Tomkins PLC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tomkins PLC - Essay Example The declaration of dividend is often almost solely dependent on the internal condition of a company. Accordingly, a company is only able to declare a cash dividend if its operation in the fiscal year had been profitable and if it has enough cash. Capital gains on the other hand, are determined by various factors internal and external to the company. Operating performance, investor financial ratios, revenues and profits are often determines the price level of stocks. Other external factors such as interest rates, competitors, and other company issues are irrefutably integrated in the investors' perception of the intrinsic value of a stock. Thus, the creation of wealth for shareholders is often reflected at the dividend pay-outs and the appreciation of its stock price. This report will look at the shareholder value creation of Tomkins PLC for the past ten years. The next section will give a brief background on the company. The paper will then present how the company maximized shareholder value through dividends and capital gains. Relevant investor ratios will also be examined. Lastly, the report will conclude on how the company can further develop its wealth creation record. Tomkins PLC is player in the international engineering industry listed in both London (LSE) and New York Stock Exchanges (NYSE). Generally, the company is subdivided into two business segments namely, industrial and automotive, and building products. The company expressed that "Our primary business objective is to achieve a long term sustainable growth in the economic value of Tomkins through strategic development of our businesses." Tomkins PLC was recognized by the Euromonitor as one of the top companies in the world in terms of Ownership Transparency and Rights, Financial Transparency & Process, Board Structure, Stakeholder Relations and Alignment of Managerial Interest. The company garnered a high score as it ranked number two in developing countries and the best of four British companies in the top ten (Tomkins top for Corporate Governance 2003). This just reflects the company's commitment in enhancing transparency for investors on the real value of their stocks. Tomkins Chairman David Newlands expressed, "We are very pleased with this accolade from Euromoney, which acknowledges the enormous amount of work that we have put into Corporate Governance. At Tomkins we have made corporate governance and delivering shareholder value our top priorities and this survey is recognition of how far we have come. We continue to concentrate on maintaining the highest standards of transparency and delivering value to our s hareholders." Dividends As stated above, dividend is an indicator of shareholder value creation. Through dividends, each stockholder is compensated for holding the company's stock. It is

DQ1 e-activity and DQ2 Competitive Advantage Essay

DQ1 e-activity and DQ2 Competitive Advantage - Essay Example of buyers had an effect on an industry’s competitive pricing and consumer’s demand for better services, which affects the strategy of a firm (Porters, 2008b, 14). In this case, firms in the industry where customers have bargaining power experienced instances whereby consumers pressed for price reductions. Finally, the rivalry influenced the profitability of firms in an industry depending on the intensity of the rivalry and the basis of a firm’s rivalry (Porters, 2008b, 18). The online auction industry experiences robust growth due to the ongoing global internet and technological innovations although Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay are the most dominant firms in the industry (Bajari & Hortaà §su, 2004, p. 459). Nevertheless, the availability of online auction software in the industry, coupled with the low costs of establishing start-ups and cheap hosting services available, pose a threat of new entrants into the industry. In effect, the fact that the cost of start-ups in the industry is cheap makes the bargaining power of suppliers low in the online auction industry. On the other hand, buyers in the industry hold high stakes in a company’s profitability and success due to the bidding platform that the industry provided (Pinker, Seidmann, & Vakrat, 2003, p. 1457). In this case, buyers will control a firm’s strategy in the online auction industry since they have an option of buying the same commodities online from other dealers at a price of their choice. On the other hand, rivalry amongst firms in the industry results from the bidding platform offered, which brings intense rivalry (Stafford & Stern, 2002, p. 135). Finally, other resellers and auctioneers that are not internet based pose the substitutes’ threat in the online auction industry. Stafford, M. R., & Stern, B. (2002). Consumer Bidding Behavior on Internet Auction Sites. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 7(1), 135-150. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27751048 Small businesses

Drug safety assessment

Drug safety assessment INTRODUCTION Pre-clinical studies or pre-clinical trials are very important stage of research in drug development process. Pre-clinical trials are also known as non-clinical safety assessment. The main purpose of carrying out these studies is to ensure that the test compound is safe before testing in humans (clinical trials), characterise toxicity and target organs, to fulfil regulatory requirements and to protect employees in manufacturing. In other words, quality, safety and efficacy of a test compound are determined during pre-clinical studies. Animals such as rodents (mice, rat) and non-rodent (monkey, dog) are used in pre-clinical trials before administration to humans (clinical trial phase) so as to separate efficacy from toxicity in human volunteers. The international conferences on harmonisation (ICH) for drug development are regulatory authorities which provide instructions for development and registration of new chemical entities (NCE) likewise instructions for carrying out assessment i n animals. The concept of the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement and Replacement) is widely employed by ICH for pharmaceutical industries to comply. This concept is employed so as to reduce the numbers of animals and also to avoid prolonged testing period. Anti-arthritis drug are used to treat arthritis (inflammation of joints). Important pre-clinical tests required include general toxicology, safety pharmacology, reproductive toxicology, carcinogenicity studies and genetic toxicology . PRE-CLINICAL TESTS Test for Carcinogenicity Carcinogenicity The carcinogenicity study evaluates the carcinogenic potential of the compound. During pre-clinical studies, animals are used firstly so as to determine the potential risk of the anti-arthritis drug in humans. In order to evaluate carcinogenicity, two types of studies are conducted which are the short-term study and the long-term study. The short-term study involves using the four transgenic models. The four transgenic models used are inactivated tumour suppressor gene (p53+/- model), activated oncogene (Tg.Ac model and rasH2) and inactivated DNA repair gene (XPA-1-model). The genetic alterations of the four transgenic models are made in relation to carcinogenesis processes. The long-term study involves the use of mice or rats of both sexes and is usually a two years study. The correlation between rats to humans is about 70% and is more sensitive making them the major specie of animal used for the long-term carcinogenicity studies. Spragne-daweley has high chances of survival and as a result, these strains of rats are required for the 2years bioassay. Treated animals are divided into three groups each containing about 50-100 animals per sex. In rats, the treated groups are observed for 24months while 18months in mice. Large numbers of animal are used for this study because continuous dosing of the drug could induce tumour and also to achieve a strong statistical result. Furthermore, non-genotoxic carcinogens can cause some rodent strains to be susceptible to tumour induction and in order to distinguish rodent specific processes related to human, understanding carcinogenesis mechanisms based on the specificity of tissues is very vital. Genotoxicity Test Genotoxicity test is carried out so as to determine whether the anti-arthritis drug can cause genetic damage. The genotoxicity test required include; mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) otherwise known as in vitro mammalian cell clastogenecity, the Bruce Ames test (Ames test) and mouse micronuclei assay. These tests detects whether the anti-arthritis can cause alterations in chromosome and damage to DNA leading to genetic mutation and ultimately results in malignant tumour (cancerous cell).The Ames test is commonly used for the genotoxicity test and it detects whether the drug is genotoxic. This occurs by causing back mutation in bacteria colonies and it takes up to about 48hours . Gene mutation, clastogenecity of a genotoxic compound and chromosomal aberrations are determined via the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) or in vitro mammalian cell clastogenecity. The MLA requires between 2-3weeks and can either give a negative result to the Ames test or not detected at all. An additional test used in g enotoxicity testing is the mouse micronuclei assay which is an in vivo study. This is required because regulatory authorities (ICH) requires both in vitro and in vivo test. The process of ADME of the anti-arthritis drug is used to detect genotoxicity via the mouse micronuclei assay. After performing all the three tests discussed and the anti-arthritis drug remains positive to all, then the drug is probably carcinogenic to humans. Test for Organ Toxicity and Biochemical Dysregulation Safety Pharmacology Safety pharmacology of the anti-arthritis drug is required to detect target organ toxicity such as cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal system. Rodents (such as mice and rats) and non-rodents (such as guinea pigs and dogs) are required or used for safety pharmacology test. Rats or mice are required for CNS and respiratory studies while dog is required for cardiovascular studies. The pharmacological activity of the anti-arthritis drug is determined by carrying out the ligand binding assay which makes in vitro studies preferable to in vivo studies. In safety pharmacology studies, the animals are divided into four groups, three treated group and one control group. The maximum number of rats required per group is fifteen and four dogs group. The duration of dosage in safety pharmacology studies is usually one month . The ICH (S7A) perspective on cardiovascular safety pharmacology required core battery studies and follow up studies. Some of the core bat tery studies include heart rate, electrocardiogram and blood pressure must be evaluated. In vitro and in vivo evaluations, conductance abnormalities including methods for assessing repolarisation must be put into consideration . Some of the follow up studies include vascular resistance, cardiac output, the effects of exogenous and/or endogenous compound on the cardiovascular responses and so on . General Toxicity studies General toxicology test is required for dose determination for No observed effect level (NOEL). The acute toxicity test is also known single dose toxicity and is required to assess biochemical dysregulation and also to determine the levels at which the anti-arthritis drug could cause an adverse reaction. The animals used for general toxicity test are rats and dogs and are usually dosed between 14-28days. Change in organ weight, histopathology, mortality rate, clinical pathology and necropsy are the parameters required to assess toxicity.General toxicology must be done before one month of reproductive studies. Reproductive Toxicity Studies The aim of reproductive toxicity studies is to reveal any effect of the anti-arthritis drug on mammalian reproduction. Rats and rabbits are the most commonly used and widely accepted animal. Rabbits are used because semen is easily collected. The ICH study design for reproductive toxicity studies include fertility and early embryonic development to implantation (rabbits dosed from day 6-18, rats dosed from day 6-15), organogenesis otherwise known as embryo-foetal development and pre and post-natal development (treatment last for 15gestation days and 21lactation days).The study design for fertility and early embryonic development studies requires four groups of 20males and 20females animal. Also, the study design for embryo-foetal development generally have four groups of 20rats or 20rabbits and ICH require evaluation of 16 to 20litters to provide a degree of consistency between studies [8; 9; 12; 13; 14]. Information derived from acute and repeated dose toxicity studies of at least o ne month are required before reproductive toxicology. Conclusion Pre-clinical studies must be carried out before clinical trials so as to protect human volunteers. All the studies described above determine how competent the anti-arthritis drug is before proceeding to clinical trials. All the regulations provided by ICH are widely used most especially the concept of 3Rs. Safety, quality and efficacy are the main objectives for carrying out preclinical studies. Some of the test required during preclinical studies includes carcinogenicity test which involves the short term and long term studies, genotoxicity test, reproductive test, safety pharmacology, renal toxicity test, cardiovascular toxicity test, general toxicity test and neurotoxicity test (functional observation battery test). REFERENCES ICH harmonised tripartite guideline, Dose selection for carcinogenicity studies of pharmaceuticals S1C(R2). Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/pdfs/human/ich/038395en.pdf ICH harmonised tripartite guideline, Guidance on specific aspects of regulatory genotoxicity tests for pharmaceuticals S2A Available at: http://www.bcg-usa.com/regulatory/docs/ich/ICHS2A.pdf ICH harmonised tripartite guideline, Safety pharmacology studies for human pharmaceuticals S7A. Available at: http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/pdf/euguide/ich/053900en.pdf G.B. Jena et al., 2001, Genotoxicity testing, a regulatory requirement for drug discovery and development: impact of ICH guidelines, Indian Journal of Pharmacology. David J. Tweats 1998, Impact of ICH guidelines on genotoxicity testing, PSTT Vol 1, No. 5. ICH harmonised tripartite guideline, Guideline on the need for carcinogenicity studies of pharmaceuticals S1A. Available at: http://www.bcg-usa.com/regulatory/docs/ich/ICHS1A.pdf Guideline for industry, The need for long-term rodent carcinogenicity studies of pharmaceuticals. Availableat: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm074911.pdf ICH M3; Timing of pre-clinical studies in relation to clinical trials (see safety topics). Available at: http://www.ich.org/cache/compo/276-254-1.html Preclinical toxicology: Points to consider in programme design. Available at: http://www.pacificbiolabs.com/preclinical James L. Stevens, (2006). Future of toxicology mechanisms of toxicity and drug safety: where do we go from here? Chem. Res. Toxicol., 19, 1393-1401. Yasuo Ohno, (2002). ICH Guidelines-Implementation of the 3Rs: Incorporating Best Scientific Practices into the regulatory Process. Regulatory Testing and Animal Welfare. ILAR Journal V43 Supplement 2002. Lecture notes by Dr Jean-Pierre Valentin, Director Safety Pharmacology, Safety Assessment UK, AstraZeneca. Lecture notes by Dr Lorna M. Burns, Sequani limited, Ledbury, Herefordshire Lecture notes by Dr M. Kelly.

Violence in American Pop Culture :: Essays Papers

Violence in American Pop Culture Societies are founded upon traditions, morals, and a set of commonly accepted ethnical values. Such customs are important because they set the tone for centuries and decades that follow. In the United States, violence is widely accepted as a central component of American lifestyle and culture. From contemporary gay bashing to explosives and weaponry in video games and movies, violence figures prominently in many aspects of American entertainment and pleasure seeking. History provides ample evidence and examples that American institutionalized violence discriminates against no man, woman or child. For example, Native Americans were relentlessly and violently stripped of all their resources. Enslaved African persons were brought thousands of miles from their homelands to cultivate and enrich European interest in America. Among the hardships of simply adjusting to this New World, slaves were also sentenced to death through lynching if they refused to be subjected to new rules. Over the past two centuries we have witnessed a Civil War, two World Wars, the Oklahoma bombings, the Columbine massacre, and the tragic events of September 11th, to name only a few of the past and recent tragedies. All of the tragedies have claimed the lives of thousands of our fellow men. History repeats itself and what began as a means of instituting territory has today permeated the entire culture and has seeped into all types of media. Entertainment is supposed to entertain, but movies, video games and music most often depict a life of bloodshed and carnage. Al Pacino is praised for his roles in Scarface and The Godfather series, exploiting the life of an Italian mafia family that is well known and respected in the world of organized crime. Admiration is given to rap artists like Notorious B.I.G., who rapped about money, power and sexual impropriety. Another street legend is Tupac Shakur, whose life is a prime example of the â€Å"thug life.† After surviving several gang related shootings, he ultimately fell prey to a glamorized thug life, murdered in a drive-by shooting on the glitzy streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. In everyday scenarios young children are allowed to entertain and enlighten themselves with video games like Grand Theft Auto, where the thi ef runs through the city killing citizens, having sex with prostitutes, and robbing people at gunpoint.

A central issue in Victorian novels Essay

Discuss the role and expectations of women in Middlemarch In Middlemarch Eliot demonstrates what she believes is an incongruity in Victorian society. She uses a range of female characters as both good and bad examples as to their fulfilment of differing expectations, and the roles they play in their interaction with others. The role that a character plays is a manifestation of expectation, and it depends on whose expectation this is that defines their place in society. The characters that most adapt their role to fit with the opinions of a majority often hold more prestige within the provincial society. However Eliot’s message is clear when we see that those who follow the expectations of a minority, and in particular those who follow their own path, end up happy by the close of the novel, even if the role which they assume is essentially an orthodox one. Victorian patriarchy gives the most inclination to expect to the male characters of the novel. Individuals such as Mr. Brooke hold very rigid, sincere views as to the proper conduct and position of women; he and the bulk of the male province believe in a ‘lightness about the feminine mind’, and that they are ‘too flighty’ to comprehend the same breadth of information as a male. He expects women to be an adornment, being able to ‘play you or sing you a good old English tune’ rather than have knowledge of ‘classics, mathematics’ and ‘that kind of thing’. He requires women to have the simple function of a light entertainer, never having need of an opinion because subjects that would require one are ‘too taxing’. Eliot is being highly ironic in depicting Brooke in this way, highlighting his want of a woman being able to perform tricks, like a complex dog, as ridiculous, and even more so in its acceptance among his friends. It is soon obvious that his friends agree with him so because they are of similar thinking. The opening of the novel depicts a meal at which both Sir James Chettam and Mr. Casaubon are guests of his, and they both seem to be similarly inclined as far as their expectations of women, although perhaps more in deed than in word. Sir James displays outrageous naivety towards women with sweeping statements such as; ‘ladies usually are fond of Maltese dogs’. Eliot is presenting him with such irony that he is made to look extremely misguided in such a channelled view that most ladies are ‘fond’ of something so specific as a Maltese dog. His over-simplistic thinking is coupled with an expectation of material love in women, which is obviously incorrect considering that he offers the dog as a gift to Dorothea who regards it as ‘parasitic’. Chettam errs in expecting Dorothea to love him for the ‘excellent human dough’ that he has received through birth. He has more emphasis on the quality of his future bride as a trophy rather than a lover, weighing in his mind whether it would be better to marry Dorothea or Celia, her sister, and concludes that Dorothea is ‘in all respects superior’. He expects women to share this unaffected, showy attitude towards love in assuming that he is capable of marrying either of the sisters, and that they naturally would coincide with his desire. He is therefore hurt when he learns that ‘he was not an object of preference to the woman he had preferred’, and we see that Dorothea is more unorthodox in her role in denying the ‘amiable, handsome baronet’ her courtship. Celia, however, is more accommodating to Chettam, and when she eventually marries him she assumes the role of a ‘great pet’. Her position of subordinance is also one of pampering; she has been socially elevated by marrying a wealthy aristocratic knight, and her attitude that women should aim for a status like her own is made clear when she scalds Dorothea that ‘she could think marrying Mr. Ladislaw, who has got no estate or anything’. The intentions of Sir James and the theories of Brooke are disappointed in Dorothea because the preordained role that she has designated herself is one of intellectual expansion and assistance, in order that she may ‘make life beautiful’. She has ‘not the same tastes as every young lady’, believing it her destiny to marry someone scholarly and great. She ruminates early in the novel how she ‘would have accepted’ Milton, so that she could aid him in his studies ‘once his blindness had come on’, and also ‘the judicious Hooker’, so that she could ‘save him from that wretched mistake he made in matrimony’; in both of these cases she would consider such a union a ‘glorious piety’. She considers her role as being in harmonious union with an intellectual who is destined for great works; a man who’s physical weaknesses she could accommodate for, whilst she could gain some scholar through matrimonial instruction. Although her idea of ‘a really delightful marriage’ is not necessarily unorthodox inasmuch as she is prepared for a life of subservience under someone she genuinely believes to be superior to herself, it is Dorothea’s criteria concerning the nature of her partner distinguishes her from other characters such as Celia or Rosamond Vincy; she desires an element of ‘a sort of father’ in her husband, which is why she rejects the offer of marriage from Sir James, who could ‘never affect her as a husband’. Marriage to Edward Casaubon fulfils her preconception of her future role, regarding his knowledge as ‘a lake compared to [her] little pool’. This may have been the case had Mr. Casaubon had similar expectations for her as his wife. Having been ‘looking forward to higher initiation in ideas’, she is disappointed when Casaubon considers her a hindrance rather than an aid. He expects her to be more of a background secretary, doing his bidding whenever he so wishes. Even during the courtship when Dorothea asks whether she should ‘prepare’ herself ‘to be more useful’ and ‘learn to read Latin or Greek’, to aid him in his study, he discourages her from taking such an active role in their marriage by fearing ‘that it might be wearisome’ to her. On their honeymoon disaster transpires when Casaubon has an outburst in which he demands that Dorothea stay out of his scholarly affairs, because ‘the true subject matter lies entirely beyond [her] reach’. So Dorothea’s role and Casaubon’s expectations regarding their marriage contradict, and this ultimately brings about their downfall. Perhaps Dorothea’s idea of matrimonial role would have clashed with the majority of the Middlemarch denizens. This certainly appears to be the case at one of Brooke’s functions at Tipton Grange when various men discuss her and compare her with Rosamond Vincy. Their expectation of an element of ostentation in women is shown when Mr. Chichely concludes that Dorothea is does not ‘lay herself out’ enough to please them, and that ‘there should be a little filigree about a woman’. This conception of the ideal young woman seems to exhibit itself in Rosamond, whom Chichely would choose above both Dorothea and Celia. Rosamond considers her destined role as a married woman, and, similarly to Celia, pursues elevation in ‘that middle-class heaven, rank’. She sees marriage to Tertius Lydgate as desirable because of his ‘certain air of distinction congruous with good family’ with which she is impressed. She also feels that he has prospects of leaving Middlemarch, which would fit her preferred role perfectly as it would sever connections with her lowborn mother.

The Effects of Mentoring at-Risk Youth

THE EFFECTS OF MENTORING AT-RISK YOUTH Abstract: Mentoring has arguments both for and against its effectiveness in relation to at-risk youth. These programs have been known to help in areas of self-esteem, attitudes toward drugs and alcohol, grades, attendance and disciplinary problems in school. Although, the scope of at-risk youth can be quite narrow, if administered correctly it can be inclusive of all teens with emotional and behavioral problems. These programs should not be considered a quick fix to such a large problem, but it can be used as a means to an end.Mentoring programs for youth and teens considered to be at-risk have begun to grow throughout the country. Not all programs agree on a generalized approach, but it is fair to say the concept is the same when dealing with this group of youth. The term mentor is basically described as a trusted counselor or teacher. The term at-risk, for purposes of this study, relates to youth from single parent households, who exhibit emot ional and behavioral problems. The overall consensus is to pair a responsible and caring adult with a troubled adolescent youth.The ultimate goal is for a relationship to form and to build a bond of trust with an adult who can in turn, help them deal with the troubles that often arrive in life. Unfortunately, many adolescents are never given the opportunity to build relationships with caring adults. Nearly a quarter of all American children will live in single-parent homes, and half of the current generation of children will live in a single-parent household during some point in their childhood (Dryfoos, 1998).There are a host of factors that contribute to this situation such as changing economic, social and cultural conditions have increased the vulnerability of negative life outcomes for adolescents’ (Dryfoos, 1998). Natural mentors are described as close family members such as father, mother, uncles, aunts, brother’s, sister’s and/or grandparents. In order to address the problems that have come to light as a result of the diminished availability of natural mentors, volunteer mentoring programs ave multiplied in recent years (Freedam, 1993; Rhodes, in press). Just as natural mentoring, volunteer mentoring involves building a relationship between the youth and adults, as to off support in meeting the youth’s academic, social, career, and/or personal goals (Dubois, et al. , in press). It is estimated that as many as five million American youth are involved in some type of mentor program being it in school or community based.They range from such programs as the renowned Big Brothers/Big Sisters to other less structured programs. Without such programs to assist these youth, once they are adults, they are more likely candidates for divorce, high unemployment; physical and mental problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and quite often become involved in more criminal activity (Patterson, Debaryshe, & Ramsey, 1989). If left unchecked, these pr oblems could prove costly both to society and the individual.Whereas the approximate average cost of a well organized and operated mentoring program is estimated at around $1,000, taking into account a per child per year projection, it could eliminate or at least marginalize the need for future social services (Grossman & Gary, 1997). Youth without the proper social support framework or low levels of social support, has a tendency to be withdrawn, and show a lack of concern about their future. They are negligent, and more likely to harm others than were youth who had the privilege of being exposed to a proper social support system (Kashani, Reid, & Rosinberg, 1989).Although only a vice mentoring could provide some social support and could improve the way these youth function in society. Some theorize that youth develop deviant behavior because they lacked the opportunity to interact and or relate with positive role models within their community (Hawkins & Weis, 1985). Mentors can at times be that beacon of hope or the voice of reason which would allow these youth to see and appreciate appropriate social behavior and could in turn curve their delinquent behavior.Most mentoring programs are forced to rely on the kindness of the community for support and this usually comes in the form of volunteers and donations (Keating, Tomishima, & Foster, 2002). Even though the effectiveness of mentoring programs are often brought into question, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America organization has a proven track record of successful unions between caring adults and at-risk youth. This organization conducted a study of at-risk youth over the course of approximately one year to show the effects of a positive mentor to mentee relationship.The results revealed they were less likely to become involved in the following activities: 46% illegal drugs, 27% start drinking, 52% skip a day of school, and 37% to skip a class. The mentees were more trusting of parents, and not as prone to lie to them, they also felt more support from their friends. High intensity programs can be effective, especially those with more one-on-one interaction in the form of frequent meetings throughout the month, meeting between 2-4 hours at each visit along with frequent phone contact (Tiernay and Grossman, 1995) (Keating, Tomishima, & Foster, 2002).In this age of technology there is a host of opportunities available for the tech savvy to capitalize on when it comes to mentoring. E-mentoring is the next step in mentoring programs. A program has been in existence for the past 11 years, created by a group of researchers from Drexel University called the â€Å"I Could Be† program, in order to study the effects of online mentoring. So far the results have been mostly positive. Online mentoring can be both an effective and viable option when compared to the traditional face-to-face method.Given the current nature of working conditions, organizations may seek to implement e-mentori ng programs due to their ability to be both cost-effective and time saving compared to the traditional approach. The study showed that students who were comfortable using computers tended to get the most out of the program. Students with the lowest level of confidence at the beginning of the program saw the biggest gains. One of the major drawbacks is that, you’re not face-to-face. The major advantage is the ease of access to more than one mentor.Concerns regarding the overall security of children may have helped to slow the growth of this type of program. Unfortunately high dropout rates and poor academic performance have seemingly became synonymous with the experience of African American male youth. Upon visiting just about any public school in the Country you are bound to find African American male youth almost aimlessly wondering the halls, as if they have been alienated from the educational process and left to their own devices to discover the American dream for them.The ir presence is scarcely seen in the gifted and advanced academic classes, while at the same time they are highly represented in remedial classes. When it comes to suspension and expulsion they dominate the list in comparison to their White male counter-parts (Bailey, 1996; Center for the Study of Social Policy, 1990; â€Å"Federal Report,† 1999; Ford, Grantham, and Bailey, 1999; Lee, 1992; Skiba, Michael, Nardo, and Preston, 2000; Trescott, 1990). They are often observed hanging out on street corners or in the malls, where they are viewed with both fear and contemptment.They often give up on the education process entirely because they feel as if the things learned there do not apply to them and they seek elsewhere for success. The educational system is often viewed as a way to place a label upon them and to stifle the potential for them to grow as individuals (Narine, 1992) (Bailey & Paisley, 2004). Reports have stated that approximately 1 out of every 4 male African American s have to report for court ordered supervision and that there are more African American men controlled by the court than there are enrolled in college (Bass & Coleman, 1997; Green & Wright, 1992; Mauer, 1990).Although only 15% of African American youth are represented in the juvenile population, they constitute approximately 43% of juveniles in public facilities and 34% in private custody (Bailey, 1999, FBI, 1996; Sickmund et al. , 1997). There is an apparently clear overrepresentation of African American male youth in juvenile facilities. This in turn makes for a negative self-image as well as creating an inherit distrust and disrespect of authority (Lee & Bailey, 1997) (Bailey & Paisley, 2004). Minority and poor populations are grossly underserved within the educational system.As a result these students are less likely to be assigned to classes that would prepare them for college and they are quite often being taught by teachers working out of their field (The Education Trust, 199 8). Unfortunately, the majority of most minority and poor populations have the least amount of qualified teachers. The fact is most of these kids will not escape the confines of such experiences and thus will not seek higher education because of feeling an inability to perform in the college arena (Bailey & Paisley, 2004).African Americans populate a mere 17% of the total school system, yet they account for 32% of suspensions and 30% of all expulsions (Skiba et al. , 2000). When it comes to graduating from college African American males have a devastating 1 in 12 chance and when it comes to high school dropout rates they have a 1 in 4 chance (Trescott, 1990). For those who realize the need for higher education and choose to pursue college and university enrollment in the United States, they will find what it means to be a true minority because African American males only account for 3. % of the college population (U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1998) (Bailey & Paisley, 2004). Mentoring is viewed by some as an intervention for at-risk youth who need assistance and preparation for adult life as well as being a conduit of sorts to curb dropout rates, delinquency, unemployment and a host of other ill’s associated with troubled youth (Mech, Pryde, & Rycraft, 1995) (Blechman, 1992). The effects of mentors and mentor programs in general vary greatly and according to how the study is conducted it allows for objective to be set in order to quantify the study.Some studies suggest that mentors have no beneficial impact on the mentee, while they do note some changes occurred but some of the changes were outside the scope of the study (Royse, David, 1998). The first thing we should mention is that the study conducted by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America was conducted over a 15 month period. It is believed that more relevant changes might have taken place had the study been conducted over a 24 or 30 month period. Longer matches between mentor’s and menteeâ€⠄¢s were believed to be more productive by parents than shorter ones.It is important to note while mentoring does have positives effects, it is not and should not be considered the quick fix to our at-risk youth, problems (Frecknall & Lurks, 1992) (Royse & David, 1998). The second thing to consider is although most mentors kept accurate logs concerning time spent with mentee’s, some did not. This in turn made it difficult to accurately account or report the times of volunteers since these logs were incomplete. With that being said, it made accounting for actual time of contact between mentor’s and mentee’s difficult, to say the least.If the mentor is not consistent when meeting the mentee, the overall objective could be hindered significantly (Roaf, Tierney, & Hunte, 1994). It is vital to keep records in regard to the relationship between the mentor and mentee. This can be difficult because mentee’s are sometimes concerned about their image among peers so they are reluctant to explain the presence of a mentor. Even though some results say mentoring is ineffective, the fact remains that the lives of at-risk youth are substantially affected by a caring adult (Garmezy, 1985; Rutter, 1987; Werner & Smith, 1992; O’Sullivan, 1991).This should be evidence enough as to the need for even more mentoring projects to be formed, refined, and applied to those in need of such services. These programs may not always have immediate tangible results. They have proven to be not harmful while at the same time, having potential to catapult mentee’s into their destiny (Royse & David, 1998). In conclusion, I’ve often heard it said that children are the future and we should teach them well and let them lead the way. Although they are the future, yet and still, America is letting a minority segment fall by the way.One thing is sure, if people are not given hope and allowed to see themselves as viable members of society; they will abando n all morals and rules that govern the land. Although mentoring can be a key element in getting at-risk youth back on track, it should not be the only source to help these youth. This must be done with all due diligence in order to insure the future survival of all Americans. If something is not put in place soon, America will have alienated an entire generation.This will have created a third world society within the borders of the land of the free and the home of the brave. References: Bailey, D. F. , Paisley, P. O. (2004). Journal of Counseling and Development v. 82 no. 1 p. 10-17 http://www. icouldbe. org/csewi/public/pg_evaluation. asp http://www. infed. org/learningmentors/youth_mentoring_in_perspective. htm Keating, L. M. , Tomishima, M. A. , Foster, S. (2002). Adolescence v. 37 p. 717-34 Royse, D. (1998). Adolescence v. 33 no 129 p. 145-58