Student achievement gap Essay Example for Free

Student achievement gap Essay Introduction A study achievement gap is considered to be the observed partiality and bias of educational measures between the working effectiveness of group of students (Lee, 2002). This group is described and identified on basis of gender, race, competency level and financial status. The race gap in educational accomplishment is an old issue. Several children are most likely to drop out of school. They are with or without school diplomas, cannot read or write or do simple math (Lee, 2002). The proof and data for the gap has been recorded which include drop out rates, number of students who have taken higher placement examination, top students and are admitted to higher-status secondary schools, colleges and other professional programs. This paper concentrates on the general question and then independently on the statistical gap in standardized test scores. The aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the differences between the two groups. Achievement Gap: Literature Review. In accordance to National Assessment of Educational Progress report, more than thirty percent of Asian-American students performed at proficient level whereas only ten percent of African-Americans did so in fourth grade reading exam. Disparities subsist in the student’s module-taking outline as well (Jansen Bruinsma, 2005). Researchers believe that disparities in achievement occur because of socioeconomic factors. In accordance to data of U. S Census Bureau, twenty seven percent of black children are living in poverty as compared to twelve percent of Asian-American children. Studies have also suggested that dropout rates are higher for children who do not have any access to proper housing and finance facilities and benefits. Another study indicates the boundaries and restrictions of economic and social mobility in African Americans and argues that their drop out rate is higher in schools in New York City. However, Asian Americans make up large portion of all the city’s elite magnet schools because they have good family background (Jansen Bruinsma, 2005). Case Study The case study selected to analyze the academic achievement gap study conducted in Cherry Creek School District in Colorado at high school level. The findings indicated that Asian American students performed at better levels than black students. The case study of Cherry Creek School District School lays out the causes for achievement gap. According to the research, they can be classified in to two main groups. They are the factors which are associated with financial status, societal ambience in which they live and their family background. The other factors are associated to student’s schools. Financial status is the main reason which shows low student achievement. Research shows has compared the living conditions of African Americans and Asian Americans and have reached to the conclusion that black students are living in poor conditions and they lack facilities. It also demonstrated that African Americans come from unstable family background which hinders in their learning process (Lee, 2002). Asian-Americans live in better conditions and come from stable family structure which allows them to perform better at school as compared to African-Americans. Achievement gap studied at Cherry Creek School District in math indicates that the gap exists because of lack of parent involvement. Educators have shown that parental involvement and cultural values play an essential role in school achievement among children of Asian Americans. Other factors which influence achievement gap are cultural attitudes and racism. A total of 72 blacks and 72 Asian Americans were interviewed. The number of low achieving students was higher in blacks as compared to Asian Americans. In the same school, Facts and figures collected suggested that about sixty percent of whites, Asians and blacks were high school students who were registered in an Algebra 1 course. However, the pattern changed for higher level math courses (Lee, 2002). Records indicated that sixty percent of Asian-Americans took Algebra 2 whereas only fifty five percent of black students were enrolled in it. The report showed that black students are behind their Asian-American counterparts on general knowledge and math skills. It showed that high percentage of Asian American students scored at proficient level while black students performed poorly in their math test. Conclusion This study demonstrates that Asian-American parents talk extensively to their children on the importance of customs, values and how to work in society. Whereas African American parents are not involved in their children school life. By comparing the two groups in the lights of economic and school contexts, it can be concluded that the gap between the black and Asian American students is wide because of socioeconomic backgrounds, family backgrounds and school contexts. This shows that culture plays an essential role in school achievement and demonstrates that culture interconnects with class, race and schools. References Lee, J. (2002). Racial and ethnic achievement gap trends: Reversing the progress toward equity? EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER, 31(1):3-12. Jansen, E. P. and Bruinsma, M. (2005). Explaining achievement in higher education. Educational Research and Evaluation, 11(3):235-252.

Opening a Business in My Neighbouring Area Essay -- Business Managemen

Opening a Business in my Neighbouring Area Background to the Business When we were first set this project to complete I thought and researched into the many business I could have selected to open in my neighbouring area. There were many options I could have chosen for my project, after long consideration I managed to narrow down my final ideas into four businesses in which I could have chosen and were most suitable for my project. My ideas which I thought of were a restaurant which would sell alcoholic beverages, non alcoholic beverages and meals, a clothing store for young adults, a beauty store which would sell cosmetics and other products similar, and finally a stationary store which would sell school equipment, and many other stationary goods. I thought about each option carefully and went through the advantages and disadvantages to each proposal I had to decide from. To begin with I went through the advantages and disadvantages of opening a restaurant in my neighbouring area, if I were to open a restaurant there would be a great deal of competition in the location of Brighouse as there are several restaurants in Brighouse, one of my competitors if I were to open up a restaurant in Brighouse would be La Romantica, this restaurant is a successful Italian restaurant which has been open for a few years, within this period of time it has built up a good reputation to the people in and around Brighouse. Another competitor is the Brooks restaurant; this is an upper class restaurant which also has a good status like La Romantica. Other restaurants which would not be classed as high competitors unlike the above are The Golden Hind Fish Restaurant, The Auctioneer, Swankies, Bengal Brassiere and Water Front Lodge. The advantages of having a restaurant situated in Brighouse would be that there is a good market demand for restaurants in Brighouse and that would produce the business profit. So I came to the conclusion to decide against the idea of opening a restaurant in Brighouse because of the competition, the competition is too immense for a small restaurant to contend with. Also there are more disadvantages than advantages. Secondly I could have opened a beauty store in the centre of Brighouse much like the nation-wide store Boots. If I were to open a beauty store in the centre of Brighouse there could be many advantag... ... income support and job seekers allowance from the government, which will mean that the government will have more money to spend in the budget on public services such as the NHS, schools and the police force. Also for my business I will have to pay taxes on my profits will again go to government services and the improvement of public sectors in the UK. Also other people will be paying taxes on my products, which will be used by the government to be used on public services in the UK. But my business could create inflation in the country, which is a negative issue, this could be due to an increase of demand in products, so prices would rise and less people would spend their money on them as their prices would be too high. Another bad issue could be that the government might have to spend money on improving the environment due to the damaged which might be caused by my retail outlet, some of these damages which my business could do are pollution such as waste pollution which would be my leaflets which people could have dumped in the street therefore the council will have to get more cleaners, also noise pollution by the heavy pedestrian congestion which might occur.

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (Maven)

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) The red planet Mars has long been a cultural and scientific fascination. People have pondered for decades over the biological potential of the planet and its past. Geological features on Mars resembling dry riverbeds, and the discovery of minerals that form in the presence of water, suggest that Mars once had a thicker atmosphere and was warm enough to allow liquid water to flow on the surface.But phenomenally, the Mars that is seen today is radically different — barren, lifeless, and dry. Why? In hopes of uncovering the answers to these mysteries, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch its newest mission to Mars, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN). Set to launch in November 18, 2013, MAVEN has been given the task of exploring the Martian upper atmosphere, the planet’s ionosphere and its interactions with the sun and solar wind. NASA) It will be the first mission devoted to this understanding. According to NASA, MAVEN data will be used to determine how the loss of volatile compounds (such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and water) from Mars’s atmosphere to space has influenced the evolution of the planet’s atmosphere and climate. Clearly, the mission is expected to provide insights into liquid water and habitability on the red planet. The means by which the data harvested by MAVEN will achieve its primary scientific objectives have been determined.Scientists plan to infer how the Martian atmosphere changed over the course of time by measuring the current rate of escape to space of atmospheric gases and understanding the ways by which they do. (Wikipedia) To extract information on Mars, the four hundred eighty-five million dollar MAVEN space probe has been equipped with the latest scientific instruments, processed into three different instrumental suite packages. (NASA Science) One of which includes the Particles and Field Package.This specific package will be largely responsible for measuring solar wind, ionospheric electrons and magnetic fields, and magnetosheath ion density and velocity. Another package included is the Remote Sensing Package, which contains an ultraviolet spectrometer that will be used to measure the global characteristics of Mars’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The final package, the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer Package, will have the work of assigning measurements to the composition and isotopes of neutral gases and ions found in the planet’s atmosphere.With these instruments, MAVEN will gather substantial atmospheric information from its orbit 3,870 miles above the planet's surface. (Wikipedia) Currently, scientists believe that Mars may have lost most of its atmosphere due to a process known as â€Å"sputtering,† by which high-energy photons from the sun transform molecules into ions that are eventually carried out of the atmosphere and away fr om the planet by the magnetic fields generated by solar winds. NASA) The objective of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) is expected to provide evidence for the mentioned theory. While that may only be an expectation, one thing is for sure, in discovering the answers to the mysteries of Mars, we as humans will too certainly extend our senses as a whole in our quest to understand the secrets of our origins, and the destiny that lies ahead.

The Causes Of Drug Addiction - 895 Words

The causes of drug addiction Frank Zappa once said â€Å"A drug is neither moral nor immoral -- it s a chemical compound. The compound itself is not a menace to society until a human being treats it as if consumption bestowed a temporary license to act like an asshole.† What causes people to be addicted to drugs? Most people know the bad things that will happen to drug users: they become addicted. Curiosity is the first major cause that leads to drug addiction throughout the nation. The second cause is the desire to escape from reality through drugs and can lead the user to become addicted. Lastly, the everyday environment around the individual can push him or her to become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is a serious problem that is caused by curiosity, escapement from reality, and the environment around us. The first cause is simple curiosity. The metaphor curiosity killed the cat is true when it comes to drug addiction. Most people have heard about drugs, and are curious to experience them because they heard about what effects that the drug can bring. These people have heard that drugs can be fun, or make a person feel and act different. They have seen their friends or family members behave differently while on drugs, and they want to see how it really feels for themselves. The moment when a first time drug user uses a drug, most likely they will become addicted to the substance and will do whatever is necessary to feed the addiction because of curiosity.Show MoreRelatedThe Causes of Drug Addiction1430 Words   |  6 PagesThe Causes of Drug Addiction What causes a man to risk losing his family or worse his freedom for the ability to get high? What causes a parent to risk not only their own health by smoking but also the health of their children? The answer is addiction. Alan I. 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