Should Juvenile Criminals Be Tried as Adults?

February 1, 2013 English 1250 Argument Essay Should Juveniles be tried as Adults? Juveniles are children who fall under the age of eighteen and have committed a crime. Since they are so young it plays a part in the decision of whether they will placed in a trail that an adult will be placed under or not. The age of the person who commits the crime is the reason why juvenile delinquency punishments are less harsh at times then if an adult would’ve committed the same crime. I feel that if a crime is harsh enough than a juvenile should be tried as an adult.Anyone who commits a crime and breaks the law should be held accountable no matter what the age is. We should all be responsible for our own actions. Many people wonder if trying a juvenile in the same way as an adult will turn out to be a better solution to stop crime. I believe if a child is made responsible for his or her actions she will think twice the next time before he or she reacts. People who commit crimes and then go unpunished for what they did are more than likely to commit another crime or duplicate the first crime they committed.If children think they can get away with their actions they will continue to do the same things over and over again. As a criminal justice major I think everyone should pay a price if they decide to break the law. There should be no special treatment no matter what age the defendant is. A crime is a crime no matter where you go or who you are. I know understand that some children who commit crimes a fairly young and people feel like they don’t have the mental ability to understand what they did because they are so young. Children are taught right from wrong from infancy.We guide our children their whole lives until adulthood. Children are more than capable of understanding right from wrong. The problem is we as parents defend our children because we don’t feel like they’re capable of understanding, when the truth is we are merely just handicappi ng our children. As parents don’t underestimate what your child is capable of. These kids need to know there are consequences for their actions. By us not punishing our children we are just letting them know its ok for them to continue in an unruly matter. We are also teaching them it’s ok and there will be no consequences.Parents need to prepare their children for the real world. I stand strong when I say it is the parent’s responsibility to teach their children, I couldn’t agree more. However, what happens when the parents have done all they can? You can bring your child up to the best of your ability and he or she may still go astray. This is why we can’t shield them from the light. Let them know for every action there’s a reaction. Educate on what could possibly happen if they commit a crime. By shielding these kids from reality we make it harder on them when they have to enter into society on their own.It’s imperative that as a p arent we do our jobs but this still doesn’t mean that that they will follow in our footsteps. People say a child can’t remember what he or she did. I totally disagree. I believe that if a child commits a crime and he has to suffer dire consequences will remember if the consequence is as harsh as the crime. I don’t think that kids are too young to remember what they did. I think that’s just an excuse. As we keep making excuses for these children they are tearing society apart with their violence.It shouldn’t matter the age if you commit an adult crime you should you pay just as an adult would. Get these kids off the streets so the kids who are trying to do something to better themselves can stand a chance. It’s ridiculous how kids get away with so much. Everyday it’s getting worse and the majority of crimes that are being committed are from juveniles but yet we continue to want to slap them on the wrist with something easy like a curfe w. That’s crazy! The law is the law and kids are no exception. They are no different from anybody else.If they choose to act in an adult manner then they should be treated as such. The law is not made to be broken. This is why we have rules and laws, they are to be followed and if they are broken then whoever has acted in this situation should pay. Now, in some cases I believe that you can be cut a break. Of course I believe in second chances but not just getting off simply because you’re a child. You should pay for your actions no matter the age. The law is not made to flex around your age. It’s simply made for the type of crime you commit. If you are old enough to act in a rationale matter then take the consequences.Just because a kid commits a crime doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been committed. It definitely doesn’t mean that the victim’s family didn’t suffer either. What about the victim’s family they suffer as well. I know that violent crimes receive the harshest punishment for adults but the same guidelines should be carried out for the juveniles as well. Trying them as adults will make them understand the consequences of their actions and second guess committing any future crimes. This may lower the crime rate in society and make us feel a lot safer in our own homes.This could stand as an example and others will learn from their mistakes. A lot of the times kids are following in another peers footsteps or just simply trying to fit in. no matter what the reason or situation is if a crime is committed then you should suffer the consequence. I think the juvenile should be subject to more severe sentencing, including the life sentence. If you take a life than yours should be shouldn’t be spared. I don’t believe that you should give a child the death sentence but they can definitely spend a life sentence in jail.What good will it do having them out on the streets to commit more crimes . I don’t think you should have the benefit of seeing daylight when you have chosen to take a life. You should suffer just as they are. You have no right to take the life of someone so why shouldn’t you pay for what you did. A lot of kids commit crimes simply because they know the punishment will be easy. Children have gotten away with so much these days they aren’t scared of the law anymore. Kids know when they get in trouble they will be detained for a few months or perhaps just a night.Maybe they will be on house arrest where they can still do what they want they just have to do it at their house. The juvenile system is too easy on kids these days. We have almost lost the battle when it comes to teens and crimes. This is why we need to try them harsher as adults so they will get the message we are trying to put out. You have to punish by crime and not age it’s the only way these kids will learn. In order for society to do better we have to be better at what we do. To allow one person one punishment and another person an alternative for the exact same crime is not fair and highly ridiculous.It destroys the structure of our society. Juveniles who commit murder should be tried in the same matter as an adult. We also need to keep in mind that kids will be more willing to that they know they won’t have consequences for. Let’s not forget the victims or the victim’s family members who suffer. They deserve justice as well. They have suffered a great lost. As a parent we never want to see our children go astray or perhaps follow the wrong footsteps but they choose to take on that responsibility when they decide to disobey.When they commit a crime they have to be punished and yes if the crime is harsh it should be as an adult. You make your bed hard you lay in it. Just as you make people suffer from your actions you should suffer from them as well. Children are old enough to know right from wrong. They can comprehend t hat it is against the law to commit a violent act against another person. I feel very strongly that in the United States juveniles with violent felonies should definitely be tried and treated as adults in the criminal justice system.

Best Practices in Hr- the Journey of Tata Group

Businesses thriving in harsh environment have an ideal higher than personal profit. There is a common thread that drives them forward for years. This common thread is represented in the core values established by the founding fathers. Businesses that integrate people with the broader goal of sustainability by this common cord are those that live. There is a pioneer of these value driven business practices in the history of corporate India, the TATA group. Understanding the journey of Tata group in the perspective of HR practices can help us examine the role of people or employees in the success of an organization.For this let us understand the core values of the founding father of this business community. [pic] [pic] Jamsetji started the business when India was entering the final phase of colonization. Having met with obstruction and harassment in pre-independence India he adopted a new ideal for his business ‘Community capitalism’. According to eminent Japanese scholar Haruo Funabashi ‘Jamsetji had a more holistic perspective, however. His focus was not the trees but the forest—that is, not the individual stakeholders but the community in the largest sense’.All his efforts whether building a world class hotel or sprawling townships, had been aimed at the greater good of community and nation. Community capitalism is a ‘people first’ approach to business. Jamsetji was the stalwart of HR innovations. In a time when workers were treated as ‘Cogs in wheel’, he voluntarily considered their functional limitations. He provided them with benefits like eight hour working day, free medical aid and maternity benefits long before the government mandated these provisions.By aligning his business aspirations with nation building he engaged in greater community development. All this contributed towards creating a motivated workforce. [pic] The ideals of Jamsetji were carried forward by subsequent Tata leaders. Each le ader synergized these core values with new ones that were the call of his times. JRD Tata sometimes referred to as ‘Chairmen’s chairmen’ brought about a ‘value shift’ in the HR practices. He was a strong believer in a merit and believed in professional management of the group companies.It was this conviction that led him to steer the policies from Human Resource management to Human Resource development by nurturing leaders. His commitment to merit and professionalism ultimately led him to form Tata Administrative services and Tata Management training centre that became breeding grounds for future business leaders. His vision served the group well. Russi Mody, Sumant Moolgaokar and Darbari Seth became beacons of Tata leadership and were instrumental in generating wealth for the group and the country.JRD also understood the crux of successful labour relations. Tata steel became one of the first companies to have a dedicated Human resource department to make workers feel valued after there were frequent tense labour situation despite being treated exceptionally well; indicating worker discontent. JRD was quick to sense that workers had started to feel like parts of a machine. So he made them feel wanted by forming a department just for them. This is why Tata group is considered champions in personnel relations. [pic]The next generation witnessed Ratan Tata’s phenomenal leadership that coincided with unprecedented economic liberalization in India. He envisioned a strategic plan of institutionalizing a stronger collective identity of the Tata group in changing times. The new value he created can be held as ‘Osmosis’, a process of conveying cultures, beliefs and values across group. Efforts like displaying a common logo helped to ingrain common ethos in all Tata companies. But a bigger change had to be dealt with too, The Changing employee aspirations.Ratan Tata soon realized that the generation of employees he is dealing with wanted personal growth and career advancement. Ratan Tata aligned these personal pursuits with business goals by HR practices that can fall under ‘Disruptive innovation’. Integrated HR system, BSC, Brockbank model, HR gurukul, TBEM etc are all part of this alignment. Some may argue that such performance oriented system is against the core values of Jamsetji, who never believed in punishing the weak and rewarding the strong.But it cannot be ignored that with their present policies Tatas do reward the best but do not punish the weak. Performance based layoffs in Tata group are highly uncommon. To sum up Ratan Tata’s vision of Osmosis has only strengthened the foundations of Tata values across group. This belief is mirrored in the chivalry displayed by the Taj hotel staffs during the terrorist attack that was preceded by similar acts of the staff of another Taj group hotel in Maldives during the Tsunami in 2004. The future for both these companies thro ws the challenge of working in a Flat world.With the Tatas going global with M;As and software industry expansion communicating common values across cultures has become a problem. HR initiatives to meet this challenge are yet to be seen. The future roadmap for HR practices in the Tata group should account for the cultural dimension. The HR heads should also be prepared for a new generation of potential employees that is being prepared by a changed society and educational environment. Gauging needs and ambitions of this generation is especially important.Moreover with a change in top leadership this year speculations are high on the changes in HR management of Tata group References Toward a Sustainable Business Model for the 21st Century Haruo Funabashi www. tata. com – visited on 10 September 2012 ———————– BEST PRACTICES IN HR- THE JOURNEY OF TATA GROUP ‘THE OSMOSIS’ – PERPETUATING CORE VALUES ACROSS COMPANIES AND CULTURES IN TATA GROUP ‘THE VALUE SHIFT’-FROM HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMNET TO HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ‘COMMUNITY CAPITALISM’- BUSINESS AIMED AT COMMUNITY BASED DEVELOPMENTFORNATION BUILDING ‘In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact the very purpose’ –Jamsetji Tata â€Å"To be a leader, you have got to lead human beings with affection† – JRD TATA ‘’One hundred years from now, I expect the Tatas to be much bigger than it is now. More importantly, I hope the Group comes to be regarded as being the best in India, best in the manner in which we operate, best in the products we deliver and best in our value systems and ethics’’ – Ratan Tata

John Steinbeck and his book ‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay

John Ernst Steinbeck was born on February 27, in 1902 in Salinas, California, He came from a reasonably well off family. He worked his way through college at Stanford University, but never graduated, so in 1925 he set off to New York where he tried to start his career as a writer, but he failed to have any of his writing published and returned to California. He then published a few books and short stories. His first novel, Cup of Gold was published in 1929, but attracted little attention. The readers also poorly acknowledged his following two novels, The Pastures of Heaven and To a God Unknown. Steinbeck then married his first wife, Carol Henning in 1930. But he still wasn’t recognised in the world of literature until 1935 when Tortilla Flat was published. It received the California Commonwealth Club’s Gold Medal for best novel by a California author, and then his work became recognised far and wide. Steinbeck then went onto produce some of his greatest novels, including Grapes of Wrath, which was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1939. The greatest prize Steinbeck was awarded for his writing was the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1962. John Steinbeck died on December 20th, 1968, in New York. The first book I read by John Steinbeck was ‘Of Mice and Men’ and it is about two men who are immigrant American labourers. Together they have a dream to settle down and farm their own land rather than work for other people. So they join a group of farmers to earn the money, so that they can buy the farmland for themselves. These two friends are completely unlike each other. One of them, who is called George, is a small intelligent man, and the other, Lennie, is a big, clumsy, caring, but child-like man. The two men have been friends since they were children. But Lennie was not always stupid, but became like this after an accident that happened when he was young. George is always with Lennie for comfort, friendship, but mainly as he is very strong and can work on a farm better than most people. George supports him, helps him and puts thoughts into his head, to try to him motivated. Lennie trusts George with everything and really values their friendship. When the two friends finally get the money to make their dreams come true George takes advantage of Lennie and kills him, so that his dream is secured. In this book you are made to feel sorry for Lennie, as he was very caring, and even when he killed the animals, and boss’s sons wife, you know that he was only being friendly and caring, and just wasn’t aware of his own strength. At the beginning of the book George seems to be Lennie’s friend, but by the end you realize that he is only using Lennie to fulfil his own dreams. The second book by Steinbeck I read was ‘East of Eden’. This book was set in the period between the American Civil War and the end of World War I. It is about the conflicts of two generations of brothers. The opening chapters describe Samuel and his family, and what living in Salinas Valley is like for them. The first generation is the kind, gentle, caring Adam Trask and his wild brother Charles. Adam eventually marries Cathy Ames who is a wicked, manipulative, but very beautiful prostitute. Cathy betrays Adam, with his brother Charles on the very night of their wedding. Later, after giving birth to twin boys, she shoots Adam and then leaves him to return to her former job. With the help of their Chinese servant Lee, Adam raises their sons, the fair-haired, charming, yet stubborn Aron, and the mysterious, clever Caleb, without telling them about their mother. The second generation of brothers compete for their father’s approval. In resentment Caleb reveals the truth about their mother to Aron, so he then leaves to join the army. At the end of the story, Lee makes a great effort to help keep the Trask family together, when Adam is lying in his bed dying, Caleb is overwhelmed with guilt because Aron has been killed in the army. Lee believes that if Adam gives Caleb his blessing for indirectly killing his own brother, he will able to move on in life, and not always feel so guilty. In this novel, although he is not a main character, Lee, their servant is a good friend to Adam, and helped him at his worst times, and managed to hold the family together, so the story wouldn’t have turned out the same without him. The third book I read by John Steinbeck was ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. The book is set in California and it follows the terrible misfortunes of the Joad family, who like many others have given up their lives in Oklahoma in search of employment in California. The book follows both their hopes and setbacks creating a true account of the American dream of the 1930’s, as we observe their struggle to try to get by with what little money and possessions they have. When the Joad family leave the Hooverville, which is an independent migrant camp and move to a government camp, because they cannot find a job at Hooverville. This camp is clean and has a local government made up of migrant workers. For the first time since arriving in California, the Joads find themselves treated as human beings. However, when the work runs out they had to move on. Tom ends up killing a man who is responsible for the death of is good friend John Casey. They have to flee and find work picking cotton, and Tom’s presence there is soon spotted, and Tom has to go into hiding. The ending of this book, even though not dreadfully clear, does suggest a little hope for the Joads, but more so hope for humanity. I enjoyed this book because I saw a lot of things that all of these books have in common, and the most obvious thing was that each book was about underprivileged people who were fighting to keep their lives and families together through many misfortunes. In Steinbeck’s books there is always an inferior character that keeps the people together, for example in The Grapes of Wrath Ma Joad tries as hard as she can to keep her family together, but apart from that you don’t know much about her. And also in East of Eden the servant, Lee, holds the family together, and helped to bring up Adam’s children. The struggle between good and evil is the most dominant theme in these books. John Steinbeck shows that everyone has the potential to be a good person, or completely immoral. An example of this theme is in East of Eden, as Adam is a very kind and caring person, but Cathy is nasty and pitiless. Also in Of Mice and Men, Lennie is a gentle loving man, whereas his friend George turns out to be a horrible, ruthless person. Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath have a connection between the type of work the people do because they are both about people trying to make ends meet working on farms, trying to fulfill their own dreams. Love is another issue that all these books have in common, because whenever love is missing from a specific part of the story, the results become disastrous. The three of Steinbeck’s books that I read all have a very detailed and descriptive writing style, which adds to your satisfaction of his books, as you are given persuasive glimpse into the lives of others. The characters in Steinbeck’s books seem to come to life because of the vast understanding of human courage to be able to choose between what is right and wrong Steinbeck has. I enjoyed reading all of these books, because even though in some ways they were very similar, they all had a different storyline, so I didn’t find the second and third story boring after reading the first one.

Reflections of a Student Nurse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflections of a Student Nurse - Essay Example Taking a Service User Out for an Activity Description: I was given the task to take a service user out to attend piano lessons. This individual had a Learning disability (LD). According to Rennie 2009, p.3, â€Å"in the U.K. the term ‘learning disability’ is used to mean mental retardation or intellectual disability.† Feelings I was nervous initially because I did not know the exact location of where the Piano lessons were held. I was relying heavily on the service user to direct me. In addition, I wondered whether the service user would be comfortable with me taking the service user out, as this would be the first time the service user would be out alone with me and may not have confidence in me, as I am a student. What was good and bad: In spite of all these feelings, it felt good to be given some responsibility by the staff. It was obvious that they trusted me and had confidence in my abilities to fulfil that carrying out of the task given to me. What wasn†™t so good was that although I know the service users better now, in comparison to when I first started, I did not know them in the same way as the staff did, and did not know their preferences, which could affect the way I support them (Bender, 2008). What sense can I make/conclusion Thinking about this later on, I do now realise that this may be because of me not having complete faith in the service user ability to guide me and I felt as though I was the responsible one, out of the two (Bender, 2008). It should be the support worker leading the service user, and not the other way around. Now that I have talked to my Mentor, I realise that historically people with learning disabilities (PWLD) were looked down on by society (Sudbury, 2010) and were devalued and seen to be incapable because of their disabilities (Sudbury, 2010). I now know that as Government policy on PWLD has developed (Department of Health, 2001) and societal understanding has increased about PWLD, attitudes towa rds PWLD have significantly changed for the better (Walmsley, 2008) and PWLD are recognised as individuals with their own skills and abilities (Thomas & Woods, 2003). Action plan In the event a service user was to lead me to an activity, I would not keep questioning them about where it is, unless they tell me that they are unsure and at that point I would be prepared with directions or a map to look at. Body Mass Index (BMI) Measurement Description I had to measure each service user’s weight in order to work out their BMI and document it in the care plan. I approached a service user whilst the service user was at on the dining table and asked if it was possible for the service user to stand on the weighing scales, making it clear that I would appreciate an honest answer. Feelings When I first told the service user to be honest, I did not feel much or give it much thought, considering it a routine action on my part, but after taking the weight and speaking with my mentor, I fe el different now. My mentor asked me to put myself in the shoes of the service user. This role reversal made me realize that I would feel disempowered and incapable of taking care of myself. Moreover, as a 20 year old student nurse,

Cross Cultural Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cross Cultural Communication - Essay Example Part 1 International Journal of Cross Cultural Management (IJCCM) In managing of the global conflict resolution, attention should be given to cross cultural factors. Whereas the value of culture in managerial behavior has long been acknowledged, intellects of political science are still coming to terms with the perception and its repercussions. Conventional approaches to disagreement stress the dominance of the state while overlooking several the distinctive internal features, which vary between nations. Foulkes & Bercovitch view culture indeed has a weighty outcome on how nations view the world, conduct themselves in it, and handle their conflicts. Culture has become crucial in the existing environment, where largely conflict occurs frequently between factions, alienated along cultural lines, within a nation. Evaluation of the relevance of ideas, and cultural differences does undeniably have a substantial impact on arbitration and conflict resolution. The journal also elaborates the effects of effective communication and motivation in a cross-cultural environment. European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management (EJCCM) This journal explains the extensive field of cross-cultural examination with an allusion to an organization in practice. The chief purpose is the establishment of a podium for the debate on cultural matters in current industry across several disciplines and cultures. In the spirit of its founding organization, EJCCM influences contributions from dissimilar fields of science involved in the interrelations and relations amid culture. The journal encourages papers about the dynamics of cross-cultural interactions in Europe. Key challenges Building of trust between employees and management of an organization is very important. Group members should be capable to rely on each other’s words and work as a team. Trust is a considerable challenge in cross-cultural groups, as people only tend to trust those from their nations and the sa me culture (Thomas, & Thomas, 2008, 134). Trust building is beneficial if the team leader and team members working together at a similar location for a long time, despite diverse nationalities (Steers, Sa?nchez-R, & Nardon, 2010, 213). Managing of people from different nationalities has different convictions and perceptions. This diversity makes it a challenge to manage them especially when a conflict occurs. Bosses need to apply different leadership styles in dealing with conflict (Velo, 2012, 40). Managing of language and cultural issues is another challenge. In any conflict resolution, communication is inevitable. In managing of a cross-cultural conflict, where different people speak various languages, it is essential for individuals to appreciate one another (Velo, 2012, 40). Synchronizing the languages and cultural aspects to enable people have a common ground remains a challenge (Thomas, & Thomas, 2008, 134). As a team leader, working with members from different cultures has b een a vast experience. Every step in the team was a learning experience. The group taught us that diversity is strength. The tasks assigned to us went well as we were able to respect each other’s opinions to find a common ground. We remained objective during the entire session focusing on the group’s mandate and not personal mandate. From a management point of view, we learnt tolerance, empathy and respect. Since we are from different backgrounds, there was a need for

Policemen and Firefighter jobs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Policemen and Firefighter jobs - Essay Example There are many things that these two careers have in common. However, each career includes features that set it apart as unique form the other. There is a very big difference between being a police officer and being a firefighter. When one has to choose between the two they are not called upon to make a very easy choice, although some are predisposed by their opinions to choose one or the other. Each person has their own particular reasons why they prefer the career that they chose. Some of the similarities of these two positions can be found in Table 1. Differences will be listed latter in this paper. There are three main points at which these career paths vary form one another. The careers of police and firefighters differ in purpose, perception, and priority. Table 1: Similarities between Police and Firefighters Police Firefighter Danger on the Job Danger on the Job Working with the public Working with the public Specialty Training required Specialty Training Required Government J ob Government Job Team Work Required Team Work Required Requires Organizational Skills Requires Organizational Skills Requires courage Requires Courage As listed in Table 1, both police and firefighters are exposed to danger when on the job. The danger of being a police officer comes mainly from dealing with criminals. Officers can be shot or otherwise hurt by violence. Many police officers die in the line of duty. It was reported that 56 American police officers were killed feloniously in 2010 (FBI National Press Office 2011).They also face a risk from injury when in purist of a suspect. The high speed car chases that they engage in can end in a horrible car crash. The danger imposed upon firefighters are not caused more often by people, but by natural elements, namely fire. It was reported that 87 firefighters were killed on the job in 2010, a figure that is higher than that of the police (USFA n.d.). Firefighters stand the risk of being burnt alive in an exploding building. Of co urse, one cannot fail to mention the September 11 attach on the world trade center where hundreds of firefighters were killed, although there were some police officers who also lost their lives. Firefighters also can die from smoke inhalation or expose to other chemicals. Many firefighters also serve as EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians) and can be placed in danger by being exposed to infectious patients. Both being a police officer and a firefighter are jobs that come with some risk of mortality. The positions of police officer and firefighter both require that the people works with the vernal public. After all, these are service jobs and these officers and firefighters work to grant serve to the genital population. The motto of many police districts contain the notions that the purpose of a police officer is to protect the public and serve them. Police officers do not just go around arresting people they think has committed a crime. They settle disputes among neighbors a nd even refer homeless people to shelters. They also work in monitoring and do odd jobs like directing traffic in the event of an accident or other emergency. Firefighters do a lot of the general public as well. They save people from burring buildings and perform inspections to ensure that homes are safe from the advent of a fire. These two careers are also similar in that they are both government jobs that requires specialized training. In order to become police officer, trainees must spend weeks living at an

Freedom Writers and the Economics of Race and Gender Essay - 1

Freedom Writers and the Economics of Race and Gender - Essay Example It also touches upon the economics of race and gender. On a cursory viewing the story looks deceptively simple. But when the storyline, screenplay and other nuances in the film are observed, numerous interpretations are made available. Embedded within it are themes of economics, especially that applying to race and gender. Moreover, what comes through the narrative is the strength of character and commitment shown by Erin Gruwell as she undertakes to set right a challenging group of students. For example, â€Å"She encounters a diverse but segregated community so racially charged, hostile and potentially combustible that she likens it to Nazi Germany. Without the support of her administrators (played by Imelda Staunton and others) and the school system, which views teenagers more as threats than scholars, Miss Gruwell devises her own methods for reaching students. She begins educating them about other young people who've endured wars, like Anne Frank, and simultaneously gives them journals so that they can tell their own stories, thus, giving each person a voice and a sense of value.† (Mayo, 2007, p.43) Another test of character and commitment for Erin was the divisions within the classroom on the basis of race, ethnicity and class. The term 'Economics of Gender and Race' is usually employed by economists to talk about disparities in income and work opportunities among different races and the two genders. In the American context, these disparities are skewered in favor of white Americans, especially the White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) group. The whites generally have a head-start in terms of standard of living they are born into, career opportunities they can avail of, neighborhoods they can inhabit, etc. Also, on average, whites earn more income than other minority groups. A similar disparity exists among the genders, where males are favored for both positions of high office and in the incomes they earn. In the movie Freedom Writers, the classroom under the charge of Erin Gruwell is a representative collage of these realities. There we see white pupils born to well-to-do parent s (who also perform better in exams) contrasted against pupils from minority communities such as blacks and Hispanics, who are projected to be disorganized and less disciplined (indicative of their socio-economic backgrounds). The microcosm of the classroom is a reflection of larger realities in American society. The semblance to reality is all the more so because the movie was based on the real life story of an American teacher of the same name – Erin Gruwell; and the school she works for Wilson High School. (Pimentel, 2010, p.51) Hence only a person of impeccable force of character and commitment could have overcome these many disparities and bring out the creative energies. Any other ordinary teacher in Erin’s place would have utterly failed in uniting and pacifying the group of students. What moves the story forward are a) a racially motivated shoot-out involving members of the class and b) the interception by Erin of a racially-loaded drawing in the classroom boar d. This is a crucial juncture in the movie from where the students will embark on a creative, developmental journey. Instead of indulging themselves in gang-wars and wasting their lives, by recording and exchanging their experiences they would gain insights into other perspectives and viewpoints. Erin struggles to procure necessary stationary for students' writing projects - since the class is largely comprised of minority students, their lower socio-economic background meant that they cannot buy stationary supplies with their own money. Erin’s out-of-the-box thinking helps her to transform the attitude of her pupils. The proof of her