The public education system in the U.S. Essay Example for Free

The public education system in the U.S. Essay In US the government mainly provides Public education. However the funding and control do not come from federal government and it differs from state to state and the control and funding can come from federal, State and local bodies. In addition school boards determine the curricula, teaching and other educational policies and it differs from state to state. In US public education competes with private education and the private education system in most cases is superior in educational quality in terms of curricula and in terms of student’s academic performance, teaching quality, extra curricula activities in elementary and secondary level. As well the cost per student is less in private educational institutions than public education in elementary and in secondary level. In addition in Higher education the cost is very high and the private Universities have more elitist status than the Public Universities in general and not accessible to most student groups. In addition there are charter schools, which are parochial in nature in secondary and in elementary level, and they are also superior in terms of educational quality in general compared to public schools. In addition in some state it has home schooling system but not in all states. In addition in US the age of entry in to the school system and exist from the school system differs and the grading system also varies from state to state and the standardized test and educational standards are mostly administered by the State government. Page: 2 US Public Education system Performance statistics compared to other advanced Industrial Countries In an article â€Å"Education in United States† in the WIKIPEDIA The Free Encyclopedia the following statistics have been documented. 1) United Nations assigned an Education Index of 99. 9 to United States ranking it number 1 in the world. 2) 76. 6 million students enrolled as per K16 study and 72% aged 12 to 17 were judged academically on track. Of these 5. 2 million attending private schools. 3) Among the adult population over 85% completed High school and 27% received bachelor degree or higher. 4) Literacy rate of 98% of the population over age 15, while ranking below average in mathematics and Science understanding. 5) A recent study showed that A slightly higher proportion of American adults qualify as Scientifically literate than European and Japanese adults. In addition the participation in continuing education is high for United States. Page: 3 These statistics shows that the American Public education system perform in some measures well and not in others particularly in mathematics and science education Compared to other advanced industrial countries. As Science and mathematics is crucial for future technical potential of US compared to other advanced countries and in a age of rapid development in Science and technology and if US lacks behind other advanced industrialized countries it may loose its competitive edge in this crucial field and hamper Its economic and social development in the future and also tackle the environmental issues facing the globe in the 21st century. As well the above statistics shows a sustancial proportion of students aged 12 to 17 are not academically on track and they may become unemployable or unemployed due to lack of skills and may become burden to society as whole and also for a source of social instability in US and also can produce an underclass. There fore based on the statistics above even though overall the US public education system is performing well it has serious weaknesses compared to other advanced industrial countries. The US Public education system in terms of its performance in meeting in developing appropriate skills for the majority of the students as well as maintaining a high standard Of science skills and update practical skills which is used in real world and its speed of change in its structure and curriculum and funding as well as teaching strategies based on the above statistics. In addition it must be flexibility to adept to special needs of student Page: 4 groups and disadvantage created by segregation policies in education, as the Public education system is the product of American social development. and provide access to education to these groups, as they are sustancial proportion of American society . As mentioned above the US public education system curriculum is diverse and has differing quality in different districts and also differs from one state to the next. The quality of curriculum is fundamental factor in the determination of what is taught is class, who is teaching, resources used, options given to students, assessment methods, who controls the curriculum and for who’s benefit. If the curriculum in quality differs then it will create more differences than if the curriculum is to some degree centralized in some European countries than in America and Public education in these countries has to follow basic curriculum in all states and provinces but adept to local conditions depending on the student profile, parents and teachers with some guidance and principles enunciated by a central educational authority. The educational reform must take in to consideration the educational structural factors of the degree of decentralization and centralization in to account if it wants to resolve and improve the performance of US Public education system. This is important as mentioned above the US Public educational system is very decentralized and has a parochial structure and allow too much differences in curriculum and in different quality and it is certainly will affect the quality of education in some schools in the Public education system. Page: 5 Segregation and inequality and the US Public education system In American Educational history segregation has produced disadvantage for the minority groups to suffer in terms of access to education particularly to quality education for a very long time. This has produced social and economic disparity compared to majority white population. Even now some minority student groups suffer from access to quality education and they tend to be mostly in the Public education system in the worst performing public schools and academically poor performers compared to the white student population. US Public Education system must address this disadvantage adequately and the current US Public education system structurally do not address this access and inequality adequately and there fore fails to raise the performance of these students academically and to provide opportunities to develop their full potential and there fore they become socially and economically a burden to American society and also a drain in resources in welfare terms. In US Public Schools where there are minority students particularly from disadvantage students the federal, state and local government must have guidelines and mandates to fund adequate resources for counseling services, remedial classes, appropriate welfare Referral services and also provides welfare services in housing, welfare services to parents to cover cost of education and other expenses so that they are physically healthy and mentally happy to develop their skills in the education system. Page: 6 US Public education system and Private Education system In US Public education system has to compete with private education system. As well some schools are parochial and also independent of government. The private schools are better resourced and also provide quality curriculum in general although there are exceptions. A considerable amount of student population is enrolled n private schools eventhogh majority of elementary and secondary schools students attend US public schools with different curriculum and in different quality determined by the school boards of different districts. As well the cost of education per student private schools is less than the US public education and it can also point to waste of resources because of too much bureaucracy compared to private schools. In addition the private schools give more carrier opportunities to teachers than the Public schools. As well in private schools the student to teacher ratio is small compared to US public school system. This may be a factor contributing to better quality of education in private schools compared to US Public education system. This shows to some extent the US public education has problems in its quality of education system and reform is necessary in curriculum development process and administration. Control, teacher qualification and carrier prospects, teacher performance measures and salary structure and ways to reduce class size in US public schools. This is vital to improve the performance of Us Public education system compared to private Page: 7 schools and also raise the standard of Science and mathematics education in US public education system. US Public Higher education system and US Private Higher Education system In US the public education system has pubic Universities and colleges as well community colleges. The public higher education competes with the private higher education system. The Private Universities have more elitist status compared to public Universities in general. As well the entrance requirements differ from one University to the next n the public university system and elitist universities have stringent requirements than other universities in the public as well as private university system. As well the private Universities quality of research and quality of education is better compared to public universities in general but there are exceptions. In addition because of segregation policies in the past the accesses ability to public higher education by minority student groups exist even the participation in higher education has increased by these groups in recent times. In addition the cost education in private and in public Universities are high in US, which is not affordable by many student groups even by the loan grant scheme by federal and private financial institutions. Page: 8 As discussed above in it is certain the US Higher education in the public sector must enhance its profile compared to the private universities and reform of public US higher education is necessary and the US public education system quality is questionable and has considerable weaknesses to be resolved to raise its higher education standard compared to private universities and compared to Universities of advanced industrialized countries. Creationism and evolution in Science education In US in the Public education system there is debate over creationism to be taught in Science education. There is considerable disagreement on this issue among religious groups, teachers of science, parents of well educated and other. This issue of teaching creationism in Public schools is a controversial issue in US and it must be resolved more than adequately by federal, state and local government authorities. If not resolved will affect the quality of education particularly the Science education and further disadvantage US students in Science skills compared to students from advanced industrialized countries and Japan or Korea. There fore the US public education system must resolve its social, religious and cultural issues in education and its impact on the quality of science education as in US religion plays a considerable role in education. The excessive religious influences must be curbed Page: 9 more than adequately by legal or other means to improve the quality of education particularly the science education in the US public education system. Degree of standardization in US Education system compared to other advanced industrialized countries In most advanced industrialized countries particularly in Europe the public education is comparatively centralized in terms of specifying curriculum, teaching standards, hours of schooling, assessment methods and testing and ensure uniformity in curriculum and options to be allowed and consistently revised to reflect changes in skill requirements in economy, student preferences and teacher and other educational professional inputs to improve the quality and efficiency of the school system. In contrast the US public education system is far more decentralized in control of curriculum, teaching and other issues. The excessive decentralized US public education systems structure may be a factor, which may have contributed to poor performance in science and mathematics understanding compared to other students from advanced industrialized countries. The issue of standardization and degree of centralization must be considered by the US Public education system as in science and mathematics in European countries the superior performance may be attributable to the standardization and the uniformity of curriculum and quality in all schools and the centralized control to some extent by the central educational authority and revised consistently if circumstances change in skill Page: 10 requirements and other factors such as input from teachers and teacher unions, parents and educational professionals and from input from business and religious community and student groups. In this respect US public education system must consider the degree of decentralization and its negative impact on the quality of education to improve structural impediments to enhance the quality of education. Contemporary issues in US Public Education system Curriculum issues The contemporary issues in US Educational system are Curriculum issues, funding, and Charter schools, control and competitiveness. The curriculum issues stems from the fact that there exists a variety of curriculum and in different quality. There are arguments over the standardization of curriculum and the degree of curriculum standardization because of the current existence of varying curriculum in different districts and in different states. In addition there is also arguments regarding English language teaching, evolution in Science education and the role of sex education. In US most citizens are divided in these issues and they are hotly debated. Some religious groups prefer teaching creationism in Science but some educated groups disagree teaching creationism. In addition there is also no consensus regarding sex education in the curriculum and in US most citizens are divided on sex education. As well there is debate over which subjects receive most focus Page: 11 with astronomy and geography not taught enough in schools. As discussed above the curriculum issues are complex in US and there exists no consensus and there fore it is very difficult to resolve these issues. However if these issues are not resolved adequately and not reformed will affect the quality of the education system, as the quality of the curriculum will determine to some extent the quality of the Public education system. Funding issues In addition the funding of Public education differs from one state to the next and differs in different districts. However State governments or local governments fund the school system. The cost per student in Public education is higher compared to the private elementary and secondary schools. In addition in funding property taxes are used to fund the public schooling system and it is controversial in US. In Higher education the cost is not affordable by many student groups and they pay their fees by loans from federal government or from private loans from financial institutions. Charter school issues There are charter schools in US based on the promise to create less bureaucratic schools which vest management in the hands of community members, parents, teachers and Page: 12 students. Recent studies indicate that the charter schools do not out perform the Public schools. However the federal government No Child Left Behind Act 2001 which extent the oversight of state schools and the power to withdraw funding from poorly performing schools and gives parents the choice to remove students from such schools. Control issues Mainly State governments exercise the control of education. However there exist many variations of the control structure. That is in some states the local bodies such as school boards have the power to control education than in others. In other wards the US Public education system is highly decentralized control structure compared to other advanced western countries. As well there are private schools which are parochial and not controlled by government and highly independent. Competitiveness issues The national Results in international comparisons indicate that the US education system is below average. As well in OECD programme for International Student Assessment 2003 indicate 15 year-old ranked 24 out of 38 in mathematics, 19 out of 38 in Science, 12 out of 38 in reading, and 26 out of 38 in problem solving. In addition many reputable has expressed concerns of the quality of US education system. For example Bill Gates has Page: 13 famously mentioned that the American High School system is obsolete. As discussed above the US Public education system has considerable issues to be resolved if it wants to improve its educational quality in elementary, and secondary level. In my view assessing the Public education system there must be some centralization or standardization is necessary as the US Pubic education system is very decentralized and produces different quality among public schools and some private schools are parochial in nature and some students groups may left behind in such system of education because of accessibility and affordability by many student groups. This structural problems of control and funding as well as curriculum issues must be resolved more than adequately to improve the quality of the education system and also to raise the competitiveness of US Public education system to the standards of advanced western countries and countries like Japan and Korea. In addition it also must set national standards for Teacher education and must radically revise the teaching practices and involve schools with the external business environment to raise the academic, social and problem-solving skills in a rapidly changing world to improve the issues of competitiveness of the US Education system. The curriculum to some degree must be centralized to become uniform to sole extent because there exist different curricula in different districts and the quality differs. As curricula is an important variable which affects educational quality outcome differing quality affects the overall quality of education in US Public education. However the curriculum must also have some flexibility addressing specific local educational issues Page: 14 and must have options as well have flexibility in the timing and the attending to schools and school hours and not strictly have strict timing of schooling. Science education must be more practical rather than school teaching and students must experience how the science works in the outside world and try to solve practical science problems in the real world and must continually update skills and experience as the changes in science field is rapid. That is the Science curriculum and teaching practices and assessment must be radically overhauled. This is also applicable to mathematics education to raise the mathematics education quality and standard in US public education system. In addition in US in Science education the teaching of creationism in science must be resolved more than adequate to improve the quality of Science education and stress the importance of evolution theory in Science compared to creationism which do not have sustancial scientific evidence to be taught in Science classes in US public education system. In summary the US Public education system have considerable issues which affects the quality of US Public education system’s quality and as discussed above it must resolve these issues more than adequately and must continually reform the structure of US Public education system to have a comparable quality with advanced countries and to satisfy the needs of a rapidly changing world. Page: 15 In addition there are problems arising from segregation and in equality in education and disadvantage in the US public education system which if not addressed adequately may produce a high proportion of students do not have the adequate skills or fall behind other students and they may become unemployable and cause social problems and may also cause social instability in the future. That is if access ability is not addressed in the US education system and remedial action is taken in time it may contribute to a significant minority student groups failing to meet the skills necessary to survive in the rapidly changing world of work. In US public education home schooling is an important factor at least in some states and these states must consider the negative impacts of home schooling and provide adequate safe guards to ensure the quality of home schooling and monitor progress continually to upgrade and to reconsider home schooling if they produce poor educational outcomes. As discussed above it is certain that the US public education has several issues affecting its quality in a negative manner. It must reform the public education system in funding, the role of charter schools, role of home schools, degree of decentralzation and control and curriculum issues, hours of education and flexibility, teaching methods, teacher quality issues, standardized tests, regulation of private school system particularly in parochial private school system, cost of higher education and access by minority student groups, role of business in education to improve its quality of public education system in US. Bibliography Burke, F. G. ( 1990). Public Education: Who’s in Charge?.Praeger. Retrieved march 25, 2007 from http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=23097272 Daly, J. Future Schools. The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved March, 25, 2007, from http://www. edutopia. org/magazine/ed1article. php? id=Art_1750issue=feb_07 Education in the United States. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States Hardway, R. M. ( 1995). America Goes to School: Law, Reform and Crisis in Public Education. Praeger, Retrieved March, 25, 2007, from http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=15121217

Media Technologies And Journalism Media Essay

Media Technologies And Journalism Media Essay In the second half of the twentieth century and early of the twenty-first, along with the advancement of new media technology, we have witnessed the dramatic transformation of journalism. There can be no denying that the technological revolution has exerted far reaching influences on news journalism and its production. In 2000, Pavlik (p.229) has asserted: â€Å" Journalism has always been shaped by technology†. Pavlik as well as many academics in the field of mass communication believe that the profound changing of journalism are technologically determined. However, there are some researchers who criticise the idea of technological determinism. They argue that technologies not only transformed journalism but also were shaped and operated in the news production process. As Cottle (1999,p.22) has stated: â€Å"news technologies of news production are in fact socially and culturally shaped and embedded within corporate and professional contexts and practices†. It could be argued that the relationship between technology and journalism is not simply a cause and effect relationship, in fact, they changed and determined each other. The aim of this essay is to examine the interaction relationship between technology and journalism, with a particular focus on how new media technologies transformed news journalism. This research paper will begin by consider the impact of technology on journalism, and then account for the way that technologies are operated and integrated in the news production process. In the second section, the proliferation of the internet and blogs will be taken as prime examples of technological advancement which has offered opportunities as well as challenges to journalists and news organisations. Finally, the assignment will discuss whether technological changes and the adoption of new technology have led to the improvement or deterioration of journalisms quality. 1. The interaction relationship between news media technologies and journalism For the purpose of this assignment, this section will briefly introduce the theory of technology determinism as well as critical arguments of modern social scientists. The impact of new media technologies on news journalism will be examined and references are made to the work of academic in this field. Furthermore, evidence is provided in order to account for the way technologies are shaped and integrated in news production process. 1.1. The impact of new media technologies on news journalism According to Pavlik (2000,p.229), journalism are transformed by technology in four broad areas: practices of journalists, news content, the organization of the newsroom, and the relationship between and among news organisations, journalists and their many publics. â€Å" Technological changes have had an impact above all on the immediacy and availability of journalism as it has proliferated as a mode of communication† (Conboy,2004,p.205). 1.2. Technologies are shaped and integrated on news production process With a critical argument, Cottle (1999) views technology as a â€Å"creature of our own making â€Å", in his words, â€Å"which inhabits, was born out of, remains dependent on, and is socialised and put to work within determinant social environment† (p.23). In his study of â€Å" A combination of political regulatory change and the arrival of the new media organizations and products has introduced considerable competition into the broadcast environment..this competition appears to be the immediate cause of organisational and technological change† (Ursell, 2001,p.194). New operations have adopted new technologies with different degrees of extent and intensity (Ursell). Consequences for journalist: demand for and pressure on journalistic staff have increased. 2. Technological changes and the quality of journalism 2.1. The internet and blogs: a nascent phenomenon Internet: how it changes the newswork -> journalist practice(Pavlik), mot-used new resources for finding imformation(Garrison), journalist easily interact with audiences Define blog Bloggers 2.2. Quality of journalism in era of new media technologies: deterioration or improvement Though there can be no denying that the appearance of the internet and blogs has changed news journalism in many ways, it is now essential to consider whether it is better or worse journalism. Thus, this question has been the subject of a great deal of research. Ursell (2001) in his study of Convergence: â€Å" I assert that convergence merely holds the promise of a better, more efficient, more democratic medium for journalism and the public in the twenty-first century† (Pavlik,2001,p.xiii) Multi-skilling: High-Speed: â€Å"Speed is in danger of becoming the ultimate aim of journalism. The post-telegraph compulsion to beat competitors to a story, accelerate by new technologies, can mean it becomes more important to be first than to provide an adequate assessment of context† (Conboy,2004,p.207) â€Å" The pace of breaking news drives the possibility of in-depth analysis further down the line† (Conboy, 2004,p.207) â€Å"All of this compromises the incredible speed and technological sophistication of the journalism produced as it is often lacking in analytical depth or political variety† (Conboy,2004,p.207) Journalists who are under the pressure of becoming multi-skilled and technically competent to produce multiple media production do not have much â€Å"opportunities for creative reflection or innovation†(Cottle,1999). To illustrate this point, Cottle(1999,p.41) has quoted a statement of one broadcast journalist: â€Å"We dont have time to be creative. Its not that the equipment will not let us be more creative as we used to be†. Pavlik (2001) states that, on the plus side, new media technologies has offered potential for improving quality of journalism as well as helped journalist do their jobs more effectively. In other words, journalists can use new technologies to create much more â€Å"engaging, navigable, contextualized† news productions which reflect everyday life more â€Å"accurately, fully, and dynamically†(Pavlik,2001,p.xvi). However, on the negative side, â€Å"We journalists are no longer the gate keepers in the market place of ideas. The doors have been flung wide open by the egalitarian nature of the Internet and when you look at the big picture you see chaos. You see a medium in its infancy, howling and kicking against the limitations of the world into which it was born. Conclusion To bring this paper to a close, I summarise the main points here: new media technologies have transformed news journalism and its production, at the same time are shaped and operated in news production process. This essay set out to examine the intertwining relationship between technology and journalism, consider it in both positive and negative side. In the first section, it produced some insights into how journalism is influenced by technology and answered the question of how technology are shaped and integrated in news production process. In an attempt to demonstrate this point, evidence was presented relating to the change in news-making activities of journalist in the era of the internet and blogs. Finally, the evidence presented in this paper suggested that technological changes have had diverse impact on the quality of journalism. In other words, technological innovations lead to improvement as well as deterioration of journalism performance and output.

English Language Education Is Critical For Hong Kong

English Language Education Is Critical For Hong Kong Hong Kong is a former British crown colony ,and is currently a Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. Hong Kong had been a British crown colony for more than 100 years (Hong Kong). Hong Kongs legal system, financial system, educational system, and culture have been influenced by the British, and Hong Kong is now one of the important financial centres in Asia (Meyer 219). Hong Kongs official language is mandated as Chinese and English according to the Basic Law (Hong Kong). After the return of sovereignty to China, Hong Kongs secondary education system shifted twice, in 1997 nearly eighty percent of the schools were forced to use Chinese as a medium of instruction (MoI) known as the mother-tongue education policy (Choi 673-674). In 2008, the secondary schools were assigned their MoI with the reference to the admission grades of grade 6 students known as the fine-tuning policy (Suen 1). Medium of Instruction is defined as a language variety which is used in edu cational settings for purposes of teaching and learning (Medium of Instruction).There have been repercussions among the stakeholders of the educational system including parents, university professors, corporations, etc., as students English competency has been declined due to the education policy change (Flowerdew Li and Miller). Thus, should English should be used as a MoI in hong Kong secondary and tertiart education? English should be used rather than Chinese in secondary and post-secondary education because it can foster economic development (Ng 1), it is beneficial for student career paths (Flowerdew, Li and Miller 206), and it is an international language (Shen 112). Hong Kong language education policy has long been a political issue rather than an educational issue (Tsui et al. 200). Under the rule of the Great Britain, colonial educational policy has been adopted (Flowerdew, Li, and Miller 204). This is used for educating a small group of local elites who act as the middleperson between the British officials and the local Hong Kong citizens (Flowerdew, Li, and Miller 205). For elementary education, schools are under the laissez-faire policy, which the schools can pick and choose their own MoI (Lai and Byram 316). From secondary to post-secondary level, English is mostly used as the MoI. Flowerdew, Li ,and Miller has indicated that during the 1980s, 90% of the secondary schools are used in English. At the same time, the colonial Hong Kong government had disagreed with the mixed-mode approach on teaching, which is described as using Cantonese to explain terms and definitions, and using English on teaching and testing materials (Flowerdew, Li, and Miller 205). In the early 1990s, the colonial government had increased the number of universities in order to meet the demand of the needs of the professionals in the flourishing economy (Flowerdew, Li, and Miller 206). The number of universities had increased from two to eight, and six out of eight are used English as MoI for lectures and tutorials. On 1997, Hong Kong became a part of the Chinese territory. On September, 1997, the mother-tongue education policy had been enforced (Lee 13). Only 114 secondary schools are allowed to use English as MoI, and more than 300 secondary schools had to use Chinese as MoI (Lee 13). On 2008, fine-tuning policy had been enforced, as the Hong Kong government tried to eliminate the negative labelling effect of the English and the Chinese schools (Suen 6). Even though currently Hong Kong is a part of the Chinese territory, English should be used as the MoI in the secondary and post-secondary education system. First, English as MoI can boost the economic growth of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is one of the Asias international financial centres, and English is commonly used as the medium of communication in Business, the local workforce has to be fluent in English to communicate with investors and clients (Lee 98). The future generation are exposed more to the English language environment because MoI is English. Because of this, the prospective international companies may consider Hong Kong as the regional headquarters which can strengthen economic development, and create more jobs . Besides, as Chinas economy is growing rapidly, many international corporations see Hong Kong as a gateway to China (Lee 98). China opens its door to the world in the mid-1980s, Hong Kong has firstly became as an entrepot, and now becomes the middleperson between Chi na and the world. Entrepot is defined as a centre at which goods are received for subsequent distribution (Entrepot). In order to keep the current position as the middleperson and the gateway of China, English is more important than ever. Moreover, using English as MoI can train students to think in the language and use as a lingua franca, so that they can easily adapt the western cultures and beliefs (Ng 5). Lingua franca is any form of language serving as a means of communication between speakers of different languages (Lingua franca). That can make international corporations to enter Hong Kong at ease because citizens are already exposed to the western cultures and thoughts. Second, English as MoI is critical to student career prospective. In the competitive city like Hong Kong, higher foreign language ability, for example, English can ensure a secured employment and financial future for the students (Lee 25). As mentioned above, Hong Kong is an international city, and English is used as MoI in university, it is crucial for students to use English as MoI. When the mother-tongue education policy is compulsorily implemented, some parents broke into tears that their children cannot go to those English schools (Lee 26). Apart from that, university lecturers from the City University of Hong Kong also complained that students English ability is weak, sometimes the situation makes lecturers difficult to communicate with their fellow students and explore new ideas with their students (Flowerdew, Li ,and Miller 213). As a whole, this can dampen the knowledge that students receive, and affect the creditability of the Hong Kong university graduates. Flowerdew, Li, and Miller quoted from different surveys that secondary school students, university students, and teaching professionals are prone to English as MoI (qtd. in Pennington and Yue; Hylan; Lin et al.; Richard, Tung, and Ng). Lau, a secondary school English department chair also indicated English is important for students future in the long-run. Therefore, Hong Kong government should use English as MoI in secondary and post-secondary education. Third, English is an international language. International language is described as a language that can achieve a genuinely global status, when it develops a special role that is recognized in every country (Nunan 590). English is a lingua franca because it is widely used in world politics, telecommunications, business, mass media, technology, and education (Shen 113). For international relations, there are 85 percent of the world organizations using English. For popular music, 99 percent of the work is in English (Shen 113). In order to broaden students horizons, education in Hong Kong should be used in English as MoI. By broadening their horizons, students learning can be enhanced. On the contrary, there are challenges on using English as MoI. Although English as MoI benefits students, first language teaching is the most effective way to learn (Suen). First language is defined as the first language that an individual learns, also known as L1 (First language). On the other hand, using English as MoI will create the rising of elitism which refers to a description of attitudes that are ascribed to a higher social class, or to anyone in a superordinate position (elitism; Flowerdew, Li, and Miller). Hong Kong is well-known for its social strata gap. According to the Gini index, which is an index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country, Hong Kong has ranked in 17 among 135 countries, and Hong Kong has the highest rank among developed nations (Distribution of family income- Gini index). If English again has been enforced as the MoI, the gap between the rich and the poor will be widened, and the situation will create social u nrest. Despite the fact that English as MoI has its disadvantages, its benefits still outweigh the disadvantages. Hong Kong educational system should be used English as the Medium of Instruction not only in secondary and post-secondary schools, but also in elementary schools or even pre-schools. Hong Kong government should examine ways to develop English as the L1 for their citizens, and they should learn the experience from Singapore (Ng). Hong Kong government should also maintain a consistent and sustainable education system. As I have said, Hong Kong has shifted its educational system at least twice over the past 10 years. In order to produce a knowledgeable workforce, a stable system should be used. Before making any changes to the educational system, Hong Kong government should examine the pros and cons of the changes to the educational system thoroughly and publish the policy in a more transparent way. Format: MLA/ Word Count: 1484 Work Cited Ash, Robert. Hong Kong in Transition: One Country, Two Systems. Taylor Francis, 2002. My Library. Web.20 Nov. 2010 Choi, Po King. The best students will learn English: ultra-utilitarianism and linguistic imperialism in education in post-1997 Hong Kong. Journal of Education Policy 18.6 (2003): 673-694. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. Distribution of family income Gini index. CIA World Factbook. Washington: CIA, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. elitism. The Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1999. Credo Reference. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. entrepot. The Penguin Dictionary of Economics. London: Penguin, 2003. Credo Reference. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. first language. A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics. Edinburg: Edinburgh University Press, 2004. Credo Reference. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. Flowerdew, John, David Li, and Lindsay Miller. Attitudes Towards English and Cantonese Among Hong Kong Chinese University Lecturers. TESOL Quarterly 32.2 (1998): 201-31. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. Distribution of family income Gini index. CIA World Factbook. Washington: CIA, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 12 December 2010. Gow, Lyn, and Others And. The Effects of English Language Ability on Approaches to Learning. RELC Journal: A Journal of Language Teaching and Research in Southeast Asia 22.1 (1991): 49-68. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. Hong Kong. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite.   Chicago:  Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009. Ingham, Michael. Hong Kong: A Cultural History. Oxford University Press USA, 2007. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. Language (Hong Kong). Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. London: Routledge, 2005. Credo Reference. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. Lau, Tony.   My philosophy and reflections regarding English Language education KLA.   Hong Kong: Tak Sun Secondary School, 2003. Web. Lee, Tony Tung Kiu.   The debate on change of medium of instruction in Hong Kong secondary schools.   Diss. University of Toronto (Canada), 2003. Dissertations Theses: Full Text, ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. lingua franca. A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics. Edinburg: Edinburgh University Press, 2004. Credo Reference. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. medium of instruction (MoI). A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics. Edinburg: Edinburgh University Press, 2004. Credo Reference. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Meyer, David R.. Hong Kong as a Global Metropolis. Cambridge Studies in Historical Geography. Cambridge University Press, 2000. My library. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. Ng, Eng Hen. Ministry of Education, Singapore: Speeches. Singapore Government, 17 August 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. Nunan, David. The Impact of English as a Global Language on Educational Policies and Practices in the Asia-Pacific Region. TESOL Quarterly: A Journal for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and of Standard English as a Second Dialect 37.4 (2003): 589-613. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. Shen, Qi. Globalization of English and English Language Policies in East Asia: a Comparative perspective. Canadian Social Science 5.3 (2009): 111-120. Canadian Reference Centre. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. Suen, Michael. EDB- Speeches and Articles by Security for Education. The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region , 16 Feb. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Tsang, Steve. A Modern History of Hong Kong. London ; New York : I.B. Tauris, 2003. Net Library. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Tsui, Amy B. M., et al. Which Agenda? Medium of Instruction Policy in Post-1997 Hong Kong. Language, Culture, and Curriculum 12.3 (1999): 196-214. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. Yau, Elaine. HKIEd tunes in to the fine-tuning of English language presentation. South China Morning Post 17 Jan. 2009. General OneFile. Web. 21 Nov.2010.

Gray :: essays research papers

Gray's "The Epitaph": An Analysis In the Epitaph, Thomas Gray shows his discontent toward the way that life and death are categorized on this planet. He speaks of earth as a place which holds people for the time being that they are going through this grand cycle of what is called life. When somebody only "rests his head upon the lap of Earth" it is not a way of approving the way that people are laid down for their final resting. The Epitaph shows , properly titled, the lot about how people are being brought up and brought down in a dark sort of way. Someone's personal epitaph is just a place where their head rests and Even "Fair Science frowned" on the aspects of the person's life and now the incapacity that they have toward this world. Their one and only sole purpose in this world is to waste space in the earth and rot away for eternity. Gray's style is very intriguing. He speaks of god and how there are certain things around that are only now known as "frailties" of what used to be life. Gray speaks out against the way this person was treated in society which is symbolic of how people are being treated as a whole and the hollowness and shallowness of people in the world. Now the person is dead, there is no other help that you could give him. "Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere" was how the man lived, and although his soul was a true one, he was still a marked man, and now he is only marked with a stone that protrudes from the ground known as The Epitaph. God is a part of life which gray dispises. He goes against the idea of a belief in one immortal being who rules over people and casts judgments and leaves some people for broke. "The bosom of his father and his god" were those that were unhelpful in the dead man's life, because he ended up just as everyone else will, dead, it is just that he was not blessed with as much life.

Seperation Of Church From State Essay example -- essays research paper

Separation Of Church And State The separation of the state from the church has been present in the constitution ever since it was written. The first amendment relates to a citizens freedom. This freedom does not only allow this practice speech but on thought as well. It states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.† (Barton, America: To†¦ p.15). When the constitution was formed society in general belonged to Orthodox Christian. John Quincy Adams, in a speech on July 4,1837 asked the crowd, â€Å"Why is it, that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and venerated festival returns on this day?† He goes on to explain the important ties between the birthday of the nation and the birthday of Jesus Christ. He says that the Declaration of Independence was first organized on the foundation of Jesus' mission on Earth, and that the Declaration â€Å"laid the cornerstone of human government upon the fir st precepts of Christianity. Adams stressed that the major impact of the Revolution was that Christian principles and civil government were connected in an â€Å"indissoluble† bond. (Barton, America's p.17) Other Founding Fathers were very outspoken about Christian beliefs. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and one of the men most responsible for the Constitution declared, â€Å"Providence(heaven) has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christian rulers.† (Barton, America's p.8) The law always stated the seperation of the two, the actual limitation was in its implementation in the cases of Everson v. Board of Education and Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court uses Jefferson and Madison's Virginia Statute, a bill that both men pushed in Virginia legislature, as a basis for the intent of the 1st Amendment. Jefferson and Madison pushed for the Virginia Bill for Religious Liberty, also called the Virginia Statute. In 1978 a few lawyers got together and considered a constitutional law. The original law said that public school teachers in grades 1-6 "shall announce that a period of silence, not to exceed one minute, shall be observed for meditation." This law did not work for long, because it still allowed oral prayer in public high schools. Later in 198... ...ft and Right Relentlessly Censor Each Other. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1992. 345 Wyatt, Robert O. Free Expression and the American Public: A Survey Commemorating The 200th Anniversary of the First Amendment. Murfreesboro: Middle Tennessee State University, 1990. 87. Free Expression and the American Public: A Survey Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the First Amendment. Murfreesboro: Middle Tennessee State University, 1990. 87. United States. Natl. Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America: Amendment I. Trans. Lowi, Theodore J. American Government: Incomplete Conquest. Illinois: Dryden press, 1976. A24 "School Board Bans Open Forums to Prohibit a Student Group Prayer."\Christ Today\(February 1, 1985) 48-49. Bosmajian, Haig. "To Pray or Not to Pray"\The Humanist Magazine,\(January/February, 198 5) 13-17. Gest, Ted. "What High Court Heard About School Prayer."\U.S. News,\(December 17, 1984) 71. Lewis, C. Anne. "Creeping Religiosity and Federal Education Policy."\PHI Delta Kappan,\(November, 1984) 163-164. Roberts, Fransis. "The Uproar Over Sch ool Prayer."\Parents,\(January 18,1985) 55-57. Seperation Of Church From State Essay example -- essays research paper Separation Of Church And State The separation of the state from the church has been present in the constitution ever since it was written. The first amendment relates to a citizens freedom. This freedom does not only allow this practice speech but on thought as well. It states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.† (Barton, America: To†¦ p.15). When the constitution was formed society in general belonged to Orthodox Christian. John Quincy Adams, in a speech on July 4,1837 asked the crowd, â€Å"Why is it, that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and venerated festival returns on this day?† He goes on to explain the important ties between the birthday of the nation and the birthday of Jesus Christ. He says that the Declaration of Independence was first organized on the foundation of Jesus' mission on Earth, and that the Declaration â€Å"laid the cornerstone of human government upon the fir st precepts of Christianity. Adams stressed that the major impact of the Revolution was that Christian principles and civil government were connected in an â€Å"indissoluble† bond. (Barton, America's p.17) Other Founding Fathers were very outspoken about Christian beliefs. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and one of the men most responsible for the Constitution declared, â€Å"Providence(heaven) has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christian rulers.† (Barton, America's p.8) The law always stated the seperation of the two, the actual limitation was in its implementation in the cases of Everson v. Board of Education and Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court uses Jefferson and Madison's Virginia Statute, a bill that both men pushed in Virginia legislature, as a basis for the intent of the 1st Amendment. Jefferson and Madison pushed for the Virginia Bill for Religious Liberty, also called the Virginia Statute. In 1978 a few lawyers got together and considered a constitutional law. The original law said that public school teachers in grades 1-6 "shall announce that a period of silence, not to exceed one minute, shall be observed for meditation." This law did not work for long, because it still allowed oral prayer in public high schools. Later in 198... ...ft and Right Relentlessly Censor Each Other. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1992. 345 Wyatt, Robert O. Free Expression and the American Public: A Survey Commemorating The 200th Anniversary of the First Amendment. Murfreesboro: Middle Tennessee State University, 1990. 87. Free Expression and the American Public: A Survey Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the First Amendment. Murfreesboro: Middle Tennessee State University, 1990. 87. United States. Natl. Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America: Amendment I. Trans. Lowi, Theodore J. American Government: Incomplete Conquest. Illinois: Dryden press, 1976. A24 "School Board Bans Open Forums to Prohibit a Student Group Prayer."\Christ Today\(February 1, 1985) 48-49. Bosmajian, Haig. "To Pray or Not to Pray"\The Humanist Magazine,\(January/February, 198 5) 13-17. Gest, Ted. "What High Court Heard About School Prayer."\U.S. News,\(December 17, 1984) 71. Lewis, C. Anne. "Creeping Religiosity and Federal Education Policy."\PHI Delta Kappan,\(November, 1984) 163-164. Roberts, Fransis. "The Uproar Over Sch ool Prayer."\Parents,\(January 18,1985) 55-57.

Economic Causes of Poverty Essay

Poverty is the deprivation of necessities that that determine the quality of life. These necessities comprises of the basic human needs and better education which directly influences the type of employment and income earned and enable one to fight poverty. In October 2008 World Bank revised the poverty line to 1. 25 US dollar per day from 1 US dollar per day. After revision of the poverty line measure, an estimated 1. 4 billion people were found to live at this poverty line or below (Otlin, 2008). There is an upward poverty trend; for instance in 2004, 984 million people were living on or below the line of measure i. e. 1 US dollar whereas in 1981, 1. 9 million were living on or below the poverty line (Weaver & Park, 2007). Among other causes of poverty, economic causes which include capital flight, unemployment, low income, unfair property laws and unfair trade has really made poverty alleviation in developing countries a complicated issue despite the efforts of these countries to fight against poverty. Rapid flow of money outside a country or any other assets commonly known as capital flight is a major economic cause of poverty. In most cases the movement is due to instability and reduced returns. Investors move their money from one investment to another, either within the same country or to a different country to avoid high inflation and search for stability and increased returns. Capital flight is mostly witnessed in a country with currency instability and sometimes the outflows are intensive thus affecting the whole financial system of the country (Epstein, 2005). The loss of confidence and devaluation of the affected country burdens the citizens and their properties lose the nominal value. This resorts to reduced purchasing power of assets of a country making it very expensive to import goods. Due to devaluation of the economy’s currency, inflation comes in. Consequently, the currency unit can only purchase fewer goods thus accelerating poverty. Capital flight also hampers investment which may reduce economic growth of the developing economies. Unemployment is another economic cause of poverty. It usually occurs when one is ready and able to work but there is no work for him/her. The inadequacies of basic human needs and better education are normally as result of un-employment. A country where there is a higher rate of unemployment, the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) is low since most people are not working. According Epstein (2005), unemployment is a primary cause of temporal poverty. The moment people get job, they supplement their incomes and thus reduce poverty levels. Sounder further says that poverty increases with increase in unemployment duration. People without jobs can be having skill which can improve production, but since they have not been employed, their skills may not be utilized. This can result is low productivity in the country. In other cases, un-employment can be a social cost to the society. Issues like crimes, terrorism and drug abuse which may be as a result of poverty, marginalization and unemployment are costly to eliminate. Money which can be used to alleviate the living standards is used for fighting crimes instead. Unemployment brings income inequality which widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Winefield (2002), points out that unemployment leads to delay in experience gain which reduces productivity. Moreover, in countries which provide job search allowance, the government expenditure goes high because more people are entitled to these allowances. This can force the government to reduce money given to other crucial sectors for example agricultural sector which can be a source of livelihood to the country’s population. Taxes may also increase due to high government expenditure resulting to increase in prices of commodities. Low income means that people will have a limited purchasing power. Winefield (2002) points out that, low income earnings place people near or on at the poverty line. He further argues that, raising the incomes by increasing the wages without dismissing their job opportunities has historically minimized poverty rates. According to his research findings, increasing minimum wage will help reduce poverty levels, however minimal. Small household budgets experience the greatest impacts since they have a limited purchasing power. This has facilitated poverty in developing countries. Increases in food prices and an instant steep rise in agricultural commodities is another economic cause of poverty. The rise in food prices can be attributed to increased demand of staple commodities, higher energy prices especially fuel and electricity which affects transportation and production costs of agricultural products and farm inputs e. g. fertilizer and pesticides. Food prices may also rise due to lack of alternative market outlets for agricultural product and low yields of cereals (Anker, 2006). Competition between industrial commercial organizations is healthy and encouraged by market economies. However, unfair property laws by competitors and use of malicious ways to gain business mileage e. g. making false and direct attack to a competitor may scare away potential investors. At times it happens despite the fact that a code of conduct has been set to guard against this behavior. Unfair competition which comprises of all acts and practices during industrial and commercial transactions which are contrary to honest practices may hamper selling and buying of good and services. Unfair competition may include confusion caused in relation to another enterprise’s products or its activities, acts that are misleading for instance, false implications of a competitor’s product, and damaging the goodwill of the competitors. All this may lead to unfair competition which causes decline in sale of goods or services. Eventually, this will translate increased levels of poverty in the affected economies due reduced sales, exports and other losses that may arise from unfair trade. In conclusion, poverty alleviation is a complex issue to deal with. It requires that all relevant stakeholders get rid of their selfish interest so that they can deal with the root causes of poverty. All causes of poverty ranging from economic, governance, demographic and social factors, environmental factors, if looked into by good governance, transparency in public expenditure, strengthening of management capacity and improvement of the public service delivery will help in promoting a competitive private sector environment for development and trade regime liberalization. This can contribute greatly to poverty alleviation in the world and especially in developing countries in Africa, Latin America and East Asia. A fair trade between developed and developing countries is fundamental if the question of poverty in developing countries is ever to be addressed. For instance, disruption of trade in Africa has greatly affected the process of integration in business. As a result poverty levels have increased undermining and lowering the livelihoods of small scale farmers and producers as well as depriving the young people their rights. References: Anker, R. , (2006); Poverty Lines around the World: A New Methodology and Internationally Comparable Estimates. International Labor Review Journal, Vol. 145 Epstein, G. A. , (2005); Capital Flight and Capital Controls in Developing Countries. ISBN 184376931X, 9781843769316, Edward Elgar Publishing. Otlin, J. , (2008); The Causes of Poverty: Thinking Critically about a Key Economic Issue. Journal of Social Education, Vol. 72 Weaver, C. & Park, S. , (2007); The Role of the World Bank in Poverty Alleviation and Human Development in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction. Global Governance Journal, Vol. 13 Winefield, A. H, (2002); Unemployment, Underemployment, Occupational Stress and Psychological Well-Being. Australian Journal of Management, Vol. 27

Commerce Study Notes Year 9

Commerce Law and Society Laws: * A rule that governs the way you live, with minimal standards. * Protects people and keeps peace. * Have freedoms, resolve disputes, protection. Anarchy: Without order. Mediation: a third person that ultimately decides, outside of court * * Registered person. * Two parties and mediator. * A compromise is made. * Mediations cheaper and voluntary. Matrimonial: property of marriage, everything is shared * * Matrimonial assets. * Court considers contributions of parties. * Child is child of marriage Government in Australia Governments make laws to control us. They set up systems to enforce laws. * Governments set up courts to decide upon breaches of laws. Jury decides whether the person is guilty or not, the judge decides the punishment Democracy: Demo=People, Cracy=State * People elected by the people under a free voting system. All have equal rights. * Provides laws and order, controls economic problems, and protects people / environment. Types of Govern ments * Communism: No private ownership. Government owns everything and provides the needs/ wants of the people. E. G. China, North Korea. Monarchy: The Monarch (king, queen, emperor, empress, sultan) E. G. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. * Constitutional Monarchy: Powers of the monarch reduced by laws. Governor General represents the Monarch. E. G. Australia operates as a democracy. * Anarchy: Government has broken down. No laws or authority. * Socialism: Ownership of all production (farms and factories) controlled by the people. Government puts responsibility on people. E. G. Sweden * Federation: Involves Federal, State and local governments. Federal Government Issues * Customs * Currency * Defence Immigration/ emigration. * Aboriginal affairs. * Foreign affairs * Social security (makes people feel more secure) * Marriage/ divorce. The Australian Federal government is based on a bicameral system. * * Upper house – Senate76 people * Lower house – house of Reps 150 people State Government * * Each state divided into electorates * 93 electorates in NSW for lower house (legislative assembly- green room). * 43 electorates for upper house. * Voters elect a representative. * Each electorate contains 40,000 to 50,000 people.Jurisdiction * Each state in USA and Aus have legal jurisdiction. (authority in law) * Unity and centrality- POWER * Freedom of speech, same rights (equality), justice. 3 Areas of Power Legislation – parliamentary law – voting politician Executive – carries out law – police Judiciary – courts and judges – statue and case law Judiciary 1st level: Local Court (judge and magistrate) minor matters e. g. shop lifting 2nd District Court (judge)fairly serious matters e. g. armed robbery 3rd level: Supreme Court (Judge/ justices) serious criminal matters e. g. ife in-jailment 4th High Court (Judge) looks at paperwork, no evidence Federal Courts – deal with federal law * Federal magistrates court of Aus tralia * Federal court of Australia e. g. Family Courts Facts * Australian constitution sets out Federal powers. * Federal law prevails over state law. * Trade practices act: Federal * Bankruptcy Hierarchy of Courts in Australia – state courts * High court of Australia (up to 7 judges) * Federal court * Supreme court of appeal * Supreme court * District court * Local court Court Administration 1. Registry: Handles the paperwork of the court.Charges fees. 2. Registrar: Boss of the registry. What impact do fees have on justice? Fees restrict people’s access to the courts causing injustice and can be seen as discrimination. It also reduces the demand on the court system. It also deters frivolous or silly cases. Contracts * A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between parties, outlining the obligations. * Oral/ verbal contract: mouth (spoken). * Signed contract: written (signed by parties). * Most contracts are oral but are signed when involving large sums of mone y. Elements of a contract . Offer: A proposal where the person making an offer must clearly communicate. 2. Acceptance: Occurs when the person making an offer agrees to the proposal. 3. Consideration: Required to form a valid contract. Requires each party to give up something of value. * Implied term: nothing in writing but a code of conduct is established. Cases * PS of Great Britain v BBC Ltd (1953): Customers offer can be refused. (the check out accepts offers) * C v CSB Co. (1893): Misleading advertising can be a contract. (offer at large) * Chappel & Co. V Nestle Co.Ltd (1960): Even with no value something can be passed from one party to another forming a contract. (caveat emptor – buyer beware) The difference between Private law and Public law Private law (civil): laws that regulate people’s behaviour with other individuals. (non-criminal matters e. g. suing for civil wrongs) Public law (criminal): People’s behaviour within society. (criminal law, protects people from other people – e. g. robbery, homicide , drug offences) Courts * Juries are normally involved in serious matters. * For minor matters you only have a local court magistrate.The adversail system: two sides go against each other in an argument or a fight to argue their case. List the main courtroom officials * The judge (your worship) * The judge assistant * The lawyers * The transcript reporter * The jury (6-12 in criminal case) * The barrister * The magistrate (your honour) Robbery: taking property that belongs to someone else using threats/ violence. Civil law Civil law deals with no criminal matters. It allows an individual to sue other people Negligence Trespassing Defamation Nuisance Where a civil law is successfully proven in court, the wronged party will seek damages.The award of legal costs normally goes to the successful party that is either the plaintiff or defendant (but can be refused as these costs are discretionary – up to judge) Civil Law Tes t To prove their test they must win â€Å"the balance of probability† more likely/ no certainty of truth. Criminal Law Test â€Å"Beyond a reasonable doubt† approx. Equal to certainty (protects people from others who do the wrong thing). â€Å"Ignorance of the law is no excuse†. In criminal law you have a Prosecutor: In local courts usually police whereas in the higher courts prosecute is known as the Crown prosecutor. the Crown (R= Regina which means loyalty) v.Defendant In criminal matters the injured party is the State or the Crown. The offence is not against the person that has suffered at the hands of the alleged perpetrator but rather against the State (Crown). In criminal matters the victim cannot decide to punish the offender. This is for the Crown to make. Courtroom acts and definitions Indictable offences: Serious crimes that are determined or tried by a judge or jury. Summary offences: Less serious crimes which are relatively quickly dealt with by a m agistrate in a local court. Manresa: To have a guilty mind. If you are insane you cannot have mensrea.Quasi: Semi criminal. In between civil and criminal. Injunction: Order of the court to stop doing something. E. g. Stop playing loud music. Contempt of Court: Disregarding or breathing an injunction or court order. Statute Law: Law made by parliament. Restitution: paying for damage caused by contempt of court Case/ common law: Law made by judges. How laws are made Statute Law: made by parliament through the passing of a bill or a referendum. Common/ case law: Law is made by the courts of previous cases. 2 houses of parliament (legislative) 1st Lower house (house of reps) 2nd Upper house (senate)If a bill is continuously rejected than a double dissolution can be called meaning the public go to the polls to re-elect senators and representatives in the lower house. A courts primary role is to interpret and apply the laws of the parliament. Common law: A judge can alter common law as it has arisen through the judges in England and then Australia. Alters law when necessary to allow justice. What binds the Common Law Precedent in law means those principles that have been decided in the past that a court can rely on today. Higher courts make a precedent. How a bill becomes law The cabinet draft bills with senior ministers. cabinet is the prime minister) Bill is given to each member of parliament, then it gets read out loud for debate and voted in House of Reps. If majority in favour bill is passed to senate. If passed in senate it goes to executive (governor general) for Royal assent (Is now an ACT of Parliament). If senate rejects bill they send it back as is or with amendments. If rejected for a second time a double dissolution can be called. Common law Develops over time case by case. Each case represents a precedent. Precedent A strong example, defies what has happened before through principles of law. Judges RoleInterpret statute, common law, delegated legislati on (ministerial law), and to enforce laws. Equality: Enforcement of the law should be fair and should result in equal punishments or penalties. A judge cannot lean on the scale (meant to be impartial). Our system is adversarial system (each party represented by a lawyer). Justice: All people are equal before the law. Symbols of justice The blindfold: Justice is impartial (not influenced by wealth, race, sex, ect†¦ ). The scales: Represent the legal system (weighing up both sides of argument). The sword: The punishment to be imposed on any guilty party.