David C. Paris, KJ 216, 4615.
Office hours: R 1:30-4, and by appointment.
Syllabus: http://academics.hamilton.edu/government/dparis/govt375/spring99/syllabus/
Description and Goals
Texts and Requirements
Schedule
Possible Site Topics and Suggested Resources
Course Texts and Requirements:
Texts:Peter Hlebowitsh and Kip Tellez: American Education: Purpose and Promise (H&T).
Xeroxed Handouts (X).
This syllabus and linked material (S).
Requirements:
1. "Entrance" exam: To assure that you have a working knowledge of the history of, and recent issues in, American education there will be a two hour evening exam on March 1. Most of the exam will be simple identification, multiple choice, etc. You must pass the exam to continue in the course. You may retake the exam, and the grade will be calculated as a weighted average of exam grades. The exam counts for roughly 20% of the final grade.
2. Case Study: You will write a case study that will be added to the class web site (see #3, below). Case studies have no set length; they may be as little as a page or as long as a paper, but I expect most will be in the two-four page range. When you turn in your case you should also provide a list of sources that from which you developed it. We will discuss the nature and format of case studies, following the model set by the Kennedy School Case Program (see their "Notes on the Case Method"). The case study counts for roughly 20% of the final grade.
3. Web site reconstruction project: For each of the past two years this class has constructed a web site, "A Citizen's Guide to Education Reform" (spring 97, spring 98.) Instead of constructing yet another site, this year we will reconstruct and combine the previous sites. The class will be divided into several teams that will take responsibility for reconfiguring some part of the site. We are not bound by the topical lists or graphical format contained in the existing sites. Rather, our aim is to provide a working site that is informative, accessible, and easily added to by future classes.
To give you some sense of topics that might be part of a revised site in addition to those already present, I have provided a list of issues with some supporting description and links under "Possible Site Topics." The topics include:
- Is there a crisis?
- Educational Standards and Assessment
- Charter schools and choice.
- Race, gender, and culture.
- School finance and equity.
- Teacher training and professionalism.
You will keep a team portfolio concerning your work on the site, provide frequent updates concerning your progress, and present proposals/designs/drafts on March 12 and April 16. During the final weeks of the course we will have in-class presentations about the site. The new site will be "launched" on May 7. The grade for the site will count 40% of your final grade.
3. Site evaluation/final exam: The final exam will involve writing an evaluation of the site in response to a specific exam question. The final will probably be "open-web." The final counts for roughly 20% of your final grade.
4. Participation: There is a participation grade embedded in the various assignments and activities listed above. You must attend all classes, be fully prepared for them, and do your share of your team's work. Please notify me concerning any conflicts (e.g. athletic contests) in advance.