CI: For Those Who Like to Eat

Many have inquired about approved cultural cuisines. Most of the restaurants that I approve are not going to be in NW Austin. Bear in mind that one of the goals of this class is to challenge your cultural comfort zone.  Be open-minded.   And, when you visit these places, don’t order a bean and cheese burrito.  Branch out a bit.  The best thing you can do is ask your server for recommendations.  I’ve had a 80% return-rate on server suggestions (according to Earhart Data Collection LLC).

Click on a restaurants name to find a non-Earhart review and more info.

Lola’s Nubian Queen – Map

Wow! This place is amazing. Great Cajun with a heavy mix of soul. My suggestion would be to inquire about the day’s special and to go with it. I’ve had the crawfish etouffee and the chicken wing dinner. Both took me to flavorful destinations that I never knew existed.  Be prepared to sit with a group of strangers (as there are only a few large tables) and realize that the hours are wrong on the website.  Lola’s isn’t always open from 9 to 9, Mon-Sat.  I’ve arrived at noon and had to bang on the door to get some grub.  On Saturday’s Lola’s opens at 5 pm.  But any other day you should be good after 12.  Realize that Lola is the ONLY cook, so it’s going to take awhile to get your food.  I assure you, it’s all worth the trouble.  Click Here to read about Lola’s story.  It’s quite compelling.

Joe’s Bakery -  Map

Brunch is my favorite meal and Joe’s is my favorite place to eat it.  The flour tortillas have to made by wizards and then sprinkled with pixie dust to explain their complete awesomeness.  Joe’s is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7 to 3.  I’m a sucker for good chorizo and huevos rancheros – and Joe’s comes through on both fronts.  You may have to wait a few minutes for a table, but it’s a minor inconvenience.  The atmosphere is great; hopefully you’ll get to see the staff wish someone happy birthday.

Maru – Map

One of my personal favorites, this little sushi place near Burnet and 45th will satisfy the pallet.  Start with some edamame and one of the greatest mushroom appetizers in the history of mankind.  Then go for any of the combination rolls and you won’t be disappointed (my favorite being the Vista).  If your new to sushi, then CLICK HERE to get some pointers on what to order.  I would suggest anything with crab, tuna, salmon, or eel for newbies – such as a California Roll.  And don’t hesitate to ask your server to describe a menu item or to make suggestions.  I used to scoff at the idea of eating raw fish; now I crave it!

The next three locations are based on the advice of the social studies faculty.  I have yet to eat at any of the following, but I’m looking forward to it.  All count as cultural events.

Aster’s Ethiopian – Map

The Austin Chronicle has a nice review of Aster’s that can be found here.  And honestly, who doesn’t enjoy eating with their hands!

This post is taking MUCH longer than expected.  The above are all approved, with a few others to be added this weekend.

A Landmark Case?

Yesterday, in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission,  the Supreme Court, yet again, split-down party lines and ruled in a 5-4 decision that corporations and special interest groups have a 1st Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts of money in campaigns.  These groups are still forbidden to donate directly to a candidate, but they are now free to run ads for or against a candidate up until election day.

The ramifications of this decision are being hotly debated.

Click Here for the Fresh Prince’s hometown paper, which has a very newsworthy breakdown of what has transpired.

If you wish to read the polarized perspectives: Click Here for the Hannity version and Click Here for the Olbermann version.

And Click Here to read about how everyone needs to chill out!

Sorry Mr. Chill Out.  I’m a bit miffed.

This decision is a victory for the GOP in the short term, yet it seems obvious that this is a loss for the American people in the long term.  My $25 donation to a candidate is going to be rather worthless compared to AT&T.

Both conservative and liberal groups (such as the NRA and the ACLU) will have the ability to run ads regarding candidates, but the real danger lies in opening the floodgates to corporate spending.

Restricting a corporation’s “free speech” seems perfectly Constitutional to me.  Liberty is not an all or nothing game.  You can’t yell fire in a crowded movie theater or shoot somebody because they chew their gum too loudly.

When the government is already handing out billions of dollars to banks because of their reckless, laissez-faire lending practices and millions to a failing auto-industry, it seems absurd to allow these same companies to buy further representation in Congress.

But what do y’all think?

American Justice

As a follow-up to our discussion on incarceration rates and a precursor to our debate on capital punishment, I propose an American justice free-for-all.

The death penalty, rehabilitation, retribution, the war on drugs, discrimination, privatization of prisons, etc.

Go!

A Follow-Up Discussion on Education

Our discussion regarding vouchers left me frustrated that I didn’t explain the pros and cons in a more coherent manner.  To keep it simple, I came across a rather elementary website that briefly explains the opposing viewpoints.  Click Here to visit said site.

Additionally, several of our discussions merit further investigation and dialogue.  Feel free to respond to any of the following topics/statements/questions.

• Click Here to see the map of SBOE districts.  Look at Travis County!  How could we create a fairer map?  Can we?
• How would vouchers impact education?  And whatcha’ think?
• Mr. Taylor mentioned that one of the issues regarding public education is that a socialist system (public ed.) is run via a capitalist model.
• What can America do to address the issue of high school dropouts?
• How do we recruit better teachers?
• Besides school reform, what community issues can be addressed?

I left-out quite a bit.  Be sure to include any lingering questions or issues you have in regards to what we’ve discussed.

Follow MisterEarhart on Twitter

Only sign-up for Twitter if you have unlimited text messages.

Which 95% of y’all do.

Click Here to sign-up for Twitter or to sign-in if you have an existing account (just click on the top-right portion of the screen).

Then confirm your account by checking your Email.  The link in your Email will allow you to return to Twitter.  Sign-in.

You can skip several steps (such as searching your Email address book).  Once you’ve finished skipping these sections, Click on “Settings”.

Then Click on “Mobile” and follow the instructions that appear.  (You’ll have to text a numerical code to Twitter).

Once your account is created (or you’re logged-in), at the top of the screen there will be a tab to “find people” – find “misterearhart” (typed exactly as it appears).

A picture of what I used to look like (pre-mountain man) should appear.

Click on my name.

Then Click on the icon of a person with a plus sign to “Follow MisterEarhart”.

Next to “Follow” you can click on the phone icon.  Make it green. Now you will receive tweets in the form of sms text messages from Mr. Earhart about US History. What else could be better!

All US History tweets will be preceded by “US”.

“CI” is designated for Contemporary Issues students.

CI: Cultural Events

Most of the info below was gathered from Now Playing Austin.  The tab “free events” on the far right of the screen will provide some alternatives for the economically challenged (i.e. people like me).  For those new to CI, bear in mind that you are responsible for the decision to attend or not-attend an event based on its rating/content.  You know what your parents would like you attending (or not attending).  The excuse, “but Mr. Earhart made me go to it,” will not hold-up in court.  There are several age-appropriate options available.  That said…

Theatre

The Color Purple is playing at Bass Concert Hall from 1/12 to 1/17.  Click Here for details.

The 17th Annual FronteraFest kicks off on 1/12 and runs through Valentine’s Day.  It’s held at several theatre’s (but predominately at Hyde Park Theatre).  I’m not entirely sure if this event is all-ages,  Click Here for more detailed information (you’ll then have to click on “FronteraFest 2010″ on the left menu).

On 1/16 and 1/17 there are several performances dedicated to dance choreographer Bob Fosse at the TexARTS Kam and James Morris Theatre.  Click Here for more info.

Running each Thursday through Sunday until 1/24 at The Vortex is Surfin’ UFO.  It looks pretty crazy (and, again, hard to gauge age).

For you Northerners, Leander is hosting an interesting play entitled “Deathtrap” running from 1/15 to 1/30.  Click Here for more info.

Film

Although the film is Rated R, it appears that Precious may be worthy of your attention.  The film is quickly becoming the most controversial and revered of the new year (even though it was released in ‘09).  Having already received several awards, try to get a guardian to accompany you to the theatre.  (Side Note: I have yet to see this film, but I’ll be remedying that in the near future).   It’s currently playing at the Arbor.

This Wednesday at 7 PM(1/13), I’ll be attending the documentary Trouble the Water at the the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (downtown).  You do have to be 18 to attend, or your mommy or pappy can escort you.  The film is about Hurricane Katrina, and its director will be on hand to answer questions.  Click Here for details.

The third Friday of each month (1/15 and 2/19) is film night at Esquina Tango Cultural Society of Austin.  Additionally, this group offers affordable Salsa and Tango lessons on various nights throughout the week.  Click Here for more info.

Art

Sergio Rodriguez is at the Mexican American Cultural Center starting 1/30.  Click Here for details.

The David Bates exhibit at the Austin Museum of Art runs through 1/30.  Click Here for more info.

The Wally Workman Gallery is showcasing “A Grand Affair” through the end of the month.  Click Here for more info.

The D Berman Gallery is featuring “Chill” through my birfday, 2/6.  Click Here for more info.

Books/Poetry

There are several ongoing and special events listed on Now Playing Austin regarding spoken word and in-store author appearances.   Click Here for the listings.

Other

Pretty much any event that takes place at The Long Center would count as a cultural event.  For those politicos in class, this comedy show on 1/29 could be entertaining.

Try to become familiar with Now Playing Austin, as these posts require a significant investment of my time (and I’m basically just linking to the aforementioned website).

Additionally, you may achieve a full 15 points for your event if you include an adequate review (what you thought, observations, etc.) in the comments section of this post.

US: WWII

Click Here for World War II Notes

CI: Texas State Board of Education

As previously mentioned, the problems within the American educational system are virtually too numerous to address appropriately. But a decent starting point might be an understanding of how education works in America. For the most part, power within the American educational system is held by the states. With the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002, the federal government took a bit of a larger role. NCLB requires each state to establish “high” educational standards that can be tested to measure student achievement. There is no national standard – each state sets its criteria for performance. For more info on NCLB, it may be beneficial to read the Wiki.

Although federal funding for schools has increased under NCLB ($54.4 billion in 2007), each state funds its own educational system. To give an example of the scale of funding involved, the budget for the 2009-10 school year in Austin Independent School District is $814.1 million. This info should make it apparent that the bulk of funding (and all of the curriculum) for America’s public school system is regulated at the state level. Funding for schools is further subdivided between the state and local level. Around 50% of funding for schools comes from the local level, 45% from the state level, and a bit over 4% from the federal government. These numbers are averages for school districts throughout Texas.

Some schools, such as Westlake, receive no (or very little) federal funding. Federal funding is often reserved for low-income school districts. Westlake is an affluent district that consistently meets what the federal (and state) government calls Adequate Yearly Progress. By meeting AYP (high test scores, low dropout-rate, etc.), Westlake is virtually left-alone, i.e. no federal money and no “intervention” by the Texas Education Agency. TEA “intervention” is not fun.

For instance, Austin ISD receives some federal funding, this funding is then (typically) allocated to low-performing schools within AISD. In other words, Anderson does not receive (much) funding from the federal government, and the district (AISD) allocates less money per Anderson student when compared to a student at a low-performing school (Reagan, Eastside Memorial, Lanier, etc). The “catch” is that the district leaves Anderson (mostly) alone, whilst heavily meddling in the instruction at low-performing schools. For example, Akins forces math teachers to spend at least 20 minutes of instruction (during each class period) focused solely on the TAKS test. Other schools are required to spend much more time. Pearce Middle School has been threatened with closure for several years; teachers are virtually forced to “teach to the test” throughout the entire school day.

Take a moment to consider the ramifications of teaching in this manner. Reflect on the weeks of review that occur prior to the TAKS test. Imagine if instruction resembled this style on a daily basis. Go further by examining why teachers enter education. Not too many teachers enter the field with the inspiration of preparing students to pass a test that accomplishes little more than telling us where the poor kids live (I’ll elaborate in the future on this politically incorrect, yet very accurate, phrasing).

The day administrators step into my room and tell me exactly what and how I should teach is the day I walk (perhaps, storm) out the door. And I have real fears that such a day will occur if the tendency to objectively measure student learning continues. Learning is a subjective, complex apparatus. It cannot (solely) be measured by a test. As Twain said, “never let your schooling interfere with your education.” School is increasingly interfering with the education of America’s youth. One of the major reasons is that those making decisions about the educational process know VERY little about teaching. For example, the US Congress passed and the President signed NCLB. (A bill that had huge, bipartisan support).

Which brings us to our next problem. In the state of Texas, the harbinger of educational policy is the The State Board of Education (SBOE).

The SBOE is composed of 15 members serving 4 year terms, directly elected by voters based on proportional districts. In Texas the elections are partisan, with candidates typically running as Democrats or Republicans.

The State Board of Education has to operate within established rules set forth by the Texas Legislature, but this body is still the most powerful force behind educational policy in the state of Texas.

We’ve already looked at a few of the more ridiculous facts and statements associated with several SBOE members. Let’s take a gander at the SBOE nominated “expert” reviewers of the Social Studies TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). The TEKS are the basis for what y’all are legally required to be taught in the social studies classroom. I don’t expect y’all to read through every expert’s review; but skim through a few of them (by clicking on the link below each reviewer’s name).

It’s more than frightening to say that I could have done a much more professional and thorough review than 5 of the 6 experts. However you can readily see that NO SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS were included in this process. But heh… what the hell would we know about what students should learn?

For some more informative links regarding two experts on what y’all should learn…

Click Here for Expert Peter Marshall

Click Here for Expert David Barton

Obviously I’m biased on this issue. And, rightfully such. It’s insulting to see such blatant politicization of history. I’m not arguing that we remove the role of religion in early America from the TEKS. I’ll happily discuss the fact that many of the values influencing the American Constitution are derived from Biblical principles; at the same time, I’d like to point-out that forcibly removing the Native Americans from their homeland in the name of Manifest Destiny was mean.

Woodrow Wilson was a decent President; he was racist and sexist.

Helen Keller overcame amazing obstacles; she was a rabid socialist.

Cesar Chavez is more historically significant than several people included in the TEKS (Alfred Mahan comes to mind), and his absence is abhorrent. Not to mention that 37% of Texans are of Hispanic heritage and have been directly impacted by Chavez’s legacy.

Further, the heroification of the Founding Fathers is ridiculous. We can all celebrate the writings of Jefferson and Madison (truly genius) while acknowledging the paradox that these men owned slaves. The emphasis on Christianity in its direct relation to the Founding Fathers is also a bit laughable. Jefferson was a self-proclaimed deist, who was accused by his contemporaries of being an atheist. John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli, in which Article 11 appears worthy of a read, especially in application to America’s current conflict with the Islamic world.

But, in the nature of being fair-ish, I have provided some links to websites in favor of the SBOE and its actions…

A lauding view of the SBOE.

Social Studies TEKS revisions – a complimentary take. (read the comments!)

To see true educator frustration, speak with a “science” teacher.

All of the above should get our conversation rolling…  and we haven’t even begun to discuss teacher pay, vouchers, charter schools, teaching methods, and the many social issues that complicate education.

Let the comments begin!

Historical Photograph Research Project

Historical Photograph Research Project Description

OPTIC Template (First Homework Grade)

Photo Research WS (Third Homework Grade)

Essay Rubric (Exam Grade)

Below each photograph you will find links that contain more info about your chosen historical image. Be sure to visit all of the links listed.

Click Here for a brief description of your photo.

Click Here for information about Buchenwald.

Click Here for info on Margaret Bourke-White.

WARNING: The following video contains disturbing images of Buchenwald. You are not required to watch this video…

This article from a 1969 issue of Time magazine describes the situations surrounding the above photograph. On the 4th page of the article the photograph is specifically discussed. It’s a lengthy, yet enthralling read.

Click Here for more info about the photographer and the circumstances of the photo’s release.

Click Here for more info about My Lai.

The below video is the first of seven YouTube clips of special entitled “Four Hours in My Lai”.

Click Here for a brief summary of the photograph.

This website will provide you with more information regarding the circumstances surrounding the photograph. For more info on the woman pictured in the photo, Click Here and then click on “Elizabeth Eckford”.

Click Here to learn more about the Supreme Court decision that created the circumstances relating to the above photograph.

An interview with a member of the Little Rock Nine can be found here.

Click Here for a brief summary of this photograph.

For a more in-depth perspective Click Here.

And watch this video…

CI: How do we fix education?

The title of this particular post is irritatingly laughable.  The problems of the American educational system appear too numerous and overwhelming to repair.  Each year politicians and government officials promise education reform with new “standards” to ensure higher academic performance.  Yet, each year, the American educational system appears to be doing worse.

As we start our second semester of CI, we’ll closely examine our educational system.  This particular thread is designed as an open forum for questions, concerns, suggestions, and rants.  I’ve asked a few colleagues to monitor our dialogue and weigh-in when they feel inclined to do such.

To start, we have to identify the problems.  Ask yourself, what’s wrong with education.  How is the current system failing you?  How is it failing others?  What really irks you?  Then we can begin to seek solutions.

Let the venting begin…