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Family engagement: a collaborative, systemic approach for middle school counselors.Early adolescence adolescence, time of life from onset of puberty to full adulthood. The exact period of adolescence, which varies from person to person, falls approximately between the ages 12 and 20 and encompasses both physiological and psychological changes. is a period of intrapersonal in·tra·per·son·aladj. Existing or occurring within the individual self or mind. intra·per and interpersonal in·ter·per·son·al adj. 1. Of or relating to the interactions between individuals: interpersonal skills. 2. transformation; thus, middle school counselors A school counselor is a counselor and educator who works in schools, and have historically been referred to as "guidance counselors" or "educational counselors," although "Professional School Counselor" is now the preferred term. need to provide services that appropriately match their students' and families' developmental needs. A collaborative, systemic systemic /sys·tem·ic/ (sis-tem´ik) pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. sys·tem·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to a system. 2. approach is one way that counselors can work with other school-based professionals to support parental/caregiver involvement. In this article, the authors discuss family disengagement disengagement /dis·en·gage·ment/ (dis?en-gaj´ment) emergence of the fetus from the vaginal canal. dis·en·gage·ment n. in the middle school years and the middle school counselor as a collaborator of systemic change. Middle school research consistently demonstrates the importance of family involvement as a powerful influence on students' achievement in school (Burkhardt, 2004; Downs, 2001; Epstein, 2004). When families are involved in their children's education, early adolescents attend school more regularly, earn higher grades and receive higher test scores, complete more homework, demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors, have higher graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. rates, express higher aspirations aspirations npl → aspiraciones fpl (= ambition); ambición f aspirations npl (= hopes, ambition) → aspirations fpl , and are more likely to enroll in higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. than students with less involved families (Deslandes & Bertrand Bertrand - (Named after the British mathematician Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)). Wm. Leler. Rule-based specification language based on augmented term rewriting. Used to implement constraint languages. The user must explicitly specify the tree-search and the constraint propagation. , 2005; National Association of School Psychologists The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is the first and largest national professional organization created for the purpose of serving school psychologists. , 2002; U.S. Department of Education, 1997). Furthermore, it has been suggested that the most influential contributor to students' academic achievement is not socioeconomic status socioeconomic status, n the position of an individual on a socio-economic scale that measures such factors as education, income, type of occupation, place of residence, and in some populations, ethnicity and religion. , but rather family involvement in their student's educational development (Hawes Coordinates: For other uses, see Hawes (disambiguation). Hawes is a small market town in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. & Plourde, 2005; Henderson Henderson. 1 City (1990 pop. 25,945), seat of Henderson co., NW Ky., on the Ohio River, in an oil, coal, tobacco, corn, and livestock area; founded 1797, inc. as a city 1867. & Berla, 1994). Thus, increasing family involvement in the education of early adolescents is an important goal for schools and educators. For this reason, the American American, river, 30 mi (48 km) long, rising in N central Calif. in the Sierra Nevada and flowing SW into the Sacramento River at Sacramento. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill (see Sutter, John Augustus) along the river in 1848 led to the California gold rush of School Counselor Association (ASCA ASCA American School Counselor Association ASCA Australian Shepherd Club of America ASCA Arab Society of Certified Accountants ASCA American Swimming Coaches Association ASCA American Society of Consulting Arborists ASCA Association of State Correctional Administrators , 2003a), in the ASCA National Model[R], advocates that school counselors foster collaborative relationships with caregivers to support early adolescents' academic achievement. Additionally, ASCA (2004a) suggests that professional school counselors collaborate "with other stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. to promote student achievement" (p. 1). More specific to middle schools, the National Middle School Association (NMSA NMSA National Middle School Association NMSA New Mexico Statutes Annotated NMSA National Meteorological Services Agency NMSA National Manufacturing Skills Academy (UK) NMSA Nominal Maximum Size of Aggregate , 2003), in This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents, a NMSA position statement, advocates that "successful middle schools promote family involvement and take the initiative to develop needed home-school home·school or home-school v. home·schooled, home·school·ing, home·schools v.tr. To instruct (a pupil, for example) in an educational program outside of established schools, especially in the home. bonds. The involvement of family is linked to higher levels of student achievement and improved student behavior" (p. 2). If schools and families are to work collaboratively as partners, then schools must provide families with the developmentally appropriate opportunities and support necessary to promote and increase involvement in their students' education. Therefore, developing effective partnerships with families requires that all school personnel (i.e., teachers, administrators, and student support personnel including school counselors) create a school environment that is accessible, inviting, and welcoming to caregivers. Developing these collaborative partnerships also requires that school personnel reach out to and provide caregivers with the information and support they need to become involved in their students' education. Schools that have been successful in engaging families in their early adolescents' learning have looked beyond the traditional definitions of caregiver care·giv·er n. 1. An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability. 2. involvement (i.e., participation in caregiver teacher organizations, signing report cards, attendance at sporting events) to a broader definition of caregivers as collaborative partners and companions in their early adolescents' education (U.S. Department of Education, 1997). In addition, schools that have developed successful partnerships with families view students' academic, career, and personal/social development as a shared responsibility among all stakeholders--for example, caregivers, family members, administrators, teachers, school support personnel, and the community (ASCA, 2003a). If families are to work with schools as full partners in the education of their early adolescents, schools must provide them with the opportunities and support they need for success. The provision of these opportunities requires a concerted effort among school-based professionals and staff. The one school-based professional in the best position to coordinate such a collaborative, systemic effort in the middle school is the school counselor. The ASCA National Model (2003a) promotes the themes of school counselors as leaders, advocates, collaborative team members, and supporters of systemic change. Additionally, school counselors are well positioned to support family engagement because of their specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. education in human development, collaborative services, and systems change. Another benefit is that students often have the same school counselor for all 3 years of the early adolescent's middle school experience. The purpose of this article is to explore the developmental and contextual influences of disengagement (developmental changes during early adolescence, family life-cycle life-cycle - software life-cycle transitions, and potential systemic barriers in schools) of families or caregivers of middle school students. Then, the article will address the role of the middle school counselor as a collaborative, systemic change agent in facilitating and supporting family/caregiver engagement in early adolescents' education. FAMILY DISENGAGEMENT DURING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS Traditionally, family involvement decreases dramatically during the middle school years. Specifically, caregiver engagement tends to decease significantly from the time a student is enrolled at the elementary level to middle school (Allen Al·len , Edgar 1892-1943. American anatomist who is noted for his studies of hormones and for the discovery (1923) of estrogen. & Migliore Migliore is the name of a chain of department stores in South Korea that specializes on selling clothing and fashion accessories. It opened the first store in Dongdaemun shopping district in Seoul in 1998, and another in Myeongdong, one of the premier shopping districts in Korea, , 2005; Downs, 2001; Elkind, 1998; Johnston Johnston, town (1990 pop. 26,542), Providence co., N central R.I., a suburb of Providence; inc. 1759. Among its manufactures are jewelry, textiles, and fabricated metals. Johnston is the home of several insurance companies. , 1998). Downs reported that caregivers of middle school students are only half as likely as the caregivers of elementary school elementary school: see school. students to attend student conferences with teachers. In addition, Johnston found that less than half of students in middle school report that their caregivers are actively engaged in school programs. Meanwhile, Brough Brough may mean or refer to: Products
relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc middle school counselors' roles and responsibilities. These include (a) developmental changes during early adolescence, (b) family life-cycle issues, and (c) potential systemic barriers in schools. Developmental Changes During Early Adolescence Early adolescents experience multiple personal changes. Their physical growth is apparent; however, significant changes are occurring in their psychological, cognitive, social, and moral development. The developmental changes experienced during early adolescence may be the most intense transformations in the human life cycle (Lounsbury, 2004). A hallmark hallmark, mark impressed on silverwork or goldwork to signify official approval of the standard of purity of the metal, also called plate mark. The hallmark was introduced by statute in England in 1300 and enforced by the Goldsmiths' Hall, London. of this developmental stage is the struggle for autonomy and independence. During early adolescence, the level of caregiver-adolescent conflict is the highest (Allison
Allison, which may come from a medieval Norman nickname for Alice, meaning "noble type", or from the Irish name "Iseult", meaning "fair lady". & Schultz Schultz may refer to People:
adj. Responding excessively to the stimulus of a foreign agent, such as an allergen; abnormally sensitive. hy to circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or where they feel others are asserting as·sert tr.v. as·sert·ed, as·sert·ing, as·serts 1. To state or express positively; affirm: asserted his innocence. 2. To defend or maintain (one's rights, for example). power over them" (Lambie, 2004, p. 269) or simply talking about them. For this reason, many early adolescents discourage their caregivers from becoming involved in their school activities and education. Instead, they maintain that everything at school is "fine" or they will "handle" any potential problems. Family Life-Cycle Development The development of the family life-cycle is often underestimated as an aspect that may contribute to the lack of family engagement during early adolescence. Carter and McGoldrick (1998) defined family life-cycle as "the natural context within which to frame individual identity and development and to account for the effects of the social system" (p. 1). For families with early adolescents, particularly those entering middle school, this is normally the time of the family life-cycle when caregivers are renegotiating their roles with children in terms of more independence for and from them. In addition, caregivers of early adolescents may be placed in the position of becoming the primary caregivers for their own aging parents, as well as restructuring restructuring - The transformation from one representation form to another at the same relative abstraction level, while preserving the subject system's external behaviour (functionality and semantics). their careers (Preto, 1999). Thus, it is not only the early adolescent ad·o·les·cent adj. Of, relating to, or undergoing adolescence. n. A young person who has undergone puberty but who has not reached full maturity; a teenager. who is experiencing a developmental transition, but rather the entire family. As a result of these competing forces in the family life-cycle pattern, caregivers may inadvertently become "less available" in helping to meet the educational needs of their middle school children, thinking that their early adolescents' sense of growing independence is sufficient for negotiating middle school challenges on their own. In fact, Downs (2001) noted that caregivers of early adolescents may misinterpret mis·in·ter·pret tr.v. mis·in·ter·pret·ed, mis·in·ter·pret·ing, mis·in·ter·prets 1. To interpret inaccurately. 2. To explain inaccurately. their children's push for greater independence as evidence to become less involved in their schooling. Similarly, Elkind (1998) found that caregivers overestimate o·ver·es·ti·mate tr.v. o·ver·es·ti·mat·ed, o·ver·es·ti·mat·ing, o·ver·es·ti·mates 1. To estimate too highly. 2. To esteem too greatly. the sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. of early adolescents in making decisions. He stated that "adolescents often have a premature adulthood thrust upon them" (p. 7). Potential Systemic Barriers in School Middle schools, being larger systems than elementary schools, hold innate challenges to caregiver involvement. First, the middle school enrollment is larger and students have multiple teachers, complicating com·pli·cate tr. & intr.v. com·pli·cat·ed, com·pli·cat·ing, com·pli·cates 1. To make or become complex or perplexing. 2. To twist or become twisted together. adj. 1. communication significantly. As the number of people (teachers, students, family members) increases, so does the challenge of effective communication among all parties. Second, as systems increase in size, so too does the bureaucracy. Thus, pragmatically prag·mat·ic adj. 1. Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical. 2. Philosophy Of or relating to pragmatism. 3. it is more of a challenge to support family engagement at the middle school level when compared to that at the elementary level. Third, often the most prevalent form of caregiver involvement at the elementary school level (caregivers volunteering in the classroom and on school field trips) may be viewed as inappropriate at the middle school level where early adolescents tend to become embarrassed of their caregivers being at their school (Baker, 2000). Fragmentation (1) Storing data in non-contiguous areas on disk. As files are updated, new data are stored in available free space, which may not be contiguous. Fragmented files cause extra head movement, slowing disk accesses. A defragger program is used to rewrite and reorder all the files. and compartmentalization of services are also potential systemic barriers to school-family connections. They have been documented as problems needing reform and restructuring to support a collaborative school-family connection (Amatea, Daniels Daniels is a surname that may refer to:
Property of certain types of electromagnetic radiation in which the direction and magnitude of the vibrating electric field are related in a specified way. " (Amatea et al., p. 50) between home and school. These types of non-coordinated functions among school-based professionals are not uncommon in middle schools (Baker, 2001; Boyer Boy´er n. 1. (Naut.) A Flemish sloop with a castle at each end. & Bishop, 2004). In contrast, coordination is generally managed more effectively at the elementary school level where students often have only one primary teacher who serves as the facilitator for most school interactions. Without an identifiable hierarchy or coordinator, it is difficult for caregivers to know who to contact at the school if they want to become involved. Further, logistical lo·gis·tic also lo·gis·ti·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to symbolic logic. 2. Of or relating to logistics. [Medieval Latin logisticus, of calculation constraints CONSTRAINTS - A language for solving constraints using value inference. ["CONSTRAINTS: A Language for Expressing Almost-Hierarchical Descriptions", G.J. Sussman et al, Artif Intell 14(1):1-39 (Aug 1980)]. such as time, scheduling, transportation, and child care often limit caregiver involvement (Baker, 2001). To address these systemic issues, a school's hierarchy (leadership) needs to be established (e.g., school counselors and administers working collaboratively) that appreciates the barriers to caregiver involvement and works to make organizational accommodations to limit the impact of potential obstacles. Additional systemic barriers to family/caregiver engagement include trivialization of the caregiver role and poor communication between home and school. Trivialization of the caregiver's role. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Johnston (1998), the trivialization of caregivers' role in the engagement of early adolescents' education is an often-noted aspect contributing to the disengagement of caregivers at the middle school level. Specifically, Johnston provided an example of caregiver role trivialization: Volunteering in the library, or sponsoring fund-raising events, or serving on the PTA council, while important for the overall functioning of the school, may be seen as trivial by parents because, while these activities support the school and its programs, they do little to support, directly, the success of a parent's individual child. (p. 195) It is clear from this statement, as well as from other findings in middle school education, that many caregivers simply do not know exactly how to help their early adolescents with schoolwork and other aspects of their middle level education or are being guided to roles within the school that are not directly related to students' learning (Burkhardt, 2004; Downs, 2001; Waiters, Knowlton Knowlton may refer to Places
Poor communication between home and school. Despite cumulative findings that more frequent communication between home and school can contribute to more consistent positive academic achievement for middle school students, there continues to be resistance for doing so (Adams & Christenson, 2000; Baker, 2001; Downs, 2001). Although there are multiple reasons for this resistance, it appears clear that both schools and homes contribute equally to this complex dynamic. Specifically, Downs found that reluctance on the part of teachers to contact home may be influenced by lack of appreciation into the insights that caregivers may have about their early adolescents' learning. Further, many teachers feel exclusively responsible for classroom learning, and that caregivers and other school personnel should only be involved if a teacher cannot resolve a student's difficulties (Amatea et al., 2004). Oftentimes of·ten·times also oft·times adv. Frequently; repeatedly. Adv. 1. oftentimes - many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee" frequently, oft, often, ofttimes , school personnel only communicate home when there is a problem severe enough to warrant caregiver involvement. Caregivers may avoid contacting the school because their only experiences with the school have been unproductive, frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: , and hostile, resulting in perceptions of caregiver blame or incompetence in·com·pe·tence or in·com·pe·ten·cy n. 1. The quality of being incompetent or incapable of performing a function, as the failure of the cardiac valves to close properly. 2. (Johnston, 1998). Additionally and as noted previously, the level of trust between families and schools significantly decreases at the middle school level. In relation to communication between families and schools, Adams and Christenson (2000) found that improving home-school communication was the most effective method of enhancing trust. The better the home-school communication is, the greater the level of trust there will be, supporting increased family engagement and student success. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AS A COLLABORATOR OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE As noted, there are a variety of reasons families disengage dis·en·gage v. dis·en·gaged, dis·en·gag·ing, dis·en·gag·es v.tr. 1. To release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles. See Synonyms at extricate. 2. from their early adolescents' middle school education. Middle school counselors have an essential role in facilitating and supporting family engagement. ASCA (2004b), in Why Middle School Counselors, has outlined the roles and functions of the middle school counselor. With respect to working with families and school-based personnel, the middle school counselor should take a leadership role in designing and delivering a comprehensive school counseling program that proactively engages all stakeholders (families, teachers, school personnel and staff, and the community) through collaborative and coordinated programs in an effort to promote the academic, career, and personal/social development of middle school students. Further, ASCA stated that "middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program" (p. 1), collaborating with caregivers, teachers, administrators, students, and the community. Thus, to address the needs of families to increase engagement in their early adolescents' middle school education, the middle school counselor is the primary school-based professional for supporting a collaborative, systemic approach in restructuring middle schools' response and facilitating systemic change. While counseling, consultation, and coordination (the three "Cs") are widely known as integral functions of the school counselor (ASCA, 2003a), these functions may best be executed within an underlying model of collaboration Working together on a project. See collaborative software. (Keys & Green, 2005). The collaborative function is an interactive process and has been defined in various ways, including an emphasis on "teamwork (product, software, tool) Teamwork - A SASD tool from Sterling Software, formerly CADRE Technologies, which supports the Shlaer/Mellor Object-Oriented method and the Yourdon-DeMarco, Hatley-Pirbhai, Constantine and Buhr notations. and recognition that each person contributes a unique expertise to the problem-solving process" (Keys & Green, p. 363). ASCA defined systemic change as "change affecting the entire system; transformational; ... focus of the change is upon the dynamic of the environment, not the individual" (p. 131). Further, "school counselors use their leadership and advocacy skills to promote systemic change" (p. 43) in an effort to reduce organizational barriers to students' academic success. Through a collaborative, systemic approach with school-based professionals, all with their unique expertise, the middle school counselor can begin building the necessary teamwork or partnership within the school to help families become increasingly engaged and connected with their early adolescents' middle school. Based on the literature, it becomes clear that schools and families could benefit from an organization restructuring process within the school in an effort to better communicate how schools can invite caregivers into the middle school process (Allen & Migliore, 2005; Amatea et al., 2004; Baker, 2001). Amatea et al. (2004) presented a process that can be used as a framework for middle school counselors to apply their expertise in collaboration and systemic change to support stronger home-school relations and family engagement. Amatea et al. assessed the current structure of home-school relations in a comprehensive school, which included middle-level education, identifying barriers within the school that prevented increased positive home-school coordination. They then implemented strategies to promote involvement among school-based professionals and families. They presented four steps that middle school counselors, as collaborators of systemic change, could adapt to promote family engagement and support early adolescents' development and achievement. Step 1: Initial Assessment The first step in any effective program implementation involves a needs assessment. ASCA (2003a) advocates that school counselors, as systemic change agents, examine current school policies and procedures Policies and Procedures are a set of documents that describe an organization's policies for operation and the procedures necessary to fulfill the policies. They are often initiated because of some external requirement, such as environmental compliance or other governmental to evaluate their impact on students' academic development. Further, because of the organizational changes between elementary and middle schools (i.e., larger enrollment, more teachers, increased bureaucracy, and educating early adolescents), it is important for middle school counselors to conduct an initial assessment of attitudes and practices of the school and its personnel relative to family-school communication. Amatea et al. (2004) found through interviews with teachers and other personnel that there existed a lack of coordination among school-based staff regarding home-school connections. Teachers merely contacted home to inform parents "of the nature of the instructional program and the child's progress in that program" (p. 50). As a result, there was no meaningful two-way dialogue between the school and families, but merely a reporting of information and progress. Middle school counselors should conduct an initial assessment of the current practice of communication between school personnel and families. The following are examples of questions to include in the assessment: (a) "What are the main reasons that school personnel contact early adolescents' families?" (b) "What are the school's policies regarding early adolescents' familial familial /fa·mil·i·al/ (fah-mil´e-il) occurring in more members of a family than would be expected by chance. fa·mil·ial adj. contact?" (c) "What are school personnel's current feelings and thoughts about interacting with early adolescents' caregivers?" and (d) "When are the middle school's family-school meetings scheduled?" The data collected from this assessment of the current attitudes, practices, and policies of school-family interactions should guide middle school counselors in supporting systemic change. Step 2: Educating School Personnel The second step involves education for all school personnel relating to school-family communication and working with early adolescents. Middle school counselors' expertise in interpersonal communications Interpersonal communication is the process of sending and receiving information between two or more people. Types of Interpersonal Communication This kind of communication is subdivided into dyadic communication, Public speaking, and small-group communication. , systemic change, and child development makes them an excellent resource to help other educators learn about family engagement (Davis & Adams, 1998; Lambie & Sias, 2005). Amatea et al. (2004) began by educating school personnel concerning the importance of collaboration among the various school-based professionals with a focus on how teacher-family relationships needed to change. To begin this process, it is important for middle school counselors to model collaboration by seeking teacher input in a manner that purposively blocks "the blaming that undermines many family-school problem-solving routines and engage in joint problem solving problem solving Process involved in finding a solution to a problem. Many animals routinely solve problems of locomotion, food finding, and shelter through trial and error. " (Amatea et al., pp. 50-51). This should be followed by opportunities for teachers to meet with families and students. With the recognition that both caregivers and students should be influential and active participants in school-based meetings, emphasis needs to be placed on them becoming no-fault co-decision-makers in the educational process. The inclusion of middle school students in their educational decision-making decision-making, n the process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment. decision-making, evidence-based, n a type of informal decision-making that combines clinical expertise, patient concerns, and evidence gathered from supports the increasing responsibility and autonomy characteristic of early adolescents. With the understanding, too, that it might not be possible for all caregivers to come to the school, collaboration in the decision-making process with families needs to be promoted by affirming families' caring for their child and finding alternative ways to communicate with them (i.e., e-mail, telephone, and personal letters). Additionally, adults working with early adolescents (i.e., caregivers, teachers, school counselors, and administrators) need to make accommodations to their style of interacting with these students. When an adult approaches an early adolescent in a confrontational style, the adolescent will likely respond with "resistance" in an attempt to maintain his or her feeling of personal freedom (autonomy). Thus, the more an adult directly confronts, the more the early adolescent will react with a defense mechanism (i.e., anger, resistance, denial, and minimization). Therefore, adults need to adapt their communication style to the developmental needs of the early adolescents and provide them with a "voice" within their decision-making (Lambie, 2004), while providing them with consistent and stable boundaries. The second step concludes with the development of strategies to increase opportunities for "non-problematic family-school interactions ... to maximize student learning" (Amatea et al., 2004, p. 51). Step 3: Restructuring Family-School Interactional Patterns The third step involves restructuring or revising the manner in which family-school meetings are traditionally conducted. Scheduling time for school-based professionals to meet together and to meet with families and students is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks (Davis & Garrett, 1998). Amatea et al. (2004) worked collaboratively with teachers and counselors to develop grade-level instructional teams, which met biweekly bi·week·ly adj. 1. Happening every two weeks. 2. Happening twice a week; semiweekly. n. pl. bi·week·lies A publication issued every two weeks. adv. 1. Every two weeks. . This format allowed for more time-efficient and consistent contact among teachers and counselors. Regular grade-level instructional team meetings allowed for caregivers and students to participate in educational decisions, using the co-decision and no-fault approach to facilitate more positive interactions. Additionally, at the middle school level, interdisciplinary in·ter·dis·ci·pli·nar·y adj. Of, relating to, or involving two or more academic disciplines that are usually considered distinct. interdisciplinary Adjective collaborative teaming is a common practice (Boyer & Bishop, 2004). Equally important for these meetings, Amatea et al. employed two methods: (a) Meetings that were scheduled used a nonproblematic approach, and (b) student-led conferences were held in which students participated in the decision-making process related to their own education along with caregivers and school-based staff (supporting the early adolescent's drive for autonomy). Lambie (2004) stated, "When students feel that they are choosing to do something for their own self-interest, their motivation can be intense" (p. 269). Thus, providing early adolescents with a "voice" in their own educational process supports their feelings of self-efficacy self-efficacy (selfˈ-eˑ·fi·k and their intrinsic intrinsic /in·trin·sic/ (in-trin´sik) situated entirely within or pertaining exclusively to a part. in·trin·sic adj. 1. Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing. 2. motivation to be successful. As a result, schools discontinue dis·con·tin·ue v. dis·con·tin·ued, dis·con·tin·u·ing, dis·con·tin·ues v.tr. 1. To stop doing or providing (something); end or abandon: the pattern of teacher-led conferences in which caregivers are passive recipients of information, and students and/or any other school-based professionals do not attend. Another consideration in reconfiguring family-school interaction patterns is to make caregiver involvement more convenient. According to Baker (2001), caregivers spoke positively about school engagement when it was "made easier for them to be involved" (p. 139). For this reason, it is important for school personnel to be flexible in their scheduling of meetings to better match caregivers' schedules. However, it is worth noting that middle school personnel should be supported in this effort and not simply be required to work more hours to meet with caregivers during the evening. For example, the second author when working as a school counselor would be awarded "release time" for the evening hours he allotted al·lot tr.v. al·lot·ted, al·lot·ting, al·lots 1. To parcel out; distribute or apportion: allotting land to homesteaders; allot blame. 2. for meeting with families. Transitioning is another factor to consider in reconfiguring family-school interaction patterns. Although many elementary and middle schools do have some type of transition program, there is still room to strengthen school, student, and family connections through the transition process (Rotchford, 2002). This process from elementary to middle school is a valuable opportunity for elementary and middle school counselors to coordinate and collaborate. For example, as opposed to this being the typical one-day event one-day event a contraction of the three-day event but like that contest is aimed at selecting the best all-round horse and rider. The events usually contested are show-jumping, dressage and cross-country. squeezed into the school day, school counselors at the elementary and middle levels, along with other school personnel and teachers from both schools, can organize this process around a Saturday afternoon event (e.g., barbeque, field day) for students and their caregivers. It could include informational sessions for caregivers regarding the transition process and what they might expect for themselves, their families, and their children over the middle school experience. Because middle school counselors have a background in human and family development, they can help families understand the middle school transition as a family life-cycle transition, meaning there will be change for the entire family including their roles and expectations for one another. Step 4: Evaluation and Accommodation As with any implemented intervention A procedure used in a lawsuit by which the court allows a third person who was not originally a party to the suit to become a party, by joining with either the plaintiff or the defendant. and/or program to support systemic change, it is important to receive feedback. Therefore, the final step is to elicit e·lic·it tr.v. e·lic·it·ed, e·lic·it·ing, e·lic·its 1. a. To bring or draw out (something latent); educe. b. To arrive at (a truth, for example) by logic. 2. feedback from students, caregivers, teachers, and other middle school personnel regarding the effectiveness of this collaborative, systemic approach. According to ASCA (2003a), evaluation of the services provided as part of a comprehensive school counseling program is a necessity. A reading of Amatea et al. (2004) is suggested for a more comprehensive discussion regarding the home-school collaborative effort that was designed by a school counseling team. CONCLUSION The collaborative, systemic approach presented demonstrates a process that may be implemented to support families' increased engagement in the educational process of their middle school early adolescents. Although not a single solution, it begins a process of going beyond traditional means by increasing contact with families and responding to the needs identified relative to the potential reasons some families may feel disengaged dis·en·gage v. dis·en·gaged, dis·en·gag·ing, dis·en·gag·es v.tr. 1. To release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles. See Synonyms at extricate. 2. in the middle school years. Specifically, for families that feel there is poor communication between the school and themselves, or feel their caregiver role is trivialized, as Johnston (1998) identified, this type of systemic restructuring to increase family engagement may bring a more consistent and nonproblematic interface between home and school. Futhermore, more consistent and meaningful contact between home and school allows dialogue to address ways that caregivers can help their early adolescents at the middle school level (Burkhardt, 2004; Downs, 2001; Waiters et al., 2003). One resource developed by school media specialists to help caregivers is a series of videos that demonstrate how specific assignments are to be completed, strategies for helping students think more critically about their schoolwork and skill development, information about the school, and general information on early adolescent development (Downs; Waiters et al.). The videos have been translated into several languages, and families can borrow them along with a VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. from the school's library to watch at home. School counselors as part of their collaborative, systemic approach can easily collaborate with teachers and media specialists to prepare resources like these and make them available. As noted, one potential reason for family disengagement during the middle school years is the influence of the family life-cycle. ASCA (2003a, 2003b, 2004b) supports middle school counselors providing school-sponsored family and caregiver educational opportunities that emphasize the integration of home and school life. While evidence exists that middle school counselors can and do provide some time-limited, school-based educational and counseling programs to engage caregivers (Davis, 2001; Whiston & Bouwkamp, 2005), it is still recognized that school counselors need to have knowledge of and make referrals to community agencies for families. Further, to help support families that may be experiencing difficult developmental changes in the early adolescent and family life-cycle, middle school counselors can use their collaborative and systems change expertise to help families connect with appropriate community services. It is important to remember that it is normal and developmentally appropriate for early adolescents to work to differentiate themselves from their caregivers, often "pushing them out." Nevertheless, it is important that caregivers stay engaged in their early adolescents' lives. Although there is overwhelming evidence in the middle school literature to support family engagement as an important positive contributor to early adolescents' holistic Holistic A practice of medicine that focuses on the whole patient, and addresses the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient as well as their physical treatment. Mentioned in: Aromatherapy, Stress Reduction, Traditional Chinese Medicine development, there are a variety of reasons that caregiver involvement sharply declines. Schools that have been successful in engaging families in their early adolescents' middle school learning have looked beyond the traditional definitions of caregiver involvement. Through a collaborative, systemic process of restructuring how a school includes caregivers of middle school students into the educational process, as well as using expertise in community-based resources, middle school counselors have an opportunity to model collaboration to other school-based personnel. Collaboration and advocacy for systems change are established and integral aspects of the role of middle school counselors. Using their expertise, middle school counselors have a key role in helping their schools and staff to enhance caregivers' engagement in early adolescents' education and to facilitate home-school interactions. References Adams, K. S., & Christenson, S. L. (2000).Trust and the family-school relationship: Examination of parent-teacher differences in elementary and secondary grades. Journal of School Psychology, 38, 477-497. Allen, L.V.Z., & Migliore, E.T. (2005). Supporting students and parents through a school-university partnership. Middle School Journal, 36, 17-23. Allison, B. N., & Schultz, J. B. (2004). Parent-adolescent conflict in adolescent. Adolescence, 39(153), 101-119. Amatea, E. S., Daniels, H., Bringman, N., & Vandiver, F. M. (2004). Strengthening counselor-teacher-family connections: The family-school collaborative consultation project. Professional School Counseling, 8, 47-55. American School Counselor Association. (2003a). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs. Alexandria, VA: Author. American School Counselor Association. (2003b). Position statement: Family/parenting education. Retrieved February 27, 2005, from http://www.schoolcounselor. org/content.asp?contentid=207 American School Counselor Association. (2004a). The role of the professional school counselor. Alexandria, VA: Author. American School Counselor Association. (2004b). Why middle school counselors. Retrieved March 3, 2005, from http:// www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=231 Baker, A. J. (2000). Parent involvement for the middle level years: Recommendations for schools. School in the Middle, 9(9), 26-30. Baker, A. J. L. (2001). Improving parent involvement programs and practices: A qualitative study of parent perceptions. In S. Redding Redding, city (1990 pop. 66,462), seat of Shasta co., N central Calif., on the Sacramento River; inc. 1872. A principal tourist center for a mountain and lake region, it also has lumbering, food-processing, and diverse manufacturing. & L. G. Thomas (language) Thomas - A language compatible with the language Dylan(TM). Thomas is NOT Dylan(TM). The first public release of a translator to Scheme by Matt Birkholz, Jim Miller, and Ron Weiss, written at Digital Equipment Corporation's Cambridge Research Laboratory runs (Eds.), The community of the school (pp. 127-153). Lincoln Lincoln, city and district, England Lincoln, city (1991 pop. 79,980) and district, Lincolnshire, E England, in the Parts of Kesteven, on the Witham River. , IL: Academic Development Institute. Boyer, S. J., & Bishop, O. A. (2004). Young adolescent voice: Students' perceptions of interdisciplinary teaming interdisciplinary team, n a group that consists of specialists from several fields combining skills and resources to present guidance and information. . Research in Middle Level Education, 28(1), Article 5. Retrieved April 29, 2005, from http://www.nmsa.org/ research/rmle/summer04/article5.html Brough, J. A., & Irvin, J. L. (2001). Parental involvement supports academic improvement among middle schoolers. Middle School Journal, 32, 56-61. Burkhardt, R. M. (2004). Family contact: Connecting kids and kin through the curriculum. Middle Ground, 8(1), 18-21. Carter, B., & McGoldrick, M. (1998). Overview: The expanded family life cycle. In B. Carter & M. McGoldrick (Eds.), The expanded family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives (3rd ed., pp. 1-26). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Davis, K. M. (2001). Structural-strategic family counseling: A case study in elementary school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 4, 180-186. Davis, K. M., & Adams, J. R. (1998). Group counseling in middle schools: How middle level school counselors contribute to the overall development of middle school children. Current Issues in Middle Level Education, 7, 6-16. Davis, K. M., & Garrett, M.T. (1998). Bridging the gap between school counselors and teachers: A proactive approach. Professional School Counseling, 1(5), 54-55. Deslandes, R., & Bertrand, R. (2005). Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. The Journal of Educational Research, 98, 164-175. Downs, A. (2001). It's all in the family: Middle schools share the secrets of parent engagement. Middle Ground, 4(3), 10-15. Elkind, D. (1998). AII AII Auto ID Infrastructure AII Agence de l'Innovation Industrielle (French Agency for Industrial Innovation) AII Active Input Interface (used in UNI PMD specs for Copper/Fiber) AII ASEAN Information Infrastructure grown up and no place to go: Teenagers in crisis. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Epstein, J. L. (2004). Meeting NCLB NCLB No Child Left Behind (US education initiative) requirements for family involvement. Middle Ground, 8(1), 14-17. Hawes, C. A., & Plourde, L. A. (2005). Parental involvement and its influence on the reading achievement of 6th grade students. Reading Improvement, 42, 47-57. Henderson, A., & Berla, N. (Eds.). (1994). A new generation of evidence: The family is critical to student achievement. Washington, DC: National Committee for Citizens in Education, Center for Law and Education. Ho, B. (2001). Family-centered, integrated services In computer networking, IntServ or integrated services is an architecture that specifies the elements to guarantee quality of service (QoS) on networks. IntServ can for example be used to allow video and sound to reach the receiver without interruption. : Opportunities for school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 4, 357-361. Johnston, J. H. (1998). Family involvement models in middle schools. In M. L. Fuller & G. Olsen (Eds.), Home-school relations: Working successfully with parents and families (pp. 191-207). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Keys, S., & Green, A. (2005). Enhancing developmental school counseling programs through collaboration. In C. Sink (Ed.), Contemporary school counseling: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 361-389). Boston: Lahaska Press. Lambie, G. W. (2004). Motivational Enhancement Therapy: A tool for professional school counselors working with adolescents. Professional School Counseling, 7, 268-276. Lambie, G. W., & Sias, S. M. (2005). Children of alcoholics: Implications for professional school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 8, 266-273. Lounsbury, J. H. (2004). Understanding and appreciating the wonder years. Retrieved April 18, 2005, from http://nmsa.org/moya/moya_2004/related_lounsbury.htm National Association of School Psychologists. (2002). Position statement on home-school collaboration: Establishing partnerships to enhance educational outcomes. Bethesda, MD: Author. National Middle School Association. (2003). This we believe: Successful schools for young adolescents. A summary of a position paper. Westerville, OH: Author. Preto, N. G. (1999).Transformation of the family system during adolescence. In B. Carter & M. McGoldrick (Eds.), The expanded family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives (3rd ed., pp. 274-286). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Rotchford, H. (2002). Building alliances, building families: Making the transition a community concern. Middle Ground, 6(1), 10-15. U.S. Department of Education. (1997). Family involvement in children's education: Successful local approaches. Retrieved February 25, 2005, from http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Famlnvolve/execsumm.html Walters, K., Knowlton, D. S., & Weiss, R. E. (2003). Increasing parent participation in middle school learning communities. Current Issues in Middle Level Education, 9(1), 46-52. Whiston, S. C., & Bouwkamp, J. C. (2005). Peer programs and family counseling. In C. Sink (Ed.), Contemporary school counseling: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 116-147). Boston: Lahaska Press. Keith M. Davis, Ph.D., is with the Department of Human Development & Psychological Counseling, Appalachian State University History Appalachian State University began in the summer of 1899 when a group of citizens of Watauga County, NC, under the leadership of D.D. Dougherty and B.B. Dougherty, began a movement to establish a good school in Boone, NC. Land was donated by D.B. , Boone, NC. E-mail: email@example.com Glenn W. Lambie, Ph.D., is with the Department of Child, Family, & Community Sciences, University of Central Florida "UCF" redirects here. For other uses, see UCF (disambiguation). UCF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of providing highly trained personnel to support the Kennedy , Orlando. E-mail. email@example.com Reader Opinion |


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Lot/land for sale in Anchor Point, AK 11,000 USD
Amazing view of Stariski Creek & valley surrounding hills looking south toward Homer. Very peaceful and beautiful area, great views, priced to sell, abundant fishing. Lot 9 also listed.
Brokered And Advertised By: Century 21 Freedom Realty - Kenai
Listing Agent: Fred Braun
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If you didn't see the Sylvester Stallone-Arnold Schwarzenegger prison break movie "Escape Plan" this weekend, I have a surprise for you.
It's pretty awesome!
I've conducted a quick sample of reviews online, and I would characterize them overall as "mixed to favorable." Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 52 percent among critics, with 69 percent of the audience having liked it. Critical comments run the gamut from ripping the film ("Tedious." "Routine." "Pointless.") to damning it with faint praise ("…surprisingly entertaining!" "…does what it sets out to do").
Whether liking or hating the movie, most critics seem to agree that the actual escape plan is ridiculous. Actually, I didn't feel that the plan was any more preposterous than the ever-escalating series of improbable (or downright impossible) events that allowed "Gravity" to turn out the way it did, and it seems as though almost everyone agrees that it's a masterpiece!
I liked "Gravity" very much, indeed. And, in terms of cinematography and special effects, I think it's a masterpiece. But what I want you to know is, in its own way, "Escape Plan" is a masterpiece, too.
Three things distinguish a great buddy action thriller from its lesser rivals: A) the stars and the chemistry they share, B) a well-balanced blend of suspense and humor and C) a wonderfully realized villain.
In the case of "Escape Plan," if the team-up of Sly and Ahnold had any more chemistry, the film would probably spontaneously combust.
Yeah, Stallone now seems capable of only two facial expressions: earnest and earnestly enraged. Yeah, Schwarzenegger, (unlike Stallone) seems to have lost a bit of muscle tone over the years. Doesn't matter. Sly is deadly serious and ice-cold as the world's foremost prison security expert Ray Breslin, who plies his trade by having himself locked up and then escaping from the toughest prisons on Earth. And then there's Arnold, the actor. And I mean that! Arnold inhabits his character, big-man-in-prison Emil Rottmayer, as though he were an actual person, rather than just another on-screen version of himself. The only other time I can recall him getting this close to actually playing a part was in 1994's "True Lies."
Stallone's Breslin is tricked into having himself locked up in the world's most secure maximum security prison, a place constructed specifically by private industry to house the truly awful people the government wants to "disappear." After he finds out he's been "buried" forever, Breslin is befriended by Rottmayer. Rottmayer has noticed that Breslin is constantly observing and mentally cataloging aspects of "The Tomb," as the prison has been dubbed. The two set to work devising a way to get out.
Their investigation of the prison's hoped-for weaknesses requires many diversions, stunts and careful manipulations of various prisoners and staff. These activities are played for maximum action, drama and laughs. Stallone pounds along like a pit bull, and Schwarzenegger leaps from one challenge to the next with a twinkle in his eye and a surprisingly droll delivery of his many humorous lines. Arnold even manages to make a scene involving a variation of water-boarding funny.
And then there's Jim Caviezel, as Warden Hobbes. In a delightful upending of the peculiarly soft-spoken hero of CBS's "Person of Interest," Caviezel plays a ruthless, butterfly-collecting, megalomaniacal sadist. As crazed movie villains go, the only thing missing from Hobbes' arsenal of ironic commentary, facial tics, vicious inclinations and overarching ambition is a cat to hold and stroke throughout the proceedings. Of course, Warden Hobbes clearly couldn't tolerate cat-hair on his expensive clothing, which is probably the only reason he doesn't have one.
While some critics took exception to moments during the film where the obviously hyper-intelligent Hobbes had to suddenly "be stupid" in order for the escape plan to work, I chalked up those moments to the warden's arrogance, based firmly in his belief that he was so much smarter than everyone else. If you're at first doubtful as to the level of creepy that inhabits Caviezel's Hobbes, or of the game that director Mikael Hafstrom is actually playing, watch closely for a cringe-inducing but hilarious moment between Hobbes and one of his video surveillance operators.
After an appropriately action- and subterfuge-fueled build-up, the escape plan is finally put into motion. From that moment on, things blast along.
I had a great time at this movie. Not only was it an enjoyable action thriller; it demonstrated that while neither Stallone nor Schwarzenegger are the draws they once were, together they are truly a force to be reckoned with.
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text: I think the game should definitely be a choice throughout. You decide your job for the game (racer, cop, shop owner, etc.). If you get busted, you can try to bribe the players playing the cops. I mean I have such a DEEP root in the car customizing (I actually run my own shop ). I know what street racers want in games. People don't want cars with pre-made kits(Carbon and Most Wanted). You want the ability to mix and create (Underground 2). Reason being, you want to be unique. That's why you even customize your ride. We need to alert Nintendo. What the heck is/was with GT Pro Series!? That was the saddest attempt at racing I have ever witnessed! We need a good racing game. There will be no pre-determined routes in online mode. Once the racers are challenged, the crew leader that started the challenge picks the course using the Wiimote to draw it out by tracing the streets to be used. After that, the map is shown to the rest of the racers, loaded up, and raced. Now, cops can setup busts because they will always be there (online) as long as the players palying as cops are connected. I have SO many ideas about this game. From the moment you fire it up, you will be in the underground tuner world. Can't think of a name.... maybe "Smoke" "Quarter Mile" "Pink Slips" "Slips" or whatever. People should chime in with names.


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Firefox OS for mobile devices
Firefox OS
======= Bringing the Open Web to mobile devices :p Freedom from proprietary mobile platforms We're collaborating with OEMs and carriers directly, giving them more influence to meet the specific needs of their users and market. Users and developers aren't locked in to one platform, so they can access their info and use apps across multiple devices. http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefoxos/ |
Forget iPhone 5: Mozilla wants to get the next two billion users onto Firefox OS, an open mobile phone
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news...iphone-5-92412 :p |
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Reader comments are listed below. Comments are currently closed and new comments are no longer being accepted.
Well, if you break the law anywhere you run the risk of being caught and arrested. The difference is that in that in some cases, not all information is revealed to the public straight away. So I don't think it's really a cautionary tale - more of an interesting anecdote reflecting the inefficiencies of the Chinese legal system.
Anyway, by the looks of it I'm pretty sure that he did break some laws to get where he is today, in which case you can't use it to argue a point for poor property rights protection in China - if that is what you meant by "cautionary tale"
What happened to the officials who took the bribe? All charges should be made completely public, and the corrupt officials should be tried and jailed. Otherwise this is just another cautionary tale of doing business in the Wild East.
For a business to prosper, most of them have connection with government officials. The relationship is quite murky, the business owner may buy gifts, give discounts, and/or favors to government officials friends and relatives, take them to banquets, KTV, expense paid travels inside China or overseas travels, expensive meals, prostitutes, sometimes money, Roex watch, LV bags, MBZ cars, etc....
I have been doing business in China for many years and I know. The only way to get arrested is very simple; the bussiness people made a mistake, such as your government connection lost power, or the business person did not pay enough money or favors to the right officials.
Most government officials have questionable or unethical behaviors, and businessman need to play the game to become successful. That is why the richest people (business people or no) are Commuist party member (You must be a Commuist party memebr to become a government official), I know....
One of the main reason why China is so successful is there are humdred of millions of honest working stiffs work their butts off to make few cents per hour. That is why there is huge gap between the rich and the poor. That is why you see some pepole went crazy to kill kids in kindergarden.....
Contracting institutions are still weak in China - creating a "best practice" legal system for corporate governance will still take some time. But if his crimes are real, then the government is still increasing social welfare and efficiency by capturing him regardless of their choice on the degree of transparency for the case. That is a luxury developed countries can afford, but given the complex political and economic system of a developing country like China, compromises need to be made in the legal system to ensure incentive compatibility for the investigators, judges and government/party officials involved to do their jobs as efficiently as possible.
Ultimately, pointing out that the Chinese government needs more transparency does not help the situation unless you can offer a detailed working plan on how it can be done without creating strong political opposition from those in power with conflicting interests and any "losers" who will not benefit from the reform. As far as I have read in terms of economic literature, gradual improvement of transitional institutions (as China has been doing for the past 20 years) has yielded surprisingly good results.
"Rule of Law must be vigorously pursued regardless of his wealth, position or nationality."
So must transparency, or the rule of law for naught.
Perhaps the new administration business plans didn't coincide with his. I am pretty sure it's money related.
Rule of Law must be vigorously pursued regardless of his wealth, position or nationality.
I think the Russian "scandals" have far more political implications than the Huang case alike in China. Therefore made public is logical and neccesary for the Russian government to take down opponents, while more detailed scrutiny only makes Chinese government look worse at its administration jobs in cases like this one.
The article is correct though the wording would lead people to think of something else. In China's judicial system a case sometimes starts with detention and there is no communication allowed with outside until the case is brought to trial, and the person's family is not notified of the charges, they have a word for it as "shuang gui". So yeah his detention was widely publicized, the Economist even did an article, but nobody knew much about the case until now.
This is very similar to the oligarch situation in Russia. However, in Russia the government clearly reveals the crimes of these businessmen – to turn them into examples for the public – while in China everything is wrapped in secrecy. I feel like this is problematic because the Chinese public should understand the seriousness of Huang's crimes, openness being the best way to achieve that.
The bribery part is not at all surprising; the many levels of the Chinese bureaucracy are wrapped up in varying degrees of corruption. I'm sure that despite the change in mayor/senior police officer in Guangdong, there will still be ample corruption – no one is immune to the temptation of wealth.
Indeed I found the mention of "vanished from public view" to be inconsistent with how the Chinese authorities conduct themselves. The actual investigation may be secretive, but the Chinese government is usually pretty voiced about the corrupt individuals that they take down.
An otherwise nice accounting of the subject matter of this article was marred by some irresponsible reporting like saying "Huang Guangyu, the founder and controlling shareholder of Gome, a vast retail-electronics chain, vanished from public view in 2008 it was all but certain that he had been arrested."
Mr. Huang's questioning by the law enforcement authority that led to his subsequent arrest was widely reported in Chinese media including internet news portals. He did not just "vanish from public view".
And talking about the choice of words used in reporting, the article says "He was forced to pay 800m yuan ($119m)" when 'He was ordered to pay…" should have been more correct and professional.
His case is pending on appeal to a higher court.
Well it seems the details of the case have become available - Caixin published the full text of the judgement (in Chinese) on their website - available here http://policy.caing.com/2010-05-19/100145343.html


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Smashbox Try It Kit $19 Shipped
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jim2003 - 6:47 pm on Apr 23, 2007 (gmt 0)
To me, this is like saying Pizza Hut can't buy an ad on the same page that the yellow page listing for Domino's Pizza exists. Goodness forbid that someone looking for the Domino's phone number sees the Ad for Pizza Hut and changes there mind. Yellow Page trademark abuse must stop now!


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Located less than 15 minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and 20 minutes from Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park, this motel features a business center and free in-room Wi-Fi. The accommodations at the Bedford Americas Best Value Inn are furnished with flat-screen TVs equipped with cable TV and the HBO channel. The rooms are air conditioned and a hair dryer is provided. The front desk at this Bedford, Texas motel is open 24 hours a day. Free parking is available. Downtown Dallas, Texas is 30 minutes from Americas Best Value Inn Bedford. Mountasia Family Fun Center is 15 minutes from the motel.
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WASHINGTON (AP) - On his second trip to the Middle East as U.S. commander in chief, President Barack Obama this week will confront a political and strategic landscape nearly unrecognizable from the one he encountered on his first trip to the region shortly after assuming office in 2009.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A dispute over budget cuts that threaten dozens of smaller control towers with closure slowed Senate progress Tuesday on legislation to avoid a government shutdown on March 27.
PETA SEEKS CRIMINAL CHARGES IN IDITAROD DOG DEATH: ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The asphyxiation death of a dog removed from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has outraged animal rights activists who have long criticized the 1,000-mile race as cruel.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A University of Central Florida student planned an attack on campus but committed suicide in a dorm before carrying it out, authorities said Monday.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - William Edward Small was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, trap and fish. When the 20-year-old airman died while undergoing training in Florida's panhandle, his death was shocking enough.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota woman at the center of a long-running court fight over the unauthorized downloading of copyrighted music said there's still no way she can pay record companies the $222,000 judgment she owes after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal Monday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - After Friendster came MySpace. By the time Facebook dominated social media, parents had joined the party, too. But the online scene has changed - dramatically, as it turns out - and these days even if you're friends with your own kids on Facebook, it doesn't mean you know what they're doing.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - People who knew former Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis say his passion for flying began before he arrived at the school and led the Sooners to back-to-back national championships in the 1970s.
NEW YORK (AP) - The producers of the cable TV miniseries on the Bible say Internet chatter that their Satan character resembles President Barack Obama is "utter nonsense."
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Severe thunderstorms Monday raked across a wide area of the South, packing strong winds, rain and some baseball-size hail.
STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former Pennsylvania pastor was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole in the fatal bludgeoning of his second wife in 2008.
NEW YORK (AP) - Cigarettes would have to be kept out of sight in New York City stores under a first-in-the-nation plan unveiled by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Monday, igniting complaints from tobacco companies and smokers who said they've had enough with the city's crackdowns.
2 CHARGED WITH THREATENING GIRL IN OHIO RAPE CASE: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Authorities have arrested two eastern Ohio girls suspected of making social media threats against a West Virginia girl who accused two high school football players of raping her in a case that drew widespread attention.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A private jet apparently experiencing mechanical trouble crashed Sunday in a northern Indiana neighborhood, leaving multiple people dead after it hit three homes, becoming lodged in one of them, authorities and witnesses said.
NILES, Mich. (AP) - It was 1953 and then-Pvt. Bob Rodgers had just arrived at Fort Campbell, Ky., for basic training when he sat down to write a letter to his wife after the post's power went out.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A chemical spill left the water for 300,000 people in and around West Virginia's capital city stained blue-green and smelling like licorice, with officials saying Friday it was unclear when it might be safe again to even take showers and do laundry.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sean Parnell on Friday announced a new way forward on a long-hoped-for natural gas pipeline that includes scrapping the terms of a 2007 law he says no longer works well for the situation.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Officials squabbled over media leaks and worried about bad publicity in the days after lane closings near the George Washington Bridge caused huge traffic jams that now appear to have been politically orchestrated by a member of Gov. Chris Christie's administration and key allies, documents released Friday show.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - With time running out, the condemned killer of a pregnant woman has launched two federal appeals, arguing both that his original attorneys never got the chance to lay out the extent of his chaotic and abusive childhood, and that if executed, he would experience "agony and terror" from the state's untried execution process.


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Analyst Blog
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Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK - Analyst Report) posted a loss per share of 4 cents in the third quarter of 2012 versus earnings per share of 3 cents in the year-ago quarter. The loss in the reported quarter was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of a penny.
The weak quarterly earnings performance was due to lower natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) prices as well as a decline in production volumes.
On a GAAP basis, the company reported a loss of $3.83 per share compared with net income of 17 cents per share in the year-earlier quarter. The difference of $3.79 between GAAP and operating loss per share during the quarter was due to the impact of non-operational items.
Total Revenue
Reported revenue at the end of the third quarter 2012 was $177.7 million, down 31.6% from $259.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The fall in natural gas and natural liquids output resulted in the revenue decline.
Quarterly revenue also trailed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $180 million.
Operational Update
Overall production shrank 15.2% in the third quarter 2012 to 362.4 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (MMcfed) from 427.4 MMcfed in the year-ago quarter. This was due to diminished capital investments, lower production from existing wells and weak volumes from the Barnett Shale play.
Quicksilver Resources locked in average daily production of 291.3 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (MMcfe) in the third quarter 2012, down 17.2% from 351.6 MMcfe in the third quarter 2011. Natural gas liquids also witnessed production loss of 7.3% compared to the 2011 third quarter. Oil production growth of 9.3% in the reported quarter partially mitigated the negative output numbers.
Total realized prices during the third quarter 2012 declined 10.6% to $4.73 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) from $5.29 per Mcfe due to collapsing natural gas and NGL prices partially offset by a marginal increase in oil price. The average realized oil, NGL and natural gas prices in the third quarter were a respective $83.9 per barrel (up 1.6%), $37.8 per barrel (down 2.3%) and $4.23 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) (down 14.7%).
Total operating expenses during the reported quarter shot up 264.6% year over year to $699.6 million owing to an impairment cost of $546.8 million.
Excluding the impairment charge, operating expenses decreased 20.4% year over year to $152.8 million. Cost decelerated mainly due to a 20% and 37.2% fall in lease and general and administrative expenses, respectively, partially offset by a 6.5% increase in cost of gas purchase.
Moderating lease operating expenses (LOE) resulted from a decline in water hauling, compression and gas lift cost owing to idling of production in high-cost wells and cost control measures. This was also helped by lower LOE in the Canadian operations.
Interest expenses during the quarter were $42.1 million versus $48.4 million in the prior-year period.
Cash and cash equivalents of the company as of September 30, 2012 were $7.4 million versus $13.1 million as of December 31, 2011.
Long-term debt at Quicksilver, as of September 30, 2012, was $2.2 billion versus $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2011.
Capital expenditure for the third quarter 2012 amounted to $68 million. Out of the total cost, $48.0 million was allocated for drilling and completion activities, $2.0 million for midstream activities, $7.0 million associated with acreage purchases and $11.0 million on corporate and other.
The company estimates production volumes in the fourth quarter 2012 in the range of 330–340 MMcfe per day. For 2012, the average output is expected in the range of 350–365 MMcfe per day as Quicksilver's drilling activity is set to be tepid in the upcoming quarters.
The company projects fourth quarter production taxes; gathering, processing, and transportation expenses; and lease operating expenses in the corresponding range of 20–22 cents per Mcfe, $1.22–$1.26 per Mcfe and 70–75 cents per Mcfe. General & administrative expenses and depreciation, deletion and amortization expenses are expected in the band of 50–53 cents per Mcfe and $1.10–$1.14 per Mcfe, respectively. The company has plans to incur capital expenses of $389 million for the full-year 2012.
The company expects to strengthen its hedging of production capacities to safeguard against fluctuating prices. It has entered into a multi-year hedging program which includes 267 MMcfe/d of output hedged for 2012 which translates to roughly 80% of its expected total equivalent production for the fourth quarter of 2012 at a weighted average price of $6.02 per Mcfe.
For 2013, 2014 and 2015, the volume hedged is 200 MMcfd, 170 MMcfd and 150 MMcfd, at average prices of $5.10 per Mcf, $5.08 per Mcf and $5.23 per Mcf, respectively. For the period 2016-2021, the company has hedged 40 MMcfd at a weighted price of $4.48 per Mcf.
Peer Comparison
A Quicksilver peer, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (CHK - Analyst Report), announced operating earnings for the third quarter 2012 of 10 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny, while plummeting roughly 86% from the year-ago earnings of 72 cents per share.
Total revenue of the company decreased 25.3% year over year to $2,970.0 million but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,417.0 million.
Our View
Quicksilver reported drab earnings outcome in the third quarter 2012 owing to continued sluggish production and weak prices.
We are however encouraged by the company's association with high-quality ventures with Royal Dutch Shell plc. (RDS.A - Analyst Report) and its development of the oil prospect in West Texas. In addition, the company's strong hedging profile will cushion its operations from commodity price volatilities leading to stable top-line.
However, costs pressure stemming from environmental laws and disruption in operations from weather conditions and pipeline accidents could limit the growth goals of the company.
Quicksilver Resources presently has a Zacks #3 Rank (Hold rating). Based in Fort Worth, Texas, independent exploration and production company Quicksilver Resources is primarily engaged in the development of long-lived, unconventional, onshore natural gas reserves in the North American continent
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3 Boys!! That says it all!!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
No longer private.
OK so for a while I had a creeping stalker, so I shut everything down for a while. That situation has been taken care of, thank goodness. You think that after I denied him for a loan he would get the hint!! Apparently not!! So I will try again and see what happens. Summer is finally here thank goodness, not sure if any one feels the same but holy cow what a long winter/spring. Hope every one out there enjoys there first day of summer.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Private, Private, Private!!!
I hate to go private however under the circumstances I am required to do so or shut down the blog all together. I will try private for a while and see if that takes care of the situation. Sorry every one. Hope every one has a Happy and Safe Holiday......
If you would like to be added please email me your info and I will add you.
If you would like to be added please email me your info and I will add you.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Weekend fun!!
The boys had one last weekend before school started. They had an awesome birthday party and of course we spent three days in the pool. We had a BBQ with grandpa. The boys really wanted him to swim with them, however that didn't happen much to there disappointment. Jonah and Ethan started school today and Alex starts Wednesday. Heaven help the elementary with all three of the Telford Boys!!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Fun in the sun!!
The boys have been in the pool for three days straight now. It is just right for the three of them. Today they had Kaden, Grandma and Brandie come over to play. They even talked Grandma into getting in with them. She might kill me for puting the picture up, but the boys insisted that we put some on here. Well the weekend is over and that means back to work. Hope every one had a great weekend.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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CONTENTSNAIA LINKSOfficial Athletics WebsiteKIAC SCHOOLSAlice Lloyd (Ky.)Asbury (Ky.)Berea (Ky.)Brescia (Ky.)CarlowCincinnati Christ.IU EastIU SoutheastMidway (Ky.)Mountain StatePoint ParkSt. Louis COPSPORTSBaseballMen's BasketballWomen's BasketballCross CountryMen's GolfWomen's GolfMen's SoccerWomen's SoccerSoftballMen's TennisWomen's TennisTrack & FieldVolleyballMEDIAHeadlinesLive BroadcastsArchived BroadcastsVideo ClipsPhoto GalleriesAnnouncementsCalendar/ScheduleiCal CalendarTournamentsContent PagesDocumentsForumsPollsScoreboardContact UsRSS FeedIHIGH LINKS |
Home » Men's Basketball NewsRejuvenated Red Wolves reach two records in road winFebruary 22, 2012 IU EAST BROADCAST SPORTSWILMORE, Ky. - The Red Wolves went from one of their worst practices of the year to the best shooting performance in school history in just two days. The Indiana University East men's basketball team set a school record for shooting percentage in a single game and broke the program's NAIA record for victories in a season with a 93-72 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win on Feb. 21 at Asbury University. The NAIA Division II No. 17 Red Wolves conclude the regular season with a 24-6 overall record (11-2 KIAC). IU East's previous high for wins in a season was 23 by the 2008-09 and 2010-11 teams. "I'm more worried about getting the next win," said IU East coach Mark Hester. "I'd like for us to get on a nine-game winning streak (which would carry the Red Wolves to a national championship). That would mean far more to me than getting 24 wins." The Red Wolves will face Asbury (11-16, 5-8) again Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the KIAC tournament. The game will be played at Earlham College. IU East's players and coaches followed up a sluggish workout Sunday morning with a heart-to-heart talk Sunday night. The Red Wolves responded with a solid workout Monday morning that carried over to the game at Asbury. The Red Wolves jumped ahead 22-9 and led by double digits the rest of the way. "It all started with energy," said freshman guard Tyler Fangman (Cold Spring, Ky./Beechwood High School). "The IU Southeast game (a loss on Feb. 16) we had no energy. Today we had a lot of energy, everyone was pulling for each other, and when you have that kind of energy, you get shots to fall." IU East set the school record for field goal percentage in a single game with a .625 field goal percentage (40 of 64). "We know we are usually going to shoot well, but not like that," Hester said. "I wasn't aware we were shooting that well." Senior guard David Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Beech Grove High School) and sophomore guard Matt Trimnell (Seymour, Ind./Seymour High School) led IU East with 17 points apiece. Dakotah Euton scored 26 points for Asbury. Click here for the IU East-Asbury box score.
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