Cutaneous Leishmaniasis And Pathogenesis Biology Essay

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis And Pathogenesis Biology Essay Leishmaniasis is a tropical, protozoan disease caused exclusively by intracellular parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. Leishmaniasis is a worldwide problem and due to the various species of Leishmania, can manifest in humans as 3 main clinical forms: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis, or Visceral Leishmaniasis. Consequently, the severity of the infection and symptoms differ from self healing infections that produce significant scars to the fatal infections. Pathogenesis Leishmaniasis is transmitted by the bite of female insect vector sand flies of the species Phlebotomus in the Old World and Luzomyia in the New World (Figure 1). The life cycle for all Leishmania species is relatively simple and similar (Figure 2). When the sand fly takes a blood meal, it inoculates the source with the 2-3 mm long parasite. At this stage, the Leishmania parasite is known as a promastigote as it contains a singular flagellum. Promastigotes are injected into the host skin, after which they attach themselves to the hosts macrophages, and are induced by phagocytosis. These white blood cells are present at the inoculation site because of the hosts natural immune response to the sand fly bite. Once inside the macrophages, the promastigotes transform into their non-flagellate form, known as amastigotes. From here the amastigotes reproduce by binary fission and continue to proliferate within the white blood cells until the cell bursts. The parasites are then free to infect and invade other reticulo-endothelial cells, which share the same fate and are destroyed due to the reproduction of amastigotes within. The amastigotes and infected macrophages enter the blood circulation. The life cycle of Leishmania is continued when a female sand fly feeds on the infected hosts blood and the amastigotes are taken up by the sand flies. Amastigotes transform into promastigotes, which proliferate by binary fission in the midgut of the sand fly over a period of 4-25 days (WHO, 2010). Hereafter, the promastigotes migrate to the fly proboscis or mouthparts, where the parasite can infect a new host during feeding (Murray et al, 2009) and thus the Leishmania lifecycle is continued. Mammals are more often reservoirs for infection. As well as humans; dogs, rodents, wolves and foxes are examples of common reservoirs (Neuber, 2008) and thus, can suffer from leishmaniasis diseases too. Figure 2: The life cycle of Leishmania. Adapted from Chappuis et al (2007). Figure 1: A Sand fly vector of Leishmania parasites. Extracted from Neuber (2008). Epidemiology Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 of which are developing countries. An estimated 12 million people are infected with leishmaniasis and 70,000 people die each year (Reithinger et al, 2007). There are currently about 350 million people worldwide that are at risk and threatened by leishmaniasis because they live within 40Â ° north and south of the equator (Jones et al., 2005; Neuber, 2008) and according to the World Health Organisation (2010), there are an estimated 1-2 million new cases each year. There are approximately 20 species of Leishmania which are pathogenic for humans (Chappuis et al., 2007). These species vary in their geographical location and have an effect on the leishmaniasis which manifests (Table 1). Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis and is endemic in over 70 countries worldwide (Figure 3). It is found throughout Africa and the Middle East in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kabul, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria; however, more particularly in South America, in Brazil and Peru (Reithinger et al, 2007; Murray et al, 2009). Over 90% mucocutaneous leishmaniasis often occurs in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru and the majority (over 90%) of visceral leishmaniasis cases, the most dangerous form, is localised to 6 countries; Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal and Sudan. There are an estimated 500,000 new cases of visceral leishmaniasis each year (WHO, 2010; Chappuis et al., 2007). Figure 3: Geographical distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Extracted from Reithinger et al (2007). Main Clinical Presentation Leishmania Parasite Main Geographical Distribution Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. tropica* Africa, Asia, Middle East, Mediterranean area Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. major* Middle East, Africa Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. aethiopia* Ethiopia, Kenya Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. amazonesis ^ South America (Brazil, Venezuela) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L .columbiensis ^ Northern South America (Columbia, Panama) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. garnhami ^ South America (Venezuela) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. peruviana ^ Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia Cutaneous Leishmaniasis L. venezuelensis ^ Northern South America (Venezuela) Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis L. braziliensis ^ Central and South America Visceral Leishmaniasis L. donovani* Africa, Asia Visceral Leishmaniasis L. infantum (L. chagasi) Europe, north Africa, Central and South America, Mediterranean area Table 1: Overview of clinical presentation and geographical distribution of species of Leishmaniasis that cause human disease. L. = Leishmania. * Leishmania species of the Old World. ^ Leishmania species of the New world. Data adapted from Reithinger et al (2007), Neuber (2008) and Murray et al (2009). Clinical Presentation Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a localised reaction at the inoculation site, which tends to be uncovered areas such as the face, hands and lower legs. Between 2 weeks and 2 months after the sand flys bite, a red papule forms. The area begins to swell and become irritated and after 3-4 weeks, flat ulcers form which eventually harden and form crusted margins. The volcano-like lesions that form can heal without treatment; however, sufferers are commonly left with significant, disfiguring scars. Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as espundia, is most often caused by Leishmania viannia braziliensis and has a similar incubation time as cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, this form causes more devastating disfigurement to disease sufferers as the parasites metastasise towards to the mucosal membranes and destroy them and nearby unrelated tissue structures also (Murray et al, 2009). This form is more commonly seen after a primary infection of cutaneous leishmaniasis, where the lesions have eventually healed. Untreated lesions can transform into mucocutaneous forms and year later the oral and nasal mucosas become infected. Inflammation of the nose, mouth, oropharynx and trachea cause sever mutilation and facial disfigurement. Death can sometimes arise as mucosal lesions do not self-heal and prolonged infection compromises both immune and respiratory systems. Visceral Leishmaniasis Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as, kala-azar, dumdum fever or black fever, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis, and if left untreated, those infected will die. It is the most dangerous because parasites leave the skin and colonise the entire reticulo-endothelial system (Neuber, 2008) and spread to internal organs. Incubation period may be from several weeks to a year and can present as a rapidly fatal disease or as an asymptomatic, self-limiting infection (Murray et al, 2009). As the parasites proliferate and destroy the hosts cells, sufferers present with a marked enlargement of the liver, spleen lymph nodes as well as fatigue, weight loss, fever chills, severe anaemia and kidney damage. Death is caused by haemorrhage, complications relating to anaemia or a weakened immune system which cannot deal with bacterial co-infections (Chappuis et al, 2007). As is the case with all forms of leishmaniasis, the chances of the sufferer developing a secondary infection, such as a bacterial infection, are very high and doing so, can complicate the disease further and may lead to death. To add: one photo for each CL, ML and VL. Canine Leishmaniasis Leishmania infantum not only cause severe disease in humans, but in dogs also. Millions of dogs in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and South America are affected by the parasite. There are some clinical manifestations of the disease in dogs which re similar to that of humans including cutaneous alterations, enlargement of lymph nodes, liver and spleen, weight loss and glomerulopathy. As well as this, ocular lesions, epistaxis (nose bleeds), onycogryphosis (abnormal curving of claws) and lameness (disability in walking) are classic symptoms found in infected dogs (Maia and Campino, 2008). As with visceral leishmaniasis, canine leishmaniasis may also present as an asymptomatic infection, thus delaying necessary treatment. Diagnosis Due to the clinical presentations of the disease, a diagnosis can be made; however, for a definitive diagnosis the Leishmania parasite must be detected to confirm the diagnosis. Parasitological techniques are routinely used and involve demonstrating promastigotes in a direct examination of tissue aspirates, or detecting amastigotes in biopsy specimens, which are then, examined using a microscope. Serological techniques to diagnose leishmaniasis are based upon indirectly identifying specific host humoural and cell-mediated responses after inoculation of the parasite. Diagnostic methods include direct agglutination test (DAT), the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting and antigen detection. Molecular techniques involve detecting leishmanial DNA or RNA have been beneficial in not only diagnosis, but species identification also. The molecular techniques include using various versions of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to amplify species specific parasite sequences, DNA probes, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and isoenzyme electrophoresis. Treatment All forms of leishmaniasis should be treated due to their mortality and morbidity consequences. Drugs are available to treat the disease and choice for all forms is the pentavalent antimonial compound sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam). Cutaneous leishmaniasis is also treated with injections of other antimonial compounds, such as fluconazole and litefosine, directly into the infected lesions (* Figure). Miltefosine has also proven to be an effective treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (Murray et al, 2009). However, as with all drug treatments, the development of drug resistance is a huge issue and over use of this drug in previous years could lead to Leishmania species becoming resistant. As well as this, there are considerable side effects associated with most drugs (Neuber, 2008). A safe and effective vaccine against the various species is urgently required particularly in endemic areas; however, there is currently no vaccine available although work to develop one is still ongoing. (To add: * Figure of such treatment) Social and Economical Implications Leishmaniasis is found in developing countries or the poorer regions of a country and thus commonly affects the poorest of the poor. Having such a disease can cause many problems in the lives of those infected and their families as they become poorer due to the direct and high costs of diagnosis and treatment of the disease, and the indirect costs such as loss of income (Chappuis et al, 2007). Another impact of the disease is the social and psychological stigma associated with leishmaniasis, because of the disfigurement and significant scarring caused. Thus, even after the disease has been treated or self-healed, patients must deal with a constant reminder of what they had to endure. Cheap, rapid and accurate diagnostic methods are needed to allow all those infected, especially the poor, to get the medical attention they need, and to also allow treatment to start as soon as possible thus ensuring symptoms may not be as detrimental. Project Aims The aim of this project is to compare the different methods for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in humans and dogs. These methods will be critically analysed in order to test the following hypothesis: A Leishmania infection can be detected unequivocally. In doing so, the necessary requirements for a correct diagnosis for those who live in endemic areas and for those whom leishmaniasis is a threat, will also be discussed.

Different Business Structures

There are many types of organisational structure a business may decide to adopt. This assignment will examine the four main different business structures and present the advantages and disadvantages of each one. The business structures that I will be examining are as follows: A sole trader is an organisation, which is owned by one person. The assets and liabilities of the owner and those of the business are the same. There are no legal or tax distinctions between the owner and business. This type of business is straightforward to set up and dissolve. It requires the minimal legal requirements and costs. The owner can make all the decisions and can retain all the profits. He owns all the assets of the business. The owner can draw or invest funds into or out of the business, as he deems necessary. Business losses can be offset against other income, including claw back of past pay as you earn (PAYE). As the sole trader is self-employed, he is able to defer Income Tax and reduce his National Insurance contributions. The owner†s personal assets can be transferred to a spouse (or any other relative). However, the assets may be required to be returned by the court if it is satisfied that they were transferred to defeat creditors that were owed money. There is no legal requirement to have the accounts and records audited. No public disclosure of accounts and records is necessary, unless the business is registered for Value Added Tax (VAT). There is no requirement to register for VAT unless the taxable supplies to customers is equal to, or exceeds, the registration level. The registration level is currently ? 50,000 for a twelve-month period). The main disadvantage for being a sole trader is the unlimited liability factor. The sole trader is putting at risk his entire personal fortune including his house, car and any other personal assets in his possession that are outside the business. This is because there is no distinction between the individual (the owner) and the business. The law does not recognise the business as an artificial person (unlike a company,) and the business therefore, does not receive the benefits that would be attached if it were. If the business does become bankrupt, the owner may loose his personal fortune to pay the debts of the business. It is also true that if the sole trader becomes bankrupt, the business cannot legally continue. There are no additional funds available from equity investment by persons outside the business (third parties). This therefore, limits the businesses† growth potential. The transfer of ownership is not very flexible and the owner can only sell assets. All of the profits from the business are taxes as personal income, whether they have been retained within the business or taken out. Although self-employment reduces the National Insurance contributions payable, it also reduces the benefits of the National Insurance entitlements. The tax relief on pension contributions is restricted. If any property is transferred to the spouse it is lost to the sole trader if the marriage breaks and the spouse refuses to give it up. If the owner dies, the business comes to an end and the executives in charge of his affairs either sell it as a going concern or sell the assets individually. This is easy to set up and dissolve. There are no legal requirements to audit the accounts. No public access to the accounts ensures confidentiality. Any business losses can be offset against other income. Can be converted to a limited company at a later stage. Benefits of self-employment for income tax and National Insurance. Can attract more capital by admitting new partners, however, each partner has the right to veto the introduction of the new partner. Can get credit easily because supplies are not at risk as it is the partners who are taking the risks. A partnership can sue (and be sued) in its own name even though it is not an artificial person. Can change s19 of the Partnership Act 1890, but all partners must agree (s24 of the Partnership Act 1890). Can change provision of the 1890 Act e. g. s24 – profit and losses shared equally, but partners may provide for a different share (e. g. ?: ? rofit liability) in their agreement. If no evidence of split, their split will be equal. Every partner has legal access to inspect and copy firms books s24 (9) Partnerships Act 1890. Differing salaries may be given to partners before surplus profit is split. No doctrine of ultra vires and partnership may engage in any lawful activity as the partners† see fit. Able to access knowledge and experience of the partners. Limited to maximum of 20 people by Companies Act 1985, some professions are exempt and can have partnerships of unlimited size (e. g. solicitors, accountants, estate agents, stock brokers). Partnerships are jointly and severally liable for debts. Liability extends to private assets/personal fortune. Bankruptcy of partnership equals bankruptcy of all partners (excluding limited partners under the Limited Partners Act 1907). If a partner dies, his estate may still be liable for the businesses debts. Unless specific continuation provisions are made in the agreement, death, bankruptcy or retirement will dissolve the partnership. Less flexibility than a limited company, in transferring ownership. High level of trust required. Whether drawn or not, the profits are taxed as income. Self-employed national insurance entitlements have less benefits. Tax relief on pension contributions is restricted. Partners can be sued individually, or together by a creditor that has not been paid. However remaining partners must buy out the share of the deceased, bankrupt or retiring partner and it may be difficult to raise the necessary funds. The Business Names Act 1985 requires the names of all the members of a partnership and addresses in Great Britain where documents can be served, must be stated at all business premises so they can be easily read. Also all names must go on letterheads/documents. If more than 20 partners, the firm may elect to have a statement on letterheads/documents of the firms† principle place of business with indication that the partners† names can be inspected there. Partnership will be in contract if a partner without the relevant authority binds them to it (apparent (ostensible) authority). The partnership is bankrupt if all the partners are also bankrupt (excluding a limited partner under the Limited Partnership Act 1907. There are many factors that are the same for a LTD and a PLC so these will be covered first and then the individual factors will be looked at later. The company is considered by law as an artificial legal person and has an independent legal and tax status. Therefore it can sue and be sued in its own name. As the company is independent of its members, there is limited liability for its shareholders who just risk the amounts invested. Unlike a sole trader and a partnership, the company owns the assets. The death or bankruptcy of a member does not affect the company, which has perpetual succession. Also, the members do not go bankrupt if the company is being wound up. To provide funds for the company shares are issued, which can have different classes and rights (e. g. preference shares and equity shares). Only company directors can bind the company. There is no upper limit restricting the number of members a company can have. A company has a greater facility for borrowing (e. g. it can borrow on debentures) and raising finance externally. The formalised structures make management clearer. It is easier to widen the ownership base. There are no limits regarding contributions made to a pension scheme with tax relief. Income tax is only paid on salaries drawn. When profits are retained in the company the higher rates of personal tax can be avoided. It is very time consuming and expensive to set up as a company. There is a complex registration – registering under the Companies Acts, documents must be delivered to the Registrar of Companies and there are many related fees. The companies must conform to the relevant formalities of the Companies Act 1985. There are many requirements concerning factors such as the accounts and records, audits, share issues, directors requirements etc. The accounts and records must be made accessible to the public so competitors will have access to them. Company subject to regulation and suspension from secretary of state for trade and industry, the courts and the registrar of companies – certain accounts records to be submitted to ROC – less of confidentiality. Audit and account costs high, full audit costs if sales exceed an upper limit. Shareholders personally taxed on dividends. Double tax when company pays corporation tax on profits and capital gains. Higher national insurance contribution. Limited liability initially as creditors and banks request personal guarantees from directors. Private Limited Company (LTD company) Has no minimum value required for the allotted share capital. Can on receipt of its certificate of incorporation limited can borrow and commence business. A LTD company needs only one director and one shareholder. There is less legislation than PLC to comply with. A member can appoint only one proxy who can vote and address the meeting. Can provide financial assistance to a person to help them purchase the companies shares. It is optional for a LTD to pay dividends. A LTD company can not sell shares or debentures to the public. Has to publish accounts but gets partial exemption from publishing the full accounts, if they are bellow an upper limit. The company secretary is not required to be qualified or experienced, so there may be a lack of knowledge. Share holders can not easily sell shares due to the lack of a market and Articles of association restrictions on transfer. The Public Limited Company (PLC company) Raise capital by selling shares and debentures to the public. Needs 2 directors and 2 share holders (unless registered before 1st Nov 1929). A member can appoint more than 1 proxy who can vote but can not address meetings. The secretary must be qualified and posses the requisite knowledge and experience. Public scrutiny over accounts aids performance and efficiency. Large market for shares. No restriction on share transfer on stock exchange, USM and AIM but must keep track of who has shares. Encourages investment into company by share ownership by paying dividends. Can be exempt from the statutory requirement to have its year end accounts audited. Has legal requirement concerning allotted share capital – must be equal or greater than fifty thousand pounds. Can not exercise its borrowing powers or enter business transactions until the registrar has granted it a section 117 certificate. High degree of legislation, rule and formalities it must conform to, e. g. directors retiring at 70 years of age, minimum of 2 directors, voting for directors individually at a general meeting, share allotment. Must publish its accounts in full. Can not give financial assistance to a person to enable him to purchase the companies shares.

No Child Left Behind Essay

The education policy that I chose is on education today and the influence of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. In 2001, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act. The NCBL is a United States Act of Congress, which includes Title 1 (program for disadvantaged students offered by the government). This Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. Each state is required to give these assessments to all students to receive federal school funding. This Act does not set the standards nationwide; each individual state sets the standards. Diane Ravitch, an education philosopher was a supporter of this Act when it was being passed. She believed that every child had the right to a proper education. As the years passed she acquired more experience and knowledge on the Act, and is now completely opposed to the NCLB Act. Ravitch believes that the states dumb down the standards in light of the NCLB. The question now is: is the No Child Left Behind Act se eking to repair the problem, or is it the cause? Under NCLB, the accountability of a child’s education is examined by the Federal government and turned into the hands of the state. This was the first time an American president has set a goal of universal proficiency in reading and mathematics for all children. The federal emphasis on literacy, reading, and mathematics emphasizes teacher and school accountability, with negative consequences when schools do not meet established improvement goals (U.S. Department of Education, 2002). Under NCLB the state must have accountability provisions that include how they will close the achievement gap. According to the Department of Education the achievement gap is defined as such; The difference between how well low-income and minority children perform on standardized tests as compared with their peers. For many years, low-income and minority children have fallen behind their white peers in terms of academic achievement (Department of Education, 2002). States must also monitor that every student not excluding the disadvantaged achieve academic proficiency. Yearly assessments must be produced to inform parents of the progress of both the state and the  community. Schools that do not meet the academic proficiency standards must offer supplemental services and take corrective action. If within five years the school is still not making yearly progress, than dramatic changes in the school’s academic direction must be made. Dramatic changes according to the Department of Education are defined as follows; â€Å"†¦additional changes to ensure improvement.† The definition raises the question of whether there is a plan for failure at all. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, in its â€Å"National Report Card† shows that these goals may be falling short. Students in fourth grade show temporary improvement in math right after No Child Left Behind became a law, but returned to pre-reform growth rate. The NAEP estimates that by 2014 less than 25% of financially challenged and African American students will achieve NAEP proficiency in reading. Using the same time frame less than half the financially challenged and African American students will obtain proficiency in math. With so much pressure on the states to perform well, a trend is becoming apparent that they are inflating proficiency levels of students. This causes discrepancies between the NAEP and state assessments especially among the financially challenged, African American, and Hispanic students. With no sufficient evidence shown on that NCLB is working, the question is as follows; is the federal government capable of running our school systems? There are undoubtedly dangers in the public school system teaching a federally mandated curriculum. When one controls people’s perception of history, one controls the present. There is, of course, a point to be made that if the nations’ children are kept in watered down public schools, positions of power will be opened to the children of the aristocracy, who without fail, are being sent to private schools. So many of those Politicians who stand in the way of allowing poor children to escape failing schools, send their own children to private schools (sic). In New York City, where I have spent most of my professional life, both the current and the past chancellor of schools sent their children to private schools. Six of the seven members of the now-defunct Board of Education had  also sent their children to private schools at one time or another. One might add to the list other notables in New York-the governor, the mayor, the leaders of both houses of the legislature, and the junior U.S. senator (and former first lady). In fact, I cannot remember a mayor of the city who sent his children to public school (Viteritti, 2003). The reports of success of NCLB are encouraging to those who support the project. There have been schools in Sterling, Virginia and New York City that have received No Child Left Behind blue ribbons for their success in closing the achievement gap. Other schools have earned national praise for instituting such curriculum as â€Å"Fit for the Future,† a standards-based health and fitness curriculum for grades 1-10; and an anti-bullying intervention program in York, Pennsylvania (Department of Education, 2005). These programs are used to show the benefits of NCLB but are they academic necessities? The curriculum in a kindergarten class in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin included a lesson entitled â€Å"The Little Convincer.† In which a state trooper came into the classroom with a mechanism designed to simulate a car accident. In a discussion about car seat laws, a topic critics of the curriculum call too heady for kindergarteners, the students, ages five to six years old, were asked repeatedly which one of them were actively using car seats, and whether their parents wore seat belts as well. One child who innocently told the officer that his daddy did not wear his seatbelt was told by the trooper that his daddy could go through the windshield and the glass would cut his face and arms like ribbons, and once he hit the road, the car would roll on top of him. The dramatic lesson ended with each of the students taking a turn in the mechanism that simulated the car crash. The officer would speak softly to the child asking them questions about their class or the clothes that they were wearing and when the child began to speak would jerk them forward violently to teach them that an accident could happen at anytime. The question is, are these academic lessons that parents assume that their children are attending school for? Is placing the curriculum in the hands of legislators going to further our children’s grasp of the three R’s as most parents hope, or are they going to be taught how to become complacent law abiding citizens? The problem in purposing that the public school system is flawed beyond repair is offering an alternative that people are comfortable with. When a conversation about privatizing the school system begins many questions must be answered to abate the fears of the public. Would privatizing schools be affordable to all families? Many debates have waged on the validity of a voucher program, allowing families to choose any school they desire whether it is parochial, private, public, or chartered. Without public schools, there are no taxes necessary to support the program, and that money can be returned to the families of school aged children, creating extra funds for private education. In a system of free market education the individual and specialized institutions of learning would have to compete for students, because the money would be linked to the students themselves. Never in the history of the free market have advances been made without competition. When the monopoly on our children’s future ends, a true marketplace of ideas will be born. In an interview with US News, Ravitch was asked â€Å"What needs to happen to make the law more effective for school?† she responded â€Å"I think the main thing to change is . . . to get rid of the remedies and the sanctions because the remedies don’t work and the sanctions don’t work. What No Child Left Behind has given the United States is an atmosphere of punitiveness. The word accountability has come to be a synonym for punish. If students don’t learn, it’s the teachers’ fault. Fire the teachers. Close the schools. We’re now on a wrecking mission to destroy American public education.† Ravitch has completely rejected this Act, and believes we should do something to make our education system stronger. I questioned? Is the No Child Left Behind Act seeking to repair the problem, or is it the cause? I now have the answer. The NCLB Act sounded very tempting as it was passed by congress, and many like Diane Ravitch had hopes in such a great project for our education system, but everything is not perfect. The NCBL offers great support to schools, although standardized testing is not the correct way of determining the amount of financial support each school deserves or requires. After long hours of research I believe that the No Child Left Behind Act has taken a part in the cause of our problem in our education system today. Schools will not improve if the value is set only on what is tested. â€Å"The tests we have now provide useful information about students’ progress in reading and mathematics, but they cannot measure what matters most in education.† (Ravitch. The Death and Life of The Great American School System, pg. 226) In order to improve our public school system we must start by focusing on our schools, offering them an authentic and sincere education that encourages our students to learn.

TS Eliot paper - 1017 Words

â€Å"Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?† T.S. Eliot (T.S. Eliot Quotes.) TS Eliot was not only a poet, but a poet that wanted to change his world. He was writing in the hopes that it would give his society a reality check that would encourage them to change themselves and make their lives more worthwhile. Through his themes of alienation, isolation, and giving an example of a decaying society, TS Eliot wanted to change his society. Alienation is a common theme that consistently runs throughout TS Eliot’s poetry. Eliot knew how alienation felt first hand through his experience of being born in Missouri and later moving to Boston to go to†¦show more content†¦The street lamp is talking in this, which points out that to TS Eliot inanimate objects had more life to them then the regular people in the poem that was either an insult to the audience or trying to motivate them to change. If this poem did strike a cord with a person and they realized how fake and shallow they were then maybe they would wake up and really start living their live which was one of Eliot’s underlying reasons for these types of poems. In this poem he shows how the fakeness of society can eventually travel down even to the kids. Children are usually so filled with happiness and enjoying their life so much so when a child in this poem is depicted as having nothing behind their eyes it is meant to really hit a nerve within people. So the child is shown to have nothing behind it’s eyes to show how adults in that time period having no substance to their lives will eventually go down and affect even the children. Another idea that deeply concerned TS Eliot was the decaying state of his society. In poem after poem the idea of feeling detached and pushed away from the world sprang out from the pages. The poem entitled Hollow men depicts this idea very well. 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Canilao April 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 RESEARCH OUTLINE 3 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 5 CHAPTER II: DISCUSSION 6 Thomas Stearns Eliot amp; Why He Writes Poetry 6 The PoemRead MoreWalt Whitman s Life And Accomplishments1731 Words   |  7 Pagesas a full time career. He founded a weekly newspaper, long Islander and also edited a number of Brooklyn and New York papers. Whitman left Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1848 to become the editor of Orleans crescent, this was the place he experienced first hand viciousness of slavery in the slave markets of the city.in 1848 he returned to Brooklyn were he founded free soil news paper and the Brooklyn freeman and then he continued to developing poetry that later on astonished Ralph Waldo Emerson. WhitmanRead MoreThe Moonstone: Dual Narratives, Social Implications, and Symbolism2676 Words   |  11 PagesCollins’s unique narration, complicated social messages, and intricate symbolism are all separate features of the novel that make it outstanding. The novel begins with a prologue called â€Å"The Storming of Seringapatam (1799): (Extracted from a Family Paper)† (Collins 5), when the British are currently raiding the palace of General Baird. An English adventurer named John Herncastle obtained possession of a magnificent, yellow diamond that was sacred to the Hindus. In his last breath, one of the BrahminRead MoreEssay on Plagiarism1832 Words   |  8 PagesImmature poets imitate; mature poets steal - TS Eliot Plagiarism is, as defined by the Council of Writing Program Administrators, is â€Å"in an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas or other original (not common-knowledge) without acknowledging its source.† Plagiarism is a nice word for cheating. [1] Analyzing that sentence, â€Å"deliberately† and â€Å"without acknowledging its source† are the keywords that cause a lot of confusion in theRead MoreU2 Assessment Business Admin L25733 Words   |  23 Pages| 2. Prepare a brief report; advising people on: * How to follow organisational procedures when making and receiving telephone calls Answering a call†¦ - Prepare yourself and focus on the conversation - It is good practice to have a pen and paper ready to take messages. - Always answer the call promptly and politely. Greet the caller with â€Å"Good morning/afternoon - Identify yourself and with the company name and branch, If the speaker does not introduce him/herself, say, May I ask whos speaking