Recent Articles
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The folly of ‘they’re going to buy from someone; it may as well…
Anne Rose RetailWhen I was first starting out in sales many years ago, I was advised to regard every person I encountered as a viable sales prospect. It was just a matter of me persuasively demonstrating the benefits of what I had to sell that would convert them from looking to buying. Don’t discount anyone was the wisdom; they’re going to buy something from someone, so let it be you. Terrible advice. First of all, not everyone who is looking is really going to buy! Some people, and I know quite a few, just enjoy window shopping. They have no intention of buying anything from anyone.
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Could 4-day weeks catch on in schools?
Brian Stack EducationImagine having the option to schedule your school weeks as four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days. Earlier this summer, We Are Teachers blogger Elizabeth Mulvahill reported that 25 states are currently testing four-day school weeks. What started as a logistical solution for rural school districts is now gaining popularity in both suburban and urban areas. According to Mulvahill, "Research by the National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 560 school districts...have at least one school with a four-day schedule. Leading the charge are Colorado (55%), New Mexico (43%), Idaho (38%), and Oregon (32%)."
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Legal fights come to factory farms as grassroots organizations push back
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageFood & Water Watch, an organization that focuses on creating grassroots movements to protect environmental resources, began legal proceedings against Tyson Foods this summer, claiming that the company focuses on environmental stewardship as a business philosophy. The organization says these claims are counter to how Tyson actually treats the land and water. Additionally, several conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency in July for "overstepping its authority in exempting factory farms from pollution-reporting requirements essential to public safety, environmental health and animal welfare."
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Why I’m fed up with being discriminated against because of my learning…
Amy Temple EducationI am so tired of being discriminated against because I have learning disabilities. I can't help it! This is how I was made! What’s the big deal about learning disabilities anyway? It's a pretty common condition for someone to have. A lot of celebrities have come out saying that they struggle with LDs: Henry Winkler, Patrick Dempsey, and Tom Cruise... to name a few. Look at how well they are doing! I am not seeking fame and fortune, but I am simply looking for some respect!
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A queasy ride on the ‘sylla-bus’
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationAs I’ve found again and again, regardless of the program, state, or country in which I teach, the lack of comprehension and appreciation of purpose are the fundamental dilemmas students have when presented with a syllabus, or, failing a syllabus, when starting any course at any level. Even the term syllabus can be a mystery. When I studied American Sign Language, I learned a slang sign for syllabus — "silly bus" — and indeed, that certainly seems like an apt description. All students will benefit from a lesson dedicated to the syllabus. For ELLs and nontraditional students, it may be particularly useful for teachers to create a syllabus lesson designed to deconstruct what may be a flabbergasting and often hefty document but one that is elemental and critical.
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Report: CEO pay increases 1,000% over past 40 years
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhat can small businesses make of booming CEO pay? First, we look at the numbers. Lawrence Mishel and Julia Wolfe of the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute dove deep into the data on compensation trends in the U.S. over the past 40 years. What they found is that those at the commanding heights of the economy are enjoying larger slices of the pie, unlike everybody else.
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Can stem cells help teeth heal? Scientists say yes
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareIt is generally accepted in the medical community that stem cells play an important role in wound healing. They can develop into specialized cell types throughout the body, aiding in all kinds of tissue regeneration. A new study led by Dr. Bing Hu from the University of Plymouth's Peninsula Dental School, with collaboration from researchers worldwide, asserts that certain stem cell tissue regeneration extends to teeth. This finding offers up a new and novel potential solution to tooth repair and may inform the way dentists treat teeth in the future.
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Study investigates effectiveness of hormone injections for weight loss…
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareObesity increases the risk of health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome, all of which can be addressed with bariatric surgery options, including gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve. However, these procedures can cause complications. The findings of a new small study found that a hormone injection helped reduce body weight and glucose levels in patients with diabetes and obesity in four weeks. Previous research by Imperial College London suggested that one of the reasons gastric bypass surgery works so well is because three specific hormones originating from the bowels are released in higher levels.
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How much do teachers spend annually on school supplies?
Julie Anne Wells EducationWhen children walk into the classroom on the first day of school, they are often met with colorful posters, ample writing utensils, and nametags emblazoned on their desks. But how often do we stop to consider how these personal touches and useful tools got to the classroom? According to a study published by the National Center of Education Statistics in 2018, 94% of American public-school teachers used their own money to pay for school supplies during the 2014-15 school year. They spent $480 on average that year, and they were not reimbursed.
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Infographic: The future of work
Brian Wallace Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOffice culture has grown and evolved over the years. Today, employees look for workplaces that value work-life balance, support their health and well-being, and offer flexibility and perks. Furthermore, a majority of employers plan to implement workplace culture initiatives to boost employees’ engagement in health. Check out the infographic in this article, which dives into the psychology of productivity, how workplace culture impacts your business, and how to attract and retain the best talent.