A ravelled skein : the silk industry in south west Hertfordshire 1790-1890

Cotton and wool have long dominated studies of the English textile industries, relegating silk manufacture to no more than a minor role in the British economy. Regional studies have likewise tended to concentrate upon areas dominated by a single feature or single industry. This thesis aims to address the economic and social impact of a silk industry established in the predominantly rural area of South West Hertfordshire. Here the indigenous population had other opportunities for employment, agricultural labour of various kinds forming the greatest occupational group. The straw plait absorbed female and child labour in the districts of Berkhamsted and St Albans, in direct competition to the silk mills, while the rag factories supplying the paper industry offered competition to the silk mills of Watford and Rickmansworth. Any industry dependent upon imports is especially vulnerable to external pressure, and an overview of the national situation regarding the silk industry in England, and of the particular problems besetting manufacturers during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, is therefore essential to an understanding of the situation in the rural semi-industrial districts. The chapters of this thesis therefore follow the story of silk production from the wider context of the national industry to the specific mills of Hertfordshire, asking first, why the establishment of an English silk industry was so important. Themes explored in later chapters are already discernible in the early history of the silk industry: the high involvement of women; the apprenticeshipo f children; the interventionist role of government; and the problem of the poor. The extent to which these factors impinged upon the relationship between master, worker, and the local district, and ultimately upon the viability of the Hertfordshire mills, form the central core of this study

Fifth graders\u27 discussions of graphic novels facilitated by de Bono Thinking Skills

The effectiveness of graphic novels, heavily illustrated novels and traditional novels as a reading teaching tool has not been heavily researched. During the 5th grade school year of the 2011-2012, 24 students were required to read six novels, two in each format. During and after the reading, students were required to complete assigned assessments. The results of the study were graded based on a rubric system and by the number of responses per novel. The graphic novel received the highest scores in all categories. The graphic novel should be considered as an alternate method of teaching reading to 5th graders

Access to Hospice Care: Expanding Boundaries, Overcoming Barriers

This report looks at issues of social justice, access, and public policy in hospice and palliative care. As it examines the issues from the perspectives of social justice and fairness, it also recommends ways in which the definition of hospice can be expanded to include more Americans for a longer period of time than simply the days or months shortly before death

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Creating Jobs and Strengthening the U.S. Economy in Growing Industries

The focus of this report evolved from a 2010 conference at Babson College on "Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Massachusetts" sponsored by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) from which two key ideas emerged. One is that there is an "immigrant entrepreneurship ecology" that includes immigrant neighborhood storefront businesses; immigrant high-tech and health science entrepreneurs; immigrant non-tech growth businesses; and immigrant transnational businesses. A second idea was that these growing, non-tech industries (including transportation, food and building services) have not attracted much attention. Interestingly, these sectors can be crucial to the expansion of the green economy. Within this context, The ILC decided to look at these three sectors in Massachusetts as well as in New York and Pennsylvania.Moreover, the report dramatically illustrates how immigrant entrepreneurs look for niches in underserved markets. For example, vans and other alternatives to mass transit serve unmet transportation needs in urban areas. Food intended to be a "taste of home" for compatriots in local restaurants and grocery stores becomes popular and influences the eating habits of other Americans. Workers who enter industries like landscaping or cleaning because they don't require much English gain experience and see opportunities to start their own companies. Businesses like these add value to American life by expanding the economy rather than taking away from native businesses

Are We Teaching the Computer Application Skills Employers Need?

Among the skills that employers have desired of new employees over the years, computer literacy still ranks near the top. As anyone who uses technology can attest, hardware and software changes are rapid and continual. The question arises as to whether the need for basic computer skills: word processing, spreadsheets, and databases have been replaced or augmented by the need for webpage design, programming, and desktop publishing skills

Determining Leg Dominance Using the Unipedal Stance Test (UPST)

Purpose: To determine whether the kicking leg or stance leg as determined by the Ball Kicking test results in a longer unipedal stance time as determined by the UPST. Subjects: Forty-two healthy subjects (13 male, 29 female, mean age 26) with no history of lower limb pathology or balance impairments. Materials and Methods: Subjects completed the Ball Kicking test and three trials of the UPST in a single session. Results: UPST times were compared between the best trials of the stance and kicking legs with a significant difference found. Fifty percent of participants (21/42) maintained longer single limb stance times on the stance leg, as determined by the Ball Kicking test. Conclusions: This study suggests that young, healthy adults demonstrated a selective limb preference for stability tasks compared to mobility tasks related to improved stability and control. The stance limb, as determined by the Ball Kicking test, may be more adept at static balance compared to the kicking limb, which may challenge the currently-utilized concept of leg dominance. Clinical Relevance: While it is widely assumed that the leg a person kicks with may be more proficient for functional activities that require strength, speed, and coordination activities, this study shows that the stance leg is actually more proficient during a static balance activity such as standing on one leg. This suggests the Ball Kicking test may be used to determine mobility and stability legs when teaching or performing functional activities such as a step-to pattern ascending and descending stairs