Against Banning Full-Face Veils Essay

Mirayda Martinez Against Banning Full-Face Veils Banning Full-Face Veils would not only make Muslim women feel vulnerable to men as a sexual desire, it would also make them feel betrayed by the country or state they live in. Being told what to wear is like being told what to eat or who to hang out with, it is unjust. Muslim women should be able to dress how they would like without being Judged or assaulted by anyone. The veil helps assure the women that they are not being looked at as a desire and in a way, wearing the veil helps make them feel closer to God. Enforcing laws against Full-Face Veils would be amiss because it would e stripping them of freedom of expression and religion. First, Muslim women should not be Judged by what they wear Just because it is different from the culture and beliefs of everyone else. It is not a crime to be different, but then why do some women get assaulted and harassed for wearing a veil? Just because they do not believe in the same religion as other people does not mean they should get treated any differently than others. Muslim women should be entitled to wear whatever they want to, even if it is a Full-Face Veil that covers them from top to bottom. For some omen, veiling is an expression of their religious beliefs, and is no less or more a part of their religious observance than praying five times a day or fasting during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer in Islam. † Veiling is a way women express their religious belief and should not get treated any less important than fasting or pra ying towards Mecca; it should get treated with the same respect. Second, the veil is very important.

Ties that Bind: Societal Transformation in the Face of Relocation

The Ojibwa, a culturally heterogeneous people which called themselves Anishnabe, were historically, not a single tribe in the political sense but rather organized into a number of bands (or sub-tribes) who shared the same language and culture, yet their customs however also varied from one band to another.These bands were divided into permanent clans, which originally were subdivided into five groups from which more than twenty clans developed. Of these, a clan would claim hereditary chieftainship of the tribe while another claims precedence in the council of war.The family played an important role in their society, as clans were simply clusters of related families claiming a common ancestor. The division of labor was well established – men hunted and gathered food, and built weapons and other tools while women carried water, cooked food meals, wove cloth, fashioned pottery and tended the home, though either or both sexes could farm the land, prepare animal skins etc.Though th e family or the extended unit of the clan for that matter, had a strong influence on the broader social structures of Ojibwa community life, societal functions which tend to promote the good of the community generally determined the roles individuals were expected to play.Caring for and educating children were a clan affair, the children learning by example the tribe’s cultural values, e.g. strength of character, wisdom and endurance, and through oral traditions and the telling of stories, and participation in religious ceremonies.The Ojibwa of Grassy Narrows were devastated by changes to their community upon contact with modern industrial society. The Ojibwa encounter with modernization ultimately destroyed their traditional way of life, painfully emphasized by the poisoning of their river-lake system, which had tied them to the land through their primary activities of hunting, trapping, fishing, and subsistence agriculture.Granted access to unemployment benefits, alcohol an d other previously unavailable influences rendered the Ojibwa vulnerable to the manipulation and exploitation of others.Traditional Ojibwa culture was heavily influenced by the natural terrain of their habitat – they had adapted their semi-nomadic way of life to a heavily forested land with an extensive network of lakes and rivers. Primarily a hunting-and-fishing society, they would travel through the lakes and river systems in light canoes.Other economic activities include gathering wild fruits and seeds, as well as some farming, and the making of sugar from maple syrup. As with most Native Americans, their housing consisted of wigwams made with pole frames, and typically covered with birch bark. Their clothing was made largely from animal hides such as tanned deerskin and woven nettle fibers.In terms of religious belief, Ojibwa mythology appears to be elaborate. Aside from general belief in the Great Spirit, their chief religious rites centered on the Grand Medicine Society (Medewiwin), composed of practitioners skilled in healing. Traditionally, the Ojibwa view essential matters relating to health, their subsistence, social organization and tribe leadership, from a religious perspective.The central rite of the Medewiwin – the killing and reviving of initiates through the use of sacred seashells and medicine bags, recreated the necessity of death for the continuation and strengthening of life, as in the Creation Myth. It also carried on the hunting concern and imagery of traditional Ojibwa, going beyond mere imagery into hunting medicine to help them and their neighbors find game.Medewinin ceremonies also incorporated ritual components of traditional Ojibwa cult – tobacco offerings, dog sacrifices, ceremonial sweat baths, feasting and dancing in communion with objects of their religion, the performance of ceremonies for the help and blessing of the spirits.Familial relationships, as well as those in the community, were fostered on a myst ical reverence for nature reinforced by myth and ritual. The breakdown of these relationships and the disruption and ensuing disharmony among the community resulted in serious problems for the Ojibwa, which due to its foreign nature they did not seem competent of handling.It is important to note that the Ojibwa are participants in complex, multi-cultural societies with the preponderance of minority-majority relationships and interaction in the social milieu to which they function. Consequently, the issues they face, particularly environmental degradation and the failure of adequate and proper government support, also concern non-Native Americans.The community of Grassy Narrows, an Ojibwa First Nation located 80 km south of Kenora in northwestern Ontario, was forcibly relocated to its present location in 1962, five miles south of the original settlement. When they first ceded their land through Treaty # 3, local Ojibwa maintained most of their material and spiritual culture. Grassy N arrows folk held on to clan loyalties and political autonomy until the late 19th century, adapting their old skills to new conditions.The 20th century however, proved disastrous with an influenza epidemic wiped out around 75% of the population shaking the native economy, social system, and the local aboriginal religion. Traditional healers proved powerless to explain or combat the disease.

Driving Safety and Distractions

Research question: driving safety and types of distractions Hypothesis: Driving safe and trying to avoid distractions can prevent thousands of accidents each year. People tend to let things like music, phones, makeup, and other things distract their driving. Acting more safely can prevent alot. The null hypothesis would be that it really doesn't matter about the distractions it is up to the person to drive safe. The number of participants that i will use for this research is thirty. The inclusion characteristics will be age, gender, and three different types of distractions. I on't think there will be no exclusion characteristics considering the study is using age and gender as well as different distraction characteristics. Yes the sample nedds to be diverse because we are studying driving between male and females. We are also studying the adult and teenager age groups against the different distractions that we intend to use. The type of sampling method that I will be using is strati sfied random sampling. This sampling is appropiate because i will be randomly selecting participants from each group so that their presentation in the sample is proportional to the epresentation in te population. I will generalize my sample to the male and female population. I will also use the teenage and adult groups. I will also generalize between the different types of distractions and there affect. The independent variables in my study will be men versues women. The dependent variable would the types of distractions that causes a person not to drive safely. I will be using the one-way annova test. This test is appropiate to use with the number of distractions being tested which will be three or more caterogories to compare against. The reliablity of this study is based off of the participants and how they react to the types of distractions. The validity would be how valid the distractions are to get a reaction out of the participants. For this study I will be using observational research in determing driving and types of distractions. I would set up a car simulation. Each participant would be driving and I would add a distraction to the experiment to observe the reaction of the person. I will also use data from different driving accidents to see what caused it and the age and gender of the person. Descriptive research si the deisgn being used. This research is good because I am using observational research and some archival data. The basic procedure that I will go through is to randomly pick male and females some that are teens and some adults. I will set upa car simulation and have each one drive and then present different distractions to see how they react. I can also see what was the one distractions that had the greatest effect and the one that had the least effect. Some ethical issues could be the race of the subjects, the area in which they live, health and mental issues. References: Occupational driver safety: Conceptualising a leadership-based intervention to improve safe driving performance[->0] Newnam, Sharon; Lewis, Ioni; Watson, Barry. Accident Analysis & Prevention (0001-4575) March 2012. Iss. Volume 45;p. 29-38 Source: Science Direct[->1] Teens Receive Grant to Develop Safe Driving Campaigns. [->2] Professional Safety (0099-0027) Oct2011. Vol. 56,Iss. 10;p. 29-29 Source: Academic Search Elite[->3] Protext Mobility Releases DriveAlert Safe Driving Solution for Android to Combat Distracted Driving[->4] Anonymous. Wireless News 2011-08-04. Source: Telecommunications (ProQuest)[->5] .Automotive; Safe Driving Starts with Safe Thinking[->6] Anonymous. Transportation Business Journal (1945-8436) 2011-07-03. Source: Military Collection[->7] Road safe seniors: Screening for age-related driving disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings[->8] Hill, Linda; Rybar, Jill; Baird, Sara; Concha-Garcia, Susanna; Coimbra, Raul; Patrick, Kevin. Journal of Safety Research (0022-4375) 2011-06-01. Vol. 42,Iss. 3;p. 165 Source: Research Library Complete (ProQuest)[->9] Older and Younger Drivers' Beliefs about Motor Vehicle Features to Benefit Their Safe Driving[-;10] Soyun Kim ; Michael S. Wogalter ; Christopher B. Mayhorn. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting September 2010. Vol. 54,Iss. 2;p. 160 – 164 Source: SAGE Journals Online[-;11] .Safe Driving Systems, LLC; Texting While Driving: Danger Eliminated with New Technology[-;12] Anonymous. Computer Business Week (1944-1541) 2010-04-08. Source: Science Journals[-;13] Age and gender differences in risky driving: The roles of positive affect and risk perception. Rhodes, Nancy; Pivik, Kelly Accident Analysis & Prevention (0001-4575) May 2011. Vol. 43, Iss. 3; p. 923-931 Source: Science Direct Age, skill, and Hazard perception in driving Borowsky, Avinoam; Shinar, David; Oron-Gilad, Tal Accident Analysis & Prevention (0001-4575) July 2010. Vol. 42, Iss. 4; p. 1240-1249 Source: Science Direct Mixed Signals on cellphone bans; Safety group seeks more data as states limit driving distractions Larry Copeland, USA Today 07 Jul 2011 Source: eLibrary Road Safety Program geared to students/ Driving distractions stressed at schools Magee, Maureen The San Diego Union- Tribune(1063-102x) 2009-10-22 Source: Newsstand Safety Campaign highlights Danger of Driving Distractions US FED NEWS Service, Including US State News 2009-06-03 Source: Research Library Complete Soglesby_M3:Assignment 2 [-;0] – http://www. sciencedirect. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/science? _ob=GatewayURL=citationSearch=4=SERIALSCENT=1=S0001-4575%2811%2900306-X=f657769fe706b77650817f650bfd1ffe [-;1] – http://www. sciencedirect. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/college [-;2] – http://search. ebscohost. com. ibproxy. edmc. edu/login. aspx? direct=true=afh=ehost-live=67047843 [-;3] – http://search. ebscohost. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/login. aspx? authtype=ip,uid=ehost=afh [-;4] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/docview/880973357/citation/embedded/67K6C70KVQ8HHTJI? source=fedsrch [-;5] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/telecomms [-;6] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/docview /873326956/abstract/embedded/05S33OPH125WJ575? source=fedsrch [-;7] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. dmc. edu/military/ [-;8] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/docview/886697220/abstract/embedded/YEPZ7R2PIKHVRMP5? source=fedsrch [-;9] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/pqrl [-;10] – http://pro. sagepub. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/cgi/content/abstract/54/2/160 [-;11] – http://online. sagepub. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/ [-;12] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/docview/198002167/abstract/embedded/67K6C70KVQ8HHTJI? source=fedsrch [-;13] – http://search. proquest. com. libproxy. edmc. edu/sciencejournals

Causes of income inequality in the UK and evaluate the measures that Essay

Causes of income inequality in the UK and evaluate the measures that could be used by the UK government to achieve a more equal distribution of wealth - Essay Example and Scott, G., 2012). The same cannot be said for high manual labor demanding jobs characterized by unpredictable shortages of skilled manpower. These have higher individual income rates than high growth rate jobs. The service sector in the UK which demands for low-skill and has limited trade union cover is the worst in terms of worker remunerations. The sector is often characterized by employment insecurity and unclear job descriptions which vary depending on the market demand, employers’ unique needs as well as personal pressures/ stress/ problems. The effect of globalization has seen an influx of high-skill jobs especially in high growth industries. Persons with unique skills are increasingly getting well paid than witnessed in previous years. Academic exposure has also defined the industrial/ job variations with professionals being scaled depending on their levels of education (Mooney, G. and Scott, G., 2012). This is the main factor determining labor as skilled, un-skille d, manual, automated, permanent, contractual and casual, among other classifications within the United Kingdom. State benefits including unemployment income and benefits from the state welfare are critical in the United Kingdom individual income disparities. This is because the state benefits are directly connected to the prevailing retail prices within the economy and not in any way indexed to the earnings of individuals (Eibel, D., Rockika, E., and Leaman, J., 2013). This explains why relative incomes of people who are state benefit oriented decreases over time. This factor has defined the inflation effect on large families surviving on minimum wage as well as households’ dependant on pension. The third factor in unequal income distribution is unemployment. This affects income distribution in both the short-run and long-run. In the long-run it affects education, quality of labour as well

The Impact of Logistical Performance on Organization Performance Research Proposal

The Impact of Logistical Performance on Organization Performance - Research Proposal Example Logistics is defined as the part of supply chain process which plans, controls and implements the forwards flow, the reverse flow, and storage of goods, services and information from the point of origin and point of consumption to meet the requirements of the organization (Council of Logistics Management, 1991). Logistics gets the input from suppliers and subsequently the movement of material takes place for various operations in the organization. In an organization, a single product goes through a series of processes and logistics is based on time relational positioning, while supply chain is the sequence of events which are performed to satisfy the customer. The logistics performance of an organization reflects its abilities to deliver services and goods on time, and in precise quantities.3. Literature ReviewThe ultimate goal of an organization is to get long term sustainable superior performance (Kluyver and Pearce, 2006, p.4) and this type of superior performance can be attained by a manufacturing organization by becoming a fully integrated partner of the supply chain (Cooper et al., 1997). Wisner (2003) found a positive link between logistics strategy and organization performance but he did not get any data collection related to logistics strategy measurement. Schramm-Klein and Morschett (2006) tried to establish relationship between logistics quality and performance of the organization in the retail sector.

Parents Should not be Punished for Their Childrens Crimes Essay - 7

Parents Should not be Punished for Their Childrens Crimes - Essay Example They believe that the behavior that children have comes from many sources such as school, friends, media and neighborhood (Rude 1). These groups of people argue that parents are not to blame, children learn from each other and they tend to have more influence on each other compared to the influence that parents may have on them (Rude 2). For instance, my 8 year old nephew had a problem in school. He broke a glass in the school’s restroom and when 8-year-old kid him ‘why did you do that?’ he said, ‘my friend told me to do that!’ Therefore, he acted according to what his friend told him and not what his parents might have taught him. This is an indication that children may not always follow what their parents teach them, they have a lot of influence from other sources (Rude 2). Although Children do not have sufficient knowledge on what is good or harmful for them, it is the responsibility of the parents to adequately guide them. For example, most of the time, children will say what they hear, regardless of whether it is good or bad. However, older people know what is good or bad and should offer guidance. If a child knows that they are likely to be punished for saying or doing certain things, they will not do them. Although it may be hard for them to know the difference between right and wrong, parents are old enough to evaluate everything and they should guide them. Thus, parents should not be totally blamed for their children’s mistakes, even though they remain the most influential people in a child’s life (Rude 1).

Data Examination on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Essay

Data Examination on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and on vehicle and pedestrian accidents across the US - Essay Example The continuous reduction in the rate of car accidents began in 2006, apart from 2012 when the rate increased. This information was provided by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). According to the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) that the number of individuals injured reduced in 2013. However, the reduction rate is not considered significant statistically. The level of fatality for 100 million vehicle mile traveled (VMT) reduced by 3.5%, from the 2012 value of 1.14 to the 2013 value of 1.10. This is the lowest fatality level ever recorded; also the overall injury level reduced by 2.5%, as illustrated by the 2013 figures. The general fatalities reduced by 3.1%. The reduction was minimized in all categories, apart from the pedal cyclists. 21,132 deaths were experienced in 2013 among the passenger vehicle occupants; this number is the lowest ever recorded by NHTSA. A key reduction involved the motorcycle fatalities that reduced by 6.4%. Pedestrian fatalities also reduced in 2013 by 1.7%. Hence, increased focus should be put on pedestrian

Blackberry (The Phone Company), Market Research Problems Essay

Blackberry (The Phone Company), Market Research Problems - Essay Example When research data has to be shared, the same legal issues are adhered too. Blackberry in their endeavor to randomly survey about the market reach should and will encounter this as a challenge. Research is a successful endeavor when the respondents agree to give answers to the questions asked. Blackberry is a famous phone company known worldwide, but that should not be used as a way to get answers from respondents. All costs considered; respondents are given their fair share of both time, chance and will respond or not to respond. Cases will arise where sometimes the respondents understand their rights and demand not to respond. Protecting information and or data in the current level of technology is a significant challenge faced by researchers. Ethically private information should be kept private. Across the globe, all countries have in the statutes a law the gives its citizens the right to privacy and confidentiality so do researchers. Survey carried on the internet or in the public domain can be subject to preview from a third party hence infringing of the code. Some question is sensitive and more so when a question concerning personal choice of products in the market. In addition, some responds personality involves analyzing options available in the market and the consequences of the options available before giving answers. In such cases, researchers might waste a lot of time on the research in order to get the content of their survey right. The journey through data collection is tiring, and the researchers might decide to fake results and responses to the questionnaire. Doing so will affects negatively on the real picture about the market perception. Moreover, during policy development, wrongly analyzed data will lead to a wrong strategy implementation hence inefficiency of the research. In analyzing data, a high objective should be considered without which biases might arise. Researchers will undoubtedly face trick from some of the clients they

Barriers to nursing profession Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Barriers to nursing profession - Research Paper Example This has inhibited the growth of nursing as knowledge based profession. Nursing is considered as a role that is permanently natural for women; single sex occupation. Therefore, it is identified as a profession that is deeply fixed in the society’s gender based power relations. Women established nursing; it fits the stereotypical ‘feminine’ picture with characteristics of gentleness, nurturing, and caring as opposed to the masculine traits of aggression, strength, and dominance (Giele, et al. 2003). These are the reasons as to why occupations that require these qualities are exclusively considered suited to women, they have gone further and labeled them ‘women work’. Strong stereotypical boundaries that concerns feminine and masculine behavior has been presented to men by the society. Men that dare to choose nursing as a career, face the danger of challenging the gender roles and stereotypes that are defined by the tradition. Economic, political, and social systems enhance these stereotypes. Men who choose careers viewed to be feminine like nursing are always discriminated against are always subject to criticism from the public. Some people have a difficulty of accepting the image of men as gentle, compassionate, and caring. Men fear challenging the stereotypical image of nursing in the society. These characteristics are not essential attribute in the social and biological of the sexes, they are just cultural constructs that are reinforced by the social activities that are associated with being female or male. Nursing image has traditionally been supported using symbols like the angle, sex symbol, doctor’s handmaiden, and, commonly, nurses as women. These pictures are based on women values and attributes, have been utilized by mass communication and interpersonal, strengthening the stereotypes of women being the nurses. This is also reinforced by excluding men in any

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on breastfeeding Essay

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on breastfeeding - Essay Example Unlike Iran that promotes breast milk substitutes, the Australian government encourages infant milk formula, baby foods, baby juices, bottles, and teats. In addition, the government of Australia does not subsidize the antenatal care classes of mothers. Thus, while Iranian mothers get their antenatal care classes for free, those in Australia have to pay at least $12.50 per class. Moreover, the Australian government do not have legislation that mandates providing paid maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers. In addition, Iran strictly follows the suggestions of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the optimization of breastfeeding practices in the hospital. This may have resulted from the training the Iranian health care professionals (HCPs) undergo in the area of lactation. Such training is neglected in Australia, and only a few Australian HCPs undergo sufficient training on lactation and breastfeeding. As such, vital steps for breastfeeding like the routine initiation of s kin-to-skin contact by rooming in of the baby, and no food or drink other than breast milk are not efficiently passed through from experts to mothers. Upon release from the hospital, Iranian HCPs visit mothers newly released from the hospital at regular intervals post partum.

Radiation Therapy Essay Example for Free

Radiation Therapy Essay ABSTRACT:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation Therapy now enjoys its position as a therapeutic and an adjuvant therapy among the cancer patients and cases. The use of radiotherapy is a very serious decision which is taken after much thought about the patient’s case and requires much cooperation from the patient and support from the oncology team that provides it. Current oncology teams work together to create an environment which is both friendly for the patient as well as less confusing, so that the patient is able to go through the phase of treatment with out any complications. Each person in the radiology team takes care of a particular aspect of radiotherapy treatment, and together they ensure a good outcome and result for the patient. THE ROLE OF RADIATION THERAPY IN CANCER MANAGEMENT   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of the many methods used in today’s cancer treatment regimes, radiation therapy has become one of the crucial components of the therapy. The therapy where radiation rays are used to destroy cancer cells has now become an advanced field of research and development. This area has now become a separate area of specialization, and various developments are helping doctors give better prognosis to their patients. Due to minimized anxiety attacks   among patients, they become more optimistic about recovery and are less distressed on the possibility of death. Patients of this kind of therapy have better psychological health and have less depressive symptoms caused by their disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation therapy is not required to all cancer patients. It is not always involved in the management of all organs and body sites affected by cancer cells. This treatment is only recommended on certain types of cancer as other situations only call for surgical procedures in preventing further cancer metastasis and to eliminate cancer cells in the body.   An important adjuvant to cancer therapy, it is used as an alternative to surgical procedures that cannot be carried out on a patient. Radiation therapy is a common procedure in breast and lung cancers as well as in brain cancer, colorectal carcinomas and skin cancers of the face. (Florida Cancer Care News, 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the USA, the main issue of debate and concern among the clinicians is the poorer prognosis rates in the USA patients due to cancer when compared to other countries of Europe. This has been attributed to the type of care given in each country, and has led to intense concentration on methods that improve recovery outcomes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These concerns have led to five areas of intense activity in the area of cancer therapy, as stated by Tattersall and Thomas, (1999). There are now multidisciplinary teams that specialize in one or two specific organs and provide treatment and care to those specific cancer patients. There have been increased efforts to improve the organizational setup of the cancer therapy and delivery setups. Clearer treatment goals now exist, along with increased awareness in the public about the different aspects of cancer, cancer therapy and the role of trials in the development of better alternatives and cures for the future. Now current research is aiming to derive benefits from matrix metallo proteinase inhibitors, gene therapies and cancer vaccines. (Tattersal and Thomas, 1999) All these areas of activity are hoped to increase the patient outcomes significantly in the future and help in creating better alternative solutions to cancer treatments. Team Members in Radiation Therapy Treatment Plans     Ã‚  Ã‚   The advancements in this field have led to increase in the number of professionals in this field. Each has a unique and an important role to play in the treatment procedure. The radiation therapists mainly work in conjunction with the medical doctor and with them discuss the individual cases that are considered for radiation therapy. Of these the suitable cases are selected and the radiation treatment is then started under the guidance of the radiation oncologist The decision making process in radiation therapy is absolutely critical, as the radiation oncologist decides the amount and intensity of the dose each patient will get according to the individual factors and more importantly the state of the cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A radiation department in any organization will consist of multiple workers and members, each having a significant role to play in the treatment of the patient. These include the clinical oncologists or radiologists, the radiographers, radiation therapists and the dosimetrists, the physicist, the mould room technicians, the nursing staff, the students and the R.T aides and assistants and other members such as social workers, palliative care team, counselors, and secretaries and clerical staffs. (Cancer Backup, 2005 and American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 2007). Stimulation is the initial step in the radiation treatment where a radiation therapist takes x-ray images and utilize this to locate the tumor. Other methods such as CT scans can also be used in order to minimize tissue damage in the patient, ensuring that only the carcinogenic cells are destroyed. Together with a radiation oncologist and a dosimetrist, they customize a treatment plan for the patient (Radiation Therapists 2006). Both clinical oncologists and radiologists are concerned with minimal invasive methods in treating cancer cases. According to the Royal   College of Radiologists (2007), radiologists   are medical specialists that conduct imaging services in order to provide patients the proper diagnosis. Oncologists on the other hand are specialists trained to manage cancer in non-surgical forms of treatment. They usually recommend procedures such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radioactive isotopes. After taking the image of the affected organ of the body, this is to be interpreted by another specialist in order to prescribe and execute the proper treatment. This is a task attended by professionals called radiographers (Radiography and Radiographers). Dosimetrists are primarily concerned on the proper dosage to be administered to a patient. They scan patients and use CT data or other measurements in order to provide patients the proper treatment plan (Medical Dosimetrists, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The members of the radiation team that are outside of the department faculty but help in the procedures include the referring faculties, physicians, radiologists and emergency departments, the industry vendors, the patients and their family members, the instructors or directors of the radiology programs, the insurance companies, the governmental and regulatory agencies and the accrediting agencies, if applicable. (American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The radiation team is perhaps the most integrated and interconnected team compared to other sections of the medical health care. The realization of the need for team work in reducing confusion, promoting smoothness and harmony in the care of the patient was realized long ago, however, it was not implemented fully in many medical and surgical areas. The results have shown lags or gaps in the treatment of care. Many of the current radiology departments have learned from the lessons of the past, and now term themselves as the radiology team who take care of the patient through all the stages of the radiotherapy treatment. (Kaprich, 2003) This has led to not only improvement in the care of the patients, but also in the hospital management and organization matters as well as job satisfaction levels. The level of communication between the different contributors of the department has improved and therefore, shows a much prompt and informed response in the care of various pa tients. (Kaprich, 2003) Radiation Therapists   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Advancement of technology has given professionals access to different methods that enable the correct identification and location of cancer cells which are the specific targets of the ionizing energy of radiation and preventing tissue cell damage. With this directed and controlled use of radiation, there is a reduced manifestation of side effects due to the treatment patients receive, and there is an expedited recovery of patients. (M.D Anderson Cancer Center, 2007) Together with the doctor, a radiation therapist is responsible for the patients familiarization of the radiation treatment procedure. This will allow the patient to become aware of the possible problems that may arise and to answer any reservations that the patient may have. Therefore, a radiation therapist is expected to be present throughout the treatment period. Nurses in Radiation Oncology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The inclusion of nurses in this field of radiation oncology is fairly recent. However, this has now become an integrated and competent player in the caring of cancer patients in the radiology department.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of nurses have evolved in this field, as many of them have been tasked to carry out many of the advanced procedures in the treatment process. Both preoperative and operative care are executed by these nurses, making them indispensable in the success of the patients recovery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Currently, the responsibilities given to the nursing staff include both basic and advanced tasks. The basic tasks include education and caring of the patient with in the department and helping others in carrying out researches and other projects. Nurses work towards creating an environment both among themselves and among the different staff members to create an open, friendly environment that ensures better outcomes. Along side, the nurses are responsible for their own education and growth within the field, and opportunities to increase and improve competencies within the staff. The nurses are therefore, working primarily in creating an environment that improves the patient care and outcomes, as well as improve the communication between the various contributors to the field. (Kaprich, 2003) In oncology, the roles of nurses in the treatment process is considered an integral part of the overall healthcare. The primary purpose of providing nursing care is to allow the patients to become independent through the development of their physical, psychical, and social abilities. It is significant in preserving, strengthening and protecting health, and nursing patients and rehabilitating them (Basic Principles of Nursing ). Physicists in the Field of Radiation Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another significant member of the team of professionals in radiation oncology are the physicists. This specialist is responsible for giving the patient optimum radiation therapy procedures that would ensure minimal health risks and maximum efficacy. Due to the delicate nature of their job, these physicists are expected to be highly professional and equipped with the proper training in conducting their tasks. Part of the job that physicists have is that they should select the proper radiation instruments to be used, the budget preparation and the sequence of procedure execution. Due to this technical knowledge, physicists are important in identifying and rectifying problems that could possibly transpire. But this specialist is not confined in his technical role as his position requires that he collaborates with both oncologists and radiation therapists in determining the proper dosage, duration, timing, frequency and type of radiation therapy to be administered to a patient. Since the availability of x-rays, physicists have exploited this technology of medical imaging, which is vital to medical research advancement. Fundamental research in optics, acoustics, electromagnetism, and particle and nuclear physics have led to an array of indispensable medical tools. Magnetic resonance images, CAT scans, PET scans, and various types of radiotherapy are among the physics-based devices that help doctors diagnose and treat ailments ranging from broken bones to cancer. Ultrasound machines, for example, are made possible through our understanding of the physics of sound waves, and the prenatal images they produce are now so common that they are a cultural symbol of the joy of impending parenthood (Genetic Radiotherapy 2002). Cutting-edge techniques presented in the annual AAPM meeting scientific program will ultimately lead to tools as important to the medicine of tomorrow as x-ray and ultrasound images are today. (Asp et al, 1993)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of ionizing radiation in the radiation field has led to many questions raised about the safety margins of these procedures. As stated before, there is a fine line of division between the therapeutic effects of radiation and the adverse effects of the radiotherapy. In this regard, the role of dosimetrists is essential to delineate the amount of dose necessary for each case. Dosimetrists play a role in treatment planning, mould room technology, brachytherapy and sealed source management, in-vivo dosimetry, quality control of equipment, and IT support. (Radiotherapy Provision in England, 2006) Dosimetrists for Dose Determination   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A dosimetrist is actually responsible for the delivery of the proper dosage to be given to a patient. They are subordinates to doctors who work in close communication with the patient as well as their families. The person who actually delivers the dose of radiation each day is known as dosimetrist. These work under the doctor or the oncologist and are in close communication with the patient as well as the family members of the patient. The radiation dose decided for a patient is given to him or her in divided portions. The session itself is a small one, but the radiation therapist is the one who delivers it and communicates any changes in the patient to the oncologist.    Mental Health Support for Cancer Patients   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation therapy is a big step of treatment in cancer patients and therefore, their mental and physical state is a very important clue and guide to the selectivity of the case for the therapy. Such patients begin one of the most difficult incidents of their lives by opting for radiotherapy. In this regard, they need the proper guidance, support, help and boost to help them get through the different stages of radiation therapy, and to improve chances of recovery. In many of such hospitals, the support programs are available which work with various social services to provide such cases with any required information they need. There are many things the patients undergo in this event. They either may undergo external radiation therapy treatment or an internal radiation treatment. In external radiation therapy, the patients are called to the radiation center 5 times a week and radiation is given to them. The two days off from radiation helps the normal cells to recup erate from the damage of the radiation procedure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Patients after changing in hospital robes are asked to enter the radiation room especially designed for the purpose. After instructing the patient the proper position, the radiotherapist proceeds to his proper location where he would execute his task. The patient is asked to remain in a the said position where he is to receive a fixed radiation dose to the tumor affected area. After the completion of the session, the patient is then directed to leave and attend to normal daily matters. Patients in these stages undergo immense psychological as well as physical stress for which it is advised that they rest more to help the body restore itself in the normal manner. Since depression and anxiety are two most common features, the patients are advised to take part in activities that boost their morale and help them feel good about themselves. The support teams in this regard focus on providing and guiding patients to a good nutrition plan, to aid in better recovery from illness. Nausea is also among the problems that patients encounter but these can be easily handled through medication prescribed by your oncologist. Hair falling is another issue that usually resolves once chemotherapy is over. In summary, the radiation procedure is especially taxing for the patient who may need immense support and care at this crucial time, which becomes the responsibility of the family as well as the radiology team. (WebMD, 2007)    Internal Radiation Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal radiation therapy is another frequent option chosen by the oncologist in the treatment plan of many cancer patients. The high dose rate radiation therapy is a type of this internal radiation therapy where radioactive source is removed between treatments. In this case, the source of radiation is placed in direct proximity to the cancer area and is applied with small sophisticated machinery. This is in contrast to the use of heavy extensive radiation and machinery that is used in external radiation procedures. The substances used in these instances include iodine, cesium, iridium, phosphorus and palladium etc. This treatment has been given many names and is also known as brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy, interstitial, intracavitary or passage radiation. Internal radiation therapy however is a procedure that requires hospital care and attention, as well as isolation, for in this therapy; other people may get exposed to high radiation levels. Therefore, many cases of these may keep the patients for a day or two, during which the affect of the radiation substance would have worn off, and become useless. (Cancer Source, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is important that once radiation therapy is carried out, the patient is seen and advised further about the future therapies or treatments. This is an essential part of the treatment modality. Mostly prior to the radiation therapy, the oncologist and the radiation therapist carry out the discussion about the possible side effects of the therapy and what a patient may expect afterwards. The doctor emphasizes the need of follow up care and the role of the patient to show up in time. These include many procedures, including regular medical checkups, screening and diagnostic procedures, endoscopy, blood work etc. All these help the clinician check on the health of the patient and the recovery status, and whether any complication is arising. The patients are asked about the status of their health and any signs and symptoms that the patient may be feeling. Patient is asked about pain, or any physical difficulty being experienced in daily routine. He or she is asked frequently about any medications, supplements and the dietary habits he or she is conducting. Emotional issues and problems as well as family histories are also taken into account in these visits. Such patients may be called after two months of the radiotherapy, and then asked about the status and any necessary investigations may be carried out. These visits may be tapered down to once a year if the prognosis is good and the patient is recovering successfully. The patients are however, asked to maintain the record of their illness and all of the treatment modalities carried out including medications and previous test results for future references. (National Cancer Institute, 2007) Effect of Radiotherapy on Nutritional State of Cancer Patients   Ã‚  Ã‚     Nutrition is a very important aspect in proceeding with the treatment. There are currently many studies conducted in determining the proper nutrition a cancer patient must receive. This is due to the fact that cancer treatments cause high energy expenditure among patients, leaving then in nutritional deficiency as they undergo radiation therapy. Several factors contribute to this problem. First is the fatigue that develops as a result of the treatment, which takes away the ability of the patient to take balanced nutrition. Second is the lack of hunger in such patients and third is the increased vomiting and nausea that these patients encounter during the treatment phase. In all these scenarios, the net result is the reduction in the nutritional capacity of the patients. This is especially true for patients who have cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus or the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary and/or external supplementary nutritional sources are extremely important in such cases. Isenring, Capra and Bauer in 2004, claimed that nutritional therapy is an essential feature of the patient recovery plan in cancer radiotherapy. (Isenring et al, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researches conducted reveal the negative impact of radiation therapy on the patients nutritional health. There are obvious evidences that nutritional deficiencies are common to cancer patients, especially those suffering from cancer of the GI tract. Due to the imbalance between food intake and energy loss, malnutrition is inevitable. Most patients suffer from malnutrition in the radiation phase, because of this many hospitals now recommend that a compulsory health program be imposed on patients to ensure the proper provision of their nutrition. There are different claims as how to properly design these programs. Some suggest that amino acids and essential fatty acids are important in increasing bodys defenses and to improve patient recovery. A reduced fat diet, live yoghurt and fermented milk product use are now one of the most important components in the cancer nutrition plan. (Internet Health Library, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Studies indicate the biggest danger due to malnutrition is the intense weight loss that the patient suffers from, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality rates, reduction of the body’s defense systems and increased possibility of the return of the cancer, should any remaining cancerous tissue remains. While initial weight loss is of no serious consequence, continued weight reduction is a sign of concern. For many of the symptoms that the patient encounters, the options are presented for the specific issue. For example, mouth dryness is a common problem for the cancer patients. This increases their chances of oral infections, and therefore, patients are advised to chew on sugarless gums, increased intake of water, and using high moisture foods and fruits. Patients are advised to take small but frequent meals that are low on fat, to aid in digestion. Appetite stimulants are another good method of improving diet and appetite in such patients. Iron supplementation is advised to counter the effects of anemia, exercise may help in dealing with changes like menopausal states which cannot be given estrogen therapies. Patients in cancer cases tend to opt for more supplements and become less careful about the food that they eat. This should be the other way round, for natural food is the best nutritional supplement and helps in recovery faster. Fruits and vegetables are a high source of vitamins and minerals and can help in the recovery of the patients’ appetites. (Cancer Journal for Clinician, 2001) Physical and Mental Health Maintenance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As stated before, the cancer therapy is an intensely physically as well as emotionally demanding phase of treatment to a patient. In such circumstances, the need is for intense emotional support and encouragement. It is estimated that up to 40% of the patients may experience immense emotional distress during the cancer treatment, and therefore identification with proper counseling and guidance is very important for such cases. (Sollner et al, 2001) The problem lies in the correct identification of the cases undergoing distress and to understand the severity of the issue before hand. Many of the oncologists however, are unable to identify cases of distress which may cause complications at a later date. (Sollner et al, 2001) It is very important that oncologists are able to identify such cases and work accordingly for the benefit of the patient. Many social support groups are available in the hospitals that aim to help and guide the patients as well as their families t o better radiotherapy experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The concept of hospice has been indeed one of the methods with which care can be given to patients undergoing therapy. Somewhat of a recent concept in oncology care, hospice care has fast become a popular method among the patients. While hospice care is a good method, there are only three percent of the total cancer patients in a hospital that undergo radiation therapy. The issues here are different as the approvals for radiation are hard to get for the patient. Most of the hospice patients are senior age individuals with a mean age of 63 years admitted in the UK hospitals. (Lutz, Ashworth and Connor, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of hospice care therefore becomes a complicated issue when decision to conduct radiotherapy for such individuals is considered. Many of the patients in this regard are actually cases of terminal cancer who need palliative care through radiotherapy. It is important to address the need of the dying patients and to provide them with the necessary care to help them get through the process with as minimum pain as possible. (Lutz, Ashworth and Connor, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Usually there are three kinds of patients that undergo hospice care during radiotherapy. The first are those patients who do not have any one to take care of them during their radiotherapy session, and therefore the hospital provides it to them. The second are the patients who do not forgo the hospital admission, and third are those who are getting parenteral and tube nutrition, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and are getting transfusions. (Lorenz et al, 2004) In many of such cases the patients may have difficulty getting admission in the hospitals, despite falling into one of the above three categories. Access in such cases needs to be made smoother for the patients. (Lorenz et al, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Current hospices are now a combination of inpatient and home care services. In the past this was not the case. Hospices and palliative care were considered a separate department and were accordingly handled. The development in this area has led to modern hospices with a home like feel for the patients to help them recover and feel psychologically better. It is to remember that hospice care in many patients is essentially palliative care, and includes symptom control, effective communication between patients and the doctors, rehabilitation and continuation of care, terminal care, support provision in bereavement, education and research.(Neill and Fallon, 1997) In other words current hospice is a refuge, a recuperant and an area of research all combined. Palliative care is again the domain of specialists in oncology and in other disciplines so as to give the best care there is possible to the patient. In cancer terminal patients, many efforts are carried out to make the stay of the patient more comfortable. After thorough evaluation and identifying the cause of pain in such patients, the administration of analgesics is undertaken. While primary drugs remain the same during the course of the treatment, the secondary drugs or the adjuvant drugs are added as the case may need. These may include some other drugs depending on the patient symptoms such as steroids, anti inflammatories, antidepressants, anti convulsants, and anti arrhythmic drugs. Issues of tolerance and toxicity are taken very seriously and patient progress in this regard is taken under constant observation. (Neill and Fallon, 1997)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many reasons cited by the patients about their preference of hospice care to home care. These include high professional care, easy to communicate and clarify issues of health and cancer stages, ease in the visitation in between the radiotherapy sessions with ample time for rest, and provision of support to the patient as well as the family members in the hospital settings. Such patients were satisfied about the exclusive team of care givers in the radiotherapy department, and a faculty that focuses on cancer patients only. However, areas of dissatisfaction among the patients include the problems encountered with the radiation units and machines, occasional lack of communication between the various members of the staff leading to problems in care provision, and problems in transporting patients from one department to the next. (Gavin et al, 2002) CONCLUSIONS:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiotherapy is a field of intensive research and activity and is undergoing many changes and developments. Now there is a shift and interest from the conventional external beam radiotherapy procedures and there is more emphasis on the use of fractionation doses rather than single ones. This is especially seen to be beneficial for cases of head and neck cancers and improve the prognosis of the patients, as well as give them ample time to recover during the procedures. Some of the rules however, follow. For example the dosage of radiation is decided depending upon the size of the tumor mass. The larger the mass, the more it must receive the dosage of the radiation. Other methods of providing doses include hyperfractionation, which is twice daily delivery of the radiation, the accelerated fractionation, which aims to decrease the treatment period and to prevent the tumor from regrowing. Some of the techniques employed that prove to have relatively positive impacts are the concomitant boost technique, given once a day for three and a half weeks and twice a day in the final two week period, and the accelerated hyperfrationation, which combines the effects of both hyperfractionation and acclerated dosing. (Chow et al, 2001)   Oxygenation of tumor is also considered for treatment. It has been established that oxygen has the ability to modify radiation damage, that in malignant tumors, both oxygenation and tumor cell proliferation determine local tumor management after radiotherapy. However, there are currently insufficient explanations in correlating oxygenation status and tumor cell kinetics (Nordsmark et al. 1996). But according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2005), Oxygen therapy uses ozone or hydrogen peroxide to supposedly add extra oxygen to your body. Proponents believe cancer cells need a low-oxygen environment to survive, and that flooding your body with extra oxygen will kill cancer cells. Ozone gas can be mixed with water or air, and users usually drink or inhale the solution. It can also be injected into a muscle. Hydrogen peroxide is sometimes injected into a vein, though it can also be administered rectally. Oxygen therapy hasnt been studied in people. Hydrogen peroxide bubbles in the blood can block blood flow and lead to death. An alternative cure or disease management for cancer patients is for them to undergo surgical procedures. This can be done for several reasons, it can be preventive or prophylactic, for diagnostic, staging, curative, and others. It is one of the oldest forms of cancer treatment that removes tumor and saves normal tissues (American Cancer Society 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Current treatment regimes are now utilizing the use of more sophisticated machinery that is able to specify the location of the tumor and provide therapy to that area only, so as to prevent damage to the normal tissues. The external beam therapy advancements are leading to improvements in the outcomes of the cancer patients and therefore is becoming a widely used procedure in cancer therapy. Internal radiation therapy is somewhat limited to the surgical procedures, where removal of the tumor is promptly followed by radiation therapy to ensure the removal of any viable cancer cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cancer chemotherapy is advancing at a rapid rate and is now a need for the future. The increase in the rates of cancers worldwide has led to the formation of specified task forces aimed to identify the similarities of the problems faced by the patients, their families as well as the doctors in the care of such cases. With the increased length of the treatment with frequent recalls and visits, it is important that such treatments be carried out in coordination with the different members of the radiology team. The roles of the various team members are important and each has a very important role to contribute in the cancer care.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The introduction of social programs is a very positive effort by the health care administrations which aim to educate and help the patients during the various phases of the cancer treatments. The understanding of the physical and emotional distress and needs of the patients and rectifying it helps to improve the outcomes many times and ensures the best of treatment provision. The role of nutrition as mentioned above is again a contributing factor in the rehabilitation of the patient and can help in speedier recovery. In short, radiotherapy is a major decision for a cancer patient which needs to be taken into account during all stages of the therapy with proper support and guidance for better outcomes. REFERENCES The American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The Interdisciplinary Team in Radiological Technology .  Ã‚   http://www.asrt.org/content/RecruitmentRetention/RetentionTools/Interdisciplinary_Team.aspx Lloyd Asp, Morris Bank, Theodore Fields, William Hendee, Douglas Jones, Cohn Orton, Vincent Sampiere, George Starckschall, K. David Steidley and Bruce Thomadsen, 1993. The Role of a Physicist in Radiation Oncology. American Association of Physics in Medicine by the American Institute of Physics. Cancer Backup, 2005. Staff in Radiotherapy Department. Site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Radiotherapy/Beingtreated/Staff Cancer Source, 2007. Internal Radiation Therapy: What to Expect. Site last accessed on November 8, 2007 from http://www.cancersource.com/CancerBasics/CancerTreatment/RadiationTherapy/45,25508-7 Rachel H Chow, Kenneth M. Forster, Richard B Wilder, Micheal S Wong, 2001.   Recent Advances in Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancers. ENT Journal.   Site last accessed on November 7, 2007 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-80193510.html Florida Health Care News, 2006. The Role of Radiation in Cancer Treatment. Site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from www.floridacancerinstitute.us Gavin KT, Brady M ,Hollywood D , Meagher E,   O’Cathail S, Browne C, 2002. Radiotherapy Services: Evaluation of Patient Preferences and Priorities. Site last accessed on November 8th, 2007 from http://www.isqua.org/isquaPages/Conferences/paris/ParisAbstractsSlides/Wednesday/A23b/pdf/383%20-%20Gavin.pdf Nordsmark, M., Hoyer, M., Keller, J., Nielsen, O.S., Jensen, O.M., and Overgaard, J. 1996. The relationship between tumor oxygenation and cell proliferation in human soft tissue sarcomas. Elsevier.   1;35(4):701-8. Internet Health Library 2007. Health in Hospitals Radiotherapy. Site last accessed on November 8th, 2007 from http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/HealthinHospitals/RadioTherapy-Nutrition.htm E A Isenring, S Capra and J D Bauer, 2004. Nutrition Intervention is Beneficial in Oncology Outpatients Receiving Radiotherapy to the Gastrointestinal or Head and Neck Area. British Journal of Cancer, 91, 447-452 Suz Kaprich, 2003. Radiology Nursing- Team Building. Nursing News Quaterly. Site last accessed on November 7, 2007 from http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/nursing/news/nnq/may03_pg4.pdf Karl A Lorenz,Steven M Asch, Kenneth E. Rosenfeld, Hui Liu, and Susan L Ettner, 2004.   Hospice Admission Practices: Where Does Hospice Fit in the Continuum of Care? Journal of American Geriatrics Society, VOl. 52, No. 5, pp. 725-730 Lutz, J. Ashworth, C. Spence and S. Connor, 2005. The Use of Radiotherapy in Hospice Patients: A Population Based Study From the National Hospice Outcomes Project. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2005, vol. 23 number 169, Part I of II. Martin H N Tattersall and Hilary Thomas, 1999. Recent Advances, Oncology. Clinical Review, BMJ 1999: 318: 445-448 National Cancer Institute, 2007. Follow up Care After Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers. Site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/followup Bill O Neill and Marie Fallon, 1997. ABC of Palliative Care: Principals of Palliative Care and Pain Control. BMJ, 315: 801-804 About the RCR. The Royal College of Radiologists. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007   Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://www.rcr.ac.uk/index.asp?PageID=9 Basic Principles of Nursing Care in the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia: National Cancer Research Center. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.ncrc.ac.yu/onkoeng/principi.html Complementary and alternative cancer treatment: Get the facts 2005. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-treatment/CM00002 Genetic radiotherapy, PET scans for animals, novel spinal surgery. Scienceblog. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2002/B/2002681.html Medical Dosimetrists. University of Washington Medical Center. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.uwmedicine.org/PatientCare/MedicalSpecialties/SpecialtyCare/UWMEDICALCENTER/Cancer/SpecialtyServices/dosimetrists.htm Nutrition During and After Cancer Treatment: A Guide for Informed Choices by Cancer Survivors. Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2001: 51:182-187 Radiotherapy Provision in England. A Report from the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group-Workforce Subgroup, 2006. site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from http://www.cancer.nhs.uk/documents/nrag_files/Workforce%20sub%20group%20report%20-%20fin.pdf Radiography and Radiographers. Professional Info from Radiographers.org. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.radiographers.org/professionalinfo/radiography_radiographers.htm Radiation Therapists. US Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos299.htm Surgery. American Cancer Society 2007. Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_2X_Surgery.asp The Role of Radiation Oncology in Cancer Treatment. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Site last accessed on November 7, 2007 from http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/andersonnet/display.cfm?id=BF82D669-17DA-11D5-811000508B603A14method=displayfull W Sollner,   A DeVries, E Steixner, P Lukas, G Sprinzl, G Rumpold and S Maislinger, 2001.   How Succesful are Oncologists in Identifying Patient Distress, Perceived Social Suport and Need for Psychosocial Counselling. British Journal of Cancer, 2001: 84, 179-185 WebMD,   2007.   Breast Cancer: Radiation Therapy: What to Expect. Site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-radiation-therapy-what-expect

The trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay Example for Free

The trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay I walked into the court room, and looked at the jury, they were all white, I knew that it would have to be a miracle to get the jury to come back with the verdict that Tom Robinson was innocent. But I had a plan. If the trial goes well, I will appeal against the verdict, and then the court case will go to another place, where the jury wont be so biased against black people. The trial started and the first person who took the stand was the Sheriff, Mr Tate. The oppositions Lawyer, Mr Gilmer, was the first to ask Mr Tate some questions, all Mr Gilmer asked the Sheriff was what had happened on that night, the Sheriff replied by saying that he saw Miss Ewell on the floor beaten up, and that she had told him Tom Robinson had beaten her up and that Tom Robinson had took advantage of her. Things hadnt started well for me and Tom Robinson. I stood up and proceeded to ask Mr Tate some questions, the first question I asked was if he had called a doctor, Mr Tate replied by saying no, I asked him in a different way another two times, to make my point clear that no doctor had been called. I then asked him to describe the girls injuries, he described them and I asked on what side of her face was her black eye, after a couple of tries he finally said it was her right eye, and that it was mainly the right side of her face that was banged up badly. This was good news for me and Tom Robinson as I knew that Tom couldnt use his left hand, and it was obvious that who ever beat her up was using his left hand, I didnt reveal this to the court just yet. I then sat down and Mr Tate left the stand. The next person who was called to the stand was the father of the girl who was beaten up, his name was Robert E. Lee Ewell. Mr Gilmer was the first to question him he asked a couple of questions, and then he asked the important question. He asked Mr Ewell what he saw on that night, Mr Ewell replied with that he saw Tom Robinson having sexual intercourse with his daughter Mayella, he then said that he ran into the house but Tom Robinson had got out of the front door, moments before he had got there, He then said that he didnt chase after Tom Robinson because he was more concerned with his daughter Mayella, he said after making sure she was alright, he ran down to  the Sheriffs and got him to come back to the house. Mr Gilmer then sat down as he had no further questions to ask, Mr Ewell left the stand, but bumped into me as he tried to get back to where he had come from, I told him to go back to the stand as I had a couple of questions to ask him. I asked Mr Ewell a few questions, I then got him to write his name on the envelope, hoping to prove that he was left handed, as the person who beat Mayella up was left handed, Mr Ewell wrote his name and it showed he was left handed. I asked Mr Ewell if he was left handed and he said yes he was. That was my last thing to do with Mr Ewell so I sat down waiting for the next witness. The next person that took the stand was the victim Mayella Ewell. Mr Gilmer asked Mayella to tell everyone what had happened on the night she was beaten up on. Mayella burst into tears about a minute into questioning, and said that she was scared of my questioning techniques. After the Judge calmed down Mayella, she started to tell the jury what had happened on that day. She said that she called him over to bust up a chiffarobe, she said that he came to her and she said to him Ill just go get you a nickel, I went inside to get him a nickel and he ran up behind me, and grabbed me by the neck, he was cussing me and then he started to beat me. Mr Gilmer waited for Mayella to collect herself, when she was ready she said that he forced her to the floor and took advantage of her. I started asking Miss Mayella some questions, trying to build up a picture to the jury of her life at home, I then asked weather her father was good to her, she replied with a firm yes, but then she said except, b ut she stopped, I asked except when, but she replied as if she had never said the word except. I then asked her weather her father had beaten her when he was on the drink, she replied with a firm answer of no. After a few more questions I told Tom to stand up, I then asked Mayella if this was the man who raped her, she replied with a yes. I then started to ask questions trying to get to her heart and make her tell everyone that it was her Dad who had beat her, but she wouldnt answer any of my questions. She then started shouting that if we dont find Tom Robinson guilty then we are all yellow cowards. She then burst into tears again. Mayella was allowed to leave the stand. The court then took a ten minute break. We then called the final witness, Tom Robinson. I started by asking Tom about weather he had been in court before and he had said yes, I used this to show that Tom has nothing to hide. Tom then began to explain that he had done a lot of jobs for Mayella and that he never charged her for it. Tom then started to explain what happen on the night in question and he said he went in because Mayella called him in, but Tom said there was nothing for him to do, but Mayella told him to get a box of the top of the chiffarobe, I did what she said but she grabbed my legs, when I got down she hugged me around the waist, she then kissed me, I ran for the door but Mayella blocked, but then her dad looked through the window and shouted at Mayella, you god damn whore, Ill Kill you. I then just ran out of there. I asked if he had raped Mayella, he replied no sir, I asked if he had harmed her and he said no sir. That was the last of my questioning. Mr Gilmer now started to question Tom. He started sayin g stuff at Tom trying to break him down and trying to make him look like a liar in front of the jury, but Tom had an answer for all of his questions. That was the end of building up the evidence to prove Toms innocence. It was now time to go over all the evidence with the jury in a short summary. I proceeded to say that mostly the beating that was given to Mayella was done by somebody left handed, and we have all seen Mr Ewell write his name with his left hand, and we have all seen Tom Robinson swear on the oath with the only hand that he can use, which is his right hand. I then gave a long passionate speech about all men being equal, all the time trying to reach the jurys hearts because I knew if I couldnt reach their hearts and try to change their feelings about black people then we would loose the case because we live in a racist society where white people think they are superior to black people. That was the end of the trial and it was all down to the jury. I started walking around in the court room waiting for the jury to return with their verdict. Finally the jury the returned, they passed the piece of paper with the verdicts on to the judge, the judge polled the jury: guilty, guilty, guilty, the whole of the jury had returned with the verdict guilty. I walked over to Tom and had a word with him, I then left the court room, I was  saddened by the fact that the jury had let the colour of the mans skin decide that he was guilty, but I knew we could appeal against the ruling and have the trial taken to another place in the country, where Tom would receive a fair trial, and that trial I would win and Tom would be free.

The Impact of Part Time work towards Academic Performance

The Impact of Part Time work towards Academic Performance 1. Introduction Most of MCAST students work part-time. Does this affect their school performance? If work is related to their studies this would definitely be beneficial. What if work is not study-related? After all, do students really need to work? Is a students life becoming boring? Curtis and Williams (2002) states that combining paid work and study, has become a norm in the UK. Vickers et al. (2003) report a similar situation in Australia, highlighting the global significance of this trend. According to Labour Force Survey carried out in the UK, it states that between 1996 and 2006 the amount of student engaged in part-time employment increased by 50%. According to the Journal of Organizational Behavior (1998) 50% of the full-time students in the U.S. have a part-time job. Part-time work can have a positive impact on the students especially if the work is course-related. Students can have a glimpse of their future job and determine whether they actually like that particular career path. Also, part-time jobs can help students improve time management skills and become more efficient. Parents and educators are in favour of employment amongst students because they believe that employment builds character (Greenberger and Steinberg, 1986). Dwyer et al. (2001) argue that combining work and study promotes a pragmatic perspective on education On the other hand, an excessive workload can have a detrimental effect not only on the students academic performance but also psychologically and physically. Combining work and study can also have negative effect on the students mental health such as stress and fatigue, leading to worsening performance in class. Rolfe (2002) reports that UK students believe that the excessive and unsocial hours of part-time work sometimes lead to tiredness and depression. If we had to look at higher education around the globe, say in the UK, students would have to pay approximately  £3000. In Germany, universities now charge à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1000 enrolment charge per year. In the USA the tuition fee varies around $9000 per year. Malta is one of the few exceptional cases were students are paid to study. MCAST students are entitled to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬83 per month and à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬233 at the beginning of the academic year. Out of which students are entitled to pay à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬372 BTEC registration fee. When I started university 6 years ago I never felt the need to do a part-time job (except in summer). Obviously, my budget was very tight and luxuries were inexistent. Nowadays, I started to believe that students prefer working part-time than keeping away from buying expensive mobiles, laptops and cars. This study examines two types of part-time work. Research has been preformed for students who work in the IT industry and the other research was carried out on students whose part-time job is not study-related. The purpose of this research is to find out whether these two types of part-time work affect the students performance and well-being. In this research we find that part-time jobs for student have a positive impact on their studies as long as the number of hours worked does not exceed twenty. Section 4 provides a background on the apprenticeship scheme at MCAST and other non-IT related jobs. Section 5 analyses the common part-time jobs amongst respondents and the main reasons for engaging in part-time work. Section 6 evaluates the effect of part-time work on students performance. In Section 7 the students well being is analyzed when compared to work and study commitments. Discussion, Future Limitations etc.. 2. Literature Review The literature reviewed below examines the popularity of part-time work amongst students, how employment is affecting students performance and how part-time work is effecting the students life. Some of the issues discussed in this research are the number of hours a student works, whether they still have time for study and leisure and how does this effect their academic performance and well-being. The prevalence of part-time work: According to Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe over 40% of the students from Spain, Sweden and Finland have work experience prior to entering into higher education. In general, more students from lower education backgrounds have work experience than students whose parents attained a higher education degree. It has been reported that poor students in countries such as Bulgaria, Ireland and Switzerland receive additional grants to compensate for the missing base funding via state support. For example, Irish students from low-educated families receive 93% more state support and high-educated families 44% less than the average student. In Malta students who come from families where the total household income is less than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5,000 per year are eligible for a supplementary grant of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬42 every four weeks, which is additional to their regular stipend. In Netherlands and Estonia more than two thirds of the students have a part-time job. In Australia half to three quarters of the students work. According to the report of the French Conseil Economique et Social on students employment (2007), 15% to 20% of students work regularly while studying in France. Statistics Canada states that, in Canada more than 48% of the students work part time. Full-time students working more than 35 hours per week has almost doubled since 1990. According to the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium, more than 50% of the students work during their least year of their degree than the first. In Austria, Czech Republic and Estonia there is a comparatively high rate of employment and a relatively close relationship between students jobs and students courses (Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe). Analyses of the Eurostudent survey indicates that the lowest level of students working part-time is in Southern Europe (especially Portugal and Italy) and the highest rate is in Netherlands and Ireland. Potential reasons for such outcomes may be due to the nature of the labour market and availability of jobs suitable for students. For example, in Greece the majority of students do not engage in paid employment due to lack of job opportunities (Dimitros and Karaliopoulou (2005)). Whereas, in the U.S. part time employment has become the norm amongst students (Bureau of Labour Statistics 2005). In the past few years employment among post-secondary students has been increasing rapidly. The effect of part-time employment on students performance: Ronald DAmico (1994) states that part-time employment provides opportunities to assume greater responsibility, authority and cooperative interdependence. Students who work part-time will develop networking skills; contacts and references will be valuable for future employment opportunities. Employers may prefer students who held part-time jobs while at college because it indicates stronger management skills. Also, there is high probability that students who worked part-time will be employed on full-time basis once they graduate with the same company. Green (2001) also stated that they[students] had gained job skills, experience, knowledge of a variety of jobs, a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of responsibility, and money for personal and school expenses (p. 329). Employment can have a positive effect if balance working hours and study are balanced (Cheng 1995). Research done by the University of Canberra shows that paid employment did not have a large effect on grades. Results show that some paid employment improves grades slightly, but working more than twenty-two hours per week has a negative effect. On the other hand, most of the research indicates that employment negatively affects students academic achievements especially those who work more than fifteen hours a week and they are more likely to drop out (Stern 1997). According to Furr and Elling (2000), 29% of the students working 30-39 hours per week and 39% of those students working full time indicated that work had a negative and frequent impact on their academic progress. (Dallam Hoyt, 1981) anticipated that there will be negative effects on school performance because of part-time employment. Juggling work and study may also lead students to put forth less effort into both because they are spreading themselves too thin (Astin, 1993). According to Canadian Social Trends, 1994 shows that student who worked more than 20 hours had 33% dropout rate whereas students who worked less than 20 hours had a 16% dropout rate. Young and immature students tend to find it difficult to mange working hours and study than older students (Barone 1993). Therefore, age also pays an important role in the students decisions. A March 2009 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that students with part-time work reduce the time spent on homework, sleeping, and socialization by 84%. McInnes (2001) stated that compared with those who do not work, younger first year students who work part-time are more likely to spend fewer days on campus, to not work with other students on areas of their course, and to have studied inconsistently through the semester. They also tend to anticipate getting lower marks, and are more likely to seriously consider deferring at an early point of their student experience We also know that these negative factors are amplified the more hours students work, and they feel seriously burdened by overcommitment. (p. 5). The effect of part-time employment on the students life: Too many hours spent at work could also affect the students lifestyle such as participating in extracurricular activities. Greenberger and Steinberg(1986) argued that instead of instilling work habits, many students who worked part time at an early age were more prone to cheating and dealing with boring work. Students who are unable to manage their part-time income or have never been given the right advice on how to save money will find it more difficult to make budgets and are more prone to overspending. This will eventually result in increasing the number of working hours. Research also indicates that too many hours of work increases fatigue and may cause lower academic performance. Carskadon(1999) states that students who work more than 20 hours changed their sleeping patterns resulting in later bedtimes, shorter sleeps, possibility of falling asleep during class, late arrivals at school or missing lectures. Many students who work part time find have limited time for their hobbies and extra-curricular activities (Hope 1990). According to researchers Barling, Rogers and Kelloway, Labour force participation by high school students, especially more than 20 hours of part-time work per week, is linked to poorer school performance, increased drug and alcohol use, decreased family contacts, and cynical attitudes toward work On the other hand, Tannock (2001) and (Li-Chen Wooster, 1979) pointed out that student works tend to have low skilled jobs, such as a cashier, fast food worker or retail. It is assumed that these jobs have a negative effect whereas high-quality part-time jobs seem to develop career-related skills. Also, these jobs are more likely to be flexible and work with students schedules (Healy, OShea, Crook, 1985). A number of researchers, for example, found that hard work built stronger academic character because it taught the students time-management skills, gave them experience outside of the classroom, more confidence and provided them with more satisfaction in college (Pennington, Zvonkovic, Wilson, 1989). According to Smith and Green (2001) student who work learn a lot and they develop self-efficacy especially the low-achievers. In her research Singg (2002) found out that students who work part-time tend to show more responsibility in their daily personal situations and have greater career maturity than those students who do not work. Stern (1997) states that students will develop a more positive attitude to work when gaining work experience whilst studying. Managing to work part time during the studies will also be beneficial on the resume. Employers look for students who are capable of managing time, working in teams, able to communicate and work on their own initiative. Research by the University of New Hampshire shows students who have a lot of free time they are more prone to make use of drugs and other substances. Therefore, the benefits of having a part-time job will keep the students occupied during their free time. Moreover, students who work part-time become financially independent and learn how to effectively manage finances. 3. The Research Context MCAST-BTEC National Diploma in Computing (Software) is offered at Malta College of Arts, Science Technology (MCAST). This course is Level 4 and the duration is 1 year Full-time or 2 years part-time on an apprenticeship. The course specializes in Software Development and the modules are relevant to the needs of the industry. Students who opt for an apprenticeship will still cover the same modules but over the duration of 2 years. ETC assists apprentices in finding an employer with whom they can perform their on-the-job training during the apprenticeship period. Apprenticeship will be required to work 27 hours a week and attend lectures twice a week. During 2009/2010 academic year I have noticed a 3% drop out and 25% failure rate. It has been found out that students are not dedicating enough time to practice programming mainly due to part-time work commitments. This study is targeted towards this group of students. The major questions of this research are: What factors influence students to seek part-time employment? How do students juggle study and work commitments? Do students set priorities if study and work commitments clash? If yes, how? Does part-time work have an impact on the students academic performance? Does part-time work have an impact on the students social life and well-being? Do the types of jobs students work have an impact on their academic performance? Do the number of hours worked effect the students performance? Research Methods: A questionnaire was compiled for students enrolled in the second year of the Diploma (specializing in Software). Questionnaires were distributed to two classes (one apprenticeship and the other non-apprenticeship) during one of the lectures. I taught both classes the same modules, i.e. Programming Concepts/Practice and mentoring their end-of-year Software Projects. Students were asked to complete the questionnaire anonymously. The data was collected two months prior to the end of semester when the student attendance was high. A total of 35 students completed the questionnaire. The average age of the students interviewed was between 17 and 21 years. Questionnaire Structure: The questionnaire comprised of four sections as follows: General information including Age, Gender and indicating whether they are apprenticeship students or not. Students engagement in part-time employment, including type of job, number of hours worked per week, number of days worked per week and the average hourly rate Students distribution of income Students experiences in balancing work, study, personal development and leisure. Students were asked to indicate whether they worked during the academic year and, if so, the number of hours and days they worked per week and the hourly rate. To evaluate the impact of part-time work on education, students had to specify how many hours they spend studying and the frequency of missing lectures or assignment deadlines due to work commitments. Ethics Procedure: Students were advised that participation was voluntary and refusing to participate will not affect their academic report. Students were informed that completed questionnaires will be stored in a secure location and treated with strict confidence. The questionnaires did not include any confidential data such as parents income or whether the students family receives government social benefits and grants. 4. Overview of the students background: Apprentices: ICT students at MCAST can opt to form part of the Apprenticeship Scheme during the second year of the National Diploma. They will spend 2 days at the college and 3 days at the work place. Apprenticeship students work 27 hours a week and are paid à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬200 per month (besides the monthly stipend). The course will be completed within 3 years (1 Year Full-Time and 2 years part-time on an apprenticeship). The benefit of students working as apprentices is that they are exposed to the working world and therefore they can better relate theory to practice. These students are led by professionals thus gain training and a learning experience. Apprentice students are more likely to be recruited by the company after they have completed their studies. Non-Apprentices: The option is that students can decide to complete the National Diploma in two years full-time. They will only benefit from the monthly stipend as stated in Introduction Section. These students will be allocated seventeen hours of lecturing per week. Most of the ICT students opt for this choice mainly because they complete the Diploma within 2 years. 5. The prevalence of part-time work: Non-IT related part-time jobs: Employment is the only way students can earn extra cash. Since most of the students are under qualified it is very difficult to find course related jobs therefore they opt for other part-time jobs. According to the Labour Force Survey carried out in the UK, nearly half a million full-time students work in the retail sector and nearly quarter of a million students work in hotels and restaurants industry. This survey shows the complete opposite. Only 11% of the students interviewed work in the retail sector and nearly half the respondents work in the catering industry. Besides the 43% of the students who work at an IT company (apprentices), this survey shows that the most popular part-time jobs amongst MCAST students are the following: Figure 1: Survey Question: What type of job do you have? The most popular non-IT related jobs were waiters/waitresses at fast food outlets, crepe makers, selling fast food at stalls and serving drinks in bars and clubs. In general, there were more male students than females engaged in these types of part-time jobs. The least most popular were cashiers at retail shops, telephone assistants, receptionists and entertainers. On the other hand these types of jobs were more popular amongst female students. These jobs require the minimal responsibility, flexible hours and few qualifications. Conversely, companies prefer people who are committed and work long hours because of the short-term and long-term projects they will have to complete within a stipulated deadline. Reasons for engaging in part-time work: Students at MCAST receive à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬83 per month as stipend. Is this amount enough for a student? Why does a student need to work? The main reason why students work is because they want to buy a car and maintain it. A car gives students independence and a social status. In February 2009 InsiterOnline.com  [1]  carried out a survey showing that 85 out of 170 students own a car and 22 out of 85 have a car bought to them by their parents. This clearly shows that Maltese students priority is that by the age of 18 they own a car. The second most popular reason for working is having money to spend during the weekends. The minimum amount a teenager spends every weekend is à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬20 including alcohol, transport and fast food takeaway. The third most popular reason for working is to buy clothing. Over the years I have noticed that students have become more conscious about their appearance. Most of the students wear expensive brand clothing and accessories. Other students prefer to do a part-time job to buy computer games and the latest gadgets. Keeping in mind that 99% of the students live with their parents therefore they do not have any accommodation expenses (besides a small percentage of the students who are expected to contribute to family expenses). The diagram below shows the statistics of this survey: Figure 2: Survey Question: How do you spend your part-time money? The most unexpected result was the 28% of the students who spend their part-time money on clothes. Research by the (Wheeler, 2001)states that in the U.S. an average student spends $57 weekly on clothes. To make matters worse, Malta is one of the most expensive countries in the EU to buy clothing. Evarist Bartolo  [2]  , ex-Minister of Education stated that, Maltas prices are the second highest in the Eurozone (after Slovakia). They are 150% relatively more expensive than EU average. Footwear in Malta has the highest prices in Eurozone: 164% relatively more expensive than EU average. Consumer electronics in Malta are the second highest in the Eurozone (after Slovakia): 186% relatively more expensive than EU average. Case studies: Reasons for students engaging in part-time jobs These case studies mostly suggested that students working long hours were doing so because of money. Working to earn extra money: David* is 19 years old and his obsession is cars. Similar to the majority of Maltese teens by the age of 18 years their first investment would be a car. This gives them independence and social status. David is not satisfied with buying a cheap second-hand car but his dream is have a modern sports car. David also believes that further education is mandatory in todays world, therefore he does not intend to stop studying. To be able to buy his dream car he estimates it would cost him around à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬14,000. Since David is a student he can only apply for a loan of up to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5000, therefore the only option left is to sacrifice his free time and work. Working to pay for accommodation and living costs: Sarah* is 21 years old and comes from a middle-class family. During the last year together with her boyfriend they decided to rent a basic apartment and move in together. Although she comes from a middle-class family her family decided to assist her financially with school expenses but not for accommodation. To cope with the expenses, Sarah works as a shopkeeper between 4 and 7 during weekdays and between 9 and 12 on Saturday morning. Working to pay for leisure activities: Rebecca* is a fashion enthusiast and loves parties. She is always wearing brand clothing and accessories. The stipend is not enough to buy expensive clothing and go out in the weekends. Therefore, Rebecca works 10 hours a week at a clothing shop to make up for the extra expenses. Working to gain experience: Nathan* is one of the brightest students I have ever taught. He is 21 years old and an apprenticeship student. Besides working at an IT company he also works as a freelance web designer. During his free time he is always researching new technologies and enhancing his programming skills. *The names mentioned in the above case studies are fictitious. 6. The effect of part-time work on students performance: Evaluating Students Income: Students living with their parents have a higher amount of income when compared to others who have to maintain their own households. In other European countries students have to spend one third of their income on accommodation. In general, MCAST students spend most of their daily expenses on transport and food. The following table evaluates a students daily expenses; assuming that the majority of the students do not own a car but use public transport. Breakdown of an average student daily expenditure: Public Transport: (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1 each way) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2.00 Lunch Soft drink: à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3.50 Total Daily Expenses à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5.50 If we had to make some calculations: An MCAST student receives à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬83 per month. S/he spends on average à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5.50 a day at the college. Calculation: Monthly stipend à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 83 Less Monthly expenses (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5.50 * 20 days) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬110 Remaining Balance à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬27 The above calculation shows that a student who commutes to school using public transport and buys lunch from the college canteen everyday the stipend will not be enough to cover these basic expenses. The student makes a loss of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬27 monthly. Paid Work: Few working hours will unlikely have an impact on the studies, but the more hours worked the more there will be an impact on the students academic performance. This section will take into consideration 4 factors; pay and conditions for students working part-time, time spent in paid employment, time spent at college and time spent studying. Pay and Conditions for Students working part-time: According to the Part-time Employees (Amendment) Regulations, 2010- L.N. 117 of 2010, published on the 12th March 2010, part-timers should be paid à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4.75 per hour during weekdays and on Sundays and Public Holidays the rate is à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬6.50 per hour. It is more likely that students from low-income families engage in a part-time job during their studies. Research shows that nearly half of the respondents earn à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4 per hour, which by and large is the minimum wage. Only 5% of the respondents earn à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬6 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬7 per hour. This survey assumes that the statistics are based on the net pay. Figure 3: Survey Question: How much money do you earn per hour (net pay)? Time spent in paid employment: Furr and Elling (2000) and Dallam Hoyt, (1981) agree that the number of hours worked effect the students performance. There is a negative impact when students work more than twenty hours a week. Figure 4 shows that more than fifty percent of the interviewees work more than twenty hours a week. The majority of these students work as bartenders, waitresses or waiters, therefore it is quite common to work long hours because of the opening hours. Their shifts are usually from 5 pm till late at night. Such part-time jobs do not only entail taking orders and serving food but they are also generally requested to clean the place after the establishment closes. Figure 4: Survey Question: How many hours do you work per week? Nearly half of the respondents work between four to five days a week. The majority work on Friday evening and Saturday. Wednesdays and Sundays are also common working days. Students prefer not to work during the weekdays because of school commitments but if they are asked to work during the weekdays the majority of the students admitted that they would not refuse work. This clearly shows that students are eager to make money. Figure 5: Survey Question: How many days a week do you work? Time spent at college: Students are timetabled seventeen hours of lecturing. The following is a timetable of one of the classes interviewed. On average they spend six and a half hours at the college. Out of which they have four and half hours of lecturing. Overall, students wait ninety minutes between lectures. Figure 6: Sample Timetable Time spent studying: ICT students at MCAST spend 8 hours weekly in a computer laboratory. During these hours students will be thought programming concepts and they will also have hands-on sessions where they can practice under the teachers supervision. 8 hours are not enough to learn programming. Students have to practice at home to succeed. According to an article issued by Monash University (Faculty of ICT) states that programming students should spend at least 10 hours per week studying and practicing. Results: This section will describe the outcome of this research. Figures in section 4, 5 and 6 have been analyzed and evaluated. The table below calculates the number of hours remaining after deducting the total number of lecturing hours and hours allocated for studying, working and sleeping per week. The following calculation is based on a student who works 20 hours a week Hours Lectures per week 16 Working hours 20 Studying 10 Sleeping (7 hours * 7 days) 49 Total Hours Remaining (168 hours 95 hours) 73 Total hours in a week: 24 hours * 7 = 168 hours Total appointed hours: 16 + 20 + 49 + 10 = 95 hours The above estimations illustrate a breakdown of the number of hours in a week. As a result a student who works part time can only utilize the remaining 73 hours for study time and leisure. According to the EuroStudent survey, in most of the countries the average time spent on personal study time ranges between 30 to 35 hours per week. According to the EuroStudent document, the national averages for study-related activities (i. e. for taught courses and personal study time) range between 25 hours per week in Slovakia and Estonia and up to around 40 hours a week in Romania and Bulgaria. In most of the countries time spent on studies clusters around 30 to 35 hours per week. Gender % Number of Students Females 23% 8 Males 77% 27 Type of student % Number of Students Apprenticeship 43% 15 Non-apprenticeship 57% 20 Working hours for non-apprenticeship students (i.e. not IT related): Number of Hours % Number of Students More than 20 hours 40% 8 Less than 20 hours 30% 6 Do not work 30% 6 Grades % Number of Students Pass 14% 5 Merit 26% 9 Distinctions 40% 14 Fail 20% 7 Breakdown of grades: Working Scheme No. of students Pass No. of students Merit No. of students Distinction No. of students Fail Apprenticeship 5 10 > 20 hours 1 7 3 3 Do not work 1 1 3 1 The above statistics show that students who do not work or have a course related job are the most successful. The highest number of students who achieved a distinction are the apprenticeship students. With regards the group of students who work more than 20 hours a week, only one out of eight managed to achieve a pass the rest failed the module. The group who worked less than 20 hours a week managed to obtain a Pass and half of the group even managed to obtain a Merit. This shows that if students manage to balance work and st