The one textbook that I still have not finalized (and failed to mention last time) is the State & Local Government text. I have an e-mail out to another colleague who has more experience teaching state & local than I do, plus I have 3 examination copies that I need to look through at my office. I am really trying to find a text that helps make that subject interesting! State & Local Government lacks the quantity and quality of "sexy" issues and controversies that other political science classes can boast.
Speaking of "not-so-sexy-issues", we discussed taxing and budgeting policy in both my state and local classes on Monday and Tuesday. One of the concepts we talked about was the "rainy day fund" that many states and municipalities create during surpluses to use for unexpected budgetary needs. I gave the practical example of car repairs as an unexpected budgetary need - which most of the students could easily relate to. Well, today we took Gandalf in to the dealer (Oh how I wish I had Tisch!) because he needed a LOF, tire rotation and was making a new and unusual noise. Well, $1200+ later he is running much quieter, has new fluids in him, and is half-rotated (I didn't get an explanation for that - I have to call tomorrow - but they did it for free.)
Gandalf may be going on 12 years old, but he only has 84,000 miles on him. Because he's a Honda, we expect to have him through at least 150,000 miles - so $1200+ in repairs is definitely worth it.
It would take a lot more money to replace him,
Brad
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Talking teaching with old friends...
These past few weeks I have been trying to decide which textbooks to adopt for the political science classes here at OCC. Being the only full-time political science faculty member makes the decision mine (unless my dean decides to choose for me, which he could, but that's a different issue.)
The Federal Government textbook will not change until Spring 2009 (that's when the new edition comes out and I can change books) so we are keeping the current book. I am not impressed with the current book, but I know how to teach with it, so two more semesters won't kill me (Summer & Fall.)
I was able to adopt a new International Relations textbook. It is written by Henry Nau who was the advisor to one of my colleagues at UCI during his MA program. The textbook I currently use for IR is more a "global issues" reader. I love teaching with it, but it lacks a lot of the political science structure that can be employed to really understand global issues. I am very excited about working with the new textbook and taking my IR class to a higher level of analysis.
When it came to the Introduction to Political Science textbook, I was frustrated. The book I was interested in had received some poor reviews from both faculty and students. Therefore, I turned to a textbook that one of the professors at UCI had authored and that I had used as a teaching assistant. I looked up two former UCI graduate students who had used the book in teaching their own class and that I had worked with and called them to get their take on the book. I was only able to get a hold of one. She teaches at a small college in San Diego and was just preparing to teach her own Intro class from that very book. We talked for about 15 minutes about teaching, the textbook and the busy life of new faculty. In the end I decided to adopt that textbook and we both agreed to keep in touch with syllabi and teaching strategies for working with that textbook. I am quite enthused to have a colleague with whom I can discuss teaching Political Science - even if she is on the other side of the country.
Just another affirmation that this is the career for me,
Brad
The Federal Government textbook will not change until Spring 2009 (that's when the new edition comes out and I can change books) so we are keeping the current book. I am not impressed with the current book, but I know how to teach with it, so two more semesters won't kill me (Summer & Fall.)
I was able to adopt a new International Relations textbook. It is written by Henry Nau who was the advisor to one of my colleagues at UCI during his MA program. The textbook I currently use for IR is more a "global issues" reader. I love teaching with it, but it lacks a lot of the political science structure that can be employed to really understand global issues. I am very excited about working with the new textbook and taking my IR class to a higher level of analysis.
When it came to the Introduction to Political Science textbook, I was frustrated. The book I was interested in had received some poor reviews from both faculty and students. Therefore, I turned to a textbook that one of the professors at UCI had authored and that I had used as a teaching assistant. I looked up two former UCI graduate students who had used the book in teaching their own class and that I had worked with and called them to get their take on the book. I was only able to get a hold of one. She teaches at a small college in San Diego and was just preparing to teach her own Intro class from that very book. We talked for about 15 minutes about teaching, the textbook and the busy life of new faculty. In the end I decided to adopt that textbook and we both agreed to keep in touch with syllabi and teaching strategies for working with that textbook. I am quite enthused to have a colleague with whom I can discuss teaching Political Science - even if she is on the other side of the country.
Just another affirmation that this is the career for me,
Brad
Friday, April 25, 2008
Feeling guilty...
This month my wife has been doing her "write one blog post every day for a month." It has been great to read, but it has also led to a little personal guilt and hypocrisy.
The guilt is easily explained - she is blogging everyday and I am blogging once a month (if that!)
The hypocrisy comes in as follows:
When it comes to the end of the day and my wife still needs to post her blog, I tell her to just post something quick (anything will do!) Being the conscientious person she is, she puts some thought and effort into making every post worthwhile. So inside my mind I'm thinking "why can't you just post something short and call it good?" Now for the actual hypocrisy. When it comes to my blog, I always put it off by thinking that I don't have time to post anything worthwhile (the busy teacher and administrator excuse) so I don't post anything at all.
That only took three minutes,
Brad
The guilt is easily explained - she is blogging everyday and I am blogging once a month (if that!)
The hypocrisy comes in as follows:
When it comes to the end of the day and my wife still needs to post her blog, I tell her to just post something quick (anything will do!) Being the conscientious person she is, she puts some thought and effort into making every post worthwhile. So inside my mind I'm thinking "why can't you just post something short and call it good?" Now for the actual hypocrisy. When it comes to my blog, I always put it off by thinking that I don't have time to post anything worthwhile (the busy teacher and administrator excuse) so I don't post anything at all.
That only took three minutes,
Brad
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Yes, I'm still here...
It's been too long since I posted. I wouldn't have posted today (still too busy) except for an e-mail sent me by one of my students. I recently had my students write a journal entry focusing on the article China Games by Arch Puddington (great name, huh?) In the article it basically compares China to two other undesirables in history that have hosted the Olympics: 1936 Germany and 1980 USSR. My students all did an awesome job in their journals so I opened up the beginning of our last class for discussion on the subject. It was totally great! So now all my students have a solid appreciation for the history of politics and the Olympics and a better understanding of the protests that have surrounded the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Now for the e-mail. One of my students sent me a link to this picture. From the signs in the background, this was taken in the U.S. I would be so embarrassed if that protester had been one of my students. My guess it was in San Francisco or some other part of the bay area - that's where all the good protests can be found. Just like this one, as reported by the Daily Show:
"If only there were an organization that was sworn to defend that free speech."
Proud to have never participated in a protest,
Brad
p.s. I also love the idea of ending crime by eliminating the police
Now for the e-mail. One of my students sent me a link to this picture. From the signs in the background, this was taken in the U.S. I would be so embarrassed if that protester had been one of my students. My guess it was in San Francisco or some other part of the bay area - that's where all the good protests can be found. Just like this one, as reported by the Daily Show:"If only there were an organization that was sworn to defend that free speech."
Proud to have never participated in a protest,
Brad
p.s. I also love the idea of ending crime by eliminating the police
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)