Month: July 2018

Chasing down a dream house

 

As I was reading this article I could really relate to this. I have spent hours dreaming and surfing the internet trying to find a perfect home. Viewing after viewing my parents wanted to give me up for adoption. I was eighteen and I want to feel like an accomplish person, I had my saving and I wanted a house. I love this entry she wrote hear, I feel like it spoke volumes to me.

“For reasons I will perhaps never fully understand, I’d wanted a house more than I’d wanted a partner. More precisely, I’d wanted a house, then a partner. It was as if doing things the other way around would have denied me the only platform on which I could assemble myself into a worthy, attractive person. It was as if doing things the other way around would have made me null and void. At least this is what I believed when I signed my life over to Bank of America, picked the keys up from the escrow office and stepped into the house I believed would root me to the earth”.

I like in the essay that she spoke about how she encompassed her mother ways, as she too like to look at houses. Now she is at a place where she needs to include more than her dog, but a husband to live comfortably together as they should. The writer wrote very vividly and touch home in a lot a places.

 

Heather,
I like the topic you choosed, many people talk bad about the city but have nothing educational to back it up. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if your topic was going to be on universal health care or drug overdoses. You answer how to improve the outbreak by making treatment obtainable and universal health care. You found credible sources that were printed by the herald news. Finally i do believe you use MLA 8 Format in your citation. This article was a intresting read.
Thanks, Carrie

 

Somerset is a great town to live in, lots of quietness and seclusion from the big cities, yet not too far from amenities. One thing I would like to see improve is just the overall security for our children in the public school system. This has been a talk for our town for the last four years and only a little has been done to help improve it.

One example of the lack of security there is at my sons school is

Last year in order to gain entry into my son’s school you would just have to ring the bell and they would buzz you in. Some school offices were down the hall and when you enter, there would be a sign to please report to the office upon entering the building, but that never stopped anyone from walking around, Especially someone who wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.

After multiple incidences around the country the area schools started tightening up. They started asking who you were upon entering and they proceed to let you in. (I’m sorry but there is no way that one office staff member knows every student in the school never the less all there family members).

At the beginning of the school year, the school my son attends decided to build what they call a vestibule (the new paper called it layers between you and the school) that anyone entering the building would have to be buzzed into which put you at the office window. From there you would state your reason for being there and then proceeded. If you were there for a meeting or such you would then be buzzed thru another door to gain entry into the hall. To some extent this would help with someone just walking into the building after the person in the office let them in. The problem with this set up is that it’s all glass. If someone really wanted to they could just break the glass and proceeded to do whatever they feel like (Austin2018)

The town had requested that additional police officers be hired one for each of the elementary schools instead of having one resource officers float between three school buildings. Police presence may deter an individual from doing harm but someone who is determined and wants to do harm will do it regardless of the situation. In April the school committee decided this would be a great update for the school and decaited money for this update. Not to long after the police Chief of Somerset stated that he believes that they would hire one more officer not the four they had oringally wanted. I don’t agree with this I feel that every school and every child is important and that the amount of money we pay in taxes should approve this. (Autsin2018)

One issue I find very troubling in the school system is Core Checks. Every year I would fill one out to attend the school as a volunteer or chaperon for field trips. When I had filled the paperwork back out for the current school year I was informed that I didn’t need to as it was good for 3 years. I then asked why and was told by the office staff that it was state law. I also asked the principal of one of the schools if someone does anything wrong that would prevent them from enter the school or being on the ground if they would be informed whether by the state or police etc., I was told NO. So basically once an individual has a core check done and if they did something they shouldn’t they would still have access of being in or on school ground with other children and no one would know otherwise (Massachusetts Department of Elementary)

Even after all the current changes in security the area schools have made they don’t enforce them the way they should. For example:

My husband and I went to school for our daughter IEP evaluation. She will be starting preschool in the fall of 2018 and our son will be going into kindergarten. My son wanted us to show his preschool teacher his robot he got for Christmas, so we took it with us to show her. The robot is packed in a black padded box roughly 12 inches by 12 inches by 4 inches high. When we arrived at the school my husband carried the box into the building. We walked pasted the police office, rang the bell to the office told them who we were and they let us in. we then went to the office window and said we were here for our daughters IEP meeting and they called the special education coordinator. The Special Education coordinator came out to greet us and we proceeded out of the vestibule door and into the hallway with all the other students. We proceeded down the hall and into another room for the meeting. Not once did anyone stop and ask us what was in the box. The box was not hidden it was in plain sight. After the meeting my husband picked up the box that was sitting on the floor and opened it to show his teacher and they were all pretty impressed. After showing them the robot my husband blatantly started that they should have all been ashamed of themselves for letting someone carry in a box that looked like a pistol case and that there school security sucked.

After this incident one would think that there would be more aware and on their toes but the following weeks after that meeting we had an end of the year slide show presentation for all the preschoolers. When I arrived at the school all the parents, aunts uncles, and grandparents were there to see the presentation. The police officer on that day proceeded to walk out of the building and leave in his cruiser and instead of the school having everyone go thru the vestibule and signing in they opened a pair of doors into the building and allowed everyone present into the cafeteria/auditorium to watch the show. When we went to our son’s kindergarten orientation they opened the doors for all that were there and allowed them to walk down the halls and upstairs to another open room and proceeded with the orientation. Both situations could have been dealt with on a much more secure basis allowing those present to sign in show id etc., not just allow everyone who is outside the doors to come in and the staff have no idea who they are.

There is no fool proof way to secure a school and say that nothing thing would happen. But there are actions that could take place so students and parents along with teachers and office staff would feel safer. Creating a barrier between the entrance and access to the school is a great idea; just don’t make it a full glass wall. Asking whose coming into the building is another great idea, but I would take it a set further and ask for valid state issued ID. Anyone carrying anything into the school should be checked or examined the same way security does at amusement parks. I feel the Core check system should be changed and require new forms submitted every year instead of allowing them to be good for three years. I also feel that after the Sandy Hook incident that all teachers and staff should pass a psych evaluation and also there family members should be looked into if there is an issue. The town has provided cameras that are link directly to the police department is an improvement and along with the vestibules but this is the only beginning of the thing I think should be improved.

 

Work cited

Massachusetts Department of Elementary. “District School Resources.” Massachusetts State Seal, www.doe.mass.edu/licensure/resources/.

 

Austin, George. “Somerset Police Chief Proposes One Additional School Resource Officer.” Southcoasttoday.com, Southcoasttoday.com, 27 June 2018, www.southcoasttoday.com/special/20180418/somerset-police-chief-proposes-one-additional-school-resource-officer.

Austin, George. “Spotlight: Work Is Starting on Security Improvements at Somerset Schools.” Southcoasttoday.com, Southcoasttoday.com, 27 June 2018, www.southcoasttoday.com/special/20180418/spotlight-work-is-starting-on-security-improvements-at-somerset-schools.

 

 

Hello,
I love that you added question. I think you should add in-text citation, after the paragraphs so the reader knows where you got the information from. Also I wasn’t quite sure if your topic was on safety, development or playgrounds a 100 years ago. I feel like you touch on all of these. You have great points, I like that you put “Play grounds were referred to as “lots” with old pipes, chains, and ladders” I would like to read what it is compared to now. The other part I especially like is “The playgrounds now-a-days lack the fun, engaging, slightly scary excitement!” but I feel like it is missing the why. Why aren’t they exciting now, I see that you put kids like video games but I still believe the playground is fun. (my opinion) Great start and I can’t wait to read your final draft.

Discovering a Family Owned Business

Shopping is one of my favorite things to do, second is people watching. The detail I was able to see when you’re looking for them in a store is truly amazing. Anyone can see these things if they know what you are looking for. “The science of shopping” through Paco Underhill eyes is found in Carl’s Locksmith Service business, from the zones when you first walk into the building to the Invariant right, right down to the awesome customer service.

Carl’s Locksmith Service is a specialty shop located just up from the heart of the city in Fall River, MA. It is located on a corner lot on a main road and has a large sign on the front of the building. There is street parking along the front and side of the building and they also have a small parking lot in the rear. At first glance it looks like a tan wooden shingle building with colorful signs in their windows that states “open” “keys made here.” The signs flash different colors and bring attention to the otherwise quiet looking neighborhood with rental houses all around. This shop is not located in a busy shopping area but always has people in and out of its doors.

Once inside the first few steps in there is nothing on either side of you just as Paco Underhill stated the decompression zone I noted the blue tile floor that was extra shiny considering there is a lot of foot traffic traveling in and out. The decompression zone is the area directly inside the store within five to fifteen paces which gives them time to adjust to the lights. Paco states “he believes that as a rule of thumb that customer’s interaction with any product or display will increase by thirty percent if moved to the back edge of the zone or even to the right.”  My first impression was that the store was very organized and clean. Taking a few more steps into the building on the right hand side there is a carpeted display stand of small fire safes followed by a display of locks for both residential and commercial applications at eye level Zone 1. Paco also talks about the invariant right meaning everything of importance or promotional displays should be place on the right hand side because most people are right handed and they naturally turn right when entering a store.

Zone 3 is where you generally want customers to go to get their do it your self-stuff in this store. You can find these items along the back wall where there are neatly placed name tags above each item hanging there and below them are more safes in all different colors, sizes and ratings. On the left hand side there was a large variety of keys that hung from one side of the wall to the other. The owner stated that it is “approximately thirty eight feet long” and about “forty-five thousand keys” that hang on it. Below the massive wall of keys sits many different key machine and bin boxes filled with all sorts of smaller locks. In front of the machines there is a work bench and a counter with the cash register about three quarters of the way into the shop Zone 4. On the right hand side of the counter there is novelty items or impulse items for customers to buy, like keychains, key rings, screwdrivers and flashlights. Impulse items are little things that people buy on the go and conveniently place where otherwise they would choose not to buy.

The atmosphere is very inviting, friendly and warm. The walls are wooden panels with all kinds of pictures about locks and handouts on items located around the shop. Located on the back wall are written stories of their success along with awards and certifications of each employee. The lighting is just right, not overly bright, but enough to see the merchandise. There is no music playing in there show room unless you count the owners grandchildren playing quietly in the corner. There are two wooden chairs available but don’t look inviting. I sat there as I observed the staff and customers with the owner’s permission.

As customers enter the building the sales staff knew them by name and if they didn’t they still treated them with the up most respect. The business consists of three sales/technicians personal. The older gentleman (the father) whose knowledgeable, straight forward, older business likes, and dry, a woman (the mother) whose personable, knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, pleasant, and honest. The third is a younger man (the son) who is also knowledgeable, friendly, professional and has a sense of humor. The three of them wear the same uniform, blue stripe shirts with the logo printed on one side and their name on the other side.

As I watch the staff interacts with customers I noted that the men usually went to the male staff members and woman went to the female. Women explain what they were looking for in simple everyday terms while the men were very specific. There were more people that purchase items than non-purchasers. Customers that bought items spent more time in the shop than ones that did not. If the customer needed a key cut the shop people kindly told “them to leave it on the ring, they didn’t need to take it off.” I think this helps the customer out with fighting with the key ring and also saved the employee’s time. There was a lot of positive energy in the store, definitely a family orientated place (you could feel the love.) There are all types of people who enter through those doors. Young and old, rich and poor, as I was sitting there I saw a lawyer, police officer, teacher, real estate agent, the electric company, homeowners and a renter come in for a variety of things. (I was there for about an hour on two different occasions.) The staff seems to generally care and offers all kinds of help even if they can’t accommodate their needs. They seem to put the customer first and making a sale second.

A young couple entered the shop and excitedly explained that they just bought their first home and needed new locks. I quickly jotted down the conversation between the two. The owner asked the couple how many locks they had on the home. The couple replied with three doors with two locks on each. The owner said so six locks in total, do you have working keys for them now. The couple stated they did. The owner asked what type of locks you have on your doors now. The couple showed a picture to the owner and stated that they really love the lock that were on the house and if they could get something in a similar style. The owner replied by saying if you would like to save money and keep your hardware now we could just rekey your current locks on the door. The couple was very excited and said yes. The owner gave them a price and set up a time for one of the service technicians to go to the home and rekey the locks for them.

Overall I think this shop is a very well-known family orientated business, with great customer service that keeps them coming back for more. Who knew a locksmith did more beside cutting keys and repairing locks. I was surprise how busy the shop was, and all the different type of people that came in and out of the business. This shop didn’t follow “The Science of Shopping” exactly but things Paco Underhill stated were true in this business. The zones were there and the Invariant Right thing was there because the show room was on the right hand side of the building. I think the real reason the business is striving is the customer service.

Children minds are always growing and learning, they are interested in everything around them. Children are very impressionable during these early years and need to be introduced to stimulating play as much as possible to be given this opportunity. Playgrounds are an amazing way to start, they help with their mental and physical development, including motor skills, socialization, problem solving and mastering social skills.   As the childhood obesity epidemic is on the rise, the opportunity to get essential physical activity is a free way to promote healthy weight in childhood and general wellness they will carry into their adulthood.

All playground activities support gross motor development such as running different speeds, jumping rope, hop scotch, throwing a ball and catching, climbing up and down, riding on swings and see-saws, playing In sand boxes. To aid in the development of fine motor skills children engage in certain social interactions such as using the muscles of the tongue and lips to speak to other children on the playground as well as singing songs (Extension.org 2015).

Play offers parents an invaluable opportunity to engage with their children, offering support, emotional guidance and opportunity for parent child bonding. The playground can be utilized by children from any socioeconomic background, as it is a free alternative, all children can enjoy a day out without worry of cost if it is a factor, while getting all the benefits of the playground (AAP, et al; 2007).

The childhood obesity epidemic is at an all – time high in the United states, children are being diagnosed with diabetes more than ever before due to the sedentary lifestyle this generation has become accustomed to with it being a video gaming society. The playground offers children the opportunity to be physically active every day, essentially lowering risk for obesity and secondary illness such as diabetes, cardiac disease, and other serious chronic diseases they will be subjected to as adults for lack of exercise as children (CDC.gov 2017).

The benefits of utilizing playgrounds during child hood are countless, from early childhood to adolescence.  Children who incorporate playground activities into their daily lives are at an advantage in every aspect of the developmental stages of life.

Works Cited

Ginsburg, Kenneth R. “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds.” AAP News and Journals Gateway, Jan 2007, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182.

This site is used to describe the importance of child and parent bonding. This site explains the protective benefits of child driven play. This site explains the importance of building relationships with loving caregivers.

“Play Activities to Encourage Motor Development in Child Care.” Extension, articles.extension.org/pages/25802/play-activities-to-encourage-motor-development-in-child-care.

This site breaks down the process of building fine motor skills in children’s development. This site breaks down the process of building gross motor skills in children’s development. This site explains the process of children engaging in social interactions with peers and parents.

“CDC Features.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Sept. 2017, www.cdc.gov/features/obesity-playgrounds/index.html.

This site explains the importance of playground exercise to promote wellness and healthy weight in children. This site offers an in-depth explanation of the obesity epidemic and how playgrounds are essential to health maintenance in childhood.

 

*** All the cited sources are obtained from evidence based articles.