institutions to the board. The affiliated schools are then required to follow a given syllabus that is the same countrywide. The students are then assessed by means of question papers provided which are prepared by the experts of the respective fields. This education system is somewhat good as the students are evaluated at national level and in a set pattern. But the system has more cons than pros. The worst is the presence of two boards itself. The problem is that an institute affiliated to a certain board considers any student of the other board to be below par of a student who is scoring the same in their board. This leads to the students being spellbound to a certain board and reduces the alternates available for higher education. Another problem is the syllabus. It is far too wide in scope and results in the students ending up studying all day and night long. This in turn starts to affect the health of the students. The syllabus has now, in many terms, become obsolete and the students are thus forced to study heaps of matter about topics that will by far not be of any use besides in school life. A definite solution to this is th ...

The Complete List of Nora Roberts Books

The Complete List of Nora Roberts Books Nora Roberts releases several new romance novels every year, making her one of the most prolific authors of our time. She is continually adding to a number of series and has published more than 200 novels- some sweet, some suspenseful, and some fantasy. Roberts has regularly hit the  New York Times  bestseller list since 1999. Thanks to her dedicated fans and the fact that she was an early pioneer in communicating with them online, it is rare that a new release does not hit that esteemed book list. In fact, starting in 1999, every Nora Roberts book has made it. Known for writing compelling series and trilogies, Roberts is adept at telling stories that almost force you to hunt down the next title. Her In Death series is closing in on 50 titles. It is a detective romance series written under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb Books by Year Roberts started writing during a blizzard in 1979. It forced her two sons to stay home from school, and she was on the verge of going stir crazy. Though her writing may have started out as a creative escape, it quickly turned into a long and lasting career. If youre looking for her earliest work, she published six titles within the first two years of her debut. This volume for a new author is astounding in itself and is just a prelude to the amount of work she would produce in the coming decades. 1981: Irish Thoroughbred (Irish Hearts)1982: Blithe Images1982: Song of the West1982: Search for Love1982: Island of Flowers1982: The Hearts Victory 1983: The Legacy Begins In 1983, Roberts began a legacy of publishing many books each year. It would set the pace for her entire career. Also, if youre going to read Reflections, be sure to follow up with Dance of Dreams, because the stories are connected. From This DayHer Mothers KeeperReflectionsDance of DreamsOnce More With FeelingUntamedTonight and AlwaysThis Magic Moment 1984: A Prolific Year An interesting year for Roberts, in 1984 the author produced a variety of single books, and it was one of her most prolific years. She would not debut her first series until 1985. Endings and BeginningsStorm WarningSullivans WomanRules of the GameLess of a StrangerA Matter of ChoiceThe Law Is a LadyFirst ImpressionsOpposites AttractPromise Me Tomorrow 1985: Meet "The MacGregors" In 1985, Roberts debuted one of her most successful series. The MacGregors includes 10 novels, starting with Playing the Odds and ending up with 1999s The Perfect Neighbor. The characters have been featured in other novels throughout the years as well. Playing the Odds (The MacGregors)Tempting Fate (The MacGregors)All the Possibilities  (The MacGregors)One Mans Art  (The MacGregors)PartnersThe Right PathBoundary LinesSummer Desserts  Night MovesDual Image 1986: A Good Year for Follow-Up Novels If you read Summer Desserts, then you have to follow it with 1986s Lessons Learned to get the rest of the story. Also, Second Nature and One Summer should be read in succession.   The Art of DeceptionAffaire Royale (Cordinas Royal Family)Second NatureOne SummerTreasures Lost, Treasures FoundRisky BusinessLessons LearnedA Will and a WayHome for Christmas 1987: Meet "Cordina's Royal Family" In 1986, Roberts introduced us to Cordinas Royal Family with the release of Affaire Royale. Two books in that series followed the next year, though the fourth would not be released until 2002 under the title Cordinas Crown Jewel. If you happen to pick up Sacred Sins, youll also want to read 1988s Brazen Virtue, as the two are connected. For Now Forever (The MacGregors)Mind Over MatterCommand Performance (Cordinas Royal Family)The Playboy Prince  (Cordinas Royal Family)Hot IceTemptationSacred Sins   1988: The Year of the Irish Roberts must have had Ireland on her mind because in 1988 she turned her debut novel into a series that would be known as Irish Hearts. Yet, youll also find these volumes under the title Irish Legacy Trilogy. It includes Irish Thoroughbred (1981), Irish Rose (1988), and Irish Rebel (2000). The author also spent part of the year introducing us to The OHurleys. After these three novels, you can find them again in 1990s Without a Trace. Local HeroIrish Rose  (Irish Hearts)Brazen VirtueThe Last Honest Woman (The OHurleys)Dance to the Piper  (The OHurleys)Skin Deep  (The OHurleys)Rebellion  (The MacGregors)Name of the GameSweet Revenge 1989: A Trio to Delight Fans To kick off the year, Roberts spent the first few months of 1989 with three connected novels. The first three in this list were written to be read in order. At the end of the year she started another story, so when youre done with Time Was, read Times Change. Loving JackBest Laid PlansLawlessImpulseGabriels AngelThe WelcomingTime Was 1990: Meet "The Stanislaskis" In comparison, it doesnt look as if Roberts had a very productive year. However, she did take some time in March to introduce us to The Stanislaskis. This six-book series would continue regularly through 2001 with the release of Considering Kate. Times ChangeTaming Natasha (The Stanislaskis)Public SecretsWithout a Trace  Ã‚  (The OHurleys)In From the Cold  (The MacGregors) 1991: Meet "The Calhoun Women" Four of the five books in The Calhoun Women series were released in 1991. Anxious fans had to wait until Megans Mate in 1996 for the fifth novel, but today you can fly right through them. Youll also find some of the Calhoun women featured in other novels, especially in 1998. Night Shift (Night Tales)Night Shadows  (Night Tales)Courting Catherine (The Calhoun Women)A Man for Amanda  (The Calhoun Women)For the Love of Lilah  (The Calhoun Women)Suzannas Surrender  (The Calhoun Women)Genuine LiesLuring a Lady  (The Stanislaskis) 1992: The Year of the Donovans If you have not yet read the four novels in the Donovan Legacy, consider this a must. The cousins have special powers that make them extraordinary, and three of the books were published in 1992. The last of the series is Enchanted, published in 1999. Carnal InnocenceCaptivated (Donovan Legacy)Entranced  (Donovan Legacy)Charmed  (Donovan Legacy)Divine EvilUnfinished BusinessHonest Illusions 1993: Just Three New Books It seems as if 1993 was a bit slow for Roberts, but she did continue two of her popular series. Nightshade is the third of five in the Night Tales collection that started with the 1991 release of Night Shift. Falling for Rachel  (The Stanislaskis)Nightshade  (Night Tales)Private Scandals 1994: The Debut of "Born In" Born in Fire was the first release in the Born In trilogy, and its sometimes called the Irish Born trilogy. After that book, be sure to catch Born in Ice (1995) and Born in Shame (1996) to complete the trio. Night Smoke  (Night Tales)Convincing Alex  (The Stanislaskis)Birds, Bees and Babies/The Best Mistake (Mothers Day anthology)Silhouette Christmas/All I Want for Christmas (Christmas anthology)Hidden RichesBorn in Fire (Born In trilogy) 1995: J.D. Robb Makes the First Appearance This was the year Roberts began writing detective romances under the pen name J.D. Robb. She chose the J and D from her sons first initials and took Robb from Roberts. Born in Ice  (Born In trilogy)The Return of Rafe MacKade (The MacKade Brothers)The Pride of Jared MacKade  (The MacKade Brothers)True BetrayalsNaked in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 1)Glory in Death (Robb, In Death No. 2) 1996: Roberts' 100th Book A milestone year, Roberts published her 100th book just shortly after celebrating her first decade of work. Montana Sky, tells the story of three half-sisters who come together for the first time to hear their fathers will be read. Little did they know that their inheritance was dependent on one very specific condition. Megans Mate  (The Calhoun Women)The Heart of Devin MacKade  (The MacKade Brothers)The Fall of Shane MacKade  (The MacKade Brothers)Born in Shame  (Born In trilogy)Daring to Dream (Dream)Montana SkyImmortal in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 3)Rapture in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 4) 1997: Romance Writers Award In 1997, Roberts was awarded the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. In reality, as you can see from the rest of the list, she was just getting started. The MacGregor Brides  (The MacGregors)Hidden Star (Stars of Mithra)Captive Star  (Stars of Mithra)Waiting for Nick  (The Stanislaskis)Holding the Dream  (Dream)Finding the Dream  (Dream)SanctuaryCeremony in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 5)Vengeance in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 6) 1998: The Bestseller Streak Begins Roberts success on the bestseller lists began with Rising Tides. It was her first novel to be an immediate No. 1, a streak that seems as if it will be endless. Serena and Caine (The MacGregors)The MacGregor Grooms  (The MacGregors)The Winning Hand  (The MacGregors)Rising Tides  (Chesapeake Bay Saga)Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay Saga)Lilah and Suzanna (The Calhoun Women)Catherine and Amanda (The Calhoun Women)Once Upon a CastleHomeportSecret Star  (Stars of Mithra)The ReefHoliday in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 7)Midnight in Death (short story, Robb, In Death No. 7.5) 1999: Meet the "Gallaghers of Ardmore" For the second year in a row, Roberts was on a roll. She published a number of books and introduced readers to the Gallaghers of Ardmore in the process. This trilogy would wrap up in 2000. Inner Harbor  (Chesapeake Bay Saga)The Perfect Neighbor  (The MacGregors)The MacGregors: Daniel IanThe MacGregors: Alan GrantJewels of the Sun (Gallaghers of Ardmore)Enchanted  (Donovan Legacy)Once Upon a StarRivers EndConspiracy in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 8)Loyalty in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 9) 2000: The Finales for Popular Series Some fan favorites continued in 2000. This included the finale for Night Tales, Gallaghers of Ardmore, and Irish Hearts. This year also saw the first of three books in the Three Sisters Island series. The Stanislaski Brothers: Convincing Alex/Luring a LadyNight Shield  (Night Tales)Tears of the Moon  (Gallaghers of Ardmore)Heart of the Sea  (Gallaghers of Ardmore)Irish Rebel  Ã‚  (Irish Hearts)Carolina MoonDance Upon the Air (Three Sisters Island)Witness in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 10)Judgment in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 11) 2001: A Hardcover Bestseller In November of 2001, Roberts officially moved from best-selling paperback to the top of the hardcover list. The book Midnight Bayou was her first to go right to No. 1 in this edition. Considering Kate  (The Stanislaskis)Once Upon a RoseHeaven and Earth  (Three Sisters Island)The VillaMidnight BayouChesapeake Blue (Chesapeake Bay Saga)Betrayal in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 12)Interlude in Death  (novella, Robb, In Death No. 12.5)Seduction in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 13) 2002: Cordina's Finale In 2002, we saw the final novel in the Cordinas Royal Family series as well as other memorable single books. It also marked the release of Summer Pleasure, a two-in-one reissue of the popular Second Nature and One Summer from 1986. Once Upon a DreamSummer PleasuresFace the Fire  (Three Sisters Island)Cordinas Crown Jewel  (Cordinas Royal Family)Three FatesReunion in Death (Robb, In Death No. 14)Purity in Death (Robb, In Death No. 15) 2003: "The Key Trilogy" Begins The Key trilogy made its debut in November 2003. This was a series that fans didnt have to wait for. The second and third volumes followed monthly, ending with Key of Valor in January. This is significant because rarely have all three books in a series hit the bestseller list simultaneously. Key of Knowledge (The Key)Key of Light (The Key)Nora Roberts CompanionOnce Upon a MidnightRemember WhenBirthrightPortrait in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 16)Imitation in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 17) 2004: "In the Garden Trilogy" Debuts What started in the previous year saw the final novel in The Key Trilogy in 2004. It also marked the release of Blue Dahlia, first in a trilogy called In the Garden. Blue Dahlia (In the Garden)Northern LightsKey of Valor (The Key)A Little FateDivided  in  Death  (Robb, In Death No. 18)Visions  in  Death  (Robb, In Death No. 19) 2005: Five Fine Novels Roberts finished up the In the Garden trilogy in 2005 and published the popular Blue Smoke. The year also saw her continue the dual release of her In Death series under the J.D. Robb pseudonym, hitting her 20th book. Black Rose  (In the Garden)Red Lily  (In the Garden)Blue SmokeSurvivor in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 20)Origin in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 21) 2006: "Angel's Fall" Wins In 2006, Roberts novel Angels Fall won the Quill Award for Book of the Year. The year is also significant because it saw all three novels of the immensely popular The Circle trilogy released in rapid succession. Bump in the NightAngels FallMorrigans Cross (The  Circle)Dance of the Gods  (The  Circle)Valley of Silence  (The  Circle)Memory in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 22)Born in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 23) 2007: Roberts on Lifetime Four of Roberts novels were adapted into TV movies by Lifetime Television in 2007, and more would follow in subsequent years. Her romantic stories are a perfect fit for the network, and they continue to air regularly. Roberts was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time. High NoonDead of Night AnthologyBlood Brothers  (Sign of Seven)Innocent in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 24)Creation in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 25) 2008: An Award in Her Name The Romance Writers of America renamed their Lifetime Achievement Award after Nora Roberts in 2008. The Hollow  (Sign of Seven)The Pagan Stone  (Sign of Seven)TributeSuite 606  (J.D. Robb and friends anthology)Strangers In Death  (Robb, In Death No. 26)Salvation In Death  (Robb, In Death No. 27) 2009: 400 Million Copies Sold In 2009, Roberts and her books reached a milestone. According to a report from September of that year, there were more than 400 million copies of her books in print. Vision in White (The Bride Quartet)Bed of Roses  (The Bride Quartet)Black HillsPromises in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 28)Kindred in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 29)The Lost  (anthology, including J.D. Robb) 2010: "The Bride Quartet" Wraps Up Started in 2009, the last two novels in The Bride Quartet series were released in 2010. Its another fantastic story that you need to read from beginning to end. Savor the Moment  (The Bride Quartet)Happy Ever After  (The Bride Quartet)The SearchThe Other Side AnthologyFantasy in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 30)Indulgence in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 31) 2011: The Beginnings of "The Inn Boonsboro" It was in 2011 that Roberts debuted her instantly popular The Inn Boonsboro trilogy. Finished off within a year, The Next Always spent weeks at the top of the paperback bestseller lists. Chasing FireThe UnquietThe Next Always (The Inn Boonsboro)Treachery in Death  (Robbs In Death No. 32)New York to Dallas  (Robbs In Death No. 33) 2012: Roberts' 200th Book In 2012, Roberts released her 200th novel. The Witness is a mysterious tale about Abigail Lowery, who lives in seclusion after an encounter with a strange man. Her secret? Well, youll just have to read the book. The WitnessThe Last Boyfriend (The Inn  Boonsboro)The Perfect Hope (The Inn  Boonsboro)Celebrity in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 34)Delusion in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 35) 2013: Introducing the "Cousins O'Dwyer" The Cousins ODwyer trilogy quickly became a hit after the release of Dark Witch. Each of the three novels went straight to the top of the  New York Times  best-seller list. Whiskey BeachTaken in Death (short story in Mirror, Mirror  book)Dark Witch  (The Cousins ODwyer)Calculated in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 36)Thankless in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 37) 2014: The "Cousins" Finale Introduced to Iona Sheehan in the previous year, the cousins trilogy continued in 2014. In the final two,  Branna ODwyer becomes the star, and her work at The Dark Witch shop the center of the action. Shadow Spell  (The Cousins ODwyer No. 2)Blood Magick (The Cousins ODwyer No. 3)The CollectorConcealed in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 38)Festive in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 39) 2015: The 40th "In Death" Book It all began in 1995, and 20 years later, J.D. Robb published her 40th In Death book in 2015. Running at two novels per year, fans began to rely on the releases as something they could expect from Roberts. The LiarDown the Rabbit HoleStars of Fortune (The Guardians)Obsession  in  Death  (Robb, In Death No. 40)Devotion in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 41) 2016: "The Guardians" trilogy Concludes Fantasy abounds in Roberts Guardians trilogy. The series was finished in just over a year, and 2016 saw the series wrap up with what many consider two of the authors most imaginative works. The ObsessionBay of Sighs (The Guardians)Island of Glass (The Guardians)Brotherhood in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 42)Apprentice in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 43) 2017: 222 Books and Counting With the 2017 release of Come Sundown, Nora Roberts list of books hit 222, and Secrets in Death was the 45th In Death title for J.D. Robb. This is an astonishing library from a single author and one of the reasons why  The New Yorker  has called her Americas favorite author. Year One (Chronicles of the One)Come SundownEchoes in Death  (Robb, In Death No. 44)Secrets in Death (Robb, In Death No. 45) 2018: 500 million The second part in a trilogy begun in the dystopian New York City (Year One) was set to follow in late 2018 as well as two more In Death books. There have been 500 million of Nora Roberts books in print. Dark in Death  (Robb, â€Å"In Death† No. 46)Shelter in PlaceLeverage in Death (Robb, â€Å"In Death† No. 47)Of Blood and Bone (â€Å"Chronicles of the One† No. 2) 2019: "In Death" Continues The 48th book in the In Death Eve Dallas series for pseudonym J.D. Robb is scheduled for February 2019. Communications in Death (Robb, In Death No. 48)

Creativity and Innovation in the Development of a Product Assignment

Creativity and Innovation in the Development of a Product - Assignment Example The movement of consumers from chips consumption, to other products with minor fat content, saw a decrease in sales of McCain oven chips. People started associating chips and other non-fresh foods with cancer. This posed a formidable challenge to McCain’s company. They had to devise ways to increase their product front to consumers. At this instance, they needed creativity and innovations of the highest order, to facilitate improved their products. With the phenomenal pressure on the fast food industry, where the media keenly focused on obesity and other health scares that faced the world population, McCain oven chips had to come up with new ways of preparing their chips. Through innovation, McCain oven chips producers came up with a strategy to carry out an extensive campaign. The company linked up with design consultancy Elmwood and advertising agency Beattie, to access methods that it could choose to strengthen its brand value. As a result of this collaboration, the company was able to come up with unique designs for its products. They were successfully able to repackage their products, in a way that indicated their products had less fat content. They used more muted colors that clearly shown that their products were made of unprocessed organic potatoes (Barron, 2009, P.332). By doing this, they successfully eliminated the idea that their products contained high-fat content’s a result; consumers gained the trust on their products. This led to increased sales and product penetration in the UK. Through creativity and innovation, B and Q have been able to gain market dominance in the home improvement sector. It has successfully been able to provide value for money. Immediately B, Q Company identified that the older people were not getting adequate services. They engaged in a fruitful research with Hamlyn Research Centre. Together, they were able to come up with ways  of creating more comprehensive products (I, 2009, P.412).

Case Study in Applied Sport Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case Study in Applied Sport Psychology - Essay Example Somatic symptoms like muscular tension and butterflies in stomach have also been reported by Lucy during the interview. Lucy is an International netball player and plays goal attack. Though she performs well in club matches and training sessions, her performances in all the international matches remain bleak. Lucy is worried of the fact that if she continues to perform in the same way, she would probably have to lose her team’s confidence in her. This condition is leading Lucy to a deeper psychological syndrome. She is gradually losing self-belief and thinks that the coming international tournament due in just 8 months will be her last ever opportunity in the arena of international sports. Lucy finds it difficult to cope up with the pressure of performing well in International matches. She experiences weakness prior to the competition. For the treatment of Lucy, it is important to have a thorough understanding of all her symptoms. Anxiety manifests in many different ways. These symptoms can be broadly classified into Somatic, Behavioral, Emotional, Cognitive and Defensive mechanisms. The physical symptoms of anxiety include chest and muscular pain as reported by Lucy. Behavioral symptoms of anxiety experienced by Lucy include restlessness and pacing. Cognitive behavioral mechanisms like fear inducing thoughts; inability to concentrate and obsessive thinking of failures is leading Lucy to a confusing state of mind. The word ‘anxiety’ stems from the Latin word anxius. Anxiety is a response for a perception of threat, clearly distinguishable from fear, which is understood as a physiological response to a stimulus. The unpleasant sensations result from a stim ulus. John Raglin and Yuri Hanin points out that ‘similar’ stimulus may be ‘perceived as a beneficial challenge to one individual, threatening to another, and neutral to the third’. The cognitive state anxiety has usually a negative effect on the athletic

Childcare Protection in Social Work | Case Study

Childcare Protection in Social Work | Case Study Critically evaluate, the evidence and application of the knowledge and practice skills required in helping children during the enquiry, investigation and assessment phases of childcare and protection work. The objective of this article is to explore the evidence and knowledge, values and skills that social workers use in child protection investigation and assessment. In the course of this commentary and self-evaluation, we will highlight the responsibilities of professionals in social work and: a) articulate the professional role and tasks of social workers and demonstrate an appreciation of the role and tasks of other significant professionals in childcare and protection investigation and assessment b) articulate what social workers understand by interdisciplinary work and their part in this c) articulate the values which inform the practice of social work during inquiry, investigation and assessment, paying particular attention to practice when conflicts arise e) demonstrate an example of anti-discriminatory practice during inquiry, investigation and assessment in relation to at least one of the following: race, gender, disability, poverty, sexuality and religion f) demonstrate effective practice in assessing, planning and evaluating interventions (Moore, 1985) g) convey a knowledge and understanding of models of investigation, assessment and risk analysis in practice h) make effective links between the commentary on the practice of social work and the theoretical bases in relevant literature For our purposes, we would investigate all these aspects of social work blending theory and practice, assessment and investigation and analyze the roles and responsibilities of social workers and their approach towards interdisciplinary collaborative practice. We would also critically evaluate the following case study to show the application and efficacy of knowledge and skills of social workers in childcare and protection work. Case Study: 14-year-old boy from Ireland, arrived in Scotland after being abducted by a man from Dublin. Past history of the boy is given as follows- he had been sexually abused by a neighbour for many years. The case of abuse went to court, the accused man was found not guilty due to lack of evidence. The boy ended up in childrens home and then on the streets in Dublin. He was persuaded by an older man to come to Scotland for better life. The man passed the boy off as his son (as he had no passport) and brought the boy to the UK. Once in the UK the boy was sexually abused by the man, ran off and went to police station. The social worker became involved as responsible and testified in police interview that the boy had learning difficulties. Application of Knowledge and Skills in Social work for Childcare and Protection: Social workers have the objective of improving people’s lives and help people to function in the best possible way within their social environment, helping them to deal with their relationships and solve their personal and family problems. Social workers also deal with issues of domestic and sexual abuse and often provide requisite care in a health related setting. Short-term intervention, community based care and ambulatory services are provided by the social workers and governed by care organizations (Howe, 2005). Child, family and school social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and try to maximize academic achievements of the children and improve family relationships. Social workers help to find foster homes and care services for neglected, abused and abandoned children and address problems of misbehavior, truancy, delinquency and sexual deviation in children and adolescents. Chi ld, family, and school social workers typically work in schools, care settings, individual and family services agencies, or State and local governmental agencies providing social support (Munro, 2002). These social workers that work for children are also known as child welfare social workers, child protective services social workers. Social workers who work with entire families are family services social workers, occupational social workers, or if they work for betterment of aged people they are gerontology social workers. Child protection services are aimed at preventing and protecting children from being harmed through neglect or abuse at home, at school, in the community or in society at large. The Social work department of the UK government contributes to a multi-agency collaborative approach to care and protection of children who are vulnerable and easily exploited and abused. The collaborative efforts of the Police, Health, Education and Housing departments ensure a coordinated response towards the care and protection of children. This is coordinated and supervised by the Child Protection Committee, which follows the legislation noted in the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995 (Francis, 2000). The Department of social work has a specific responsibility for the promotion of child protection and welfare. For protection of children from abuse and neglect, the Social Work Services have the following responsibilities: Supporting families to maintain children within their own home and community where appropriate. Investigating allegations of child abuse. Where necessary, providing appropriate care placements for children. Referring those children who are believed to require compulsory measures of care to adequately protect them to the Reporter to the Childrens Hearing system. Organizing and chairing multi-agency child protection meetings. Coordinating multi-agency child protection plans for those children on the child protection register. One of the most important phases in child protection and care is assessment. In the assessment stage, the needs of children and their families and views of the carers are taken into consideration by the social workers, health professionals, and psychologists who perform the assessment and determine the individual and varied needs and assess how they can be met (Walker, 2003). The social workers, health professionals, housing officers, teachers, the police as well as carers and the children or young people themselves, contribute to a multi-agency assessment of needs. The legislative framework followed for childcare in social work is the Children Scotland Act, 1995 (Francis, 2000), some features of which are discussed later in the context of the case study. Considering the case study of the 14-year-old boy discussed above we evaluate the knowledge and skills of social workers in the investigative, inquiry and assessment phases of child protection work. According to the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995, the following legislative framework was provided if a person is not a natural parent or do not have parental responsibilities. Care or control of child by person without parental responsibilities or parental rights. 5.—(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, it shall be the responsibility of a person who has attained the age of sixteen years and who has care or control of a child under that age, but in relation to him either has no parental responsibilities or parental rights or does not have the parental responsibility mentioned in section 1(1)(a) of this Act, to do what is reasonable in all the circumstances to safeguard the childs health, development and welfare; and in fulfilling his responsibility under this section the person may in particular, even though he does not have the parental right mentioned in section 2(1)(d) of this Act, give consent to any surgical, medical or dental treatment or procedure where— (a)the child is not able to give such consent on his own behalf; and (b)it is not within the knowledge of the person that a parent of the child would refuse to give the consent in question. (2)Nothing in this section shall apply to a person in so far as he has care or control of a child in a school (school having the meaning given by section 135(1) of the [1980 c.44.] Education (Scotland) Act 1980). Views of children. 6.—(1)A person shall, in reaching any major decision which involves— (a)his fulfilling a parental responsibility or the responsibility mentioned in section 5(1) of this Act; or (b)his exercising a parental right or giving consent by virtue of that section, have regard so far as practicable to the views (if he wishes to express them) of the child concerned, taking account of the childs age and maturity, and to those of any other person who has parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child (and wishes to express those views); and without prejudice to the generality of this subsection a child twelve years of age or more shall be presumed to be of sufficient age and maturity to form a view. (2)A transaction entered into in good faith by a third party and a person acting as legal representative of a child shall not be challengeable on the ground only that the child, or a person with parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child, was not consulted or that due regard was not given to his views before the transaction was entered into. Section 6 especially highlights the views of the children in parental rights and responsibilities, so our case study here in which the 14-year-old boy was deliberately brought to Scotland and was forced to live with a man who abused him repeatedly is definitely illegal. Section 6(2) specifically mentions that a person can claim parental responsibility only when there is complete consent by the child. This has again not been the case here. The legislative care procedures for children at risk of harm is as follows: Short-term refuges for children at risk of harm. 38.—(1)Where a child appears— (a)to a local authority to be at risk of harm, they may at the childs request— (i)provide him with refuge in a residential establishment both controlled or managed by them and designated by them for the purposes of this paragraph; or (ii)arrange for a person whose household is approved by virtue of section 5(3)(b) of the [1968 c.49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (provision for securing that persons are not placed in any household unless the household has prescribed approval) and is designated by them for the purposes of this paragraph, to provide him with refuge in that household, for a period which does not exceed the relevant period; (b)to a person who carries on a residential establishment in respect of which the person is for the time being registered (as mentioned in section 61(2) of that Act), or to any person for the time being employed in the management of that establishment, to be at risk of harm, the person to whom the child so appears may at the childs request provide him with refuge, for a period which does not exceed the relevant period, in the establishment but shall do so only if and to the extent that the local authority within whose area the establishment is situated have given their approval to the use of the establishment (or a part of the establishment) for the purposes of this paragraph. Usually when a child, as understood by a young person below the age of 16 is in any risk of harm as in this case study, it is legally required to provide him with shelter and protection at a residential establishment managed by local governmental authorities and social care services. In cases of neglect, abuse or torture this protection is mandatory. Thus the knowledge and skills of social workers to protect any child under 16 is also related to her understanding of legal implications and framework. The initial stage is assessment of the child’s needs followed by inquiry and investigation through background checks and psychological tests in which problems of the child and his background and social environment are analyzed. In this case study, the 14 year old boy is assessed with the help of past history, police records, psychological and medical tests and it was revealed from these procedures that we was not only tortured and abused by the person who took him away from Dublin, but was also suffering from learning disabilities. Thus along with the conditions of neglect and abuse, the child can also be considered disabled and separate legislative procedures have to be considered in this case. For Children with disabilities, the legal implications are as follows: Children affected by disability. 23.—(1)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of section 22 of this Act, services provided by a local authority under that subsection shall be designed— (a)to minimise the effect on any— (i)disabled child who is within the authoritys area, of his disability; and (ii)child who is within that area and is affected adversely by the disability of any other person in his family, of that other persons disability; and (b)to give those children the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible. (2)For the purposes of this Chapter of this Part a person is disabled if he is chronically sick or disabled or suffers from mental disorder (within the meaning of the [1984 c.36.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984). (3)Where requested to do so by a childs parent or guardian a local authority shall, for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of such duties as the authority may have under section 22(1) of this Act (whether or not by virtue of subsection (1) above) as respects the child, carry out an assessment of the child, or of any other person in the childs family, to determine the needs of the child in so far as attributable to his disability or to that of the other person. Assessment of ability of carers to provide care for disabled children. 24.—(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, in any case where— (a)a local authority carry out under section 23(3) of this Act an assessment to determine the needs of a disabled child, and (b)a person (in this section referred to as the carer ) provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for that child, the carer may request the local authority, before they make a decision as to the discharge of any duty they may have under section 2(1) of the [1970 c.44.] Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 or under section 22(1) of this Act as respects the child, to carry out an assessment of the carers ability to continue to provide, or as the case may be to provide, care for that child; and if the carer makes such a request, the local authority shall carry out such an assessment and shall have regard to the results of it in making any such decision. A child is considered to have a disability if he is chronically sick or suffers from some form of mental disorder that stops him from actively participating in normal daily activities. As we have already indicated the three stages of inquiry, investigation and assessment are important in child protection and childcare. In the inquiry and investigation phases, the police and the social workers obtain the history and background of the child. In the assessment phase, health workers, doctors, social workers, carers, and psychologists work together to assess the problem of the child, instances of abuse and the legal implications of the child’s conditions. Assessment of disability, if any, the child’s mental, physical and social problems and the general abilities and health of the child is important (Walker, 2003). Knowledge of legal implications and skills of social work practice and theories on mental health and disabilities are not only useful but also necessary in childca re and protection work. The ethical consideration and values are also considered here by the social worker as anti-discriminatory measures for disability, poverty, race or gender are also taken into consideration (Banks, 2001). A disabled person is entitled to his human rights to be treated equally and any discrimination would come under oppressive or discriminatory practice. It is the responsibility of the social workers to see to it that this is avoided. As we have already indicated a recognition of models and theories of practice, values and ethics of social services and an ability and appreciation of working in a collaborative effort with other professionals in varied fields are the most important characteristics in social work and child protection. Conclusion: In this case study, a 14-year-old boy abused and abducted was brought to UK where he sought the help of police, who according to legal requirements provided him with residential care. The boy was looked after by carers and social workers in the residential care arrangement where his condition was investigated further by the police and his mental and physical conditions were also assessed by social and health workers. In this article we discussed the importance of knowledge and practice skills of social workers relating the values, dilemmas and ethical considerations of childcare and highlighted the importance of legal implications using the relevant clauses in the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995. Bibliography Banks, Sarah. 2001.  Ethics and values in social work /Sarah Banks.  2nd ed.  Basingstoke :Palgrave. Francis, Joe. 2000.  Child protection and social work practice :exploring the impact of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.  University of Edinburgh, Department of Social Work. Howe, David, 2005.  Child abuse and neglect :attachment, development and intervention /David Howe.  Basingstoke :Palgrave Macmillan. Moore, Jean G. 1985.  The ABC of child abuse work /Jean G. Moore.  Aldershot :Gower. Munro, Eileen. 2002.  Effective child protection /Eileen Munro.  London :SAGE. Scourfield, Jonathan. 2002.  Gender and child protection /Jonathan Scourfield ; consultant editor, Jo Campling.  New York :Palgrave Walker, Steven. 2003.  Social work assessment and intervention /by Steven Walker and Chris Beckett.  Lyme Regis :Russell House Publishing. Scottish Local Government Information Unit.  Children (Scotland) Act 1995:a guide.  Scottish Local Government Information Unit,1995. Also see Children Scotland Act, 1995 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ Child Protection – Social work services http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/Social_Work/

Reflective Statement

Introduction This project involved creating a strategic report covering all aspects of the operation of the Walt Disney Group. The report entailed drawing on a relatively broad analysis of the workings of the Walt Disney Group, with each member of the team contributing certain parts of the report, before then coming together to undertake an overall analysis. This reflective statement looks at how I personally worked within the team and any areas that I feel I could improve upon, in the future. The reflective statement will also describe the way in which I worked within the team to assist others and how we dealt with any conflicts which occurred, during the length of the project. Individual Contribution I was personally responsible for specific aspects of the actual research and for writing up the project. At the outset, we sat down with the team to allocate certain areas of work, with a view to meeting regularly to combine our findings and to ensure that the report, as a whole, read as if it were one voice. As the project involved some form of strategic analysis, I was particularly concerned that if each individual simply worked on their own section, it would not come together as a sensible whole (Forsyth, 2009). I personally felt that I took the lead, when it came to communicating amongst the team and also when ensuring that we met up regularly to discuss progress. I myself as one of the other team members took the lead in arranging these meetings. Whilst this was successful, initially, we soon found that other members of the team were not responding to the suggestion of meetings and were not sending their own work in good time, thus creating difficulties amongst the team and also making it harder for me as an individual to complete my element of the project (Boud & Walker 1993) If I were to undertake the project again, I would ensure that, from the outset, much greater emphasis was placed on setting out the full scope of each individual’s work assignment, as it quickly became apparent that each individual within the team was relying on others to undertake their part of the report. Therefore, when one individual was failing to keep pace with the rest of the team, this created a much greater problem than simply one person not â€Å"pulling their weight†. As a relatively strong individual, I would personally put myself forward as more of a co-ordinator, at the outset, to ensure that this lack of cohesion did not happen in future (Jarboe & Witteman, 1996). When we encountered difficulties at the end of the project, with one individual not being available in the few days prior to the deadline, I took on another section of the writing in order to ensure that we were then able to meet the deadline, something which put me under increased personal pressure. Based on the problems that we were having, at that point in time, it was the only reasonable solution available; however, better team management, at an earlier stage when it became apparent that some individuals were not going to make the deadline would have prevented such a high level of personal pressure and this additional workload could then have been spread more evenly. Working with Others and Resolving Conflicts As noted above, it became apparent, as the project progressed, that there were certain key individuals within the team who were becoming increasingly unresponsive to setting up meeting times and were not presenting their work when requested. This could have put the entire project in jeopardy and was exacerbated when one individual was not available at all, in the few days prior to the deadline. The fact that some of the key individuals were not responding to requests for meetings or submitting their work on-time became apparent midway through the project. Yet, action was not positively taken by myself and the other organising team members who were still responding until just a few days before the deadline (Coleman, 2011). Effectively, our approach to dealing with this matter was to ignore it and simply continue with our own activities, something which potentially jeopardised the project in its entirety. With a project of this nature, merely ignoring conflict was not an option. Furthermore, although regular negotiations were attempted by suggesting meeting times, communication between team members had already broken down. In reality, this conflict could have been resolved, at the outset, before any difficulties emerged, by setting out a team leader who was going to be responsible for keeping everybody on track and ensuring that the meetings took place as arranged. As soon as it became apparent that the timeframe for the project was not being kept, the appointed team leader could then have taken a more aggressive stance to ensure that such failings did not jeopardise the overall project. It was arguably this failure that was instrumental in creating a last-minute panic and rush. Individual Improvement for the Future Bearing all of this in mind, I feel that my own areas for improvement, in the future would be to take a much more active stance, in terms of project management, from the outset (Schon 1996). I would also ensure that all team members complied with the timeframes set out. I became personally aware that there were difficulties with communication and timeframe, at a relatively early stage, yet I largely chose to ignore this in the hope that matters would improve of their own accord. This approach led to me personally being put under considerable pressure, towards the end of the project and, as such, my own individual performance was not as good as it could have been, particularly with the last section of the project being rushed, over a period of 2 to 3 days. I therefore feel that I could have improved my own personal performance by taking a much more active role in project management. This would enable me to ensure that each individual was working within the timeframe and I was not requ ired to rush during the last few days of the project, potentially sacrificing the quality of the work. References Boud D & Walker D (1993) Barriers to Reflection on Experience. In Boud D,. Cohen R & Walker D. Using Experience for Learning. Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press. Coleman, P (2011). The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts. Public Affairs. New York, p.26 Forsyth, D. R. (2009). Group dynamics (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Jarboe, S. C., & Witteman, H. R. (1996). Intragroup conflict management in task-oriented groups: The influence of problem sources and problem analysis. Small Group Research, 27, 316–338. Schon D. (1996). From Technical Rationality to Reflection in Action, In: Edwards, R., Hanson, A., and P Raggatt (eds) Boundaries of Adult Learning, London, Routledge.