Community meeting review.
City council and school board proceedings are a good opportunity for students to learn “first hand” and evaluate the operations of government at the most basic level: the community. This project encourages students to gain some insight into the development, implementation, and arbitration of public policy. And hopefully, whatever the experience, good or bad, the student’s appetite for local interests and issues has been increased.
B. Focus Questions and Structure for the Review:
1. Begin your Review with a brief introduction that provides a simple summary/overview to your Review and includes a passage to kindle interest in the reader to read your work.
2. List the main officials present at both of the meetings (city council or school board members)
3. Briefly describe the major issues or business addressed at the meeting. Were similar circumstances/issues addressed? Compare/contrast how those circumstances/issues were handled by the governmental bodies.
4. Which individual(s) seemed to be the most impressive during your visits? Why? Who was the least impressive official? Why? For this question, be sure to compare and contrast between the two different councils or boards.
5. Has your impression of government changed as a result of your visit? How? Is the local neighborhood being served and represented well in either or both of the communities? Explain. Given the tight economic times, were budget decisions made or discussed with an approach of wise and prudent spending?
6. Does your experience with local politics have any relation to your perception of national politics? Do local politics seem to be any more accessible/personable, equitable, and efficient/effective than national politics? What did you find most interesting or surprising? Again, for this question, be sure to compare and contrast between the two different councils or boards.
7. No conclusion necessary.
Answer preview:
word limit:1620