Corruption in Procurement - 4077 Words

UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM BUSINESS SCHOOL | AN ASSESSMENT OF CORRUPTION IN THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSION IN GOVERNMENT: CASE IN TANZANIA. | | BY | BERNARD, HELLEN | REG. NO. 2009-06-00929 | RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. | Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 background3 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM4 2.o research aim6 2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES6 3.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 3.1 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS.7 4.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4.1 CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 4.2 THEORETICAL†¦show more content†¦The decade following Tanzania’s independence (1960-1970) did not manifest intense corruption. Where it took place it tended to be restricted to low-level officials who demanded and received negligible sums of money. As the country expanded the public sector and public administration institutions progressively decayed, entailing the rise of bureaucratic malfunctioning, opportunities for rent-seeking behavior and asking and offering bribes started creeping in. In the same period, the cost of living rose dramatically while public service pay remained static or declined. Public officials became driven by a culture of survival and they progressively adopted deviant behavior patterns discussed earlier in the paper, including the use of corruption as an income maintenance strategy. To address and control the trend of increased corruption, the Nyerere Government enacted the leadership code as part of the Arusha Declaration which had been adopted in 1967 and dedicated Tanzania to the pursuit of Ujamaa and Self Reliance as its ideology. While moral suasion through a socialist code of conduct was making its contribution to the fight against corrupt tendencies, the country came to experience a major economic crisis following the oil crisis and the after effects of the war with Idd Amin in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with double digit inflation, major fiscal deficits and negative economic growth. That situation saw the state lose its ability to payShow MoreRelatedThe Global Issue Of South Africa1516 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Engagement Summary The Global Issue in South Africa Corruption has overrun all aspects of South African culture since the early 1900’s. The government, the police force, and all of the citizens commit acts of corruption on an everyday basis in order to secure contracts, grants, and in order to earn more money. From a business standpoint, as government contracts are given to certain businesses with connections, many other legitimate businesses are driven out of the market, often leading to lessRead MoreThe Quality Factor Of E Procurement Implementation Essay1299 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant impact on the success Of E-procurement implementation. This study has focused on critical success aspects of E-procurement when, it comes to implantation. This research paper leads through a structural equation model. Information gathered from 208 directors to convey quantitative method to research the relationship between E-procurement quality factor .In the outcome this investigation demonstrates that quality of organization culture a ffect the E-procurement. On the other IT infrastructureRead More1.6:Challenges Of Procurement Practices . Soriede (2002)1609 Words   |  7 Pages1.6: Challenges of Procurement Practices Soriede (2002) mentions that, it is important to note that SCM is an integral part of procurement in the public sector. Therefore, it is used as a tool for the management of public procurement practices. However, despite the employment of SCM as a strategic tool, public procurement still faces enormous predicaments. These include, among others lack of proper knowledge, skills and capacity, non-compliance with SCM policy and regulations, inadequate planningRead MoreEssay about Single Sourcing In The Public Sector762 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Develop an argument for or against single sourcing and close supplier relationships in public sector procurement. Argue for single sourcing, or argue against single sourcing. State your claim, your reasoning, your evidence and any anticipated objections or rebuttals, and draw a conclusion. Definition Before anything else, I would like to clarify the difference between the single sourcing and sole sourcing. Single sourcing is refer to purchase from one selected supplier, though there may have otherRead MoreInternational Marketing/Trade Essay1008 Words   |  5 Pages Briefly, what does the OECD stipulate about member nations’ obligations regarding bribery corruption? Since Canada has ratified the OECD guidelines, what are the implications for Canadian business people selling to foreign governments? OECD published Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and Related Documents to prevent bribery and corruption. The aim of this convention was making the bribery of a foreign public official a crime underRead MoreEvaluating Unethical Decision Consequences Of An Organization1732 Words   |  7 PagesInformation Technology purchases. Charges of corruption may be alleged, and could be either real or imaginary. Consequently, an organization’s best defense against fraud is to be proactive, including gaining an understanding of how to identify potential indicators of corruptive behavior by managers. It is important that the organization take action as quickly as possible to prevent corruption. Further, examination of common indicators of potential corruption, and abuse is beneficial in the identificationRead MoreInformation Technology Manager Acting As A Purchasing Agent1648 Words   |  7 PagesInformation Technology purchases. Charges of corruption may be alleged, and could be either real or imaginary. Consequently, an organization’s best defense against fraud is to be proactive, including gaining an understanding of how to identify potential indicators of corruptive behavior by managers. It is important that the organization take action as quickly as possible to prevent corruption. Further, examination of common indicators of potential corruption, and abuse is beneficial in the identificationRead MoreDechen Pelzom Reviews Procurement Procedures, Rules, and Regulations1221 Words   |  5 Pagesappointed as the Head of the Procurement Department in one of the ministries. She was given the task to review the procurement procedure and rules and regulations. When she was reviewing the procurement activities initiated by procurement staffs, she found that only 50% of procurement budget has been utilized in 2010. There were no transparency and accountability in the procurement department where engineers place many of the contracts without any reference to the procurement department. Almost all staffsRead MoreGovernment Of The United National Convention On Against Corruption1257 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant steps to fight corruption in the country. These steps include the institutional reforms, accession to the United National Convention on Against Corruption (UNCAC) and adoption of new legislations. According to Transparency International (2011), despite of the high level of corruption in the country the citizens are appreciating the steps taken by the government towards fighting corruption in the country. However there are certain gaps and flaws in the anti-corruption efforts, one of whichRead MoreContracting Ethics in Government Acquisitions1315 Words   |  5 Pagesto achieve them all they use a variety of approaches which include but are not limited to contracts for acquiring goods and services ADDIN EN.CITE Weitzel20061127(Weitzel and Berns, 2006)1127112 717Weitzel, UtzBerns, SjorsCross-Border Takeovers, Corruption, and Related Aspects of GovernanceJournal of International Business StudiesJournal of International Business Studies786-8063762006Palgrave Macmillan Journals00472506http://www.jstor.org/stable/4540384( HYPERLINK l _ENREF_4 o Weitzel, 2006 #1127

A Brief Note On The Agency Of Environment And Forest Essay

. Preventation: GOVERNMENTAL STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL IN BANGLADESH The ‘Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF)’of Bangladesh is primarily responsible for environmental protection. It was created in 1989. The MOEF has taken some steps to control the environmental pollution of Bangladesh. National Environmental Management Action: Plan (NEMAP). The government has taken a project named NEMAP to integrate environment with the development in a policy framework. It provides a guideline for promoting effective management of resources, raising awareness among the people and improvement of environmental degradation Environmental Acts, Rules and Laws: The government of Bangladesh has modified environmental acts, rules and laws to improve environmental condition Environment court has already been established to take prompt legal action against environmental pollution. The DOE has been empowered to punish the offenders of environmental rules. Control of Air Pollution: Recently the DOE has taken some measures to carry out surveys on identification and control of polluting industries, protecting habitats, examining the use of compressed natural gas in industries, setting environmental standards and controlling river and automobile pollution on environmental management. It also conducts vehicular emission measurements at Dhaka city. Banning of Polyethylene Bags: Most of the sewage lines of Dhaka city have been blocked by indiscriminate dumping of polyethylene bags over theShow MoreRelatedField Experience Report: The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem2063 Words   |  9 Pagesshaping the child are transferred to the teachers. This makes it vital for teachers to be able to help the child during their developmental stage. In this field report, the learner visits one kindergarten and one preschool to assess the learning environment. A comparison is made between these two schools as well as comparison with those proposed in Meier in her book The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem. The fieldwork also includes interviewing of two teachersRead MoreThe Pueblo Of Santa Clara Canyon Area1892 Words   |  8 Pages The Pueblo of Santa Clara was devastated by the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, which burned more than 156,000 acres of the reservation’s upland forest in the Santa Clara Canyon area. The fire impacted not only the ecological balance of the area, but also the spiritual balance of the tribe. Although this is not the first fire that has blackened tribal and neighboring lands in recent history, it was by far the most devastating. In addition to scorching nearly two thirds of the watershed that the peopleRead MoreEnvironment Studies8323 Words   |  34 PagesCHAPTER NO: 01 1. Define the importance of Environmental Studies. Answer: Environment is derived from the French word Environ which means to encircle or surround. ENVIRONMENT is sum total of water, air, and land, inter-relationships among themselves and also with the human beings, other living organisms and property. The above definition given in Environment Act, 1986 clearly indicates that environment includes all the physical and biological surroundings and their interactions. ENVIRONMENTALRead MoreJ.Co Donuts Coffee5440 Words   |  22 Pagesour nation in particular, and we do influence changes in culture which will strongly affect their choices in decision-making even two or three or more generations ahead. In addition to such general matters concerning longer sweeps of history, our brief mortal lives are so much with us, and the immediate problems of this year, the preceding year, and the next, so fiercely grip our attentions, that we tend to exaggerate the authority of that aspect of knowledge we call experience. In particular,Read MoreImpact of Environmental Accounting on Management Accounting7424 Words   |  30 Pages1.0 Introduction According to The Environment Agency in the United Kingdom (2006), Environmental Accounting can be defined as: â€Å"The collection, analysis and assessment of environmental and financial performance data obtained from business management information systems, environmental management and financial accounting systems. The taking of corrective management action to reduce environmental impacts and costs plus, where appropriate, the external reporting of the environmental and financialRead MoreSience23554 Words   |  95 Pagesâ€Å"greenhouse† gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2). A warming planet thus leads to a change in climate which can affect weather in various ways, as discussed further below. What Are The Main Indicators Of Climate Change? As explained by the US agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are 7 indicators that would be expected to increase in a warming world (and they are), and 3 indicators would be expected to decrease (and they are): [pic]Ten indicators for a warmingRead MoreApplication of Gis in Natural Resourse Management10836 Words   |  44 Pagesdegradation, especially of forest cover has led to diminishing soil fertility, soil erosion, increase severity of the impact of drought, and the further reduction in the ability to produce food and other biological resources demanded by the human and animal population (ibid ) Nigeria is not an exception with reference to these problems. It is facing serious land and environmental degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on its natural resources (Ministry of Environment 2002). The vast naturalRead MoreWest African Senior School Certificate Examination Agricultural Science4166 Words   |  17 Pagesknowledge and skills associated with the content. A general review of the Junior Secondary School Agricultural Science Syllabus is presumed. Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all the topics set out in the column headed syllabus. The notes therein are intended to indicate the scope of the questions which will be set, but they are not to be considered as an exhaustive list of limitations and illustrations. Schools must keep school farms where crops are grown with at least one speciesRead MoreThe Great Northwoods Essay7709 Words   |  31 PagesGreat Northwoods As with all things, the history of an event does not begin at its conception. With this in mind, it is my intention to provide the reader with a general history of events that led to the formation of the Nicolet National Forest of northern Wisconsin. In order to do so, I found it necessary to begin with the early explorations of such notables as James Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, and Jean Nicolet. These French explorers blazed a path that enabled the settling of the territoriesRead MoreUnderstanding The Urban Environmental Challenges Of Addis Ababa2347 Words   |  10 Pages OVERVIEW In the last decade, Addis Ababa has undergone An important role in Ethiopia’s progress and development This Brief looks at the state of the urban environmental challenges in Addis Ababa, specifically drawing your attention on the importance of waste management and why it has been failing in the city. ... While the efforts on Transport are admirable, especially acknowledging your previous experience as the Minister of Transport, I would like to draw your attention on waste management

Cognitive Therapy For Depression Essay Example For Students

Cognitive Therapy For Depression Essay COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR DEPRESSIONIntroductionCognitive behavioral therapy helps improve peoples moods and behavior by changing their way thinking; also, how they interpret events and talk to themselves. This form of psychotherapy helps guide people into thinking more realistically and teaches them coping strategies to deal with their depression. Cognitive therapy is in most cases a short-term treatment that can have long-term results. I will discuss depression in adolescence and how it effects personal adjustments, which may often continue into adulthood. I will also discuss depression in the elderly. There are different approaches to treating depression, the main approach that will be discussed is cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a way to break the cycle for depression. What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?Cognitive behavior therapy helps people break the connections between difficult situations and their habitual reactions to them. This can be reactions such as fear, rage or depression, and self-defeating or self-damaging behavior. It also teaches people how to calm their mind and body, so they can feel better, think more clearly, and make better decisions. Cognitive therapy also teaches people how certain thinking patterns are causing their symptoms. This is accomplished by giving people a distorted picture of whats going on in their life, and making them feel anxious, depressed or angry for no good reason.(Francis, 2000) When people are in behavior therapy and cognitive therapy, it provides them with various tools for stopping their symptoms and getting their life on a more satisfying track. In cognitive therapy, the therapist takes an active part in solving a patients problems. He or she doesnt settle for just nodding wisely while the patient ca rries the whole burden of finding the answers they came to therapy for initially. Cognitive therapists teach patients to identify their negative thoughts, recognize their erroneous nature and devise a corrective plan that leads to more positive assessments and an ability to deal more realistically with every day problems.(Burns, 1996-2000) Dr. Frances M. Christian, a clinical social worker and cognitive therapist at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, says, ?Thoughts and beliefs have a lot to do with how people feel and behave. Early in life, people develop core beliefs about themselves and other people and about how the world operates.?Cognitive behavioral therapy has been very thoroughly researched. In study after study, it has been shown to be as effective as drugs in treating both depression and anxiety. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be better than drugs in avoiding treatment failures and in preventing relapse after the end of treatment. A cognitive therapist directs a patients attention to automatic thoughts, the things people say to themselves, that result in unpleasant feelings. (Stopa, 2000) For example, someone prone to anxiety attacks might automatically think, Im going to mess up, when taking an exam, participating in a school event or being interviewed for a job. After failing such a task, the person might conclude, again automatically, Im a loser. In therapy, the person is helped to recognize delusions in thought, which include exaggerating the sense of threat, anticipating disaster as the outcome, and over generalizing from one negative experience and ignoring times when things went well. Finally, once the damaging automatic thoughts are recognized, the person is helped to examine how realistic they are, and they consider alternative explanations, then imagine other outcomes and realize that the symptoms of anxiety are not the prelude to a heart attack or some other medical disaster. (Stopa, 2000) This sam e approach is practiced for depression. The difference in the therapeutic approach versus medicating is dramatic, and the relief people feel is immediate. Instead of dwelling on the negative, which the other therapists sometimes do, they acquire therapeutic tools the depressed can apply on his or her own, in case they may find themselves slipping into old patterns of thought or behavior. (Stopa, 2000)Furthermore, studies have shown that the results of cognitive therapy are long lasting, with relapse rates much lower than with other modes of treatment, including psychiatric drugs. And while medication is sometimes used, at least briefly, to relieve intense emotional disturbances and improve receptivity to therapy, most patients can be spared the side effects of drugs, which may include the inability to function sexually, upset stomach, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating.(Brody, 1996) While no one approach to psychotherapy is appropriate for everyone, many thousands of patients have benefited from the strategie s unique to cognitive therapy. In the 30 or so years since the approach was developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a world-renowned psychiatrist at the Beck Center for Cognitive Therapy in Philadelphia, it has become the most scientifically tested model of psychotherapy. (Brody, 1996)What is Depression?According to Dr. Judith S. Beck and Dr. Aaron Beck, her daughter, ?Patients have continual unpleasant thoughts and that each thought deepens the depression.? However, these thoughts are not based on facts and result in feelings of sadness this is far beyond what the situation guarantees, it has to do with hypothetical situations. ?Depressed persons make such mistakes over and over,? Quinn has written. ?In fact, they may misinterpret friendly overtures as rejections. They tend to see the negative, rather than the positive side of things. Plus they do not check to determine whether they may have made a mistake in interpreting events.?(Quinn, 1998) Depressed thinking often takes the form of neg ative thoughts about oneself, the present, and the future. The mood in depression is almost always experienced as sad. According to a patients letter written and later published with the permission of William Morrow and Company, (publisher of Moodswing): from the book, ?Depression and its Treatment?, her experience with this mood disorder was despair and uselessness. Eventually she found herself going to sleep earlier at night just to stop the anxious thoughts entering her mind. The patient says her appetite got worse and she became physically ill with the progression of her depression. The statement later reads, ?If I had to see a psychiatrist, it meant that I was probably going insane, and this thought made me even more frightened. It was more than I could stand. The fear of being mentally ill was so horrible that I decided to take my entire bottle of sleeping pills rather than face the shame of being a mental patient.?(Griest ; Jefferson, 1992) Depression can strike anyone at any given time. It affects 5% of the population at any time and at least 10% of the population at some point in their lifetime. At least 10% of the people with major depression end their lives by suicide. (Greist ; Jefferson1992)Depression in AdolescentsHow prevalent are mood disorders in children and is an adolescent with changes in mood considered clinically depressed? Oster has said the reason why depression is often over looked in children and adolescents are because ?children are not always able to express how they feel.?(Oster ; Montgomery 1997) Sometimes the symptoms of mood disorders take on different forms in children than in adults. Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood swings, gloomy thoughts, and over sensitivity, it is also a time of rebellion and experimentation. Therefore, the diagnosis should not lie only in the physicians hands but be associated with parents, teachers and anyone who interacts with the child on a daily basis. Unlike adult depression, symptoms of adolecent depression are often camouflaged. Instead of expressing sadness, teenagers may express boredom and irritability, or may choose to get involved in risky behaviors. (Oster Montgomery, 1995) The key indicators of adolescent depression include a drastic change in eating and sleeping patterns, significant loss of interest in previous activities, aggression and boredom. The signs of clinical depression include marked changes in mood and associated behaviors that range from sadness, withdrawal, and decreased energy to intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Depression is often described as an exaggeration of the duration and intensity of ?normal? mood changes (Oster Montgomery, 1995), constant boredom, disruptive behavior, peer problems, and increased irritability and aggression. (OConnor 1997) For many teens, symptoms of depression are directly related to low self-esteem coming from increased emphasis on peer popularity. For other teens, depression arises f rom poor family relations which could include decreased family support and perceived rejection by parents (Quinn, 1998). Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in children age 15 to19 than cancer (Oster ; Montgomery, 1997). Your Own Particular Harbor EssayEffective Treatment for DepressionCognitive Therapy is an effective treatment for depression. It is based on the idea that how people think largely determines how people feel. This form of Therapy teaches people to recognize and challenge upsetting thoughts. Learning to challenge negative thoughts makes the patient feel better and helps them to think more realistically. Lusia Stopa explains that people cannot simply just decide to think positive. (Anyone who has suffered from depression knows that there are no simple magic answers!) Instead, she shows that people can begin to notice when and where negative thoughts occur, systematically decide how accurate these thoughts are, and where necessary, to change them to something more helpful to people. (Stopa, 2000) According to the behavioral aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy it recommends to monitor daily activities with a ?Weekly Activity Schedule?. Activity schedules are important because they h elp patients to see what therere actually doing as well as how much pleasure and sense of achievement (if any ) people get from particular activities. When they are feeling depressed, it can be very difficult to motivate themselves to get going again or to start changing behavior. The three main techniques for overcoming this are: planning ahead, identifying pleasurable activities, and breaking tasks into small manageable steps. (Quinn, 1998). Lusia Stopa says that the process of challenging negative thoughts is important to overcoming depression, but that learning the skills can take time. However, it gets easier with practice. Challenging bad thoughts and substituting them with more realistic thoughts makes people feel better about themselves and begins to break the cycle of depression. Also, these skills stay with the patients for the rest of their life and in the future help protects against the recurrence of depression. (Stopa, 2000). Psychotherapy or Cognitive therapy, is the preferred treatment of choice for depression, regardless of the depressions severity or symptoms. Multiple Meta-analyses have come to this conclusion, so that it is not a conclusion based on just one case study. (Stopa, 2000). Combined treatment of psychotherapy and medication should be the second choice, when choosing effective treatment options for depression. This is likely the most commonly used treatment for depression today and there is ab solutely nothing wrong with it. A patient should never go against professional advice given with regards to a patients treatment, unless he or she has first discussed it with their doctor. Especially with depression, it is better to play it safe, than be sorry. According to The Depression Source Book, by Brian R. Quinn, medication alone should be a persons last choice and only used as a last resort. Although people will likely gain some short-term relief of the most outward symptoms of their depression, studies have shown that medications dont work very well in the long-term. Those who choose to take psychotropic medications should be informed as to the negative and adverse side effects of those medications. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is considered the preferred clinically proven therapy for depression. (Stopa, 2000)ConclusionCognitive behavioral therapy, in most cases, is a short-term treatment that can have a long-term end result. In any case, this form of psychotherapy does hel p people think more realistically whether they are an adolescent or an elderly patient. Cognitive behavioral therapy without the use of medication is a good way to break the cycle for depression. Additionally, it is also a powerful self-help technique for dealing with depression and other negative emotions by consciously changing the way we think. To conclude this discussion, depression is a serious mental disorder that can strike anyone at any given time. However, anyone who is suffering from mood disorders can climb their way out a downward spiral of misery, with the strategies behind cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychology Essays

Re

Introduction The field of education has benefited from the thoughts and ideas of many people. Seneca and Freire are two good examples of such benefactors. Seneca, in one of the many letters through which most of his ideas came to be known, discredits the notion that liberal education per se is of any use.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Re-evaluating Freire and Seneca specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Education for him would only be meaningful if it contributed towards improving one’s character. For liberal education however, this does not form the goal. Freire on the other hand, feels that there should be a shift in pedagogy in order to get rid of the inequality that characterizes the student-teacher relationship. This, he asserts, could only happen if there was rupture from the narrative based content delivery to methods that were more imitative of dialogue. This essay seeks to show that while Seneca†™s ideas have been invaluable to the development of the field of education, they would today be easily found obsolete. Freire’s ideas, on the other hand, remain as venerable as ever; his recommendations however borders on the impracticality of the structured contemporary education context. Seneca’s argument Seneca was a thoroughgoing stoic. Stoicism is a belief in the supremacy of reason over passion and the inherent value that is to be found in virtue (Castellano). Material possession and social standing were of little value to stoics as neither helped advance virtue (Castellano). The philosophy of stoicism was of a great influence in Seneca’s conceptualization of education and what its aims ought to be (Bilson). For this reason, Seneca felt that education should have had the edification of character as its only aim. His perception of the liberal arts, therefore, was not kind at all. He felt that liberal education turned people into â€Å"pedantic, irritatin g, tactless, self-satisfied bores (who) spend their life learning things they’ll never need† (Seneca). Knowing for its own sake, as the goal of liberal studies to Seneca constituted a worthless aim. For him, worthwhile education was that which helped one achieve attributes such as bravery, self-control, loyalty and wisdom (Seneca). Thus, he posited that the study of the liberal arts such as poetry, philosophy, music and geometry would be of use only if it was done as preparation for the acquisition of moral values (Seneca). That he attached little meaning to the study of liberal arts hardly means that he had a soft spot for vocational education. He felt nothing but contempt for the acquisition of skills for the sake of profiting from them (Seneca). He felt that one should engage in vocational skills for the reason that they are central to the survival of humans.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% O FF Learn More To make a vocation, a lifelong pursuit was for him utterly contemptible and such an endeavor should only be undertaken if one was mentally incapable of pursuing goals of a higher nature (Seneca). Such was the philosophy of Seneca, which as we shall see next remarkably differs with that of Freire. Freire’s argument Freire, on the other hand, was concerned with the classroom practice of education. He felt that the student teacher dichotomy that existed in the practice of education in Brazil was reflective of the relationship between the oppressor and the oppressed since in this system â€Å"knowledge is a gift bestowed by those who consider themselves knowledgeable upon those whom they consider to know nothing† (Freire). Because it was based on the narrative technique, the teacher played narrator while the students made up the audience. In such a setup, the teacher was an all-knowing, inviolate being while the student was his meek and ignorant subj ect (Freire). The students in this analogy were like containers that needed to be filled with knowledge by the teacher (Freire). Thus, the teaching process involved the depositing of knowledge by the teacher into the students’ heads while the students’ role was to memorize the facts given to them by the teacher and to give them back when it was required during testing. Teaching, therefore, as can be inferred, was a one sided affair since it was teacher rather than student oriented. In order to address this problem, Freire posited that a method that was akin to dialogue should be adopted (Freire). This was the only way to ensure that communication between the teacher and learners took place and that the dynamic nature of knowledge would be captured. Comparison of the two arguments A shallow conceptualization of Freire’s theory might mislead one to think that his main concern was pedagogy. However, the essence of Freire’s work was the appropriation of the e ducation process to free the oppressed. As such, both Freire and Seneca comprehend education as a means to an end: the end being freedom for Freire and Virtue for Seneca. The two are however different in that while Freire aspired for an egalitarian society, Seneca supported elitism. Freire acknowledged the unequal nature of society and divided society into two groups: the oppressors and the oppressed (Freire). It is the difference between these two groups that he sought to address using education.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Re-evaluating Freire and Seneca specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Seneca, on the other hand, does not only acknowledge elitism but seems to suggest that it is occasioned by nature. By positing that the vocational aspects of society should be left to those who were not adequately gifted mentally to pursue higher goals, he endorses the notion that elitism is occasioned by nature (Dickens). Seneca would probably agree with Freire’s idea on pedagogy. His apparent silence on pedagogy does not mean that he would not appreciate the best possible ways of achieving his aims of education. Freire, on the other hand, might disagree with Seneca’s ideas, especially regarding Seneca’s natural basis for the existence of the two classes of the oppressors and the oppressed. The Viability of their Ideas In the contemporary education context, Seneca’s ideas would be found, to some extent, a little outdated, but useful as well. While virtue might not carry as much importance today as it did to the stoics of Seneca’s time, it nonetheless is still considered a worthwhile pursuit. Liberal arts would, however, hardly be found to be antithetical to virtue. Broad based knowledge is actually seen as means to acquire refinement and sophistication. It is also to be found at the very core of the concept of the contemporary educated person (Bilson). The pursuit o f a single goal in the acquisition of education would also be found narrow-minded. That is why most institutions of higher learning today offer broad based education that not only offers specialized employable skills but also basics in fields such as rhetoric, philosophy and communication skills. As such, Seneca’s ideas would be found obsolete by many contemporary education practitioners. Seneca’s concerns regarding utility as an education goal are however useful to the extent that overemphasis on personal fulfillment would potentially strip education of its utility. Seneca felt that we should know only that which is useful for us to know and not a modicum more (Seneca). Due to the fact that the education process presents financial investment from the state, the private individual or both, it of necessity required to eventually result in tangible returns for society. Liberal education however does not have productivity as its end. Investing in something that isnâ€℠¢t needful and bears society no benefits at all would therefore not be sensible at all. For this reason, liberal education per se should best not be catered for by society but rather by the individual who undergoes it. At the same time, the idea of knowledge as its own end begs for some limits to be set. Would it be worthwhile to spend the whole of one’s resources on knowledge that is of no use to anyone other than the one who pursues it? This kind of endeavor would be found of little value to the individual or to the society. Therefore, Seneca’s ideas comes in handy if such limits have to be set and if liberal education is to live up to its usefulness to the pursuit of liberal arts.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The ideas proposed by Freire are no doubt meaningful in the contemporary world. Their practical value is however beset with concerns of a fundamental nature. Foremost, the question of how best to impart knowledge remains the preserve of theory showing that conclusive pedagogical answers to the question are yet to be achieved. Freire’s recommendations might, however, be too idealistic to have any practical use. There is a reason why what Freire described as the ‘banking concept of education’ is still being practiced in today’s classrooms. In spite of the many problems associated with it, it still remains the most practical means of classroom teaching. This is in view of the current unsatisfactory teacher-student ratios. The use of dialogical teaching methods would best work if more informal education setups were adopted. For instance, it has been argued that to deem the teacher and student equal in a formal classroom setup would be rather wishful (Baldisson e). This is in view of the fact that formal education is based on the difference in understanding between the teacher and the student (Baldissone). As such, the teacher’s assertions always carry more weight than those of the students. To therefore claim to practice Freire’s dialogical methods would largely be found to be mere rhetoric. At the same time, the dialogical method has been found unusable in the teaching of particular subject areas. The method is based on the assumption that the teacher and students are flexible in the ideas that they hold and can therefore be prevailed upon to change if reasonable bases for doing so are presented. This is however not the case. For example, dialogical methods would not be successful if the teacher and students hold hard-line stances on the subject area (Baldissone). A good example of such a subject area is morality. Indeed, the formulation of Freire’s theory was flawed to the extent that while it originally had an info rmal education orientation, Freire ended up recommending its use in the context of structured curricular. The notion that education can be used as a means of liberation might also be rather wishful. This is especially so where it would be needed most: in poor countries. It should be understood that adopting Freire’s theory merely to change classroom practice would be to misunderstand its original goal. Freire meant for it to be used in a much broader scope; he meant it to be applied to arouse the consciousness of the oppressed in order for them to fully conceptualize their position in the social, cultural and historical contexts (Freire). In doing this, the oppressed would be humanized and freed. Conclusion It is clear that Seneca and Freire are quite different in their comprehension of the concept of education. Their only similarity lies in their focus on the outcomes of education. Considering the applicability of their ideas in the contemporary world, Seneca’s ideas are quite obsolete while Freire’s would only work in an informal context. Works Cited Bilson, Vic. â€Å"The nature of man.† 2011. Web. Baldissone, Riccardo. â€Å"Critical pedagogy and beyond.† 2008. Web. Castellano, Daniel. â€Å"Foundations of Ethics:† 2011. Web. Dickens, Peter. â€Å"Social Darwinism.† ThinkQuest. 2011. Web. Freire, Paulo. The Banking Concept of Education. New York: Norton Co. 2006. Print. Seneca, Lasalle. On Liberal and Vocational Study. New York: Norton Co. 2006. Print. This essay on Re-evaluating Freire and Seneca was written and submitted by user Ed1s0n to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Re Table of Contents Introduction History and the process of reentry process System and Policy Solutions as to strengthen various services Conclusion Works Cited Introduction Reentry refers to the issues related to the transition of ex-offenders from incarceration to community. Reentry comprises of all the efforts aimed at ensuring that those released from prison are able to relate well with the general society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Re-entry collateral consequences on education and housing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Collateral consequences of criminal charges or the â€Å"Four’Cs† are the indirect consequences of criminal convictions and â€Å"comprise a mixture federal, statutory and regulatory law as well as local policies and are part of arrest, prosecution or conviction but are not part of the sentence imposed† (National Crime Prevention Council 1). The essay looks at re entry collateral in details and the effects it has had on the community and individuals. The systems and policies being applied by organizations are analyzed. A discussion on how to improve the policies being implemented before they become laws is included in this article. History and the process of reentry process It can be correctly argued out that those who are involved in the reentry programs have one main goal of ensuring that the subjects integrate well with the society. It is significant that the returning person is able to fit well with the society as this will make it possible for him/her to avoid engaging in criminal activities. Some of the challenges the ex-prisoner is likely to face include housing, public safety, employment and families. Other challenges to reentry include problems with family relationships where if not already problematic, are often weakened by incarceration. Convicted felons have difficulty finding employment and this can be aggravated by prison exper iences (Irwin 1). Recidivism is the process whereby there is a tendency to re-lapse into previous criminal behavior; the individual characteristics that influence recidivism includes â€Å"demographic characteristics, prison experience, employment history, education level, criminal record, and substance abuse dependence† (The Heritage Foundation 1). It has been noted that recidivists tend to have a history of crime record which is traceable to their early ages when they were still young (The Heritage Foundation 1). Ex-prisoners have a lower rate of literacy than individuals in the general population, ex-prisoners also face unmet health and mental needs and housing issues due to legislation that bar the ex-convicts (National Crime Prevention Council 1). Some of the housing issues that ex-offenders face include: finding affordable rental housing, maximizing the use of existing housing resources and identifying and eliminating the stigma of ex-offenders in order to receive housi ng from the society (The Heritage Foundation 1).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It has been noted that families offer very significant support for the individuals who are entering the society from the prisons: â€Å"former prisoners living with their families are less likely to drop out of reentry programs compared to their counterparts who do not live with their families† (The Heritage Foundation 1). Collateral consequences mean legal, social and economic barriers to an individual reentry into his/her society: Although many individuals released from jail leave with the hope of a fresh start, these barriers make it difficult for the individual to integrate into the community and hence the reason why many ex-prisoners go back to jail. (Irwin 1) Elsewhere collateral consequences have been described as: â€Å"Invisible punishments, unseen and often devastating, largely hidden a nd unspoken until it is too late† (National Crime Prevention Council 1). Collateral consequences are indirect consequences of criminal convictions and comprise â€Å"a mixture federal and statutory and regulatory law as well as local policies† (National Crime Prevention Council 1). The second chance act signed into law by president Bush is a response to a glowing crisis in the United States of America faced by ex-prisoners once they are out of jail. It has made significant improvement but a lot needs to be done by community groups, county governments, state governments, church welfare groups and nongovernmental organizations for it to fully succeed and its impact felt in the society. The act recognizes the need for comprehensive and integrated services. It is a benchmark for reentry programs and policies for the federal government to intervene in a growing crisis (The Heritage Foundation 1). The government has made significant funding since the act become law and signif icant impact has been felt where the program has been initiated and in most cases the results from such an initiation has been a great success.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Re-entry collateral consequences on education and housing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It should be noted that, â€Å"the act did expand the federal government’s role in the reentry process by creating grants for states to implement prisoner reentry programs; the Act authorized $330 million for prisoner reentry programs during fiscal years 2009 and 2010† (National Crime Prevention Council 1). More laws have been passed in relations of the reentry: Congress also passed laws that temporarily or permanently disqualified persons convicted of felony and drug related oddness from receiving certain federal welfare benefits and disqualified those convicted of any drug related offences in the country from receiving federal educati onal grants. In addition, congress passed laws declaring individuals and their households ineligible for federal housing assistance if they have been convicted of specified criminal activity. Moreover congress did give local authorities vast discretion to local housing authorities to establish standards regarding criminal records (National Crime Prevention Council 1). System and Policy In this section a reports on an identified system and policy connected with that system that affects incarcerated, former incarcerated and family members is briefly discussed. Montgomery county has come up with policies, program and a system that offers ex-prisoners a second chance. The system and policy at the Montgomery has registered a significant success and therefore will be a good example to study. Re-entry efforts in Montgomery County in Ohio have been a good study for policy and law makers, it is a success story of an effective well managed program. The re-entry task force in the county assemb led an extensive collaborative force of over 200 community leaders from different professions including ex offenders for their valuable insight into the issue and how the community would benefit from their insight (Montgomery County). The re-entry task force accomplished its work through a combination of several work groups including children, families, continuum of care, employment, housing, legal issues and advocacy, pre/post-release services and technical teams. Re-entry programs in Ohio were 246 in 2009 (Montgomery County). The Montgomery county has been providing a variety of specialized rehabilitative services, which include providing common pleas court system that focuses on encouraging ex-offenders to succeed as law abiding citizens without first going to prison, this program seeks to address whatever dysfunction has resulted in the offender committing the crime, other program include residential drug intervention services, education and employment opportunities, specialized supervision of felony, non support cases and community drug intervention and education.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Specialized services include life support that focuses on providing necessary skills that affect positive behavioural changes such as male’s issues group, emergency assistance and alternatives to violence program (Montgomery County 1). Other specialized programs include case management where there is an individual and group contact between offenders and community control officers, others include secure transitional offender program and felony non support court which is a specialized court that was implemented in an effort to ensure payment of court-ordered child support obligations. Stop the violence me is a program designed to educate men on violence, power and control in relationships and empathy for the victim. To ensure that the efforts make some significant achievement, a number of local, non profit agencies are given financial support to assist the re-entry population (Montgomery County 1). Montgomery County has also provided services to ex offenders who are part of Mon tgomery County â€Å"call in sessions†; these sessions offer individuals a chance to turn their lives around and provide services to those who are willing to do so including case management, job training and educational services. A number of community based providers also offer services to ex offenders; the council also assists a few non profit agencies with financial support to assist the re-entry population such as Dayton urban league, action partnership, Salvation Army booth house, mercy manor and volunteers of America (Montgomery County). Solutions as to strengthen various services Re-entry services must be offered in a coordinated fashion, the re-entry system is usually a complex network made up of many interdependent systems. We simply cannot afford to have these various systems and services working in isolation. Hence, all agencies and organizations – both public and private – will need to be engaged in service coordination in order to respond to the many barriers encountered by the ex-offender upon their release into society. Only Complete service integration through a network of community partnerships will be vital in ensuring that these efforts are to be successful in the future and have positive impacts on both the community and ex offender (Montgomery County). Another factor that demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships is the fact that the government cannot fund this initiative on its own as the government cannot participate everywhere. Many years of experience have shown that with governmental programs of all types, public money eventually dries up. This is true for both governmental funding used to initiate new services as well as governmental funding used to leverage funds from the private sector for the continuation of services. This results in services decreasing and later ceasing to exist. To counteract this occurrence, the community must exhibit a sincere investment in a particular service and bear a s ignificant portion of the necessary funding. It is only through public-private partnerships that sustainability is even a possibility (Montgomery County 1). The Ohio prisons have realized that it may not be possible to always rehabilitate all convicts in the system and have consequently partnered with the Montgomery County to reduce recidivism and bring attention to the state of reentry in Ohio hence the need for increased cooperation (Montgomery County 1). There is a need to increase the number of transitional, supportive, and affordable ex-offender housing opportunities in Montgomery County for high-risk groups (i.e., individuals with sex offenses on their criminal record, mental health disorders, and/or substance dependency) as well as for families and children (Montgomery County 1). It would be wise if an assessment for the needs of each inmate is carried such that the same can be consistently followed upon being released from prison. When possible, applications and steps toward accessing student loans and other financing will take place prior to release so as to aid in education (Montgomery County 1). There should be negotiation with the local housing authority to recommend that families and children are given a preference on the waiting lists. There is also a need to develop supportive housing units that will supply needed services and appropriate transitional housing for up to one year (Irwin 1). Develop a program for ex-offenders to use â€Å"sweat equity† to rehabilitate homes which might otherwise be demolished, similar to the Habitat for Humanity model (Irwin 1). Develop a Housing Locator containing informational materials to be given to ex-offenders before they are released that includes available housing opportunities based upon eligibility criteria, this will lead to former prisoners having shelter and help reduce crime recurrence from such ex-convicts (Irwin 1). A needs assessment must be conducted with each inmate prior to release and it should be incorporated in the Reentry Plan and consistently followed up when the prisoner is released into the community (Irwin 1). It would be significant if courts are given more discretion in determining treatment options and authorizing early discharge from special probation for individuals who make exceptional progress (Irwin 1). Conclusion For there to be successful reentry program and effective policies and systems, there must be effective partnership between the community, ex-prisoners, government, non-profit groups and also inmates themselves to avoid ex-convicts going back to jail. Well implemented reentry programs have helped former prisoners to integrate back to the community and contribute to the growth of the community positively and also become role models for recidivists and prisoners. Works Cited Irwin, John. The Warehouse Prison: Disposal of the New Dangerous Class. NY: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. Montgomery County. Reentry Report. Montgomery County, 201 1. Web. National Crime prevention council. Prisoner Reentry Presentation. NCPC, 2007. Web. The Heritage Foundation. Secodn Chance Act. The Herotage Foundatio, 2011. Web. https://www.heritage.org/. This essay on Re-entry collateral consequences on education and housing was written and submitted by user Spider-Woman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Re