Related Articles from Foreign Affairs, New York Review of Books etc.

1. Akinson. Anthony. How to Spread the Wealth: Practical Policies for Reducing Inequality. Foreign Affairs. January/February 2016. Pages 29-33.

THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR TOPIC 6 IS DUE IN THE TRACS DROPBOX BY MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 2017

THE PRIZE

39. Identify & discuss some of the things that you learned about the personal life of Cami Anderson. What are some of her core policies when it comes to improving education? According to the author, what are some of her strengths & some of her weaknesses? Do you think she was a good choice for the position of Newark School Superintendent? Why or why not? (Chapter 7 & 8)

40. Identify and discuss some of the things that you learned about Charter Schools. What are some of the major differences between District Schools and Charter Schools? Discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of Charter Schools. (Chapter 8)

DUTY

41. Chapter 7 is titled “One Damn Thing after Another”. Identify & discuss some of the major issues that Gates confronts in this chapter. Be sure to discuss his problems with Air Force Nuclear Security and how he handled the situation. Discuss the way he dealt with the “procurement” process and describe the embarrassment at Dover Air Force Base. (Chapter 7)

42. What are some of the major observations that Gates has to say about his transition from the Administration of George Bush to Barak Obama? What were some of the major difficulties that he faced in making the transition? (Chapter 8)

CADILLAC DESERT

43.  What did you learn about the personality of Floyd Dominy?  Discuss some of the techniques that Dominy used to reach the position of Executive Director.  How did he gain and keep power?  What are some of the lessons that public administrators can learn from reading this chapter? (Chapter 7)

ARTICLES

44. Read Akinson. Anthony, “How to Spread the Wealth: Practical Policies for Reducing Inequality”. Foreign Affairs. January/February 2016. Pages 29-33. Identify and discuss the author’s strategy for reducing inequality. What do you think of this strategy?

TOPIC # 7      Environmental Policy

Assignments:

Duty: Chapters 9

The Prize: Chapter 9

Cadillac Desert: Chapter 8 & 9

Related Articles from Foreign Affairs, New York Review of Books etc.

No articles are required for this topic. A review of the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality Website will substitute for an article question.

THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR TOPIC 7 IS DUE IN THE TRACS DROPBOX BY MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 2017

THE PRIZE

45. Identify & discuss what you learned about the new contract with the Teachers Union. What are some of the major provisions of the contract? Which contract provisions benefit the teachers and which ones benefit the School District? What do you think of this contract? Who are the winners and who are the losers? (Chapter 9)

DUTY

46. Identify and discuss some of the major components of Secretary Gates’ agenda at the Defense Department. What did you learn about the budget process and Gates management strategy at the Pentagon? (Chapter 9)

47. Describe and discuss Gates’ approach to the issues of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the return of the media to Dover Air Force Base? (Chapter 9)

CADILLAC DESERT

48.  What did you learn about the Salt River and Central Arizona Project from reading chapter 8? Discuss the impact of the proposed dam on the Klamath River. (Chapter 8)

49.  Who was David Brower and what was the Sierra Club?  Discuss some of the things that Brower and the Sierra Club tried to do to protect the environment. What kind of battles were fought and how much success did Brower and the Sierra Club have for their efforts? (Chapter 8)

WEBSITE REVIEW

50. Go to the website for the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) which is https://www.tceq.texas.gov/    Review this website and its links. Identify and discuss at least 3 things that you learned from your review.

TOPIC # 8      Education Policy

Assignments:

Duty: Chapters 10 – 11

The Prize: Chapter 10 – 11

Cadillac Desert: Chapter 10

Assignment from CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Sunday TV Show (See Topic Assignments)

No articles are required for this topic. Finding and reviewing a You Tube Site on Charter Schools will substitute for a question on an article.

THE ASSIGNMENT FOR TOPIC 8 IS DUE IN THE TRACS DROPBOX BY MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 2017

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAST DAY TO DROP A COURSE IS JULY 28, 2017 (Contact the Registrar for specific instructions).  If all of your work is not turned in by the end of the semester due date then you can receive a grade of “F” for this course.

THE PRIZE

51. Who is Alif and who is Kathleen Carlson? Identify and discuss some of the things that you learned about both of these individuals? What are some of the lessons that can be learned by school administrators from Alif’s & Carlson’s relationship? (Chapter 10)

52. Identify & discuss some of the major features of Cami Anderson’s plan for improvement of the Newark Schools. What happened after she presented her plan? What are some of the things Cami did to improve her chances that her plan would have been acceptable to the public? (Chapter 11)

DUTY

53. Identify and discuss some of the problems that the US faced and continues to face in Afghanistan. Describe Obama’s and Biden’s conflict with military brass and US relations with President Karzi. (Chapter 10)

54.  What does Gates have to say about Ambassador Holbrooke and General Stanley McChrystal? What does he have to say about the US “footprint” in Afghanistan? (Chapter 10)

55. Identify & discuss some of the things that you learned about Pakistan and US relations with Pakistan. What is the ISI? (Chapter 10)

56. Identify & discuss some of the things that Gates had to say about the US relationships with Iran, Israel & China (Chapter 11)

57. Describe & discuss some of the things that Gates had to say about the following “Disasters”: Haiti, Pakistan, Wiki Leaks (Chapter 11)

CADILLAC DESERT

58.  Identify and discuss some of the things that you learned about California’s relationship to water supply issues from the Chapter.  What did you find out about the Central Valley Project?  Why did Reisner call it “the most magnificent gift” any group of farmers ever received? (Chapter 10)

YOU TUBE SITE

59. Put the topic of “Charter Schools” in the You Tube Browser. Find at least one You Tube video that discusses Charter Schools. Summarize the video and give your opinion on what you learned about Charter Schools from your review. You can also use what you learned about Charter Schools from reading the book, The Prize, in your discussion.

FORUM QUESTION

60.  After reading chapters 1 – 11 in the book, The Prize, you should have a pretty good idea about what kinds of changes the author is suggesting that the US make to its educational system.  I would like you for you to give me your thoughts about which changes (if any) to our educational system you believe would be the correct approach and which suggested changes are inappropriate and will not work well.  Be sure to include your thoughts on Charter Schools in the discussion. Should we move in the direction of more Charter Schools or not? Please feel free to comment on the writings of the rest of the students in the class.  I’m sure that you realize that there are no easy answers but I would like to get your thoughts on this area. You can also use information that you discovered from viewing the video on Charter Schools that is referenced in question #59.