The constitution of the Enrico Stennett Educational Foundation (E.S.E.F) project contains two articles:

Mission and Programme

Officers and Official duties

Mission Statement

The purpose of the E.S.E.F is to provide a basic training in numeracy

and literacy for all ages to those in need in Jamaica.

Hence enabling everyone to have a basic education and the development of reading and writing skills, thus giving him or her the same social background skills that their peers possess. 

All information herein is the sole copyright property of E.S.E.F and should not be copied nor ideas used in any form without prior permission. 

Article 1 -

Mission and Organizational Programme 

Our Mission Statement will be met in the following ways: 

To actively provide services which respond to the needs of those who are unable to read or write.  To provide any up to date material for those who are deemed socially disadvantaged due to their inability to read or write. 

To provide training in numeracy and literacy. 

To hold training sessions within the appropriate communities to meet the needs of the beneficiaries. 

To work with other organisations and projects in any catchment area for the benefit of the individuals who meet the criteria. 

To generate a communal spirit among those that E.S.E.F has contact with and to treat all citizens of Jamaica with equal validity.   

Issues and Concerns 

Through its mission, E.S.E.F seeks to address several major issues and concerns affecting the citizens of Jamaica.  These issues include:-

1.      Education 

         To provide training in numeracy and literacy.

         To hold training sessions within the appropriate communities to meet the needs

         Of the beneficiaries. 

2.    Social and Health Issues  

         Raise awareness of other agencies the families may benefit from

         which are Available for them within the community.      

         Giving the family equal opportunity in the work place through the opportunity

          Of equal reading and writing skills to that of their peers. 

Organizational Programmes:

E.S.E.F seeks to implement its mission and address the preceding issues and concerns through the following methods and programs:- 

Making contact through: 

Schools

Churches

Community Centres

Doctor’s surgeries

Hospitals

Social Services

Directors:      

Management 

Leaflets will be produced and made available through the above organisations.  Potential beneficiaries will be able to make direct contact with the Foundation and an appointment will be made for an initial visit. 

The Project Director will meet with the person to ascertain their needs and validate the same.  Quarterly Committee meetings which will consist of a written agenda, given to Committee Members at least 14 days prior to the meeting shall be held to discuss and formally note in the minutes all the activities and names of beneficiaries which have taken place during the previous quarter. 

At such meetings future activities and advice on the running of the Foundation shall be made.  Written records of the discourse, and recorded practical solutions and or resolutions shall be adhered to and kept on file for records. 

Maintenance of our ongoing service shall be established. 

Active and accurate files kept on various programs within the Foundation and clear evaluations given. 

Article 2 – Officers and Official Duties 

The Foundation seeks to create an organization free of bureaucracy and elaborate hierarchy.  No member of the project team will possess exclusive decision making authority.  All members will share in organizational responsibilities.  However there will exist designated positions to be filled by Officers who will exercise and accept certain primary responsibilities for the organization.  These Officer positions and responsibilities are as follows: 

The Co-ordinator 

This Officer will seek to keep informed of key issues and needs relevant to E.S.E.F through links with schools and other community groups. 

He will hold the primary responsibility of organizing, developing strategic ways or collating and disseminating information in its various forms. 

He will ensure that the profile of The Foundation is maintained at all times. 

He will co-ordinate the administration and finances for the project and maintain an accurate record of all those who have benefited from the projects operation. 

Providing Numeracy and Literacy, setting it up in the community and giving the basic training are his direct responsibilities.  He will employ expertise as required. 

Project Secretary 

This Officer will be responsible for producing and disseminating minutes for the E.S.E.F members.  This Officer will also produce and impart communications decided upon in E.S.E.F meetings. 

Training 

This Officer will be responsible for the gathering of necessary information to ensure that all E.S.E.F workers receive and impart relevant training. 

Funding

This Officer will be responsible for exploring possible sources of funding which will benefit the Enrico Stennett Educational Foundation and its members.  They will also obtain and complete relevant forms with the support of other community groups if needed. 

Safety Officer 

This Officer will be responsible for informing the E.S.E.F workers with regards to safety and deal with any problems which might occur where necessary, making certain that the Foundation Policies be adhered to.

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NBC Connecticut ran an article on the ‘UConn Rape Video’ which is causing major outcry throughout the whole campus. The TV station on campus that is controlled by the students pulled the video, not to long after it was played on the air. The video was said to ‘promote rape culture’. A lot of protests over the video have started and students writing articles to the TV station.  The video is mocking, degrading to women, sexual assault victims and survivors. The video in itself is dehumanized towards women, hence questions why a woman would even be in a video like this?  Some might say that getting mad over a video like this is foolish and one should not take this to heart so much. Why are people making fun of rape on this campus?

Ok, the video thought of and made by men, of course creates a problem. This society in general is a ‘rape society’.  Some people are going to get mad because I said this and that’s ok, you have your own opinion.  It is a male dominated society where people, especially women are taught and brain washed to be the victim. As men, we don’t walk around ever wondering if we will be attacked. There is no need for men to go out to clubs, making sure to bring our friends for protection because something might happen. Men don’t get afraid of walking to their car at night in a dark alley wondering if someone is around. Men at a party don’t have to worry about getting something put in their drinks to drug them and then get raped, beaten or even killed. I think you might be getting the point?

As far as this matter goes, men can say all they want, but will never understand what women go through on a daily basis. Heck, men always complain they don’t know or understand women anyway, so there you go. Imagine a man trying to understand a little bit about sexual assault towards a woman. I am not saying all men don’t understand nor doesn’t care about this subject because there are a lot of good men out there that care a lot have experience of different sorts pertaining to this subject.  Everyone’s experiences in this matter are different. I care a great deal about this topic and others considering I have had experience with abuse on women in my family.  Any negative portray of demoralizing of any person should never be tolerated. Like I always say, what would that person do that is making the demoralizing remark, tape, article, etc if a situation arisen where they were attacked themselves?  Everybody as a plan, until they get hit!

There should be some legal action against the people that made this video that’s for sure, but probably will not happen. One good thing about the video is it brought out in the open a sensitive subject that will be heard loudly all over the campus and with the social media, around the world. Something like this should not be taken lightly. I am sure the parents of the students on this campus will be taking a large role in this as well. On a college campus there has to be a level of respect towards all the students. Students, especially women should not have to feel afraid walking around the campus at night or at parties.  This spark that ignited on campus will bring about major change. Everything will be addressed from the security officers, school campus, the teachers, etc. I am sure all this detail will be brought out to the open and clearly looked at regarding the ‘safety’ of it. This will bring the women on campus more closely together and empowered to bring forth the change needed to bring more equality to this campus.

Resources:

Gendreau, L, (2012, February 1)  UConn Rape Video Causes Outcry.  NBC Connecticut.

for the education you paid for in order to be in that line of work.  If you want a Master’s degree candidate for the job, then damn it, pay Master’s degree salaries.  Now that may be a little off topic, but it is part of the education truth.  Do you know that I have Assistant Vice President level experience in business management and am a nationally clinically certified Criminal justice specialist and counselor, yet the school system idiot’s sat around a table one day and said that I can’t be an administrator because I did not take two or three courses for administration while taking the courses for my education degree?  They actually hire inexperienced college kids and believe they can be administrators, when I can’t even though I started and built nonprofit business in three nations, with an international ministry, taught management training to Nurses and Doctors in in- patient programs, created the Failsafe program for children including the homebound school section, and educated teachers in the second largest school system in the country, Broward County Florida, in management for classrooms and Behaviors. Did I mention I can’t be a guidance counselor because I don’t have two courses even though I am a nationally Certified Clinical Counselor, with years of experience with the most violent of offenders?  At this point I want you to take a minute and think about what I said about it being a no brainer that no states or government officials see.  I will ask you again, is it me or are they Idiots?    

Number (2) we have Cops which have being jailed for they dirty deeds and are put Disability pension of $3400.00 (round of) per month, and it needless to say since he is on disability he is also getting medical benefits, place is Police Department Hasbrouck Heights NJ.

Number (3) Social Security; some official’s claim it will run out of money in near future. However these crooks are not saying anything that social security is being used for everything, practically even for their extra curricular activity. There is equal number of children receiving Social Security that should be on welfare paid by us all, but that don’t sit right with Rich.

Number (4) Top echelons in many institutions getting outrageous salaries; Wall Street Crooks, Schools from High to Universities; Principals, Superintends, Sept.11 Officials, and list can goes on and on. This people over paid not by hundreds but in thousands, Port Authority don’t even go there.

Number (5) Law enforcement another fiasco; where Officers are retiring on pension that exceeds their base, pay plus benefits for them and their family.

Number (6) Our Country Lobbyist; (A home land terrorist group) collecting pay from special interest groups and at same time getting pays and benefits from States at tax payer expanse.

Number (7) Equality Marriage; that some people like to call it

And would like to compare it with Civil Right movement of 1950-60. How there you! If you want have sex with same sexes ponder it that is you civil right, but that again if we all want our civil right we can include being prostitute, have as many spouses as want wish, choose to leave or die. Marriage is between Man and Woman, unless you want to become

Animal “A DOG” male or female!

Schools have become autonomous enterprises as they determine their own budgets as well as the need for future funding. They plan building projects and modern technology to help them grow over time. Managers employ staff based on their reputation to help create a place where students will want to learn and improve their prospects. Meadmore (2004) suggests that learning institutions adopted a hierarchical approach as a way organising them. He suggests that government departments and school boards determine what is taught as well as how it is taught.

Curriculums are designed to teach people what the authorities consider they should be taught. Teachers consider that they have little power to alter the material, yet they have the knowledge and skills to know what is appropriate for children and what is not. In conclusion schools and other learning institutions are expected to deliver on pre-determined objectives to justify the funding that they receive from the government.

Tait’s view does not reflect the rosy image that Australia was a land of equality and opportunity for everyone no matter who they were. He suggests that education was used to keep the masses under control in an unruly land. The British authorities reluctantly recognised the need to provide people with technical skills to turn the settlement into a thriving community. Education divided the have and the have not’s in society as only children from wealthy families could attend school regularly as they were not needed at home.

The authorities considered that children needed more than just the simple education that they received at home. The government decided that it needed to create model citizens and the only way to do that was to cleanse their souls from their parent’s poor habits. Discipline was needed to build a nation and only a solid education would achieve that objective. Tait (2006) suggests that punishment was necessary as it taught people to think and act as society wished them to. In conclusion education was and still is used to discipline people and encourage them to think as the authorities determine that they should.

The plan began to erode almost at once. Schools were forced to dumb down their standards to ensure their schools abide by NCLB’s rigid rules. Eight months after the law was in place, the Department of Education released it’s first report of failing shcools, nearly 9,000 schools were named, and they were not just inner city schools. There were failures at suburban schools where high grade majorities had masked the low achievment of minorities.

States were on the defensive. They were embarrassed and angry. They were creative. Utah and Ohio removed the more difficult questions on the statewide exams and refined how schools were judged to be failing. Failing schools dropped from 760 to 200. Other states followed suit. More than 20 states banded together, urging Congress to exempt them from the law. In addition to forcing states to release annual scores, the National Assessment of Education is often called the nation’s report card, testing samples of fourth and eighth graders every two years to compare students progress in states that have different standards.

There is no consquence for not learning and the students know it, says superintendant John Dale. If students fail the reading or math test, the school might not let them play in the band, but they wont be held back a year or forced to attend summer school. The worst thing is when students have questions and interests and the teacher has to say, “We don’t have time to talk about that.” There is little time for students to pursue any special interests or electives.

NCLB was supposed to find schools that were truely failing their students. The government would direct more resources to help the schools turn around, or shut them down. Neither happened and now even people who wrote the law thinks the law needs to be replaced. It has hurt rather than helped students. Deficiencies have been known from the beginning. The law decreed that 100% of students must be proficient in reading and math by 2014 but did nothing to help schools reach that goal. NCLB is a law that everyone knows isn’t working, but it lingers, neglected where it will stay, at least until after this year’s election.

Ruby Hawk’s articles:

http://socyberty.com/education/punishment-at-school-30-years-ago/

http://socyberty.com/activism/the-coal-industry-said-what/

http://socyberty.com/politics/baptist-and-bootleggers-make-strange-bedfellows/

http://socyberty.com/people/charles-and-emma-darwin-the-marriage-of-science-and-religion/

http://socyberty.com/history/president-roosevelts-tree-army/

    This article is a small sample of things that would change if Marijuana was decriminalized.

An American Citizen is charged for a Marijuana related crime every 30 seconds. There were 1,663,582 marijuana related arrests in 2009 (13.0 percent of the total arrests in 2009)

“The U.S. federal government spent over $15 billion dollars in 2010 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $500 per second.” Said drugsense.org

Can you believe that? That would cost the Fed 1.5 trillion over the next 100 years. And that’s just at the Federal level; local governments also spend money cracking down on Marijuana. This requires larger police forces, larger jails, and of course, the problem of people being locked up for possessing a dried flower. 

    Additionally, if you didn’t stop at decriminalization, and allowed for it to be sold under local restrictions like alcohol and tobacco, the expected tax revenue federally would be 6.2 billion annually. That’s 0.62 trillion in 100 years… That equals a 2.1 trillion federal savings over 100 years, without counting inflation.

    That 2.1 trillion could be used to help pay for our huge debt, and help balance budgets for States and other local governments. And I’m not including the commercial and tax benefits of Hemp, that’s a separate but similar issue. Because Marijuana “Cannabis” is the drug, and Hemp, a rope like byproduct derived from Marijuana that cannot be used as a drug… The economic benefits of Hemp are much larger than Cannabis, because it is likely to replace cotton as the main material for fabric, replace trees for paper, as ass produce more than 5000 other products. (To learn more about Hemp, Read http://socyberty.com/issues/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-hemp/ )

In conclusion, decriminalizing Marijuana would have many great benefits for our economy, people, and environment. 

Sources

Library of Congress. “Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.” Library of   Congress. June 23rd, 2010. Web. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-brown.html

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior. “Brown vs. Board of Education: History and Culture.” National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior. March 10th, 2011. Web. Retrieved from             http://www.nps.gov/brvb/historyculture/index.htm

Well the Scottish government can introduce Gaelic into all nurseries and primary schools for a start. Not only will this open up the language to a new generation it will also create more jobs.
As French is now compulsory in most high schools up until third year, I think this should be replaced with Gaelic. Of course we can’t force people to continue learning after they choose their own subjects but by making Gaelic classes interesting and appealing we could maybe entice students to stay on in their studies of the language.

Also for people who aren’t in school anymore there should be local classes at colleges or, alternatively in rural areas at the local primary school. These classes would probably have to be paid for, but I think the prices should be fairly low, maybe £5 a week? So people who are interested in learning the language don’t feel its too much to pay.

But why should we learn Gaelic?

Well i started learning the language at age 13 and i only studied it for about 3 or 4 years. I remember most things, especially subjects that would crop up in basic conversation. Whereas I studied French for 6 years from age 8 to 13/14 and now barely remember how to say my name! My point is that the complicated sounds of Gaelic make it easier to remember once you’ve learnt it.
Also there is a raise in demand for Gaelic. Gaelic teachers are like gold dust. In high demand but hard to find. There is also a growing demand in Gaelic speakers in the Media, especially after the birth of BBC Alba.
Not only that but Gaelic plays a big part of Scottish Heritage what with all the Gaelic poems, songs and music. Scottish music is absolutely gorgeous add in the Gaelic and it adds a mysterious beauty to the song. It makes it almost eerie as it brings a sense of magic with all these “odd” sounding words. It also gives us a glimpse of the past as some Gaelic songs are over 100 years old.

I say we protect our Language, with it we are perserving a part of our culture and history which would be sorely missed.