Organizational behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organizational behaviour - Essay Example Team-based working is not same as group-working; the latter usually refers to two or more individuals that come together to achieve a common goal or share similar interests whereas the former entails and instills synergy through collective working and striving towards achievement of a common goal and usually results in enhanced performance. Katzenbach and Smith (1993; qtd in DeCarlo, 2010) define a team as, â€Å"a small number of people with complementary subject matter expertise who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and a common approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.† Teams can be of various types such as cross-functional teams, self-managed teams, virtual teams and problem solving or project teams. Accenture uses all these structures of teams to achieve its varied goals in diversified businesses across multiple locations. From a sociological and evolutionary perspective, it is true that ‘man’ is a social being a nd cannot live in isolation for longer time and achieve his desired goals. The same holds true in terms of his/her actions and performance. On another note, as pointed out by West and Markiewicz (2004; p.2), â€Å"To live, work, and play in human society is to cooperate with others.† These reasons are sufficient to advocate team-based working in highly competitive business environment. In an ideal state, team-based working is meant to bring together different people with diverse skills, attitudes, and experiences to come together and work towards a common goal. Such working is seen as an advantage by business leaders as it fosters innovative ideas, reduces erroneous activities/work, improves emotional statuses of employees and reduces individual stress. At Accenture, complex and... This paper says that team-based working involves grouping individuals that share common goals and interests; however, at an organisational level, these groups are formed on the basis of individuals’ abilities, skill-set, and job for which they are hired or job responsibilities. To sum up, the paper approves that on one hand team-based working facilitates better outcomes in less stressful manner and helps in establishing better relationships with other employees and customers and with employees across different functions. This structure improves communication process and helps in obtaining better understanding of expectations and goals, procedures and processes, and individuals’ abilities and weaknesses. On the whole, the team’s value and assets, in terms of people, knowledge, and resources, increases greatly compared to average value of individuals of the team put together. On the other side, team-based working comes with numerous challenges such as high potential for dysfunctioning of the team in the absence of right team members, effective leadership, appropriate resources and objectives, and the right approach to teamwork. Effective coordination and communication and appropriate cooperation among team members is essential to maintain harmon y among team members and in turn achieve desired objectives. Challenges surface in terms of differences at various levels such as profession, culture, personality, attitudes, roles, self-interests, and respective functional or organisational expectations.

Discussion based on Abhijit Banejee and Esther Duflo's readings Assignment

Discussion based on Abhijit Banejee and Esther Duflo's readings - Assignment Example Living under such harsh conditions make it difficult to have access to the basis necessities of live, which puts a question mark on their ability to survive. The available evidence on this is not complete in many ways. However, some new researches have recently added a sufficient amount data on this huge part of the global population, which provide enough information to form an understanding on how the poor people live their lives. The assigned report details of a survey that was conducted in 13 different countries (Banerjee and Duflo). In addition, they have added two surveys, which were conducted in India (Udaipur District), which is one of the poorest districts of India. It is understood that there is a strong association between poverty and malnutrition. The poor has few real choices to make. Their earning is barely enough to fulfill their basic needs and therefore, they are majorly underfed and weak. The authors also highlight that one of the major reasons for the poor to spend the lowest on their food is that they often give more importance to other obligations or activities rather than for acquiring food. The study by authors indicates that the poor spend a lot on alcohol and tobacco in different countries such as Papua, New Guinea, and India. According to the survey, Udaipur tops the list of being on the poorest districts of India, which spends highest on festivals. People feel an obligation to spend a large amount of their budget on occasions like weddings, funerals, and other religious festivals. They choose to spend more on non-food items and festivals than on food. Moreover, the extremely poor rarely spend on entertainment. Another interest ing finding from the study reflects that these people do not seem to be as hungry as one may expect. It is a common understanding that the poor will always search for ways to fulfill their food needs in the least expensive way.

Review article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

Review - Article Example The methods of evaluation from the circadian rhythms are illustrated through the article with the results and discussions being used to draw conclusions on the findings of the research. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the different band strain and the impact of the difference in brand strain to develop the necessary understanding of the differences. The findings indicate that each of the three frq mutants described segregates as a single-gene nuclear mutation that alters the period length of the circadian clock (Feldman and Hoyle 611). The finding illustrates that the mutants are different from the band which determines the clock as conidial banding or not. The limitation of the study is on the failure to indicate the different position of the mutants indicating how close they are linked. The study helps in determining the link between the bands and the mutants evaluated in the study. The findings of the study indicate the difference because of the failure of the screening methods. The authors agree that the screening method did not favor mutations on any particular chromosome making the study effective. However, the authors agree that their study was not conclusive because several factors were not examined in the

Stanley Milgram Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stanley Milgram - Essay Example Milgram’s experiment of obedience has been ethically analyzed and there is a debate on the pros and cons of the ethics of the experiment. Some psychologists believe that it was not right to deceive the participants who took part in the experiment. Some also believed that the thought of causing deliberate pain to the â€Å"learner† could leave an indelible scar on the participant’s mind which the Stanford Prison Experiment is well known for, however, follow-on research showed that the participant’s in the Milgram experiment did not suffer from any long-term emotional problem.If I was on the review board which decided to allow or disallow Milgram’s experiment I would certainly allow it. My opinion is not concerned with the ethical questions and I see no harm in Milgram's experimental set-up. This experiment proved to be a very useful one in the field of psychology and when it comes to the question of deception, I think that psychological experiments c annot be conducted if one is not deceived. If Milgram had revealed his true experiment to the subjects the results would be much different and would be incorrect. In order to study the human mind correctly, it is necessary to hide details else the human mind would not respond normally. Secondly, I also object that the experiment would emotionally hamper the person for long since especially for people who administered 450 volts. This is because the experimenter had already made it clear that the shocks would not cause any damage.... However instances like the Abu Ghraib prison also reveals that certain percentage will obey commands of authorities defying their own morality (Bartone, pp 1) . Milgram’s experiment of obedience has been ethically analyzed and there is a debate on the pros and cons of the ethics of the experiment. Though the experiment was a very important one for the field of psychology, some psychologists believe that it was not right to deceive the participants who took part in the experiment. Some also believed that the thought of causing deliberate pain to the â€Å"learner† could leave an indelible scar on the participant’s mind which the Stanford prison Experiment is well known for however, follow-on research showed that the participant’s in the Milgram experiment did not suffer from any long term emotional problem. If I was on the review board which decided to allow or disallow Milgram’s experiment I would certainly allow it. My opinion is not concerned with the ethical questions and I see no harm in Milgrams experimental set-up. This experiment proved to be a very useful one in the field of psychology and when it comes to the question of deception, I think that psychological experiments cannot be conducted if one is not deceived. If Milgram had revealed his true experiment to the subjects the results would be much different and would be incorrect. In order to study the human mind correctly it is necessary to hide details else the human mind would not respond normally. Secondly, I also object that the experiment would emotionally hamper the person for long since especially for people who administered 450 volts. This is because the experimenter had already made it clear that the shocks

Indigenous Australians Essay Example for Free

Indigenous Australians Essay The current political scene in Australia has the following Indigenous aspects that have been issues for Australians for many years. These are: land rights, education, employment, health and breakdown of culture. These are the main matters of concern politically. ‘So it is like people say, â€Å"Trust me. I’m from the government. † Well, it doesn’t carry any water with our mob’. ( Koori elder, cited in Kaplan-Myrth, Nili, 2005) Recognising that Aborigines and Torres Strait islanders were the First Peoples of Australia and entitled to land rights because of their own culture and laws is a significant part of history and relevant to today’s politics. The persistent land grabs through NSW and Tasmania, the slaughter of the Indigenous, and the controlling policies over the Indigenous are highlighted as part of our history. The Indigenous link to the land and their customs makes native titles a reality, as seen in the Mabo case, and shapes our history as one of the most contentious political situations in Australia today. When the first Europeans set foot on Australian soil, the British Empire declared the land as terra nullius, embarking on a project of land procurement to start a new colony (Macintyre, 2009). In the period 1788 – 1820, many new settlements were developed from Sydney to the Hawkesbury, Parramatta and the Blue Mountains. Governor Philips originally ordered that the Aboriginals be treated with kindness but this sentiment soon disappeared as many Aboriginals, including women and children, were slaughtered for protecting their land. Tasmanian Aboriginals suffered the same fate and were eventually coaxed to live on surrounding islands as per the Batman ‘treaty’ (Macintyre, 2009). Many of the pastoral and grazing lands were taken illegally by squatters who saw a way to make money through occupying land and holding legal interest. This eventually led to squatters licensing 1839, leasing of land and finally the right to buy 1839-1847(Weaver, 1996). Other demands to make land easier for small farmers to acquire came through land reform Acts that started in 1850’s (Boot, 1998). None of these considerations were extended to the original owners of the land. The land was removed from the indigenous community including their rights and culture and the Indigenous people forced to live under the common category as Aborigine. From 1890, the government embarked on various policies for the indigenous people but in most cases further separated them from their culture. The 1901 Australian Constitution stated that Australian Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders were not counted in the census thus affirming lack of recognition. 1905, the White Australia policy restricted immigration and still failed to recognise Australia’s original inhabitants (Macintyre, 2009). Different Aboriginal Community and Protection acts were enforced which removed children from their parents (stolen generations) and made the Indigenous people wards of the state. The instigation of the Assimilation policy, 1937, where it was presumed that all Australians in time would be living like white Australians, exasperated the loss of identity. Even the history of conflict between Indigenous and the military is under debate as Keith Windschuttle argued the numbers of Indigenous killed in battles were considerably fewer than some historians estimate (Harris, J.2003). By the 1960’s the civil rights movements had started the beginning of national black consciousness and in 1967 the Commonwealth referendum voted to empower the Commonwealth to legislate for all Aboriginal people to be counted in the census and give the Commonwealth government specific laws for Indigenous people. Using this as momentum the policy of self determination was initiated which gave powers of self governance and relied on Aboriginals in some remote areas to establish economic independence. This proved to be disappointing as most depended on state welfare (Macintrye, 2009,). However, some Aboriginal Community controlled health facilities have made small advances. The first facility opened in Redfern 1971 (Kaplan-Myrth, Nili, 2005). The most prominent gain for the Indigenous people is the1992 Mabo Case which recognised Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders as the first people of this land and overturned the doctrine of terra nullius acknowledging the existence of native title. This decision pitted governments, pastoralists, mining industries and the Indigenous peoples against each other. In conjunction with the Mabo Case came the Native Titles Act which commenced operation in 1994 and emphasised the importance of Indigenous people belonging to the land and the significance of Aboriginal culture and laws (Perkins, 2009) Shortly after, the courts ruled in favour of the Wik Case and declared that pastoral leases did not necessarily overrule native title. As a result, relationships between Indigenous people, Government and Australian land owners were strained as native title was not fully understood. When the 1997 Bringing Them Home report described the removal of children from Indigenous families it became the incentive needed to call for an apology and one was finally given by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, on 13th February 2008. This was to be the beginning of reconciliation. However, since then, more policies have been made that restrict how the Indigenous receive payments and ‘standards of behaviour’. (Singleton, Aitkin, Jinks, Warhurst, 2013). Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people have not trusted each other for more than 200 years, clearly this continues. This paper shows that our history is relevant to relationships between the Government and Indigenous people. It highlights the abuse of Indigenous people by colonial settlers when taking the lands and their rights. It shows the fight for the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders that was acknowledged through the courts and the start to reconciliation. Understandably, it shows that a very insecure relationship continues. Referenceshave come to stay | Sunday 11 April at 8: Boot, H. (1998). Government and the Colonial Economies. In Australian Economic History Review, 38 (1), 74-101. Harris, J. (2003). Hiding the bodies: the myth of the humane colonisation of Aboriginal Australia. Aboriginal history, 27, 79-101. Kaplan-Myrth, Nili. (2005). Sorry Mates: Reconciliation and Self-Determination in Australian Aboriginal Health. Human Rights Review, Jul-Sep, 6(4),69-83. Macintyre, S. (2009). A Concise history of Australia (3rd ed.), Melbourne: Cambridge University Perkins, R. (2009). SBS Television. ‘A fair deal for a dark race’, Episode 6, the First Australians; retrieved from http://www. sbs. com. au/firstaustralians/index/index/epid/6 Perkins, R. (2009). SBS Television. We are no longer Shadows, Episode 7, the First Australians; retrieved fromhttp://www. sbs. com. au/firstaustralians/index/index/epid/7r deal for a dark race | Sunday 16 May at 8:30pm Singleton, Aitkin, Jinks, Warhurst. (2013). Australian Political Institutions. (10th Ed. ). Pearson Australia.

Traditional Jews Essay Example for Free

Traditional Jews Essay Religion is a vast and distinct area of study. Many different cultures and groups have different practices, and within those cultures there are many sub-groups that are different than the majority. The Haredim are a Jewish sect that is basically a sub-group of traditional Jews that demonstrate many differences from the majority. Haredim have a different approach to death and the actual funeral procession of loved ones. Many other cultures will honor their dead by having a eulogy or some other type of ceremony. The Haredim like to invoke a different sense of devotion to passing ancestors. For instance, it is acceptable, among Haredim, for the Sephardi to sing the songs of his father and grandfather, to utilize the prayer rhythm of his youth. 1 This is essentially singing prayer songs to the father, if passed, and the grandfather, if passed during a funeral procession. These songs are supposed to honor the dead and at the same time elevate the dead to a type of saint-like status. After the deceased have had songs sung, it is time for a type of ceremony called the â€Å"Communion of Saints. † Here the Haredim invoke the â€Å"Communion of Saints† upon hearing of the death of an elder and attempt to have the Saints bless the body spiritually. The blessing is done to elevate his familiar saints and holy men, entering [his relative] in the pantheon of the believer, even to add a modest twist or two of traditional clothing to the standard garb. 1 The Haredim are known for their revering of elders upon death and their attempt at ascending those elders into a higher spiritual space. This is firmly established, according to their faith, by invoking the elder and finally invoking the â€Å"Communion of Saints† to assist in the transfer to the spirit world. Another aspect of death in Haredim society is the actual burial. The Haredim employ the hevra kaddisha, the Communal Fraternal Burial Society in Israel, is responsible for the reverential disposal of the dead in accordance with Jewish law for all Jewish citizens. 2 Once the arrangements are established by the hevra kaddisha, the burial must take place. A problem arises in the burial because it must occur as soon as possible. As the Jewish text suggests, The dead must be buried as soon as possible, as much out of respect for their corporeal integrity as out of concern that they should not pollute their environment. Texts devoted to establishing and commenting on the impurity of human remains are abundant, and the laws relating to this subject are very strict: people and utensils that have been in contact with a cadaver might become impure, as does the place where they have lain, thus being in the presence of a dead body can cause ritual uncleanness. 3 It is clear that the Haredim employed different rituals from other groups, but also maintained a bastion of traditional beliefs that secular Jews also follow. Haredim are a very distinct culture as compared to other sects of Judaism. One of the more shocking revelations about their culture is they actually do not support the established state of Israel. One of the first evidences of this non-support is how the Haredim view the chief rabbis in Israel. They do not recognize the Chief Rabbinate and have their own Rabbinic authorities. 4 This presents a problem in the Israeli Jewish community in particular. The Israelis are attempting to create a united front against other groups that oppose them in the region. Because of the lack of support, and since there is no doctrinal significance to the office of Chief Rabbi, voices are raised from time to time to abolish the whole institution of two Chief Rabbis, irreverently called by Israelis the Heavenly Twins. 5 Another way they reject the Israeli state is they look upon Israel as too secular. All the Haredim have in common a â€Å"total dedication to the Torah in its traditional form and believe that the secular world is best kept at arms length. 6 They have a stark rejection of Israel and do not actually need a Jewish state. They are fine the way they are and reject the secularism of the Jewish faith in general. The politicians in Israel have no impressed the Haredim throughout the years. They believe they are without structure and without promise for any group of people. One example is from the 1981 campaign [where] the two parties [created] satirical television commercials, which featured well-known Israeli comedians. Such commercials, according to the Haredim, were an expression of spiritual emptiness. 7 The Haredim stand firm behind their beliefs even against their own government. A final examination of the Haredim reveals some peculiar traits as compared to other cultures. One of the ways they are different from other Jewish sects is their devotion to a culture long gone. For instance, they continued to be known by the Yiddish names of their rebes towns — Satmar, Belz, Ger — places that existed no more. 8 Another distinct difference is in the attire that the Haredim men usually wear. One eyewitness recounted, the men wore the clothing of eighteenth-century Hasidim. 7 One of the remarkable characteristics of the religion is the offspring that are produced within the families. Some of the families have many children as compared to other groups. It actually makes sense why this occurs because, they produced large families — six, eight, even ten children — to begin to try to make up for the millions of murdered Jews. 9 The Haredim do portray some peculiar traits that may seem strange to other religions, but actually they are effectively helping their way of life live on in the future. The Haredim are a fascinating group of people with a very different religious perspective. They live their life true to their moral codes and should be respected as any other religion. Works Cited Cromer, Gerald. The Voice of Jacob and the Hands of Esau: Verbal and Physical Violence in Israeli Politics, 1977–1984. Jews and Violence: Images, Ideologies, Realities. Ed. Peter Y. Medding. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. 149-164. Jacobs, Louis. The Jewish Religion: A Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. Sobel, Zvi. A Small Place in Galilee: Religion and Social Conflict in an Israeli Village. New York: Holmes Meier, 1993.

Recommendations for the Children Act 2004

Recommendations for the Children Act 2004 The Children Act 2004 created the office of Childrens Commissioner. If you were to be appointed to this office, which changes and innovations would you propose to the law and policy relating to children and the family to ensure that your function is fulfilled? How would you justify such changes and innovations? Introduction The Children Act 2004[1] was the product of a Government consultation exercise informed by the publication of the Every Child Matters[2] Green Paper which was drawn up to complement the Government’s formal response to the Victoria Climbià ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ©, Inquiry Report.[3] The Act provided for the establishment of the post of Children’s Commissioner to ensure a voice and lobbyist for children and young people at a national level. The current incumbent of this post is Professor Al Aynsley-Green. Section 2 of the Children Act stipulates that the Commissioners role will be to promote awareness of the interests and views of children and young adults up to the age of 20 including those in care or with learning disabilities. The Commissioner is also empowered to hold inquiries on direction by the Secretary of State or on his own initiative into cases of individual children with wider policy relevance This paper makes various proposals aimed at improving the current regime of law, policy and administration concerning the welfare of children and vulnerable young adults in the United Kingdom.[4] Bullying in Schools Bullying is a serious issue and something that affects the life of almost every child at one point or another in their time at school. It is also an issue for adult society, given that bullies sometimes take their habits into later life and that victims may harbour profound emotional scars long after they grow up. Bullying is consistently highlighted as a key concern, if not the paramount concern, in surveys of children.[5] As such it is submitted that proposals for action in this field would be warmly welcomed. The recent Anti-Bullying Week, which was coordinated by Professor Aynsley-Green, received considerable media attention and attracted the support of high profile media and sporting celebrities such as David Beckham. This indicates that there is widespread support for advances in policy in this area and this is significant because the likelihood of a proposal’s successful adoption and implementation is an important criterion in deciding which suggestions to put forward for consideration. Some shocking incidents have recently increased the momentum behind calls for innovative and progressive enhancement of society’s response to the problem of bullying. In November 2005 Natashia Jackman, aged 15, was attacked by three girls at a school in Surrey.[6] One of the girls used a pair of scissors to attack Natashia, stabbing her in the eye and face. It transpired that Natashia had been the victim of prolonged and concerted bullying at school. It is submitted that tough new intervention in this field is necessary before the situation escalates into one where a terrible incident such as one that occurred in this case takes place. Even more serious are the suicides of schoolchildren who are driven to a final act of desperation after being victimised by other children in classrooms and playgrounds.[7] If given the opportunity outlined in the title to this paper this commentator would make a proactive and effective anti-bullying policy a top priority for immediate action. In particular the following reforms are recommended: (a) A senior member of teaching staff at every primary and secondary school should be appointed as bullying surveillance officer. This position should be recognised and incorporated within the workload of the staff concerned, allowing sufficient time for the fulfilment of this duty and the role should be subject to external quality assessment, just as teaching is. (b) External speakers should be engaged to address children on bullying at school assembly. These should include authority figures such as police officers (who can explain the criminal consequences of such action), adult victims of bullying who can relate the experiences and the impact bullying had on them with force and even celebrities and notable figures could be enlisted to tour schools and offer influential advice. Professional footballer Rio Ferdinand recently starred in an anti-bullying television campaign[8] and it should be possible to gather together a sizeable team of prominent people who could participate in a scheme that would grab the attention of pupils and speak to them at their level. (c) Specialist bullying mediators should be appointed to local education areas with appropriate skills and experience and a dedicated remit to deal with bullying both at school and in the homes of victims and perpetrators alike. It is argued that teachers simply don’t have the training to conduct such sensitive work and negotiation and the matter is too serious to be left to concerned amateurs, no matter how much classroom experience they may have. (d) Pupils at all levels should be required to sign an anti-bullying pledge which emphasises that acquiescence in the face of bullying is an act that will itself attract punitive sanction under the school’s disciplinary code. Almost all of us will remember witnessing bullying, often sustaining bullying, of particular children from our schooldays, and almost all of us will probably regret failing to intervene to assist at the time. (e) School disciplinary mechanisms should deal sharply with any incidents of bullying, imposing stern and escalating punishments including suspension and possible exclusion and involving parents at an early stage. Moreover, the victims of bullying must be effectively protected in the process. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that teachers sometimes prefer to deal with the complaints of one set of parents of a bullied child, rather than tackle four or five sets of parents of the bullies themselves. This is an appalling state of affairs and one that must be brought to an end forthwith. (f) A peer mentoring system should be introduced nationwide, to offer the victims of bullying the opportunity to speak with respected older children who have undergone training. Occasionally victims will be intimidated by the prospect of complaining to a teacher or even a parent. The other advantage of this suggested scheme is that peer mentors will typically have a better grasp of ‘ground-level’ activities and politics within a school than the most well- informed teachers. A range of incentives could be offered for participation in this scheme, and volunteering might prove especially attractive to older students with one eye on character references for work and university. (g) A comprehensive national education and advertising campaign should be launched to back up these reforms. If sustained, such a campaign is capable of producing an attitudinal shift in society from one of generally passive acquiescence to one of intolerance and proactive intervention. Thirty years ago car seatbelts were considered an annoyance at worst and an optional extra at best, however a concerted campaign shifted opinions to such an extent that for most people riding in a car without a seatbelt is now unthinkable just a generation later. Public campaigns have proved equally successful in such fields as passive smoking and there is no reason why a properly funded and lengthy anti-bullying campaign could not produce a similar seismic shift in our collective attitude to the activity. Better coordination, clarified responsibilities, increased funding This commentator would make it a priority to bash heads together (ie. encourage better liaison and cooperation) among local authorities and key agencies to improve the service that they collectively provide to children. At present too many children either fall through the cracks in the system or have pressing needs overlooked because the division of responsibilities between different agencies and bodies is unclear, piecemeal and patchy. Perhaps the best and most notorious example of this problem is the appalling case of Victoria Climbie, the inquiry into which presented shocking findings suggesting poor communication and coordination between responsible agencies. Moreover the general scarcity of resources dictates that it is often difficult for agencies to extend themselves beyond their own traditional spheres of activity in cases which may merit such action. It should surely be a priority in any general programme of reform to support child welfare professionals, be they working in the social services, police, education or health services, in an effort to work together more effectively, share information to identify difficulties and concerns, and provide the appropriate assistance more efficiently. To this end the creation of universal national database holding all information relevant to children and young people and the interests that concern them is recommended. It is time to exploit fully the exponentially growing power of technology in a way that is beneficial to children. A policy aimed at improved integration and enhanced cooperation must also entail measures to ensure better and clearer accountability for childrens services. For too long children have suffered from ambiguities in this crucial area. It is contended that concrete accountability in particular should perhaps be the ultimate aim of any proposed reform. Public and professional accountability is without doubt to best way guarantee diligence in any office. This clutch of proposals must go hand in hand with concerted lobbying for more funds from Government. Quality costs that is something that every parent understands on an individual level in respect to the care of their own children and it is something that the community should be susceptible to accept on a collective basis for the nation’s young. It is submitted that such a funding priority should prove more popular with the electorate than almost any other drain on the public purse. In simple terms, it can only be a vote winner for a Government beset with criticism over funding of such endeavours as the Iraq War and it chimes with the overarching policy of comprehensive, all-inclusive care endorsed by the Beveridge report[9] which founded the welfare state. Child Health and Welfare It is proposed that new policies are implemented to address specific problems that affect the health and well-being of the nation’s youth. While some apparent progress has been made in other sections of society it is damning fact that smoking rates are actually on the increase among children, in particular girls.[10] Approximately sixteen per cent of girls currently smoke, compared to around twelve per cent of boys. More than half of all children, male and female have consumed alcohol and a significant number are regular drinkers. Perhaps more startling is the fact that around seventeen per cent of children have abused solvents and a similar proportion have taken drugs, such as cannabis. Around twelve per cent of children claim to be sexually active or at least to have had sexual experience. Married to this statistic is the fact that the United Kingdom is top of the European league table for teenage pregnancy. Another concern for the health and well-being of the nation’s children is linked to dwindling participation rates in physical activity, both in and out of school hours, and to the point that standards of nutrition are negatively affected by the high and increasing consumption of convenience foods, fast foods, carbonated drinks and sweets. Girls have slightly healthier nutritional tastes than boys on average but sweets and sugary drinks are consumed at around twice the rate of fresh fruit and vegetables on a meal by meal basis. In isolation every one of the above statistics is a cause for serious concern. When viewed collectively it is submitted that these facts present a startling picture which demands immediate and concerted attention. If this commentator was to be appointed Children’s Commissioner a basket of policies would be recommended to improve the health and welfare of the nation’s children. Proposals would include restrictions on advertising, tax measures designed to reward (rather than punish as is the case today) healthy dietary choices, and hard hitting campaigns educating about the risks of drug and substance abuse. It is hard to argue that the age for smoking should be increased above sixteen, given that a person can get married or join the army and fight and die for his or her country at that age. However, the sale of cigarettes to minors should be more rigorously detected and punished and general measures to deter smoking in the adult population would reduce both the number of role models and exposure to passive smoke in the home and community. In terms of sexual health, a policy leaning away from permissive rights to emphasise more strongly responsibilities and risks would be advocated and a more open and accessible sexual education programme, such as that successfully employed at Scandinavian schools would be suggested. Concluding Comments A society can be judged by the way in which it treats its most vulnerable citizens. The office of Children’s Commissioner carries the heavy burden of safeguarding and furthering the interests of the nation’s youth, which is the nation’s future, and as such it is a function that must be carried out with commitment, verve and vigour. It is submitted that the proposals set out in this short paper would, if implemented, attract popular support and therefore access to funding and improve the lot of children nationwide. Moreover, at first and indeed second sight it is hard to conceive of any cogent argument against the concerted pursuit of such objectives. As such these proposals merit serious consideration for prompt and wholehearted adoption. THE END WORD COUNT: 2298 (excluding footnotes bullying was given particular emphasis as requested) BIBLIOGRAPHY Every Child Matters, Department for Education and Skills (2003) Victoria Climbie, Inquiry Report, Lord Laming (2003) Report to Parliament on Social Insurance and Allied Services, (Cmd. 6404) London: HMSO, 1942 ISBN: 0108502767 Bullied Girl Stabbed with Scissors: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1868635,00.html Suicide ruling over bullied girls death, The Scotsman, 14 May 2005 Survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary school children, Office of National Statistics: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ssd/surveys/survey_smoking_drinking_drug_use_among_ secondary_school_children.asp 1 Footnotes [1] The Act received Royal Assent on 15th November 2004. [2] See: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/socialinclusion/youngpeople/greenpaper.html [3] See: http://www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk/finreport/summary-report.pdf. [4] Although it is noted that there is a separate Commissioner for each national jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. [5] The BBC television programme Newsround provides an online forum on bullying. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/specials/bullying/default.stm. [6] Bullied Girl Stabbed with Scissors: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1868635,00.html. [7] See: Suicide ruling over bullied girls death, The Scotsman, 14 May 2005; and, inter alia: http://www.tinotopia.com/log/archive/2002/03/26/bc_schoolgirl_bully_convicted.htm; [8] See: http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CA8E9.htm. [9] Report to Parliament on Social Insurance and Allied Services, (Cmd. 6404) London: HMSO, 1942 ISBN: 0108502767. [10] See: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ssd/surveys/survey_smoking_drinking_drug_use_among_secondary_school_children.asp