Against School Uniforms

All around the United States more and more schools and switching to the idea of school uniforms. Schools think that this uniform policy will help bring down crime rates, gangs, improve the schools over all academic achievement, and level out social discriminations among students. Although this theory may become true to someone who wants it to be true, other skeptics looking into this are finding that these positive influences from uniforms are merely misconceptions. Schools’ academic achievements are not influenced by the clothes that students have on their backs. Neither is the crime rate in that school. There were theories that gang members could sneak into schools by wearing that schools uniform and blending in with everyone. Some students are even saying that uniforms will not stop them from discriminating other kids since they still know who is rich and who is poor. Although our society thinks that forcing students to wear uniforms to school will cure all problems, they better think twice. School uniforms should not be allowed in public schools because they are not cost effective, they deprive students’ rights to express themselves, and lastly, they do not increase the status of the school who adopted the uniform policy. One of the reasons that school uniforms should not be allowed in schools because they are not cost effective. One reason why they are not cost effective is because some families cannot afford multiple uniforms, plus the clothes that students wear outside of school (Pakhare 1). Unlike the students who can afford three, four, or five uniforms, the poorer students’ one uniform will look worn out and used by mid-semester compared to everyone else (Stainburn 1). It will be easier to pick out the kids who cannot afford much. The social boundaries that uniforms were trying to get rid of will still occur with or without them (Cruz 47). The second reason behind why school uniforms are not cost effective is because schools think that having uniforms will cover up the fact that all students have a different amount of wealth, yet students still know who is rich and who is poor. Uniform pieces differ from one another. There are expensive pieces, and there are basic pieces (Chaika 1). The uniforms that students buy can set them apart on the social ladder at school; just as well as normal clothing can (1). Schools do not want kids â€Å"killing each other over designer jackets,† which is why they take in the uniform policy in the first place (1). Students who switch to different schools with uniforms frequently can be majorly impacted financially (1). Constantly buying new uniforms for those different schools can definitely drain that person’s money, thus not making school uniforms cost effective. In addition to school uniforms not being cost effective, they also deprive students of their right to freedom of expression. The first reason is that it violates the First Amendment. The First Amendment gives all citizens the right to freedom of expression and when schools make students all dress a certain way, then that takes away their right. It is unlawful to take away individuals’ freedoms since they have a right to those freedoms (â€Å"Current Events† 3). Any student who gets expelled or suspended for violating the dress code, say that it is blockading their right of free public education (Cook 1). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said, â€Å"We think ordering school uniforms violates the First Amendment because it impacts on the freedom of expression† (3). Teachers also can be affected by this issue. They are the ones who have to put up with penalizing the students who break the dress code. A student in San Diego complained that â€Å"Teachers say they want us to be different, and then we all have to dress the same way† (3). Parents think that this policy is not a good idea, either. A parent in San Diego stated, â€Å"They have no right to make it mandatory. It’s against the rights of students and kids† (3). The second reason that school uniforms deprive students of their freedom of expression is that they make it harder for kids to find their identity in our modern society when they look exactly like everyone else (Cruz 46). As children grow up, they are supposed to make their own decisions while they learn from the mistakes they make, but the uniforms that the schools slap on kids is not a choice that they can decide on their own (47). The ACLU once stated, â€Å"Ban every individual expression and what you have left are not students, but soldiers† (47-48). This proves that each and every student’s right to freedom of expression is snatched away from them. The third and final reason why school uniforms should not be allowed in schools is that they do not improve the standards of a school. Some call it the ‘band-aid’ approach because instead of actually trying to solve the deeper issues in the school, they just mask all the problems by forcing students to wear uniforms (Cruz 43). One reason is that schools think that they will decrease the violence. They are mistaken because fights and other acts of misconduct will always happen in schools no matter what kind of clothes they wear (45). Students will always have grudges against other students and that will never change depending on the type of clothing they choose to wear. Uniforms cannot transform a bad student into a good one, they just dress them up to look like a good one (44). A student that created a problem before, will continue to create problems regardless of what they are wearing (Pakhare 1). Schools have socioeconomic groups that they want to break up in order to level out the social standards. One of those groups is gangs (2). Gangs are a growing problem in schools these days, but the clothes they wear in schools without uniform policies, can help others distinguish them from other students. If a school with gangs starts up the school uniform policy, it would be easier for gang members that are outside of the school, to sneak into that school to create some violence and mischief. Since everyone matches, you would not be able to distinguish a gang member from and actual student (Cruz 44). Another reason that school uniforms do not improve the standards of schools is that they do not improve school’s academic achievements. Studies have shown that uniforms had absolutely no correlation to test scores (Stainburn 1). Schools think that the sameness of everybody, because of the uniforms, will help students focus more on their studies, rather then what they look like. Although kids still find ways to discriminate one another, with or without uniforms, it still makes focusing on studies one hundred percent of the time difficult (1). Even in uniforms were in order, students will still stay distracted and will have to deal with daily discriminations (2). Schools have still found ways to improve academic achievements, which will incidentally improve their status, without the aid of uniforms (2). Because of the fact that school uniforms cost too much money, take away students’ rights, and do not increase a school’s reputation, they should not be required in schools. They do not have a useful purpose and there is no point of forcing students to wear them when they do not want to in the first place. It is only a matter of time before school districts realize how useless uniforms have become. Children that are forced to wear these uniforms do not like them, and neither to the parents that have to buy extra clothes that their kids only wear to school (Pakhare 1). It has been proven that there is little evidence to suggest a cause and effect relationship between the violence in school and the clothes that students wear (Cruz 45). Also, each and every student who is forced to wear a school uniform gets their right of freedom of expression taken away, which is consequently unconstitutional (â€Å"Current Events† 3). In conclusion to being against school uniforms being mandatory, they should be outlawed to all public schools since it has been proven that they are a tremendously horrible idea.

Jet Study Case Study Essay

1. What types of information systems and business functions are described in this case? Information systems: JetBlue’s reservation system used for tracking baggage and scheduling is an example of a Transaction Processing System (TPS) – a computerized system that performs and records the daily routing transactions necessary to conduct business. JetBlue’s system for managing planes and crews is an example of a Management Information System (MIS). The system served middle management with information obtained from its TPS that was essential in making the right decision when managing planes and crews. Business functions: JetBlue’s communication, reservation and computer systems were described in this case. They represent Sales and IT business functions. 2. What is JetBlue’s business model? JetBlue business model was saving money both from streamlined information systems and lean staffing, while offering top-notch customer service at budget prices. The airline featured new Airbus A320 planes with leather sears, each equipped with a personal TV screen, and averaging one way fares of only $99 per passenger. JetBlue was able to offer low fares by using information systems to automate key processes such as ticket sales by mostly selling them online and baggage handling, by introducing electronic tags to help track luggage. Both initiatives eliminated paper, increased efficiency and lowered costs. Initially, JetBlue flew only one type of aircraft: the Airbus 320. This approach enabled the airline to standardize flight operations and maintenance procedures. Both measures resulted in significant savings. How do its information systems support the business model? JetBlue used a single vendor, Microsoft, to design JetBlue’s extensive network of information systems. Using a single vendor provided a technology framework where JetBlue could keep a small staff and favor in-house development of systems over outsourcing or relying on consultants, allowing the company to keep its costs low. 3. What was the problem experienced by JetBlue in this case? JetBlue’s senior management made an incorrect decision to maintain its schedule during an ice storm. Nine airplanes were stranded on the tarmac for anywhere  between six and ten hours. JetBlue waited too long to solicit help for the stranded passengers because the airline figured the planes would take off eventually. Meanwhile, the weather conditions and the delays and cancellation of other flights caused customers to flood JetBlue’s reservation system, which could not handle that much traffic. At the same time, many of the airline’s pilots and flight crews were also stranded and unable to get to locations where they could replace crews that had just worked their maximum hours without rest, but did not actually go anywhere. What management, organization, and technology factors were responsible for the problem? Management factors: JetBlue did not have a Decision Support System that would support nonrou tine decision making and focus on unique and changing problems by using information from TPS, MIS and other external sources. Such a system would allow JetBlue’s management to make a better informed decision whether or not they should maintain their schedule during an ice storm or cancel all flights. Organizational factors: JetBlue lacked an Enterprise Resource Planning System that would help significantly to help locate missing baggage and quickly locate airline’s pilots and flight crews. Technology factors: JetBlue’s transaction processing system and lean staffing were responsible for the problem. Under normal circumstances, the lean staff was sufficient to handle all operations and the computer systems functioned well below their capacity. However, during a radical increase in activity, tasks such as rebooking passengers, handling baggage and locating crew members became impossible. 4. Based on what you’ve learned in this chapter, what kinds of systems and business functions were involved in JetBlue’s problem? It seems the company did not plan for something like that to ever happen. All systems and business functions focused on performing day-to-day activities. JetBlue did not have any enterprise applications that are designed to coordinate multiple functions and business processes. Enterprise systems integrate the key internal business processes of a firm into a single software system to improve coordination, efficiency, and decision making. It would allow their SkySolver and Sabre systems to communication more effectively and efficiently. During the crisis, some flight attendants were unable to get in touch with anyone who could tell them what do for three days. The system  would help locating the flight crews and off-duty crews and direct them to the correct destination. The transaction processing systems (TPS) used by JetBlue was not designed to handle a significant increase in activity. The principle purpose of TPS is to answer routing questions and to track the flow of transactions through the organization. Due to an increased number of phone calls, the system was not able to perform those functions. It also looks like JetBlue did not have a decision-support system (DSS) in place to support nonroutine decision making. Since DSS focuses on problems that are unique and rapidly changing, it could have helped the company deal with the crisis more efficiently and effectively. Since a well designed ESS system would expose the fragility of the infrastructure, it can be assumed that company’s executive support systems (ESS) was either non-existing or did not function as intended. There was also no Customer Relationship Management System. A well designed Customer Relationship Management System would allow JetBlue better communication with its customers. During the crisis when so many flights were cancelled, the process of rebooking and looking for baggage became unma nageable. 5. Evaluation JetBlue’s response to the crisis. What solutions did the airline come up with? Throughout the debacle, JetBlue’s CEO David G. Neelman was very visible and forthcoming with accountability and apologies. On the technology front, JetBlue deployed new software that would send recorded message to pilots and flight attendants to inquire about their availability. Once the call is returned, it would be entered into a system that stores the date for access and analysis. From a staffing point standpoint, the airline promised to create backups from the airline corporate office for the departments that were stretched too thin by the effects of the storm. JetBlue also created a customer bill of rights to enforce standards for customer treatment and airline behavior. The company changed its operational philosophy to make more accommodation for inclement weather. How were these solutions implemented? The new software was implemented by JetBlue. 100 employees from the Corporate Office were trained to serve as backups. Customer Bill of Rights enforced standards for customer treatment and airline behavior. JetBlue set the  maximum time for holding passengers on a delayed plane to five hours. JetBlue would be penalized when it failed to provide proper service and customers who were subjected to poor service would be rewarded. Do you think that JetBlue found the correct solutions and implemented the correctly? I think JetBlue’s took a step in the right direction. It implemented a new software that would search for available pilots faster and trained additional employees to serve as backups. What other solutions can you think of that JetBlue has not tried? I believe there are many solutions that would be beneficial to JetBlue. They are: * Creating an Enterprise Risk Management process in the organization. The process would allow JetBlue to identify possible shortcomings that might happen in the future and allow the company to be more prepared. * If JetBlue lacked expertise within the company to identified areas of concern, it could have brought outside consultants that would be able to pinpoint all of the company’s shortcomings. * The case did not talk about how JetBlue fixed its Open Skies reservations system, its website or its system for tracking lost luggage. All of the abovementioned systems failed during the crisis on February 14, 2007. Solutions such as a more powerful reservation system, an enhanced website that would allow more traffic and a computerized system for recording and tracking lost bags would be beneficial to the company. 6. How well is JetBlue prepared for the future? Are the problems described in this case likely to be repeated? Even though JetBlue made some changes to ensure that another crisis won’t happen, I am not convinced all necessary actions were performed by the company. JetBlue should be more proactive in ensuring that future problems won’t affect its operations – rather than being reactive and fixing problems that came to the surface. Which of JetBlue’s business processed are most vulnerable to breakdowns? The bigger problem for JetBlue is changing its culture and philosophy. It seems that JetBlue is still unwilling to invest significant amounts of money into modern and reliable technology and ensure they have proper staffing – that’s why I feel that IT area is most vulnerable to breakdown first. How much will a customer bill of rights help? The customer bill of rights was designed for the protection of the customer,  not the airline. It is there to ensure the airline is responsible for the unfair treatment of the customer. It will help bring some of the customers back, however, it won’t fix JetBlue’s problems to future breakdowns.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch

â€Å"There is No Such Thing as Free Lunch,† although is a clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ statement, is true. Nothing comes without a price, although whether the price involves money or not, is still there. Corepower Yoga, off Kipling and C-470, offers one free week of yoga to new time customers. The yoga is unlimited for the week and has no strings attached such as continued membership. Although the ad is labeled as free, and monetary it really is, due to trade-offs, benefit/cost analysis, and comparative benefit/cost analysis the free week of yoga comes with a price. The definition of trade-offs is giving up something to get something. Getting a free week of yoga at Corepower Yoga is great, but what if a different yoga center is better? Corepower Yoga does many hot yoga classes. This means that the room will be heated up to one hundred and five degrees and the humidity turned up to fifty percent. This could create a lot of discomfort and strain to new yoga users that they are not ready for. In addition, there are only about six classes a day, so the timing could not be right, considering there is a gap of classes between the times of twelve and four. These things could be wrong for a customer making the trade-off a costly thing. Another cost would be whether yoga is worthwhile or not. This is called benefit/cost analysis. Going to yoga involves working out and time and these are costs. Yoga creates a healthier body, more flexibility, more balance, and increased stamina. These are all positives, but take hard work to reach and maintain, which just one free week will not get you. To reach the full potential, a membership will be required, which is a monetary cost. If the addition of a membership is not taken at the end of the week, the yoga that has been done would not be very effective. A continuous membership costs about a hundred dollars a week for unlimited yoga. Not all people can afford this. One week of free yoga, although technically free, has the potential to cost more later on. This brings up the thought of if this week is a good deal, is it the best deal? This is called comparative benefit/cost analysis. Working out has benefits, but is yoga the best method? A gym also offers good workout potential. There are many different machines, work out classes, possibly tanning, and a very upbeat environment. Yoga is just one class and a very relaxed environment. Yoga created relaxation about life, and helps to distress the body, whereas working out just focuses on toning the body. The membership costs are about the same, but Corepower Yoga offers a free week to test out all of the things it has to offer. Nothing comes freely. Corepower Yoga's advertisement offers one free week of yoga to all new users. This is false advertisement, because it is not free. It must be taken into consideration the time, location, hard work, and the schedule of Corepower Yoga. All of these things cost something, although it may not deal with money are very important to the decision of taking up the offer or not.

Engineering management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Engineering management - Essay Example Therefore, it can be said that the company or the management of the company in particular would have to take all these aspects into consideration and ascertain whether all the constraints associated with these factors are suitable or not. The product can only be introduced if and only if a majority of these factors are found or are projected to be favorable to the interests of the company. Therefore, a company needs to two things in this regard. The first and the foremost requirement is to conduct a fair assessment of the various constraints and make a forecast. Secondly, the company also needs to come up with an action plan in order to be able to handle any situation such as things not going along as expected or detecting some errors in the forecast etc (Blanchard & Fabrycky, 2004). therefore, all these factors need to be considered before the introduction of the product into the market. Therefore, this is the key consideration that the current paper would attempt to discuss in dept h in line with the concepts of System engineering. The paper would accurately determine the resources that would be required for each phase of the project in addition to determining the implications if any of the calculations went wrong. These p Systems engineering & Analysis The introduction of a new product into the market may be regarded as a project. Generally, such a development would usually comprise the following stages (Blanchard, 2001): Analyze the current products in the market. Drive internal R&D (Research & Development). Design new Product. Ensure that the new product's attributes are competitive enough to survive the market pressures and be able to offer healthy competition to existing and established products. Be able to make the necessary adjustments in all possible respects in order to achieve the above-mentioned objective.These phases are not sequential in order and may vary in their sequence of occurrence. In many cases, these steps have been found to be iterative in nature. The focus of the company that intends to develop and market a new product would be to use the resources to the least possible extent and to be able to use them in an efficient manner. This can be achieved through the concept of system analysis. Under this, the entire development is considered to be a complex system. Thus, system analysis would concentrate on studying every part of the system as well as the relationships between these parts in detail. It must be mentioned that it does not matter whether the system under consideration is an abstract system or a physical system, the former being the one in the present case. Most operations that are conducted under systems analysis are based on the use of certain mathe matical models for generating the appropriate results. These mathematical equations are used for describing the behavior of the system's individual components as well as the effects caused as a result of the interaction of these individual components. The estimation of the various resources along with their quantities can be classified into two main categories, which are discussed in detail: Operations Research. PERT &