Gay marriage ethics

Gay marriage ethics Introduction The issue of civil rights for gays and lesbians, one in particular marriage; although many religious conservatives wish it would, will not go away. One of the reasons, for this is that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down state anti-sodomy laws as unconstitutional and in light of the Michigan state Supreme Courts ruling that prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples violates their constitutional rights. Marriage has always been a huge part of human relationships. It is seen as the coming together of a man and a woman, the bonding two people together for emotional support, moral support and economic well being as well as the rearing of children. Most of society looks at marriage as a holy union of just one man and one woman. Does marriage have to be between just a man and women? This paper will examine both sides of the civil rights and moral dilemma that is facing the United States today. Identifying the Problem The issue of -gay marriage is one that has been very much in the forefront of public discussion in recent years, with states granting, then withdrawing marriage licenses to gay couples, wrangling over legislation as to whether to grant full marriage rights or establish domestic partnerships, and trying to come to grips with how to balance differing of public opinions on the subject, which are passionately at odds in some areas. Some believe that giving gay couples the full benefit of marriage will take away from the traditional marriage, while others feel they ought to have nothing less. Same-sex couples are denied their civil rights, such a making medical decisions for their partners in an emergency. Some of which have not been in contact with their families for years, hospitals are legally bound by state law to contact their next of kin for direction on issues pertaining to the health of the patient when their partner is right there. Even when wills and POAs (Power of Attorney) are made, they are sometimes fought by the family and overturned by a court. Is this right, morally or ethically? Married couples can not testify against their partner in a court of law, but gay partners do not get the same right. Another civil right is this fair? Clarify Concepts Giving way to legal acceptance to gay marriage would hurt society on a number of levels. First, legal identification of gay couples would legitimize morally wrong unions. Further,gay marriage would in the end fail marriage as the basis of an established society. Since gay unions cannot produce children through ordinary and proper procreation, such unions do not add to the survival of the human race. Furthermore, it is immoral to legitimize gay unions because it is not in the best interests of the children who might be adopted by gay couples. These children would be lacking of either the awareness of fatherhood or motherhood. Because cohabiting homosexuals can make use of various legal provisions to protect their rights, there is no need to allow gay couples the legal status of marriage, especially since such a change would threaten the common good. (Burns, 2002) There are many religious arguments and protests that are against gay marriage. Among these are the belief that gay couples are unnatural, marriage is sacred and a sacrament, the primary purpose of marriage is procreation, and marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Many point to biblical scripture when arguing against gay marriage. Most religious opponents to gay marriage cite two passages from the Old Testament as proof of their point-of-view. The first of these is Leviticus 20:13: If a man lies with a man as one who lies with a woman, both of them have done what is repulsive. They must be put to death (Burns, 2002). Possible Solutions to the Problems Our society here in the United States needs to have more of an open mind when it comes to sexual preferences. The gay and lesbian community has been struggling for years for civil rights. We need to consider their right to be married whether in a civil ceremony or a church of their choosing. They should be allowed the same rights as any other American citizen. We should do this because it is the right thing to do. Our Pledge of Allegiance is under God with liberty and justice for all, not for who we choose. Religion should not dictate our morals or who should be allowed to marry. Civil liberties should dictate our morals and the quality of life for our people where we are all considered equal no matter what our religious, social, financial or political views are. We can also develop a Domestic Partnership into law for gay and lesbian citizens as another solution. This would allow homosexuals to be recognized as legal partners by each state and give them the same rights and responsibilities that heterosexuals have always claimed. Lets look at some of the arguments against gay marriage to see how they stand up. Solutions may be found by these by seeing that some of them just do not stand up..If the arguments do not make since then there must be a solution. Examine Assumptions and Points of View Opposition of gay marriage say that marriage is for the creation of children, if that is the case then why are couples that are infertile allowed to marry? Also should post menopausal woman and men who are impotent divorce because they can no longer procreate? How do they explain this? This does not make a good argument against gay marriage. (Bond,2008), Legalizing gaymarriagewould have a negative effect on the concept of monogamy in marriage. Homosexual advocates disagree that access to marriage will encourage gays and lesbians to conform to traditional monogamy in committed relationships. It is more likely that opening marriage to homosexuals will allow them to legitimize non monogamy, civil partnerships unrelated to sexual or romantic relationships, and polyamory (sexual relationships among more than two people). Without monogamy as a founding principle, marriage will no longer provide a stable and healthy setting for families and especially children to thrive. If gaymarriage is legalized, the institution of marriage will be deprived of monogamy and thus any hope of permanence.( Kurtz 2005) I believe that this is a fallacy based on scare tactics, somewhat like the Bush administration idea of going to war with Iraq. There have been legalized gay marriages in other states and other countries for years; would there not be news about polygamy and the non-monogamy because of gay marriage? The biblical passage in Corinthians 6:9-10 Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanders nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (Bible). After gaymarriage, what will become of marriage itself? Will same-sex matrimony extend marriages stabilizing effects to homosexuals? Will gaymarriage undermine family life? A lot is riding on the answers to these questions. But the medias impulsive labeling of doubts about gaymarriage as homophobia has made it almost impossible to debate the social effects of this reform. Now with the Supreme Courts ringing affirmation of sexual liberty in Lawrence v. Texas, that debate is unavoidable (Kurtz, 2005). Gay marriage causes offense to everything religion stands for. What or whose religion does this stand for? Christian religion yes it does and also Islam and Judaism, but a Buddhist sect in Hawaii does support the right of gay marriage (Bidstrup 2009). Gather Information The opposition of gay marriage is based on misunderstanding of what homosexuality really is. There are stereotypical views about gay relationships, that they are promiscuous, and cannot form a lasting relationship. I am sure that they are no different than straight relationships. We have promiscuous and lasting relationships. It sometimes human nature, especially among young people who are not ready to â€Å"settle down† its not based on if you are gay or straight. So what is marriage for? Modern marriage is, of course, based upon traditions that religion helped to codify and enforce. But religious doctrine has no special standing in the world of secular law and policy, the Christian nation crowd notwithstanding (Rauch, J 1997). If we want to know what and whom marriage is for in modern America, we need a sensible secular doctrine. Many people believe that gays have a choice in being who they are, and it is only about sex. They can choose to be with a member of the opposite sex if they want to be. Homosexually is based on mutual attraction, affection and love; the same as heterosexuals. It is no different than being white, black, or Chinese it is the way you are born. Gay marriage is morally wrong and violates the sanctified institution of marriage. This is said by the Bible. The United States and American law is supposed to be separate from the church; this is from one of our founding fathers Thomas Jefferson. Therefore it is not right for someone to use the Bible to say what is to be made into law (Bidstrup 2009).. Gay couples are not morally able to raise children but, it is morally right for child molesters, murders, and convicted felons are allowed to marry and create and raise children. Why are the same people who oppose these rights to gay couples not against this, it happens every day. There are not studies that have determined that gay couples raising children caused them any harm, Can the same be said be said by child molester? Moral Reasoning Gay marriage principles are, in my opinion, no different than those in a heterosexual marriage. They want the same thing in a marriage that anyone does that chooses a partner for life. Their values are the same, they are loyal to their partners, are monogamous. They participate in family life, committed to their neighborhoods and communities by making them a better place to live. They serve on their school boards, volunteer in the community, they are good citizens, just like their heterosexual counterparts, making their communities a better place to live (Bidstrup 2009). One of the benefits of the heterosexual society as well as the homosexual community for gay marriage is the participants are not involved in promiscuous sex. This slows down the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; by the way know no sexual orientations. I am a supporter on gay marriage, I believe in all equal rights for all people no matter race, gender, or sexual preference. I believe in the separation of Church and State. It should have no bearing on our laws and moral reasoning when it comes to making our laws; as long as our rights do not infringe on our fellow citizens rights. Most public officials place their hands on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution. They dont put their hands on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible (Bond J., 2008). I think that religion and scripture are used to keep gay marriage from becoming legal. Our government uses religion when they think it is necessary for their advantage. That is wrong. The Bible was written long ago, there are so many contradictions in it and I believe that it was meant for the time it was written in and for a specific people. In our society today there are several injustices that are more important that our law makers should be concentrating on than opposing gay marriage. Let us move forward. Consequences When and if gay marriage is passed they will receive the same benefits of heterosexual couples. They will enjoy the same contented lifestyle that a two income family has. In todays economic society it most often takes two incomes to keep up with the middle class. The social benefits will be sharing insurance benefits, healthcare, tax filing as a joint couple, joint ownership, and ability to make medical decisions for each other. Social Security, property inheritance, and family medical leave and military disability benefits are just a few more that heterosexual marriage couples have. The argument about homosexuals not being able to procreate, although partly true, lesbian can certainly procreate by artificial insemination, and that they could harm children by raising them shows no scientific evidence. Gay marriage would increase adoptions; there are many children that are in need of homes by loving parents and extended families. This would be a positive step for children that do not have a home. One of the most successful approvals for gay marriage is that they will no longer be second class citizens by being on the lower part of the social standing. The homosexual community should no longer have to be denied their equal civil rights. We are all created equal and that includes everyone, it is not based on our sexual preference. If gay marriage is legalized they will no longer be subjected to narrow-mindedness every day. Bidstrup, S. 2009, Gay Marriage, The Arguments and the Motives, Retrieved March 1, 2010. http//www.bidstrup.com/marriage.htm Bond, Julian. Opposing Same-Sex Marriage Discriminates Against Gays. Opposing Viewpoints: Discrimination. Ed. Jacqueline Langwith. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Baker College. 28 Feb. 2010 Burns, K. 2005 Congregation for The Doctrine of The Faith. Gay Marriage Should Not Be Legal. At Issue: Gay Marriage.. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Baker College. 28 Feb. 2010 Kurtz, Stanley. Gay Marriage Threatens Families. At Issue: Gay and Lesbian Families. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Baker College. 28 Feb. 2010 Rauch, J., Society Has a Compelling Interest in Allowing Gay Marriage, Current Controversies: Gay Rights, San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997, Retrieved March 2, 2010, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale, Baker College

Ethical Dilemma: Donna and Wilma Essay

Abstract In this paper, you will be able to see how to apply professional values, codes of ethics, and decision-making model to the process of ethical decision-making. I chose to look at ethical dilemma number 4. In this dilemma, a client’s confidentiality has been breached; due to her counselor. The first approach is for me to identify the problem and apply the ACA code of ethics. I then identify the moral principles and list all possible courses of action that could betake. Also list all possible consequences for each action that could be taken. I then carefully review, after which I chose what I believe to be the most accurate course of action for this scenario. So lastly I will take you step by step of how this action plan will be implement. Ethical Dilemma I chose to review ethical dilemma 4. Where Wilma, a counselor in a community agency, has been working with Donna for several months for anxiety and panic disorder. On multiple occasions, Wilma has given Donna homework to complete between sessions that has not been completed by Donna. This past week, Wilma sees Donna again in session and assigns her some more homework. Later that week, Wilma and a friend go out to dinner. Wilma looks up to see that Donna is her waitress. Frustrated with Donna’s lack of effort with her homework and in an effort to hold Donna accountable, Wilma decides to inquire if Donna has done her homework and says, â€Å"Donna, I am glad I ran into you. Have you done your homework since our last session?† I chose to review this particular ethical dilemma because this is something that could easy happen to any professional, if you fail to think before you speak. It can even be done with no ill intentions. However this could possible destroy the client and counselor relationship that has been built. The problem with this hypothetical ethical dilemma is that the client’s confidentiality was broken and relationship boundaries were crossed. This is an ethical and possible a  legal problem. It is an ethical problem because the clients confidentiality was broken when Wilma inquire if Donna had been working on her homework from their last session. It can also become a legal issue if Donna pursues it. This can become a major problem as it relates to the Wilma and the agency that she works for because the client’s confidentiality was broken. Donna could contact the agency that Wilma is employed for, or even contact the state board of counselors. The ACA code of ethics covers any ethical issues that a counselor maybe faced with. While reading over the ACA code of ethics confidentiality privileged communication and privacy was coved in great detail. Respecting Client Rights was defined as â€Å"counselors maintain awareness and sensitivity regarding cultural meanings of confidentiality and privacy. Counselors respect differing views toward disclosure of information. Counselors hold ongoing discussions with clients as to how, when, and with whom information is to be shared† (Ethics & Professional Standards, 2005). In the case with Wilma and Donna , Wilma was not sensitivity regarding Donna’s privacy. Wilma was having dinner with a friend and Donna was at work. That was not the right time to address anything that they had coved in a counseling session. According the ACA codes of ethics Wilma did not have respect for privacy or respect for confidentiality for her client. The ACA code of ethics defines respect for privacy as â€Å"Counselors respect client rights to privacy. Counselors solicit private information from clients only when it is beneficial to the consoling process† (Ethics & Professional Standards, 2005). It is also stated that respect for confidentiality â€Å"Counselors do not share confidential information without client consent or without sound legal or ethical justification† (Ethics & Professional Standar ds, 2005). I believe that it a counselor’s main moral principle is loyalty to their clients and honoring their commitments to them. In this case Donna believe that anything that was discussed in their counseling sections would remain confidential. â€Å"There are state and national organization That work to assist clients and professional counselors in taking the appropriate legal and ethical steps. The American Counseling Association provides free confidential professional/ethical consolations to members of the ACA. If a counselor is advice they van contact the ACA Ethics and Professional  Standards Department to set up appointments. Counselors can also contact their state LPCA to receive information regarding the proper protocol for certain cases† (Ethics & Professional Standards, 2005). There are several potential course of action in this case. Any course of action that would be taking would be fully up to Donna in this case. Donna could ignore the comments that Wilma made to her. Donna could talk to Wilma, and express that she didn’t appreciate how she addressed her personal issues in front of a stranger and while she was at work. Also let Wilma know she would appreciate if she wouldn’t do that again. After Donna address this issue with Wilma she could chose to keep her as her counselor or ask for a new counselor. Donna could also consult another counselor to determine the best course of action to take against Wilma. Lastly, Donna could contact ACA for legal and ethical advice regarding breach of confidentiality. For each potential course of action there is a potential consequence(s) and implications for each chose. If Donna choses to ignore the comment that Wilma made to her, there will not be any consequence for Wilma. However there could be potential consequences and/or implications for Donna. If Donna ignores the comments, Wilma may keep to making statements. If Donna talks to Wilma, and express that she didn’t appreciate how she addressed her personal issues in front of a stranger and while she was at work, this could help. The consequences of this course of action could be beneficial to both Donna and Wilma. It could be beneficial to both parties, Wilma will see that she breached her clients confidentiality and Donna will have the chance to express how that made her feel. This could help rebuild the trust that was lost do to Wilma’s lack of professionalism; it could also help Donna with her anxiety. If Donna consults another counselor to determine the best course of action, this could be very important in this case. By discussing this with another counselor can help Donna gain a better insight as to how to handled and move forward with treatment. Lastly if Donna contacts the ACA board for legal and ethical advice, this could have major consequences for Wilma and the agency. Wilma will most likely be fined or even have her licenses revoked. I believe that the best course of action in this case would be for Donna to talk Wilma, and express that she didn’t appreciate how she addressed her personal issues in front of a stranger and while she was at work. I believe this is the best course of action only because Wilma did not go into detail  about what the homework consisted of. Although Donna confidentiality was breached, no significant information was exposed, other then the fact that she sees a counselor. I don’t believe that is would be necessary for any legal action to be taken. I do believe that Donna should inform another member of the agency of what happened and the course of a ction that she has chose to take in dealing with dilemma. The selected course of action does not present any new ethical problems in my eyes. I believe that Donna has covered herself in all areas. If Donna talks to Wilma and also consult another counselor in the agency, this should eliminate any potential ethical problems. After reviewing all possible courses of actions and consequences, I believe the most beneficial option would be to for Donna to talk Wilma, and express that she didn’t appreciate how she addressed her personal issues in front of a stranger and while she was at work and consult another counselor in the agency. I applied the test of justice, publicity, and universality here are my findings. Justice: In this case choosing to consult Wilma with this dilemma it will help Wilma be more aware of confidentiality of her clients. Publicity: In the public eye Wilma is not acting ethically. Universality: The course of action that Donna has chosen (addressing Wilma and consulting another counselor in the agency) would be a great recommendation for other people put in similar situations. There are certain steps that Donna has to take in order to implement this course of action. First, Donna needs to consult the other counselor that works for Wilma agency. Donna should have a sit down conversation with this person and go over each detail of the event that happen on the night she was working. Also Donna should express the course of action that she wants to take to handle this case. Lastly Donna, Wilma and the counselor that Donna informed of the incident should all have a sit down conversation. Donna can then explain to Wilma how she felt and the lack of professionalism. Wilma and Donna are both being protected in this case because there is a three person there to over see the conversation and take notes that can go into Wilma and Donna records. References Chappell, C. (2013, July 1). Virginia Board of Counseling . Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Virgunia.gov: www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_law_regs.htm Ethics & Professional Standards. (2005). Retrieved November 15, 2013, from American Counseling Association: www.counseking.org/knowledge-centr/ethics

My Personal Philosophy of Education

My philosophy of education are the types that are known as progressivism and existentialism. I believe that for me a combination of the two is a perfect way to teach. Progressivism is ideal because the teacher gives the student a say in what they can do within the classroom. It is a hands on system of working. I believe that students can learn very well if they do activities themselves. Learning about how to do something and actually getting to do it are two extremely different things. Existentialism is also ideal because this method of teaching allows children to confront his or her freedom. Children need a sense of freedom in making decisions about school work. I believe that if progressivism and extentialism are combined children can carry out hands on tasks while at the same time making an independent understanding of a particular concept. If a child learns hands on how to do something they will find it quite meaningful, and will be able to relate it more to veryday life. School work can become meaningful if a child independently understands what is being taught. Then, children will look forward to leaning and will be more comfortable learning from their teacher. I am looking forward to becoming a teacher. As a teacher of elementary students I will always hold high expectations of my students. I hope to find that children love to learn and also look forward to learning. However, I do understand that some students are not willing to this. I will ind this a challenge for me which I ma capable of handling I hope to always have students involved in what is being taught. I will do this by having hands on activities as well as independent activities. I will use fun methods and ideas to get children involved in the lesson. If a child is having fun this will enable the student to get a better understanding of a particular lesson. All in all, I want my students to have an understanding of the lesson while at the same time having fun!

Free Essays on Panopticism

the student â€Å"reports from the syndics to the indendants, from the intendants to the magistrated or mayor.† All teachers and administrators have their own roles and have their own positions in making the school run smoothly. The one postion separate is the security guard. They are the ones walking the hallways, patrolling the parking lots they are in place to keep the peace in school. They don’t follow the â€Å"h... Free Essays on Panopticism Free Essays on Panopticism Panopticism How many times while in school did you feel like you were in a prision? Is that the first thought that comes to ones mind while sitting in classes? Probably not, but it isn’t suprising is it? The idea that schools are like prisions is the idea that Michel Foucault tries to get readers to understand in his essay Panopticism. Schools and prisions alike have their â€Å"experts in normailty† as well as â€Å"key sites of survaillence and control†, which make the two so similair. The bell rings and all the students report to their first class. How do they know where to go and when to go their? Schools run on and with a schedule. Every student is given a schedule and on their schedule it states where to be and when. The school time is kept by a bell, classes starting and ending with a bell. The same is true with prisions; the prisoners are told to be somewhere at a certain time they are there with the sounding of the bell. The process of the schedule is organized allowing follow-ups to be made. Attendance is taken, if a student isn’t present at time of attendance they are repremanded. In schools there are many people who govern over the school in order for everything to move smoothly, the â€Å"experts in normailty†. The governing body starts off at the bottom, teachers are the†syndics†. If the student is still having problems the teacher can now report the student to the vice-principal the â€Å"indentant† and the last resort is the dreaded principal in other words the â€Å"magistrate†. In other words the student â€Å"reports from the syndics to the indendants, from the intendants to the magistrated or mayor.† All teachers and administrators have their own roles and have their own positions in making the school run smoothly. The one postion separate is the security guard. They are the ones walking the hallways, patrolling the parking lots they are in place to keep the peace in school. They don’t follow the â€Å"h...

Cause of crime

Cause of crime Man and crime have coexisted throughout history. Nonetheless, traditional patterns guiding the transition from childhood to adulthood have changed. Moreover, there are limited opportunities for young people to explore. For instance, unemployment rates have skyrocketed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cause of crime specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, many youths are unable to cater for their basic needs. Poverty is, thus, one of the major causes of violent crimes. The proliferation of criminal gangs in my area of jurisdiction, as director of the county juvenile court, represents a nationwide problem. Therefore, all parties involved must redouble their efforts in dealing with juvenile deliquesces and other gang-related problems. This paper provides background information on the gang problem. In the 1990s, the rate of crime rose in most parts of the world (World Youth Report, 2003). Most of these crimes were related to youths. In Western Europe alone, the rate of juvenile delinquency increased by 50%. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) (n.d.), about 33,000 gangs operate across the US today. In addition, 48% of violent crimes are committed by gangs (FBI, n.d.). In some areas, the percentage is as high as 90%. It is also estimated that these gangs have 1.4 million members. Most of the groupings are well organized and use sophisticated strategies to run their illegal activities and control neighborhoods. Some of their ways of generating money include gun and drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. Before preventive programs are designed, reasons behind involvement of juveniles in crime must be understood (World Youth Report, 2003). One cannot effectively deal with a problem without knowing its root causes. According to the World Youth Report (2003), sociologists believe that juvenile delinquents commit minor to serious offences. Therefore, criminal gangs differ in th eir modes of operation. Consequently, gang problems must be solved by more than one strategy. For instance, some gangs commit status crimes. A status crime is a criminal offenses related to the age of a person (World Youth Report, 2003). Peer pressure is the main driver of status crime. Sociologists use such issues to connect youth behaviors with their surroundings in an attempt to explain their actions. African American neighborhoods have the highest number of criminal gangs. This trend is associated with institutional discrimination. For instance, about one third of African Americans are born in poor neighborhoods. Furthermore, these neighborhoods are faced with innumerable social-economic hardships.Advertising Looking for essay on criminology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The number of African Americans who can be categorized as middle class by either income levels or education is low compared to other ethnic g roups. Although their social-economic status is improving, African Americans sit at the bottom of the ethnic hierarchy (pear, 2013). Structural discrimination and lack of opportunities lead to disruptive internal behavioral patterns among African Americans. Some of these behaviors include prostitution and crime. On top, these behaviors have negative impacts on their socio-economic mobility. Proliferation of criminal gangs is brought about by socio-economic problems. According to pear (2013), in the last two years, ethnic groups with low incomes experienced a steeper drop in their incomes than those with high incomes. Undoubtedly, African Americans were the most affected. Accordingly, most gang members are African Americans. Nonetheless, criminal gangs traverse across ethnic barriers and their activities are diverse and complicated. Dismantling these gangs requires joint efforts from the community, law enforcers, courts and other stakeholders. In fact, everybody has a role to play if this problem is to be eradicated. References Federal Bureau of Investigations (n.d.). Gangs: They poison our streets with drugs, violence, and all manner of crime. Web. Pear, R. (2013, August 21). Median income rises, but is still 6% below level at start of recession in ’07. The New York Times. Web. World Youth Report (2003). Juvenile delinquency. Web.

Tax exempt bonds Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tax exempt bonds - Coursework Example Access to capital is critical to keep facilities current, add major information technology systems and strengthen quality initiatives .Debt financing is a major source of capital for health care organizations. Cost of capital is a major determinant of the type of debt financing. Bond issuing is one option of debt finance that health care organization can use to finance their projects. For financial and capital planning to be effective, hospital leaders, including chief executive officers, chief financial officers and board members, must be aware of the changing conditions of the capital markets and the types of capital available. The types of debt financing include tax-exempt and taxable bond offerings and such nontraditional debt offering as off-balance sheet options and participating bond transactions. A sound financial plan should include maintaining a strong equity portfolio and managing debt to minimize cost and maximize access to capital. The following steps allow hospitals to effectively incorporate debt financing as a component of their strategic and financial planning process. 1.   Building a financing team:   Building a knowledgeable financing team is the primary responsibility of the CFO. The team should be responsive to variations in the financial market including changes in interest rates, regulatory requirements and ratings activity, among other things. The team should include members from outside the organization, such as legal counsel, underwriters, auditors, financial advisers, bond issuers and bond trustees. 2.   Active management of debt and equity portfolios:      Hospital financial leaders must actively manage debt and equity portfolios to account for changes in the financial markets and the organization’s financial performance. Senior leaders and the board should be kept abreast of the organization’s financial performance, including the organization’s capital outlook. 3.   Evaluate debt capacity:  Ã‚   De bt capacity is the amount of debt an organization is able to sustain within its credit rating profile. The ability to incur debt is a sign of an organization’s financial strength. Determining debt capacity will help organizations strategically allocate capital and also help calculate how much capital they need to obtain from other sources. 4.   Determine the appropriate mix of debt and equity financing:  Ã‚   Determining the appropriate mix of debt and equity financing is a complex process which is accomplished, in part, by assessing the organization’s debt capacity, the level of risk the organization is willing and able to accept and rating agency benchmarks. Financial leaders must determine the appropriate mix of equity and debt financing, including the appropriate mix of traditional and nontraditional debt, to secure the maximum amount of capital at the most favorable rates. 5.   Calculate the appropriate rate mix for debt:      Calculating the appropriate mix of fixed rates and variable rates is an important component of a hospital’s strategic financial plan. The appropriate mix is influenced by the organization’s bond ratings, availability of free cash and bond insurance, interest rates and willingness to accept risk. Fixed-rate debt is secure and becomes part of an organization’s capital structure until it matures. Variable rates are historically lower than fixed rates, resulting in savings to the organization, but carry no guarantee over time. Variable-rate debt is subject to changes in interest rates, regulatory activity and an organization’s credit rating. 6.   Diversify variable-rate debt:      Variable-rate debt can take different forms. They include variable-rate demand bonds and insured and uninsured auction rate securities,

Local School District Policies -- Students and Staff Research Paper

Local School District Policies -- Students and Staff - Research Paper Example The ways through which the policies are executed and monitored have been included in the paper. The paper also covers about the influence of community values on policies and the impact of the policies on the operations of the school. It has also been mentioned about the impact of policy on the culture of the school. The strength of these policies is included along with assurance of implementation of these policies. Certain modifications that are required in the policies have been included in the study. 2.0 How Policies are Communicated The policy of sexual harassment in the school is communicated to parents, students and faculty members by making clear written statement as memoranda which is easily understood by them. It can be shared by means of publishing in local newspaper and school newspaper or magazines (Doty & Strauss, 1996). The policy of personal assessment of teachers is communicated at the time of parents-teachers meet conducted by the school. In such occasions, the perfor mances of the teachers along with the students are highlighted (Churchill Community Foundation School, 2003). The policy of Student Assignment under ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ (NCLB) identifies that if there is proper communication between school and the home then there will be high standard of academic achievement of the students. The school authority may conduct conference among them so that there is a valuable communication between parents as well as teachers and students (Public Education Network, 2004). Then policy of ‘bullying and harassment’ is essential to be communicated to teachers and parents along with students. Proper way of communication is needed to aware each groups regarding the matter. A written document will help to distribute the information regarding the policy to each of them. The policy regarding internet and technology access is communicated so that each one may understand the rules of using such technology in school. The students an d teachers are generally informed in schools with written notice and parents are primarily communicated by providing documents in either school newspaper or special letter for parents (Wallsend Campus, 2011). 3.0 Implementation and Monitoring of Policy The policies of these issues are implemented as well as monitored in a systematic manner. The policy is implemented by higher authority of the schools due to the development of certain issues in schools. The policies are implemented after examining the accurate problems that has taken place and the specific policies that may reduce such issues. The personnel from the upper level of hierarchy of the school have the right to implement the policies because they need to think about the welfare of the school, students and faculties (California State University, n.d.). Policy monitoring generally relates to the maintenance of policies after it has been applied. It also refers to the way through which the policy is functioning effectively. T he higher authorities monitor carefully whether the executed policies are in a proper way and whether the teachers, students and parents are abiding by the set