The Curriculum And Curriculum For Excellence Essay

Early childhood education curriculums are becoming a national curriculum in most countries. With more governments and society thinking about education of under-fives we are seeing shifts in thinking and education to meet the changing world. We are developing children skills for the future to create a society where children feel they belong and can contribute to society. Curriculums are being influenced my social, political, cultural, historical and theoretical issues that are impacting different curriculums in the world. I am going to explore and develop my understanding about three different curriculums to recognise the different influences affecting curriculums. I am going to explore the curriculums of Te WhÄ riki: New Zealand, Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and Curriculum for Excellence: Scotland. This will allow me to develop an understanding of other curriculums which I have not heard about to discover other way to education t hat I have not been taught in teacher’s college. Te WhÄ riki- New Zealand In 1840 the MÄ ori chiefs and the English crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi which showed the dual heritage between the cultures and to develop a partnership to develop a shared future as we have today. This historical event has big impacts on Te WhÄ riki the way it was created with both MÄ ori and PÄ kehÄ  input to develop a curriculum that supports every child to develop as confident and competent learners. â€Å".. allShow MoreRelatedCurriculum For Excellence Essay774 Words   |  4 PagesThe Curriculum for Excellence describes eight curricular areas, three of which assign a responsibility to all teachers regardless of sector; namely Literacy, Numeracy, and Health and Wellbeing (HWB). Whereas some form of instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic has always been a feature of formal education, Health and Wellbeing is a relatively new addition to the school curriculum, both in Scotland and globally . In Scotland, a review of the Children’s Hearings System in 2004 led to the formationRead MoreThe s Curriculum For Excellence2544 Words   |  11 PagesCfE and the transition to Abertay: Sports contribution Abstract: Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in schools has been acknowledge as the most significant change in teaching practice in many years (Reeves ). At the heart of the CfE lies the desire to develop four capacities within pupils to give individuals the necessary skills for work, life and learning. Abertay University’s curriculum is undergoing change designed to develop â€Å"Abertay attributes† in their graduates. Central to bothRead MoreThe Curriculum For Excellence And Education1165 Words   |  5 PagesThe Curriculum for Excellence, introduced in 2014, aims to transform education in Scotland for ages 3-18. It intends to progress the standards of education and learning in the country by moving away from more traditional methods of teaching. This strategy, developed by the Scottish Government, recognises that learning is a lifelong process, beginning at birth, and therefore it is important to employ methods which prepare children from a young age for a li fe of work. In order to do so, the curriculumRead MoreAchieving Academic Excellence : The University Of Phoenix Foundation For Success Curriculum1543 Words   |  7 Pageswould have understood that time could be set-aside for further learning purposes. â€Å"Shoot! You could have fooled me.† However, the University of Phoenix foundation for success curriculum supplied me with a ton of knowledge for my continued journey throughout my instructional and professional venture. Achieving academic excellence involves activities that require a person to set educational and career goals, practice practical ethical decisions and critical thinking skills. Utilizing the available resourcesRead MoreThe Hobbits Curriculum698 Words   |  3 Pagesremembered for a lifetime and through incorporating an outdoor environment with learning goals provides depth in a curriculum which could be difficult to implement with an indoor environment (The Scottish Government, 2010). The Little Hobbits cu rriculum is as an outdoor curriculum catering for Kindergarten age group of 4-5. Rationale The Little Hobbits Curriculum is an outdoor curriculum that allows children the opportunity to experience the outdoors first hand, allowing the children to be lifelongRead MoreAnalysis Of Coastal Middle School987 Words   |  4 Pageswhile the Georgia average is 35.5%† (Niche, 2017). Of all the passing rates and ranking numbers, this school seems to be doing very well. There are so many great aspects of Coastal Middle School. A model school is the idea of excellence. Coastal Middle school represents excellence in education (Model Schools, 2017). This school is very diverse, and has succeeded because it has met the needs of students from a diverse range of backgrounds. Coastal Middle School teaches a range of different students fromRead MoreScience Education And Knowledge Of Science921 Words   |  4 PagesScience Education and Knowledge Despite the distinction being made between the arts and the sciences in the curriculum appearing definite, there are a number of aspects of Science education in primary education which make it more similar than different to music education. The first aspect which provides a link between science and music is the idea of exploration and discovery through science. Contrary to the beliefs of many, science is not only about discovering â€Å"truths† as there are no scientificRead MoreHigh Impact Practices For Schools921 Words   |  4 Pagesquestions aroused in regards to, what to, when to, and how to continuously improve. In 2008, School Keys- Unlocking Excellence through the Georgia School Standards was created as a â€Å"descriptor of effective, high impact practices for schools throughout Georgia to describe what schools need to know, understand and be able to do, in similar fashion to the Georgia Performance Standards curriculum for students.† Meaning that this documen t outlines the guidelines teachers should consider in correlations to theRead MoreOur School Vision States And Identifies What Type Of School We Hope1170 Words   |  5 Pagescommunity where all members of our school community are given the opportunity to share in a living relationship with God. As such, we seek to create a culture of learning excellence in partnership with our students, their family, and the wider communities to which our school belongs. To create a culture of learning excellence where: †¢ Different learning styles are understood and respected. †¢ A desire for life-long learning is generated. †¢ Knowledge, ideas, imagination and creativity are valued.Read MoreImproving The American School System1020 Words   |  5 Pagesand aspiration to advance. The oppressive ambience of American schools stifles, intimidates and destroys students and turns them into the mouthpiece of one voice, that of schools, the pervasive corporations and the government. Funding is limited, curriculum creativity-smothering, and teachers oppressive. These problems, if left unattended, are hindering America from greater progress and a greater height that she used to enjoy academically, scientifically or culturally. Thus, in order to change the

Analysis Of The Poem Billy Collins - 1333 Words

Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins is known as one of the most popular, successful, and influential poets in American history. Collins is famously known for addressing his audience directly, mentally pulling them into the poem, and creating a temporary companionship with the reader. One of the prominent examples of this style of writing can be examined in his poem, Introduction to Poetry. In Billy Collins poem, Introduction to Poetry, he plays the role as a teacher, teaching the reader how to analyze poetry by letting your open mindedness lead you to the meaning of the poem. The title of the poem can be compared to a beginner English class, such as Poetry 101. Introduction to Poetry is about a teacher’s frustration towards the simple mistake that inexperienced readers make when poetry is first introduced. Unable to read the poem properly, they often do not capture a poem’s natural beauty or message. Often frustration to interpreting certain pieces of writing leads to the animosity of poetry. In the poem Collins is contrasting two ways of reading a poem. The first opinion, which is advocated in the first five stanzas, is of the poet or teacher who describes how he would like readers to read the poem. The second opinion, which is condemned in the last two stanzas, is of the readers and students who want to find out as quickly as possible what the poem means. Throughout the poem, there is heavy use of metaphor for â€Å"poem†. For example, in the first stanza, â€Å"I ask them toShow MoreRelatedBilly Collins, analysis of his poems. Shoveling snow with Buddha, Victorias secret, and I Chop Some Parsley While Listening To Art Blakeys Version Of Three Blind Mice3082 Words   |  13 PagesArguably the most popular poet in America, Billy Collins provides readers with two types of poetry that is nothing like typical poetry. One of his unique styles is writing as if the poem could be read like a novel. The other type brings humor and whimsy to his work, yet he hints at a seriousness that lies beneath the surface. Both styles of poetry are easy to read, but take a second look to realize what the Collins is intending the reader to understand. Billy Collins is an exceptionally talented poet whoseRead MorePoetry Analysis of Introduction to Poetry837 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry analysis of ‘Introduction to Poetry’ The Poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences. Throughout the poem, a number of literary devices are used. For example: â€Å"or press an ear against its hive†. Using this metaphorRead MoreLiterary Diction In Billy Collinss Once More To The Lake943 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Once More to the Lake† and â€Å"Forgetfulness† Literary Analysis Sarah sat in the corner of her room extremely upset staring down at a piece of paper. She recently failed a math test, and without enough time to bring up her grade, reality sunk in that she would not be receiving honors this semester. Feeling as if her world was crumbling, Sarah suddenly realized that this is just one grade and that she would hardly remember why she was so upset in a few days. The two sources, â€Å"Once More to theRead MorePoetry Analysis. Protecting The Innocence Instilled In1563 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry Analysis Protecting the innocence instilled in children has been questioned throughout history. Some might believe it is within their rights to shelter children from the gruesome parts of the world in a loving manner, while others might believe it is their job to prepare children for what scary realities lie ahead. This is a subject argued about by many parents, teachers, and guardians. If one were to shelter their children too much, the child would grow up to misunderstand how to surviveRead MoreSonnets By Billy Collins : The Antihero Of Sonnet1770 Words   |  8 PagesIn 2010 Billy Collins writes Sonnet, a piece of literary work I consider to be the antihero of sonnets. Collins ironically follows neither the constructs of a Shakespearean nor Petrarchan Sonnet throughout. He also creatively breathes new life into a strict art form while rejecting the historical rules a sonnet must follow in this work. Upon further review of Sonnet, it becomes clear that this deliberate rule breaking is a s killed nod side-step to historic norms and a promotion of a new age ofRead MoreThe Poem By Billy Collins1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, is about a teacher explaining to her students how to read and analyze poetry. Collins employs an abundance of figurative language, especially metaphors and images, to express the progressive steps taken to understand a poem for all that it encompasses. When beginning to read a poem, first we must look at the bigger picture, like we are working from the outside of the poem to the inside. Once we begin to understand the storyline, we must dive furtherRead More Reflective Essay on College Writing839 Words   |  4 Pagesthem to our writing. Most of the writing we did was simply based upon our own opinions. We hardly ever used secondary sources. I believe that deconstructionist theory was the most helpful theory I learned this year for analyzing literature. Breaking a poem up line by line or i mage by image or even a story into small sections made it a lot easier to grasp the main concepts of the work. Most of the time during this semester, however, I took a formalist point of view. Also, unlike high school, the readingRead MoreI Am An Efficient Editor1779 Words   |  8 Pagesexpress emotions and personal experiences in a distinct, original way. Over the past few years, I have written a lot of poems and lyrics as a means of sorting my thoughts and dealing with overwhelming emotions. Entering the course, I knew my struggles would not lie in writing poetry, but rather, through deciphering the meanings behind others’ poems. I questioned my ability to annotate poems and write about them in an academic format. In my self-assessment, I identified my greatest writing weakness as â€Å"myRead MoreMy Writing Style And Abilities994 Words   |  4 Pagesthemes that were being conveyed. More specifically, within the assignment of evaluation about love versus lust, I could have incorporated how the themes that were being expressed were associated with the events of the poems and affected the events of the plot. For example, one poem I focused on was AP, by John Updike. Within my essay, I explained the overall events and how they specifically realted to the feelings of the Sammy, a main character, and what literary evidence I believed led him to hisRead MorePoetry Essay Prompt2545 Words   |  11 PagesLiterature Poetry Essay Prompts (1970–2011) 1970 Poem: â€Å"Elegy for Jane† (Theodore Roethke) Prompt: Write an essay in which you describe the speakers attitude toward his former student, Jane. 1971 Poem: â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† (W.H. Auden) Prompt: In a brief essay, identify at least two of the implications implicit in the society reflected in the poem. Support your statements by specific references to the poem. 1972 NO POEM 1973 (exam not available) 1974 Poem: â€Å"I wonder whether one expects...† (No poet

Should Sex Education Be Legal - 987 Words

Everyone has their own way of rising children. This sometimes causes problems while deciding on what children should learn in school. While some schools cater to religion being taught the same thing is not set in place for sex education. Many believe that sex education is vital in today’s world. Meanwhile others feel that the sex talk should be left up to the parents. With pregnancy rates going up and adolescents getting pregnant younger soon there will not be a choice. One thing is certain that public schools should educate children in some way. Nevertheless not all parts of sex education will be accepted. With the amount of teen pregnancies and the various sexually transmitted diseases researchers and parents are trying to find ways to stop teens from having sex. A lot of people are turning to teaching sex education in public schools. The first source states that teaching sex education in schools could decrease the sexual activity in adolescents. Kirby states, â€Å"Because most youth are enrolled in school for many years before they initiate sea and when they initiate sex, schools have the potential for reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking† (Kirby, 2002). The second source is for sex education as well. In the Netherlands sex education is more accepted and implemented into the school systems. So much so that teachers are trained over anatomy, the human and how to teach the information to their students. Saskia De Melker tells readers, â€Å"By law, all primary school students inShow MoreRelatedShould Sex Education Be Legal?1680 Words   |  7 PagesSex: the elephant in the room no one likes to talk about. It is a natural act humans have done for years but also a taboo to show or acknowledge. Sex, despite being taboo, is omnipresent. It is present in discussions of God, television, dating, and other areas, all of which have played a role into my understanding of sex and sexuality. However, public education has ultimately been the main factor in maintaining my personal safe sex life. Many parents debate whether sex education should remain inRead MoreSex Education Should Be Legal Essay1891 Words   |  8 Pagesyear, and 50% of new HIV infections occur in individuals under the age of 25 (Beh 22). This can partly be attributed to the state of sex education in the United States. Only 24 states require sex education be taught in schools and only 20 of those require the information to be ‘medically, factually, or technically accurate’ (â€Å"State Policies†). Abstinence-only education has been proven to be ineffective in reducing rates of teen pregnancies, STDs, and the consequences of both; has a lack of public support;Read MoreSex Education Should Be Legal2009 Words   |  9 Pagesfamily. After all, our parents talked to us about the â€Å"birds and the bees† and our teachers made us sit through that awkward sex education class in school, both making our young minds believe that having sex just one time would result in pregnancy. Then you get older and are ready to have a family and come to realize that there is a lot more to getting pregnant than just having sex. There is this magic time in a women’s cycle called ovulation; there is a short 24 hour window for the egg to be fertilized;Read MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legal Defense And Education Fund Supports Same Sex Marriage?1085 Words   |  5 Pagesis legalizing same-sex marriage. In their article, â€Å"Talking About the Freedom to Marry: Why Same-Sex Couples Should Have Equality in Marriage,† the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund s upports same-sex marriage. An opposing view, is given by Robert P. George, a Princeton University professor. In his article, â€Å"The 28th Amendment: It Is Time to Protect Marriage, and Democracy, in America,† he explains why he is against same-sex marriage. The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund concludes thatRead MoreMy View and Opinion on Underage Sex Essay769 Words   |  4 PagesMy View and Opinion on Underage Sex Is the age of 16 the right age for sex to be legal? Many people have their own views and beliefs and the issue is very indecisive, but is there ever going to be an age that everyone agrees is appropriate? This is what my speech is going to be about. Many people have different opinions on what they think the legal age to have sex should be. Every year more and more children are having underage sex and this number is continuing toRead MoreThe Best Kind of Sex Education708 Words   |  3 Pages There is much controversy over which form of sex education should be taught, comprehensive sex education, or abstinence-only sex education. The definition for comprehensive sex education is responsible and balanced sexuality education that seeks to assist young people in understanding a positive view of sexuality, provide them with information and skills about caring for their sexual health, and help them acquire skills to make decisions now and in the future. It is medically accurate and providesRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Respected1123 Words   |  5 Pagessociety, same-sex marriage should be respected at the same level as traditional opposite-sex marriage. â€Å"Marriage is the ultimate affirmation of a sexual relationship. Marriage is the institution in which we not only tolerate people having sex and housing children, but we encourage it and celebrate it as a society† (Foust 3). Most states attempted to avoid the same-sex marriage issue by defining marriage between man and woman, but that soon became an unexpected controversial issue (â€Å"Same-Sex MarriageRead MoreShould Sex Education Be Taught? Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesaddressing sex education in my classroom. The state-mandated teaching standards promoting a biased, abstinence-only program, however, do little to communicate reliable and inclusive information about sexuality. Texas provisions and education codes relating to sex education should sustain amendments that fully address the sexual health needs of every student, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation or sexual expression. Sex Education in Texas The topic of sex education in the UnitedRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1254 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the majority opinion was an act of will, not of legal judgment. Under the Constitution, judges do have the power to say what the law is, but not what the actual law should be. Both the majority opinion and the dissenting opinions contain some language of interest concerning those who disagree with the legal conclusion based upon religious beliefs. The majority opinion makes a great statement about how many people, who were opposed of same-sex marriage to be wrong, were against it primarily basedRead MoreAbortion Essay879 Words   |  4 Pageslive or the right to decide. The debate whether abortion should be made legal continues to divide republicans and democrats long after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision on Roe v. Wade declaring abortion a â€Å"fundamental† right (Roe V. Wade). The conflict over abortion that was divided into two camps, Pro-Life and Pro-Choice, sparked different views in conservatives and liberals; supporters of both camps may come together to help in sex education, distribution of birth control, and protection to avoid

A Novel Application of Cloud Computing

Question: Describe about A Novel Application of Cloud Computing? Answer: This particular assignment reflects answer of two questions such as impact of cloud computing on corporate strategy and value chain as well as the effectiveness of cloud based ERP system in business process. Moreover, this assignment also reflects the aspects that need to avoid during the implementation of cloud based ERP system in business. Here, analyst represent the impact of cloud computing such as transformative impact, impact on value delivery, equation, resource management, performance management, risk management, etc. Several diagram drawn by the researcher in order to display the impact process of cloud computing. In next question, analyst represents the benefits of cloud computing such as cost reduction and saving, mobility, flexibility, etc of cloud based ERP solutions in business. Cloud computing has the ability to load software, cloning for meeting sudden workload demand, virtual server, etc. In business industry and rapid growth of Information Technology, cloud computing is used widely. In the market, there are several cloud service providers such as Apache, OS, MySql, etc. This study also describes the ERP system in business with key risks during implementation of cloud based ERP for business organization. Implementation of Cloud based ERP solution in the business In order to increase organisational performance and prepared the best accounting information system, organisation in business sector has to involve Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). It is an integrated system that simply makes overall organization process into one way. SAP is one of the key suppliers of ERP system for business. However, in early days, most of the people used ERP system traditionally through involving a large IT team within the workplace. However, it has been also seen that ERP is the biggest information technology process that often not execute properly. As a result, company faced trouble to execute the program. Moreover, development of traditional ERP system is high cost budget. For small business, it is impossible to implement ERP system. However, in these days of rapid technology growth, suppliers of ERP such as SAP introduced cloud computing process in development of ERP solution for business organisation. It is much cost effective and easy to execute. Rountree Castrillo (2013) argued that due to moving resources from Software as a Service to the Platform as a Service, the concept of cloud based ERP solution plans introduced. The cloud computing platform moves from software as a service to platform as a service is just because of embracing growth of iPads and Smartphone applications. Through the variety of ways, cloud computing make the resources available for effective management. The cloud computing provide more holistic system to the organisation that shift the operational skills for delivering business value and effective infrastructure. If the organisation implements cloud ERP in their business, they are able to achieve following benefits that delivers high benefits Reduce total costs of ownership: Cloud based ERP solution can allow the organisation in building application with los budget and also allow to access from anywhere. Thus, they can able to maintain their CRM, HR department, analytics report, etc. Thus, cloud based ERP system generates automatic process and decrease the requirements of hardware and software as well as the IT team within the organisation. Cloud based ERP system required low cost to develop as well as forecast. Abidi Abidi (2012) cited that cloud based ERP system reduce cost more in order to make low competition for the organisation. Better Alignment of IT investment: The cloud based ERP system has required little of capital rather than the tradition ERP system. Solution of cloud based ERP system is more flexible rather than other such SAP ERP system. In order to develop the cloud based ERP system, organisation has to bare little in technology. Therefore, Huang Nicol (2013) suggested that the costs of cloud based ERP solution can up and down according to the infrastructure of organisation. The third party vendor take total responsibility in developing the cloud based ERP system. Therefore, company in business industry can align their IT investment in better way. For example, if the organisation has cloud based ERP system it allows the organisation in monitoring the entire system and ensuring the system uptime. As the cloud based ERP solution monitor and access information automatically, the IT department can able to focus more on the other task such as resource management, CRM. HR, SCM, etc. Global Access: The cloud based ERP system allows the staffs or employees of the organisation in accessing information from any place. Apart from that, the cloud base ERP system was provided by the large organisation such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc. Therefore risk of information theft in accessing from outside of the office has low. With the help of internet, employees of the firm are able to access information from any locations. Faster Time to Value: The cloud based ERP solution service providers demand that, it deliver performance in a better way instead of traditional ERP system. Cloud based ERP system has been applied for computing the resources. Therefore, it allows the organisation in increasing their performance within lower costs. Apart from that, it has been seen that Microsoft dynamics assists the organisation in consistence performing as well as faster service providers n terms of improving the performance. Moreover, through the involvement of cloud based ERP system, organisation can able to save their significant costs. A dynamic business solution: Cloud based ERP system is one of the most effective and efficient resource scalability regarding costs. Cloud based ERP system can allow in purchasing the amount of resources additionally. Therefore, the existing IT staff can focus more on the value add of projects rather than in maintaining day-to-day operations. Solution for organisation of all size: Cloud based ERP system connect the entire process of business in one system such as information about suppliers, locations, clients, etc. For example, Microsoft dynamic ERP system is an effective tool that maintains interoperability between the external and internal system for daunting task. Risk that needs to avoid during the implementation of cloud based ERP system In order to implement the cloud based ERP solution within the organisation, company may faced several risks. Therefore, for implementing the cloud based ERP system in business, need to avoid following risks such as Security Breaches: It is the key risk in implementation of cloud based ERP solutions because third party vendor install ERP system within business process. Apart from that, prominent cloud hosting companies install system. Therefore, leakage of information regarding security may create several risks. Therefore, during the implementation of cloud based ERP system, need to avoid the security risk through developing proper rules and regulations. Majority of user faced challenges in conducting ERP system. Therefore, management of the organisation or head of the department has to take total responsibility in adopting security breaches during implementation of ERP system. Concern of business owners: In major cases, it has been seen that, owner of the business ever closely involve with the implementation process of cloud based ERP system. As a result, the third party vendor unable to implement ERP solution according to their requirement. Therefore, several risks occur and implemented system fail to interact the business operational process. Therefore, for implementing the cloud based ERP system, need to involve closely with the third party vendor that install the program and describe them about the entire process clearly as well as requirement of the company. Federal and state regulation: It is also another factor that needs to consider for avoiding risk in implementation process of cloud ERP solution. In order to mitigate or avoid the risk of implementation cloud based ERP system, organisation especially the financial institution and the heath care service providers has to involve laws or regulation that covers sensitive data or information. This study concludes the impact of cloud computing in corporate strategic and value chain and affect of cloud based ERP system in business. Apart from that, suggest to avoid the risk during implementation of cloud based ERP solutions in business. Reference List Abidi, F., Abidi, H. (2012). Cloud Libraries: A Novel Application of Cloud Computing.IJ-CLOSER,1(3). doi:10.11591/closer.v1i3.586 Rountree, D., Castrillo, I. (2013).The basics of cloud computing. Burlington: Elsevier Science.

The British Security Coordination and Canadian Involvement in Clandestine Activities Essay Example

The British Security Coordination and Canadian Involvement in Clandestine Activities Essay In times of tribulation people come together to do what they can and what they must to survive. Some people go so far beyond the call of duty and normal responsibilities that everyone who comes after them are forever in debt to their courage and selflessness. Never has so much been owed by so many, to so few. Churchills famous words still ring true to this very day but people often fail to realize exactly how much people sacrificed and risked for them. Some of the most astounding stories from World War II have not been heard by many simply because of the nature and delicacy of those stories. Intelligence during the second Great War played a very integral part in the allied victory, however, the very nature of the work the intelligence community did ensures that to this day many documents are still highly classified.In the past 30 years many more books have been written, with varied accuracy about Canadian participation in the British Security Coordination, Special Operations Executiv e and MI9. Through accounts of Canadians behind enemy lines and looking at the importance of William Stephenson and Camp X or STS-103, looking at Canadian involvement in the covert aspects of World War Two will show that they were not only crucial to the cooperation and communication between Allied forces, but also in the resistance in occupied Europe and helping soldiers escape from behind enemy lines.Covert operations was a young business at the beginning of World War Two, but quickly grew up becoming the foundation of most intelligence agencies in the modern age including the Central Intelligence Agency which is a direct descendant of the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.). One of the first such organizations to come into existence with relation to World War 2 was the Special Operations Executive or S.O.E. Created in 1940 from Section D of M.I.6, M.I.(R) of the War Office, and a small section of the Foreign Office, S.O.E had a very specialized objective to fulfill:Its mandate was to encourage resistance in enemy-occupied Europe and Asia by sending agents to help organize and train local volunteers in sabotage, industrial demolition, ambush, disruption of communications and, in a few cases, to engage in the collection of specific intelligence.1S.O.E. would go on to drop agents behind enemy lines virtually all over the world to help recruit and train resistance to, as Churchill stated, set Europe ablaze. With the possibility of a ground force being landed in Western Europe to open up a second front growing slimmer into 1940, the British government decided that something had to be done to disrupt German efforts. While virtually expelled from Europe (except Gibraltar) the British took what steps it could, including a blockade of continental Europe, and a limited bombing effort, though at this point bombers were still in short supply. The S.O.E. gave Britain an effective way to help the enemies of Germany behind enemy lines while furthering there own agenda. From its rocky beginnings through until 1946 when it was disbanded the S.O.E. in 71 months fielded more than nine thousand agents and operated everywhere from China, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and nineteen European countries.2 It was in this organization that Canadians were primarily used behind enemy lines because of the many nationalities in Canada, especially the French, and Eastern Europeans.One of the many things to come out of the S.O.E. was North Americas British Security Coordination. The B.S.C. was created out of the need for better Anglo-American cooperation, but also for a stronger presence of Allied intelligence agents in North and South America. The British Security Council was responsible for the financial and administrative tasks of many stations throughout Latin America, as well as MI5s (Britains homeland security) domain in North and South America including Newfoundland and Canada, as well as various Caribbean possessions.3 The British Security Coordina tion was crucial for the presence it had in North and South America, the valuable advice it gave to the burgeoning American intelligence agency the Office of Strategic Services, and for the direct link it gave between the American government and the British government. The B.S.C. and its American interests was run by William Stephenson, or a man better known as Intrepid.William Stephenson, born in Winnipeg in 1896 and adopted by Icelandic immigrants he would become a major mover and shaker during World War Two. Stephenson joined up during World War One and went to fight in France sometime in mid-July and was sent home a week later after being wounded and gassed. While wounded though he took courses in the theory of flight, internal combustion, and communications and navigation and ended up back in the war as a fighter pilot. Stephenson was eventually awarded the Military Cross in April 1918 and the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1918 for reportedly shooting down eighteen enemy craft and two kite balloons.4 After the war Stephenson went back to Winnipeg where he became an unsuccessful entrepreneur and opened a hardware store but quickly closed it when in 1922 he filed for bankruptcy.Stephenson left rather quickly for England and began a successful career as a businessman and inventor, patenting things like the can opener, and wireless photography. He went on the have several contacts with powerful business men and became one himself, socializing with politicians and famous figures like H.G. Wells. Stephenson was also known to give Churchill, who was not in office at this time, accurate information on German rearmament and even said at one point We were all friends, you see, Churchill and the rest. We were a group of friends who saw the war coming.5 Stephenson was sent as Churchills personal representative to the United States to help counter German propaganda to stop American aid to the Allies and to ensure closer relations between the F.B.I. and British intelligence. One of Stephensons first achievements in America was a meeting that was arranged by Bill Donovan with the Secretary of Navy Frank Knox, the Secretary of War Henry Stimson and the Secretary of State Cordell Hull to discuss the trade of fifty over-age destroyers to the British. This was just the first of many direct involvements that Stephenson had concerning American aid and involvement with the British.With Stephenson having made contact with Roosevelt among others in the United States the business of helping construct an American intelligence agency that would operate over-seas and organizing British interests in the Western half of the world began. Stephenson set about hiring Canadians to staff the B.S.C. and work around the clock to decode and send messages crucial to the Allied cause. Stephensons influence was so great that not only did he have direct access to the heads of state, but he could virtually ignore Britains ambassador to the United States Lord Lothian, just as the British ignored Ambassador Kennedy in London.6 This direct access lead to the British able to have a central agency on neutral soil which was a collusion of four major British intelligence departments based out of New York plus a communications-intelligence web that covered virtually all directions and a secret police force on American soil. These facts alone lent to the urgent need for secrecy as any violation of Americas sovereignty, which the British Security Council surely was, would contribute nicely to the anti-war movement in the United States and help Germanys war effort. Despite these restrictions many remarkable things were achieved by Stephenson and the many men and women who worked for him. One of the more astounding stories that seems to come more out of a thrilling spy book rather than historical documents was the procurement of Vichy French Naval ciphers kept under lock and guard in the French embassy.Two of Stephensons agents known as Cynthia and Bertrand masquerading as romantic lovers bribed a night watch man to let them into the embassy for a circumspect tryst. After gaining his trust by doing this for a few nights they slipped him a sleeping powder in his champagne and brought in a locksmith to figure out the code for the safe in the code room. The next night they again went in and knowing that the security guard was probably quite suspicious about his falling asleep had Cynthia undress for the guards expected intrusion. After sufficiently embarrassing the guard and getting his assurance that they would not be bothered anymore, they opened the safe and passed out the naval ciphers to a waiting agent who copied them and brought them back to be replaced in the safe.The Vichy French naval ciphers were successfully stolen by two daring agents and went to great use in Operation Torch and the landing in North Africa.7 Stephenson and his staff of loyal Canadians did much for the war effort far from the front in the United States and al l over Latin America. Stephenson ensured a level of cooperation between America and Britain that simply was not possible through normal diplomatic lines and in the eyes of the American public. From secretaries to code analysts the British Security Council organized the war on this side of the Atlantic and gave the Allies a major advantage through their radio operators and covert services.One of the most closely guarded secrets on Canadian soil during World War Two was a secret agent training school strategically placed on the shores of Lake Ontario. Dubbed Camp X by those that knew of its existence on this side of the ocean and STS-103 (Special Training School 103) by the British. Located on the border of Whitby and Oshawa just east of Toronto Camp X was established in 1941 by William Stephenson as a way to train agents for assignments with S.O.E. and MI9 in Axis Europe. Camp X was designed to not only train special agents, but with sophisticated radio equipment link the United Stat es with Canada. Located off of Lake Ontario which was ideal for bouncing radio signals to Europe, South America and of course between B.S.C. headquarters in New York and London, fifty kilometers from the United States across Lake Ontario and only five kilometers from Defense Industries Ltd., which was the largest ammunition manufacturing facility in North America at the time, Camp X was in a perfect position to contribute to the war in several crucial ways.One of the best aspects of Camp X was the very diverse population within its reach. The B.S.C. had within its reach large populations of French Canadians, Yugoslavs, Italians, Hungarians, Romanians, Chinese and Japanese from which to select as potentials for S.O.E. training. For the British is was simply easier to send a few instructors to Canada then to send several hundred potential recruits to Britain just to discover they did not have what it takes to operate behind enemy lines. Camp X was essentially a recruiting and culling school for potential recruits for the S.O.E., training them in aspects of silent killing, revolutionary work, sabotage and recruitment methods for the resistance methods.Camp X did not just train potential recruits for the S.O.E., they also trained other training officers for the United States and their newly formed O.S.S. When the Office of Strategic Service was still known as Coordinator of Intelligence (from July 1941 to June 1942) it was agreed that the C.O.I. should train its Special Operations Officers at Camp X. Many officers that went on the form the bulk of the O.S.S. were trained in the trade by British officers at Camp X. The first unit dispatched from the O.S.S. was a U.S. army major named Carl Eifler who had been trained at Camp X along with his key subordinates. Carl Eifler and his men were sent to India and later given the chance to operate in China proving themselves to be more than capable of handling their assignments.8The agents that were trained in Camp X and dro pped behind enemy line were certainly as effective as their American counterparts, if not more so. It has been the consensus of many historians that the superior efforts of the expert training and support staff of Camp X may have reduced the duration of the war by six months to a year and saved hundreds of thousands of lives.9 This may seem like a bold statement, but the French Canadians who were dropped into German occupied France were responsible for blowing up bridges and disrupting railway tracks, delaying the Germans by at least three weeks from reaching Normandy after D-day. In the course of roughly a year and three months from January 1942 until March 1943,Camp X had over 273 men and women trained who would go on to work in the S.O.E. both in the field and as training officers, O.S.S. officers and agents, security officers in South America, among various other things.10 It is estimated that another one hundred and fifty agents were trained between March of 1943 and April of 1 944. A number of these agents were trained in the use of HAM radios, and were responsible for much of the information gathered for the Allies. Stationed all over South America these men and women were given the task of monitoring radio communications of the enemy which was much heavier than most would think in South America.The other part to Camp X that was crucial to the war effort was the massive radio housed there code named Hydra. This radio station was putting through high priority messages straight through to heads of state including Roosevelt and Churchill. The camp also had direct lines to New York, Ottawa and Washington, and their lines had an even higher priority than the Prime Ministers office.11 Hydra was responsible for the secure communication available between the British and Americans, and was the hub that most major communications between the two Allies went through. Though Camp X was one of dozens of special agent training camps that the British had throughout the world it was undoubtedly the most important for several reasons. The men that Camp X trained were often the most successful behind enemy and there are dozens accounts of these brave people and there stories, it was an invaluable tool in the training of intelligence officers for the American O.S.S., and it was the base for the largest radio installation in North America, and a direct communication link between the British and the Americans.Through the efforts of individuals like William Stephenson and the hundreds of Canadians who voluntarily dropped behind enemy lines in the fight against the Germans, and the men and women that were organized to monitor German radio as well as pass information between the Allies, Canadians played a large role in the covert aspect of World War Two. While many Canadians do not recognize this fact, it is not because they do not want to, it is because they do not know. Many Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of others, while many more ga ve their utmost dedication and attention to the war that was raging so far away.The collusion between American and British interests that Stephenson managed so skillfully, despite all the restrictions placed on him helped ensure British survival during the darkest days of the war, and eventual entry into the war by the United States. From Canadian radio operators to Canadians organizing resistance they were involved in all levels of the covert aspect of World War Two.

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers CareersInGear has rounded up several of the latest innovations luxury truck manufacturers are turbo-loading into new rigs:Â  In-truck bathing and toilet facilities! The most popular features? KitchenettesTables and boothsEntertainment centers set up with surround sound, DVD players, video game consoles, and flat screen TVsLarger, non-folding bedsHow are the entertainment centers not a terrible idea? But anyway, the thing to remember with all these action-packed palaces on wheels is the weight. Balance your need for amenities with the number of loads you want to make, the mileage you’ll be accumulating (and the fuel costs that go with it), and the frequency of the runs you’ll be making. Companies like TryHours are piloting 20 big rigs in their fleet with more extravagant features, but in order for these upgrades to be reasonable across the industry they’ll need to be scaled down appropriately. More comfortable beds, absolutely! Xbox? Maybe not so much!Have you se en any of these luxury rigs on the road yet? Â  Would the increased convenience of stopping less and enjoying more privacy be worth the compromises on load-bearing? Weigh in in the comments!

Environmental Risks From Mine Tailings

Environmental Risks From Mine Tailings Tailings are a type of rock waste from the mining industry. When a mineral product is mined, the valuable portion is usually embedded in a rock matrix called ore. Once the ore has been stripped of its valuable minerals, sometimes through the addition of chemicals, it is piled up into tailings. Tailings can reach immense proportions, appearing in the form of large hills (or sometimes ponds) on the landscape. Tailings deposited as large piles can cause a variety of environmental problems: Slumps, landslides. Tailing piles can be unstable, and experience landslides. In 1966, in Aberfan, Wales, a hill of mining debris famously collapsed onto buildings, resulting in 144 deaths. There are also cases where wintertime avalanches occurred on tailings, with loss of life for residents below.Dust. Dry tailing deposits contain small particles that are picked up by the wind, transported, and deposited on communities nearby. In the tailings of some silver mines, arsenic and lead is present in the dust in high enough concentrations to cause serious health problems.Leaching. When rain falls on tailings, it leaches away materials that can create water pollution, for example, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Sulfuric acid is sometimes produced when water interacts with tailings, or it can be a by-product of ore processing. As a result, highly acidic water leaks from the tailings and disrupts aquatic life downstream. Tailings from copper and uranium mining often produce measurable levels of radioactivity. Tailing Ponds Some mining wastes become very fine after they have been ground up during processing. The fine particles are then generally mixed with water and piped into impoundments as a slurry or sludge. This method cuts down on dust problems, and at least in theory, the impoundments are engineered to let excess water flow out without leaking tailings. Coal ash, while not a type of tailing, is a coal burning by-product stored the same way, and carrying similar environmental risks. In reality, tailing ponds also carry several environmental risks: Dam failure. There have been numerous instances where the dam holding back the impoundment collapsed. The consequences to the aquatic communities below can be serious, for example in the case of the Mount Polly Mine Disaster.  Leaks. Tailing ponds can be hundreds of acres in size, and in those cases, leaks into surface and ground waters are probably inevitable. The heavy metals, acids, and other contaminants end up polluting groundwater, lakes, streams, and rivers. Some very large ponds in Canada’s tar sands operations leak large amounts of tailings in the underlying soil, in the aquifer, and ultimately into the nearby Athabasca River.Wildlife exposure. Migrating waterfowl has been known to land on tailing ponds, and in some cases with dramatic consequences. In 2008, about 1,600 ducks died after landing on a tar sands tailing pond in Alberta, contaminated by floating bitumen, a tar-like substance. However, simple deterrent measures can reduce that risk significantly.