Friendship Among Children

Friendship among children Establishing friendships is an important developmental goal of early childhood. Friendships established during the preschool years create valuable contexts to learn and practice skills essential to children’s social, cognitive, communicative, and emotional development (Berndt & Keefe, 1992). Through interacting with friends, children learn the give and take of social behavior in general. They learn how to set up rules, how to weigh alternatives and make decisions when faced with dilemmas.They experience fear, anger, aggression and rejection (Hartup, & Stevens, 1999). Friendships also benefit children by creating a sense of belonging. Through friendships and belonging to a group, children improve their sense of self-esteem. The support of friends help children cope with troubling times and through transition times – moving up to a new school, entering adolescence, dealing with family stresses, facing disappointments.In addition, successful frien dships in early childhood contribute to children’s quality of life and are considered important to life adjustment. Friendships are not just a luxury; they are a necessity for healthy psychological development. During the elementary school years children generally choose friends who are similar to themselves and who share their interests. At this age children become increasingly group-oriented; the most well-liked children are those who can manage social relations within a group and think of activities that are fun.Research shows that children with friends have a greater sense of well-being, better self-esteem and fewer social problems as adults than individuals without friends (Hartup & Stevens, 1999). On the other hand, children with friendship problems are more likely than other children to feel lonely, to be victimized by peers, to have problems adjusting to school, and to engage in deviant behaviors (Rose & Asher, 2000). Children who were completely isolated and had no f riends would go into depression as they made their way through the teenage years.Belonging to a group, whether a sports team, school club, or a class project, they all provide a sense of belonging and is not just a means for exclusion. Between the ages of 10 to 12 cliques form; as children mature and rely less on their parents for guidance, they turn to their peers (Ladd, 1990). Groups become more single-gender; girls usually have more intimate and supportive relationships with their friends than boys do. Their play roups reflect this difference; boys tend to associate with peers in large groups centered on sports while girls are more likely to be involved in small groups and spend more time in personal conversation. Girls' friendship groups are usually smaller and more exclusive than boys' during childhood, and then in adolescence the situation reverses (Rose & Asher, 2000). Groups are a naturally occurring phenomenon. Some kids, who care about belonging to a certain group, suffer from feelings of rejection if they are not included and can become victims of  teasing and bullying.When cliques turn aggressive they may become gangs. Overall, the concepts of friendship and the behaviors associated with friendship change as children develop. It’s based largely on companionship. Learning how to behave socially with other kids and becoming part of a group helps the child build a strong connection between his friends. ‘ Work Cited * Berndt,TJ & Keefe, K (1992) Friends' influence on adolescents' perceptions of themselves in school. In DH Schunk & JL Meece (Eds. )  Student Perceptions in the Classroom  (pp. 1-73). Hillsdale NJ: Erlbaum * Hartup, WW & Stevens, N (1999) Friendships and adaptation across the life span. Current directions in psychological science. 8, 3, 76-79. * Ladd, GW (1990) Having friends, keeping friends, making friends, and being liked by peers in the classroom: Predictors of children's early school adjustment? Child Development, 6 7,1081-1100. * Rose, AJ ; Asher, SR. (2000) Children's friendships. In  Close Relationships: A Sourcebook  . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Persuasive Techniques: John Edwards

Persuasive Techniques The art of persuasion is a feature that can oftentimes, work to one’s advantage. In order to be persuasive, one must use persuasive techniques to convince a reader or listener to one’s viewpoint. Old sermons, such as Jonathan Edwards, â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God†, are written to drive home a message or to bring the sinful back to the church. Beth Chapman’s modern speech, â€Å"Stand Up for America Rally Speech†, is proposed to convince Americans to support the troops who are laying down their lives for our freedom.The two authors use the persuasive techniques of repetition, appeal to emotion, through charged words and the appeal to reason, through common sense, in order to influence their listeners and persuade their audience that their viewpoints are correct. In â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God† Edwards uses the persuasion technique of repetition. Edwards uses â€Å"†¦The wrath of god†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (110) many times which make the people feel uneasy and scared of their sinful ways.He implies that God is furious with them and has them on the edge of hell. Beth Chapman also uses repetition with â€Å"†¦human shields†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1). She feels that our troops go to war to fight for our country and celebrities are mentioning that they want to become â€Å"human shields† when they don’t do nothing. She is frustrated that all the â€Å"human shields† are the cops, military and other public authority while celebrities are mentioning that they want to help but they don’t really do anything.Repetition is used to enforce the message and or get to the main point or idea to an issue. A technique that is found in both â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God† by Jonathan Edwards and Beth Chapman’s â€Å"Stand Up for America Rally Speech† is emotional appeal. Jonathan Edwards describes â€Å"And now you have an extraordina ry opportunity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (111) by stating that the people still have a chance to be able to save his or her self and go to heaven.He uses it to make the people in the church uncomfortable and feel guilty about their sinful ways. He stresses that they still have an opportunity to enter into heaven. Beth Chapman uses emotional appeal with this quote â€Å"†¦Fact that this country has been forced into war- innocent people have lost their lives†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1). Beth Chapman uses this quote to approach the people that soldiers do all the scary, hard work and celebrities mention that they want to serve as human shields.Another persuasive technique that both Jonathan Edwards and Beth Chapman use is analogy. Edwards says â€Å"And your destruction will come like a whirlwind†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (109). He compares your destruction with whirlwinds because whirlwinds are like tornadoes which cause destruction and damage. Beth Chapman also states â€Å"when the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship- where were the human shields then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1) Her anger towards the movie stars is that they weren’t their serving as human shields.Analogy is a technique where both Edwards and Chapman who often uses figure of speech for desired emphasis. Jonathan Edwards and Beth Chapman all employ a variety of persuasive techniques in their sermons and speeches. Their goal is to try and convince their listeners to agree with their viewpoint. Whether it is to scare churchgoers into rededicating themselves to God, as in Edward’s sermon, or to stand up for what you are fighting for the messages all produce intense emotional responses from the readers.

Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children Essay - 2593 Words

A Brief Study of Sexual Abuse of Children and its Causes and Effects Sexual abuse of children and infants is sadly as universal and old as the human race itself. But it is only in recent years that much more attention has been paid to the pervasive instance of sexual abuse among children, the majority of which occurs in the family setting. Pedophiles usually manifest signs that are readily identified. Common signs are: repetitive conversations about the sexual activities of children or teens, and excessive masturbation to include breaking from normal daily activities to masturbate. The pedophile has a childhood history of sexual abuse and has unresolved sexual problems stemming from this history. Hobbies centering around the†¦show more content†¦10% of these children are only preschoolers. Close to 90% of perpetrators know the children that they abuse prior to the initial abuse, and 50% of child abuse occurs in either the victims or the abusers home. The average offender will be involved with over 70 children during the course of his or her life span. 35% of offenders are family members of their victims. Newer research...indicates that as much at 38% of women are molested in childhood. There are many acknowledged problems with this research, the greatest being: what is not remembered cannot be reported. Fewer that  ½ of the women who experience this trauma later remember, or identify it as abuse. Therefore it is not unlikely that  ½ of all women are survivors of childhood sexual trauma. Abused children elicit several physical signals that should not be ignored. Abused children may have difficulty walking or sitting, and victims clothing and/or underwear may be stained, bloody, or torn. Children have pain or inching in their genital area, venereal diseases may develop, and pregnancy may occur. Also the inability to sleep at night, with possible accompaniment of nightmares may be evident in sexually abused children. There are also many behavioral indications in a child who is being abused. Children do not often confide in others about their sexual abuse. There are many reasons children may hesitate to revealShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Sexual Abuse On Children1441 Words   |  6 Pagesparent abuse something they created? A person that is abused feels alone because they do not have a real parent figure, nor a family member to talk to. Some parents claim they spank the child; however, hit the child more than once. Abused children not only experience the effects of the abuse in childhood, but it also becomes a lifelong battle into adulthood. There are several types of abuse; emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, family violence, sexual abuse, and organised sexual abuse (â€Å"Impact†Read MoreThe Effects Of Sexual Abuse On Children Essay1626 Words   |  7 Pagesthere are individuals who act on horrible inexplicable instincts such as molesting a child or even to the point of sexually abusing a child. We as a society are constantly bombarded with reports of extreme sexual abuse cases of children and even infants. When we read or see a report of sexual abuse in the news the first thing that comes to mind is, what sick individual would think to do that to such an innocent child. More often than not the culprit ends up being an individual that fits the profileRead MoreThe Effects Of Sexual Abuse On Children Essay1954 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Of the many problems faced by children and adolescents, few provoke such moral outrage as childhood sexual abuse. Many times, as on the television show â€Å"To Catch a Predator†, such abuse can be inflicted by strangers who may gradually become familiar with the child online. Sadly, however, often times the perpetrator of sexual abuse on children is someone much more familiar to the child- someone the child may even love. Sexual abuse can be hard to define because of the many differentRead MoreSexual Abuse And Its Effects On Children Essay3457 Words   |  14 PagesChild sexual abuse is any interaction between a child and an adult (or another child) in which the child is used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or an observer. According to the Indian law, anybody below the age of 18 years is defined as a child. Child sexual abuse has long remained a topic of taboo, until recently where people have shown openness to be aware of its prevalence and its effects on children. People have found it difficult to acknowledge the fact that sexual abuse of childrenRead MoreSexual Abuse And Its Effect On Children Essay2449 Words   |  10 PagesChild sexual abuse is a subject that has received much attention in recent years and has caused some concern’s in our society. Sexual abuse is when one person dominates and exploits another person by the means of suggestion or sexual activity. This form of abuse continues to pose serious and pervasive mental health complications to the victim and their family. â€Å"There is increasing documentation that a child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending parents and siblings areRead MoreThe Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children4542 Words   |  18 PagesPediatricians see children as their patients and are therefore bound to come int o contact with child sexual abuse. Some of these children may have symptoms and signs, and if they have not disclosed the abuse they depend on a doctor to initiate concern about it. Both doctors and children will benefit from medical practice that accepts and recognizes a level of medical concern expressed in terms of reasonable medical certainty (Faller, 2009). A medical diagnosis of child sexual abuse can be a referenceRead MoreSexual Abuse And Its Effect On Children1517 Words   |  7 Pages In the state of California predatory offenses consist of sexual battery by restraint, misdemeanor child molestation, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 or 15, continuous abuse of a child, statutory rape, annoying a molested child under the age of 18, oral copulation, solicitation of a minor, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and lewd and lascivious of a child under the age of 14. Sexual crimes is one of the most world wide offense, and in California is no different fromRead MoreEffects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Children1282 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood Sexual Abuse is dependent in many ways depending on the type of and severity of the abuse. Some of these factors include: age of child when abuse first occurred, how long the abuse lasted, developmental stage of the child, relationship of the abuse to the child, whether forces was used to ensure the child’s participation, degree of shame or guilt experienced by the child, reaction of the child pa rent(s) and other professionals and other professionals if and when the child reveals the abuse orRead MoreChildhood Sexual Abuse And Its Effects On Children Essay1754 Words   |  8 Pages Childhood sexual abuse has long been researched for both its short-term and long-term effects on its victims. Sexual abuse is defined as any sexual act that is done on a child through coercion, and causes lasting psychological impact (Hall Hall, 2011). Given the importance of psychological development throughout childhood, sexual abuse can hinder the mental health of its victims through the occurrence of other psychiatric disorders. While children should be growing into mentally healthy adultsRead MoreThe Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Children1703 Words   |  7 Pageshave experience childhood sexual abuse by the time they are 18 years old. The effects of childhood sexual abuse can be long-lasting and is a huge public health problem. There is a belief that male victims of sexual abuse d o not suffer from the same negative impact that female victims do and we, as a society seem to turn a blind eye and minimize the impact when it comes to male victims. However, there is empirical support that shows men, like women, who experience sexual assault may suffer from mental

Ghost Light from Dead Galaxies Sheds Light on Ancient Galaxy Interactions

Did you know that astronomers can learn about galaxies that died long ago? Thats part of the story of the cosmos that the  deep cosmos-gazing  Hubble Space Telescope  was built to tell. Along with other telescopes on the ground and on orbit, it fills in the story of the universe as it peers out at distant objects. Some of its most fascinating objects are galaxies, including some that formed in the infancy of the universe and are now long gone from the cosmic scene. What stories do they tell?   What Hubble Found Studying long-dead galaxies sounds like it would be impossible. In a way, it is. Theyre no longer around, but it turns out, some of their stars are. To learn more about early galaxies that no longer exist, Hubble observed dim  light from orphaned stars that lie some 4 billion light-years away from us. They were born billions of years ago and somehow were ejected at high speed from their original galaxies, which themselves are long gone. It turns out some kind of galactic mayhem sent these stars reeling across space. They belonged to a galaxies in a massive galaxy called Pandoras Cluster. The light from those far-flung stars provided clues to a crime scene of truly galactic proportions: as many as six galaxies were somehow torn to pieces within the cluster. How could this happen? Gravity Explains a Lot Each galaxy has a gravitational pull. Its the combined gravity of all the stars, clouds of gas and dust, black holes, and dark matter that exist in the galaxy.  In a cluster, you get the combined gravitational pull of all the galaxies, and that affects all of the members of the cluster. That gravity is pretty strong. In addition, galaxies tend to move around within their clusters, which affects the motions and interacts of their cluster-mates. Add those two effects together and you set the scene  for the destruction of some not-so-lucky small galaxies that happen to get caught in the action.  They get stuck in a squeeze play between their larger neighbors as they travel, Eventually, the strong gravity of the bigger galaxies pulls the smaller ones apart.   Astronomers found clues to this destructive shredding of galaxies by studying the light from stars scattered by the action.That light would be detectable long after the galaxies were destroyed. However, this predicted intracluster glow of stars is very faint and is quite a challenge to observe.These are extremely faint stars and they are brightest in infrared wavelengths of light. This is where Hubble comes in. It has very sensitive detectors to capture that faint glow from the stars. Its observations helped scientists study the combined light of about 200 billion stars that were cast out from interacting galaxies. Its measurements showed that the scattered stars are rich in heavier elements like oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. This means they are not the first-ever stars formed. The first stars consisted mainly of hydrogen and helium, and forged heavier elements in their cores. When those earliest ones died, all the elements were cast into space and into nebulae of gas and dust. Later generations of stars formed from those clouds and show higher concentrations of heavy elements. It is the enriched stars that Hubble studied in an effort to track what happened to their galactic homes.   Future Studies Zero in on More Orphan Stars Theres still a lot to figure out about the earliest, most distant galaxies and their interactions. Everywhere Hubble looks, it finds more and more distant galaxies. The farther out it  peers, the further back in time it looks. Each time it makes a deep field observation, this telescope shows astronomers fascinating things about the earliest times in the cosmos. Thats all part of the study of cosmology, the origin and evolution of the universe.

Water Quality Of The Oil Spill - 838 Words

2) Project Blue Gulf 3) 4) Project Blue Gulf advocates the scientific observation, experimentation, and unearthing of water quality of the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010. The BP oil disaster is regarded as the largest and most catastrophic marine oil spill in United States history. An estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil discharged into the Gulf over the course of 87 days and had devastating environmental, ecological, economic, and public health consequences. Our mission is to provide future direction to natural resource managers through the acquisition of water quality data, as well as raise public awareness concerning the critical need for restoration and risks associated with offshore drilling. We encourage active participation by beachgoers, water enthusiasts, and science buffs of all experience and levels of education. 1) Participants will measure water temperature in specified locations on a set schedule. 2) Participants will measure pH in specified locations on a set schedule. 3) Participants will measure dissolved oxygen in specified locations on a set schedule. 5) Water quality will be monitored on a regional scale. Sampling locations will range along the coastline of Florida from Perdido Key to the South-Western most point of Everglades National Park. 6) Water quality of the Florida Gulf, in response to the oil spill, has significant implications for marine life, ecosystem function and processes, human health, and localShow MoreRelatedThe Pollution Of Water Pollution1474 Words   |  6 PagesSea Water Pollution I. Title Water pollution has many different meanings, in most cases it is when one or more material builds up in the water causing a problem for people and/ or animals. Water pollution is one of the world’s largest problems that we are facing today. Everyone in this world is affect by the earth’s water. Some are affected differently than others but we are still affected in one way or another. Water pollution doesn’t only threaten humans; it threatens plants and animals as wellRead MoreAnalysis Of Silent Spring By Rachel Carlson1647 Words   |  7 PagesPresident Ronald Regan. This department of the government extends from the Executive Branch and has authority in controlling and combating air and water pollution (â€Å"Brief History†). The Coast Guard is considered to be more local law enforcement and part of the cleanup, one of the several unique task forces created to assist in the waste management, dumping and water control. The ocean view is more than a visual, but how the ocean should be experienced; it is the reason why the agency exists to preserveRead MoreImpact Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill During The Gulf Of Mexico On The Local Environment1501 Words   |  7 PagesCASE STUDY IMPACT OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCTION The Gulf of Mexico covers an area of 600,000 square miles and is located between Mexico, Cuba and the United States (Tunell, 2011). Home to 15,419 recorded marine species; the Gulf of Mexico boasts a dynamic ecosystem, which includes 1511 endemic species. The position of the gulf between temperate and tropical waters provides one of the reasons for its vast biodiversity (Campagna et alRead MoreHuman Health Risks And Socio Economic Problems Associated With Petroleum Exploration And Production Activities Essay1315 Words   |  6 Pagesactivities include oil spills, gas flaring and venting, discharges of petroleum derived chemicals wastes, contamination of controlled water sources, contamination of soil and sediments, the destruction of the farmland and the marine environment. The major environmental issues arose primarily from the improper disposal of large volumes of petroleum derived hazardous waste streams, such as oil and toxic sludge (Eweje, 2006 and Aniefiok et al 2013), equipme nt failure, oil spills/operational dischargesRead MoreSomething Good Coming out of Something Bad: The BP Oil Spill Essay1021 Words   |  5 Pagesbad things that come out of hedonism. In this case the BP oil spill had both. The BP oil spill was one of the largest oil spills that they ever had. More than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. Imagine 200 million gallons of oil being pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days? There we tons of animals that were effected by the spill. The coastline was affected down the shore, 16,000 miles whichRead MoreA Brief Note On Surface Waters And Groundwater938 Words   |  4 PagesSurface waters and groundwater are the two sorts of water assets that contamination influences. There are likewise two unique routes in which contamination can happen. On the off chance that contamination originates from a solitary area, for example, a release channel appended to a processing plant, it is known as point-source contamination. Different illustrations of point source contamination incorporate an oil slick from a tanker, a release from a smoke stack (industrial facility fi replace), orRead MoreEssay on Pollution in The Bahamas1640 Words   |  7 Pages2013). Hence, attention must be provided to this devastating issue. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse changes (Wieman, 2013). There are numerous types of pollution, such as light, air, land, water, noise, thermal and radioactive pollution. In an article, the author highlighted that according to Richard Buckminster Fuller, â€Å"Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting, we allow them to disperse because we’ve been ignorant of theirRead MoreThe Impact Of Marine Pollution On Our Environment1530 Words   |  7 Pagesof Nonpoint source pollution (â€Å"Pollution Issues†). The pollution is caused by the rainfall and snowmelt moving through or over the ground. Oil,grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production are all Nonpoint source pollution Speaking of Urban Runoff urbanization increases the variety and amount of pollutants carried into our nation’s waters. A Lot of surfaces in urban or suburban areas are covered by buildings, pavement, and compacted landscapes. Most of these surfaces do notRead MoreImpact Of The On The Oil Industry And Government Agencies1068 Words   |  5 Pagesthe 20th of April, a malfunction occurred causing an oil explosion on the Deep water Horizon rig. Crews had experienced, what would be called a triumphant evening by the rupturing blast that they just encountered. Both crews worked tireless hours up on completing the well that lies 13,000 feet beneath the floor of the ocean. The Moncondo Prospect project was caped and completed while waiting for phase two, which resulted in harvesting the oil and gas. It was stated, the problem was not in technologyRead MoreThe Controversial Issue of the Keystone XL Pipeline1090 Words   |  4 Pagesregarding the expansion of a pipeline from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. This pipeline will cross six states including Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas. This pipeline will transport 830,000 barrels of crude tar sands oil to the United States. Despite the immediately benefits for the economy with the installation, the decision is to decline the Keystone XL Pipeline proposal. This decision is based mainly on two factors: the environment and the economy in the long run

Sophocles Oedipus the King free essay sample

This paper analyzes the Greek play by Sophocles `Oedipus the King`. The author states Oedipus is one of the most famous names in Greek mythology. He believes that Oedipus was not an unwitting victim but rather had a clear hand in his own demise. Although the author thinks that one might curse the stars, he finds that the sense of doom ultimately has its origination in the nature of the human character. In this paper the author also explains why he feels that the term Oedipus complex is an inappropriate reading of the play. `The `back story` the play provides to the opening image is also indicative of Oedipus arrogance as well. Oedipus first dialogue with his brother-in-law reveals that the plague has its roots in the murder of the original King of Thebes, Laius. Oedipus reacts with horror to this news. But as the prophet Tiresias later says, `So, / you mock my blindness Let me tell you this. We will write a custom essay sample on Sophocles Oedipus the King or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page / You with your previous eyes, youre blind to the corruption of your life, / to the house you live in, those you live with who are your parents (Lines 468-470).

Rapid technological change Essay Example

Rapid technological change Essay Rapid technological change and the globalization of economic activity is re-structuring the North American economy, and with it the nature and future of work in Canada. There is now a clear, though barely-articulated question as to whether secure, full-time, adequately-waged employment will be available to much of the North American workforce, at least over the next 30-60 years, or whether jobless growth, under-employment and contingent employment will become the norm, as is increasingly the trend in other industrialized nations. Canada has shifted towards a knowledge- based economy, reflecting an upward trend across most industries with the explosive growth of the information and communications technology sector over the past decade. This transition has been a long and continuous process, crossing all provinces and the urban-rural sectors, with a general increase in the importance of skills, knowledge and human capital among many types of firms and establishments. In fact, the proportion of knowledge workers increased steadily over the last three decades, reflecting a growth trend that began long before the high-tech boom of the  1990s (Beckstead, 2003). Many organizations struggle to build the leadership capacity that they need to thrive in the ever-changing global business environment. Canadians revealed a pervasive anxiety about such issues as joblessness, under- and over-employment, conflicts between work and family, workplace inequalities, retiring with dignity, and jobs for youth.   At the same time, they indicated that they want more from their working lives not only economic security and a decent standard of living, but opportunities for personal development and the fulfilment that comes with making a contribution to society. Canadians want personal rewards from work other than just decent pay and economic stability (Lu, 1999). To address this concern, corporations must introduce quality improvement programs to critically assess the directions in which work seems to be headed, and determine how they can meet the aspirations that individual Canadians have for their work life. It is therefore necessary to give higher priorit y to improving the quality of work for it will have numerous benefits for individual workers since the characteristics of our jobs and work environments determines our quality of life. We will write a custom essay sample on Rapid technological change specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rapid technological change specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rapid technological change specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This viewpoint finally addresses the contradictions and inconsistencies in the management rhetoric usually presented through public debates. Although Canadians received high marks from the United Nations for their high quality of life, questionable points as to the quality of work have still emerged throughout the decades. It is true that perceptions of job insecurity may have risen in the 1990s, but one can argue that this was not a permanent development but rather linked with high unemployment and downsizing and these fears have since abated with the fall in unemployment. Indeed, I believe that a case can be made that there is a strong long-term upward trend in job quality, although subject to short-to-medium term reversals because of negative cyclical developments. Factors behind this trend include the mechanization of the workplace, which reduced drudgery and industrial accidents, the employment shift from the goods sector to the service sector, and the concentration of net emplo yment growth in professional and managerial occupations. In order to motivate their workers, employees must provide a pleasant environment that motivates its subordinates- considering their growth and welfare in every endeavor. But what constitutes a high- quality workplace? Perhaps it would be a lot easier to describe a good place of work by using a poor agency as a starting point. When we ask the employees of such a site they answer by mentioning unclear responsibilities, no feedback, unfairness in wages, promotions and dismissals, no opportunity for personal development, poor physical environment, in brief a place characterized by uncertainty, hostility and fear. In contrast, a high quality workplace is one that meets employees needs and delivers results for the employer (Lowe, 2000). It is one where people are treated with respect, have good communications, do interesting work that gives a sense of accomplishment, have supportive co-workers, have ample opportunity to develop their skills, and can balance work and life. The knowledge-driven economy has brought with it a major transformation—jobs involving the most complex type of interactions make up the fastest-growing segment in many industries (Bennett, 1990). As a result, formal learning once or twice a year doesn’t provide the experience or knowledge that workers require. There needs to be a significant shift of budgets and resources from formal learning settings to informal situations where the majority of learning actually takes place. This interactive presentation will examine current trends and include case studies from the public and private sectors about how smart organizations are using communities of practice. All instances of successful development are ultimately the collective result of individual decisions by entrepreneurs to invest in risky new ventures and try out new things. In labour circles, there has been growing awareness of the problems posed by a globalizing economy working in concert with technological innovation in the workplace. I then turn to the more difficult question of how one thinks about appropriate strategies for administrative building. Making the quality of work a higher priority requires a fundamental shift in management thinking. Employees need to be treated as assets rather than costs and managers need a long-term vision of how people development will pay off. To work methodically in improving workplace quality all links must hold, in the long chain from management policy, through the administration system, programs and processes, all the way out to the individual employee. This kind of quality assurance of management requires a complete and consistent structure , and it must be possible to measure present status and improvements. What are required, though, are a dedicated top management and great patience and persistence in the implementation phase. A substantial and permanent improvement of workplace quality is a long project, but quite possible to achieve, without exceptional extra cost. The end result is an executive management that is satisfied with the performance, quality and capacity for change of their organization. Employees experience a work-place characterized by security, fairness, participation, cooperation and opportunities to grow. Managers have the challenging tasks they seek and feel the right balance of independence and support. To achieve this goal, workers must use a collaborative approach to solving workplace problems. This framework must be based on the fundamental principle that joint efforts by employees, their unions and management will improve the quality of services delivered. Consultation, co-development and collective bargaining are all appropriate mechanisms for the creation of win win solutions to workplace concerns. To help bring about this basic change from an adversarial to a more joint problem solving approach requires the rebuilding of trust and a willingness on both sides to explore different approaches in short what is often referred to as a cultural change. Such change, while difficult, is nevertheless possible. It can be encouraged by revising and modernizing the system and by providing for a single redress system for individual workplace complaints throughout the system and by establishing a new agency to assist the parties in finding mutually acceptable solutions in collective bargaining. A good, stable and productive labour management regime should be the foundation to good human resources management in a unionized environment. The employees in Canadas public service and broader public sector are almost completely represented by certified bargaining agents, a situation that we do not expect to change. Finding a way to build effective working relationships between unions and management thus becomes a key public policy issue.