Urban Studies
		EU81
		Spragins
		Spring 2008			Odd Days; Drop Down Day 6
					Second Semester Topics:
					Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen (2004) by David Hilfiker, MD
			William Paca Elementary School, Baltimore MD		The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America (2005) by Jonathan Kozol
					The Promised Land (1991) by Nicholas Lemann, Clarksdale and Chicago
			Richard Wright (1908-1960)		Native Son (1940) by Richard Wright
			LBJ Signs War on Poverty Bill, July 23, 1964		The Promised Land (1991) Nicholas Lemann, Washington
					Tally’s Corner (1964) by Elliott Lebow
					Jitney (1977) by August Wilson
					The Corner (1992) by David Simon and Edward Burns
					William Julius Wilson, New Yorker Profile
Month	Day		Cycle		Assignment
1	28		6	Mon	Exam Make-up Day
1	29		7	Tues.
			William Paca Elementary School, Baltimore MD Kashai Galloway (left) and Tyron Edmonds, pupils at the independent, public New Song Academy in West Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, tackle some math.(Sun photo by Chiaki Kawajiri) 3-26-06  Successful School Fighting to Survive: New Song Academy is left behind while city funds go to failing facilities by Sara Neufeld (Sun ) (Sun staff photo / June 13, 2007) Financial Resources FY 2006 (Source: Maryland Department of Education Factbook 2006-07 pdf) High School Dropouts 2006 (Source: Maryland Department of Education Factbook 2006-07 pdf) Per Pupil Funding for Levels Public Schools State of Maryland 2006-07 (Source: Maryland Department of Education Factbook 2006-07 pdf)		Course Description and Booklist Preliminary Poll William Paca Elementary and Middle School Situating William Paca Elementary School 2008 (ppt) Baltimore City Police Department Online Map The MSA Standardized Tests: MSA Test Results 2006-07 (State of Maryland) MSA Test Results 2006-07 (Baltimore City) MSA Scores - Sun Report Cards 6-14-07 In city, big gains shown in math for 4th through 6th grades (Sun) Funding the Bridge to Excellence Act: · 1-16-08 Governor O'Malley Unveils FY 2009 Budget  (Press Release) · 9-28-07 Campaign Promises Unmet: (O'MalleyWatch.com) · Educational Funding Under the Bridge to Excellence Act (Baltimore City School Board) · 5-02 Hunter, Maryland Enacts Modern, Standards-Based Education Finance System: Reforms Based on Adequacy Cost Studies (Access) Paca: Progress on Transition from Elementary School to K-8 school.   Articles about William Paca Elementary from The Sunpapers: Here is the Milton Kent article in the Sun about Mr. Lewis: "Mentoring Program is Dunbar Poetry in Motion" Baltimore Sun 10-12-04 "Principal program widens in schools"; State fellowship focuses on troubled city facilities; Tanika White. The Sun. Baltimore, Md.: Jul 1, 2003. "Taking a shot at a noble goal ; Lacrosse" With the help of many donors and a lot of hard work, a city elementary school introduces a team of young girls to an exclusive sport; Tanika White. The Sun. Baltimore, Md.: May 21, 2003. "Too many repairs, too little money for schools" Facilities: The heat wave that has shut some buildings brings problems of the city system more into the forefront; Tanika White. The Sun. Baltimore, Md.: May 25, 2004. Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance: (Interactive Map)  2000 Census Fact Finder: Patterson Park Homework: Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen by David Hilfiker, MD, Introduction and Chapter One, "Building the Ghetto: A History" (Study Guide)
					MSA Test Results 2005-07 Highschool Dropouts 2006 (Source: Maryland Department of Education Factbook 2006-07 pdf)	"As part of the federal government's "War on Poverty," Title I of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed to provide financial assistance to local education agencies serving areas with high concentrations of children from low-income families." (Ask Eric)		Title 1 Statistics Maryland Public Schools (2006-07) (Source: Maryland Department of Education Factbook 2006-07 pdf)
1	30		8	Wed.
1	31		9	Thurs.
					Hilfiker Essay due on Friday, February 8th at 3:30 pm Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen by David Hilfiker, MD, Introduction: What is Hilfiker’s main idea? (1) What do you think of his credentials? (2) Define what Hilfiker means by "the surround". (3) Why did Hilfiker's political stance change over the years? (3) Chapter One, "Building the Ghetto: A History" (Study Guide) (Hilfiker Outline) Discussion: The Causes of Poverty: Macro vs. Micro Effects Homework: Hilfiker, Chapter Two, "Pillaging the Ghetto: Other Causes of Poverty" (Study Guide) 1-30-08 Liz Bowie "Critics cite lack of data on struggling students Report tracks student progress during $3.3 billion influx " (Sun) 1-25-06 Liz Bowie, "Schools Thrive Under Imported Principals" (Sun)
2	1		10	Fri.
2	4		1	Mon
			The Problem We All Live With, Norman Rockwell (illustration for Look 1964) "On Their Own", a series on homeless high school students from The Sun (Oct. 2005) by BMS grad Liz Bowie Todd Heisler/ The New York Times 1-3-07 Elissa Gootman, Trying to Find Solutions in Chaotic Middle Schools NY Times		Driver Permission Forms: (Only 14 riders and 1 driver fit in a Gilman Van) Video: Gary McCullough in The Corner (2000)  Preliminary Poll Results  (Results 2006-08) Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen by David Hilfiker, MD, Hilfiker Essay due on Friday, February 8th at 3:30 pm Hilfiker, Chapter Two, "Pillaging the Ghetto: Other Causes of Poverty" (Study Guide) (the surround) (Hilfiker Outline) Discussion: The Causes of Poverty: Macro vs. Micro Effects Hilfiker's Recommendation: "What is to be done?" Homework: Hilfiker Essay due on Friday, February 8th at 3:30 pm For further reading: 2-3-08 Liz Bowie "Vouchers revisited: Bush proposal redraws lines on private, public school funds" (The Sun) 2-1-08 Gadi Dechter and Laura Smitherman, "Truce sought in Grasmick dispute: Lawmakers could redraw terms of job" (The Sun) 10-05-05 Liz Bowie, "On Their Own", a series on homeless high school students from The Sun (Oct. 2005) by BMS grad Liz Bowie
2	5		2	Tues
					Trip to Paca to Meet Mr. Lewis: 3:30pm Gilman Van from the front of Carey Hall
2	6		3	Wed.	Parent Conference Day
2	7		4	Thurs
2	8		5	Fri
			2-7-08 25 education protesters detained At State House, students, teacher call 'historic underfunding' of schools a 'crime'  What the Algebra Project was protesting A protester with The Algebra Project from Baltimore is arrested along with several of his peers near the steps of the Maryland State House in Annapolis. (Sun photo by Glenn Fawcett / February 6, 2008)		Hilfiker Essay due at 3:30 pm Driver Permission Forms: (Only 14 riders and 1 driver fit in a Gilman Van) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? Brainstorm: Questions about our working routine at Paca. (Orientation Questions) (Kozol Questions) (Paca Game Ideas) Homework: Journalistic Model: 1-15-07 Katherine Boo, "Expectations" New Yorker (Study Guide) (More by Katherine Boo) For further reading: Check out  Inside Education: the Baltimore Sun Blog on Education
2	9		0	Sat
2	11		6	Mon.
			Norberto Felix-Cruz, at left, says, "I'm letting my spark up, trying to focus."(Katherine Boo, "Expectations", from New Yorker Jan. 15 2007 photography Robin Bowman) (Katherine Boo, Journalist, New Yorker Magazine)		Model: Narrative Journalism: 1-15-07 Katherine Boo, "Expectations" New Yorker (Study Guide) (Quotes) (More by Katherine Boo) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Homework: The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America (2005) by Jonathan Kozol, Chapters Intro, One and Two (Study Guide)
					Denver Schools Superinetendant Michael Bennet with students from Manual High  (Katherine Boo, "Expectations", from New Yorker Jan. 15 2007 photography Robin Bowman)		Julissa Torrez, with her siblings Analissa, Isaiah, Ashley, and Zerina (Katherine Boo, "Expectations", from New Yorker Jan. 15 2007 photography Robin Bowman)
2	12		7	Tues
			Jonathan Kozol		Election Day Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Kozol, Chapters Intro, One and Two (Study Guide) (Sprago Notes) Intro, Chapter 1: "Dishonoring the Dead" (13-37) Homework: Kozol, Chapter 3: “The Ordering Regime” (63-87) and Chapter 4: “Preparing Minds for Markets” (89-108) (Study Guide)  See Dickens, Hard Times (1854).)
2	13		8	Wed
2	14		9	Thurs
			Sen. Barack Obama "A World Class Education" Sen. Hillary Clinton "Improving Our Schools" Sen.John McCain "Excellence, Choice, and Competition in American Education"		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Chapter 3: "The Ordering Regime" (63-87) What impact has NCLB had on the curriculum and teaching methods of inner city schools? Are teachers at Paca using the kind of drill and response, rote teaching methods that Kozol abhors? Are the kids learning or are they being programmed? What is the difference? Look at the walls. Do you see student work of evidence of the achievement of a business goal? Chapter 4: "Preparing Minds for Markets" (89-108) (Study Guide) What are the characteristics of the dual public school system that is emerging? (What kind of future are the kids at Paca being prepared to enter?) Homework: Chapter 5 “The Road to Rome” (109-134) Chapter 6 “A Hardening of Lines” (135-160)(Study Guide)
2	15		0	Fri
2	16		0	Sat.
2	18		0	Mon.	Faculty Professional Day
2	19		10	Tues.
2	20		1	Wed
			2-16-08 Clive Cookson, "Poverty mars formation of infant brains" Financial Times 2-18-08 PAUL KRUGMAN, "Poverty Is Poison" NY Times Malcolm Lawson, 14, listens during a morning class taught by Anne Claire Tejtel at KIPP Ujima Village Academy. May 10, 2006 Calverton Middle School student Tynesha McGougan,13, sits at her house listening to a conversation between her mother and sister. (Sun photo by Amy Davis) May 17, 2006		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Chapter 5 “The Road to Rome” (109-134)(Study Guide) · To what degree have the NCLB standardized testing requirements taken over Paca's curriculum? (Are traditional courses like history geography and science still being taught? Have art and music programs been reduced? How much of the school year is spent specifically preparing for the MSA test?) · Are these tests useful diagnostic tools? (Are they used to help prepare an individualized educational program for the student? Are any other diagnostic tests administered to kids in less stressful situations?) · What happened to Paca's test scores when an influx of new students from another area school took place last year? Chapter 6 “A Hardening of Lines” (135-160)(Study Guide) · Why does Kozol believe that magnet schools are discriminatory? · Is Paca turning into a magnet school, or will it serve as a model for other traditional elementary schools? Homework: Kozol, Chapter 7 “Excluding Beauty” (161-186) and Chapter 8, “False Promises” (187-214) (Study Guide)
2	21		2	Thurs.
2	22		3	Fri.
			Martin O'Malley on Education Governor O'Malley Unveils FY 2009 Budget  (Press Release) Governor O'Malley Announces Plan to Make College More Affordable for Working Families (Press Release) Governor O'Malley Announces $333 Million for School Construction (Press Release) Education: Those Campaign Promises Only Count in an Election Year (O'Malley Watch)		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Kozol, Chapter 7 “Excluding Beauty” (161-186) and Chapter 8, “False Promises” (187-214) (Study Guide) Homework: Kozol, Chapter 9, “Invitation to Resistance” (215-236) and Chapter 10, “A National Horror In Plain View: Why Not a National Response” (237-263) (Study Guide) For further reading: Paca Parent Survey September 2005 Paca Staff Survey Sept 2005 Paca Student Survey Sept 2005
2	23		0	Sat
2	25		4	Mon.
2	26		5	Tues
			2-21-08 Ruma Kumar, "Reading, math eat up class hours: Driven by stress on test scores, systems trim other subjects" Sun John Roberts 17th Chief Justice of the United States  Samuel Alito, Associate Justice of the United States		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Kozol, Chapter 9, “Invitation to Resistance” (215-236) and Chapter 10, “A National Horror In Plain View: Why Not a National Response” (237-263) (Study Guide) Homework: Read Kozol, Chapter 11, “Deadly Lies” (265-284); Chapter 12, “Treasured Places” (285-300) and Epilogue (310-317)(Study Guide)
2	27		6	Wed.
					Discuss Kozol and Paca Essay. Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? Discuss Paca Saturday coming up this weekend.
2	28		7	Thurs.
			Rep. John  Lewis		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Chapter 11, “Deadly Lies” (265-284) Chapter 12, “Treasured Places” (285-300) and Epilogue (310-317) (Study Guide) Homework: Kozol Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? due next Friday by 3:30 pm
2	29		8	Fri.
2	30		0	Sat
3	3		9	Mon.
			2-28-2008 1 in 100 U.S. Adults Behind Bars, New Study Says (NY Times)		Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Homework: Kozol Essay due Friday by 3:30 pm
3	4		10	Tues.
3	5		1	Wed.
			3-5-08 Medina, "Next Question: Can Students Be Paid to Excel?"  (NY Times)		Final Paca School Visit (11:30-1:15) Essay Project: What Is To Be Done About William Paca Elementary School? (Kozol Questions) Homework: Kozol Essay due Friday by 3:30 pm
3	6		2	Thurs.
3	7		3	Fri.
			National Child Labor Committe(1905) Lewis Hines Lange,  Migrant Mother Photos from Farm Security Administration Photos (1936-38) (LOC)		Kozol Essay due by 3:30 pm Michael Katz: Responses to Poverty Outline The Underclass Debate: "The Underclass"- a group beyond the help of government Term emerges in 1977-82 era Time: drugs, crime, teen pregnancy, unemployed, socially alienated, school dropouts, welfare moms, Urban decay, black hole of welfare spending Ken Auletta in 1977 Time Magazine article entitled "The American Underclass" suggested that a whole class of people were emerging in the inner city who might be beyond the reach of any form of help: a) passive poor, b) hostile street criminals c) hustlers,  d) drunks/addicts/homeless Photography and Ideology: Changing Attitudes Towards the Poor (1890-1935): Jacob Riis, Lewis Hines and Dorothea Lange (ppt) Introduction to The Promised Land (1991) by Nicholas Lemann Homework: Lemann, The Promised Land Clarksdale (pp1-58) (Study Guide)
3	8		0	Sat
3	10		4	Mon.
3	11		5	Tues.
			Pockets of Poverty in Maryland (Sun) Sean Dobson, executive director of Progressive Maryland, stands in front of vacant buildings in the Sandtown area of Baltimore. "We can certainly do more," he says of the state's efforts to combat poverty. (Sun photo by Chiaki Kawajiri / February 15, 2008)		3-12-08 Sara Neufeld and Brent Jones, "North Ave. cuts outlined: Alonso to unveil new central office organizational chart today" (Sun) 3-11-2008 Sara Neufeld, "Alonso to cut central school staff: 300 jobs would be trimmed at city schools main office" (Sun) 3-9-08 3-9-08 Sumathi Reddy, "The poor and plenty: Maryland may be affluent overall, but poverty traps families, including children, throughout the state" (Sun)
			McCormick-Deering Cotton Picker (1932) Lawrence, "The Great Migration: A Story in Paintings"		Lemann, The Promised Land Clarksdale (pp1-58) (Study Guide) (Answers) Clarksdale Discussion; Julius Discussion Guide Homework: Lemann, The Promised Land Chicago (59-107) (Study Guide)
3	12		6	Wed.
3	13		7	Thurs.
			Apartment Building in Chicago's "Black Belt" (LOC)		Lemann, The Promised Land Chicago (59-107) (Study Guide) (Answers) Homework: Wright, Native Son, Book 1: "Fear" (Study Guide)
3	14		8	Fri.
3	10		0	Sat.	Spring Break
3	24		0	Mon.	Spring Break
3	25		9	Tues
			Canada Lee as Bigger Thomas		Essay Assignment on Native Son, Wright, Native Son, Book 1: "Fear"  (Study Guide) (Discussion) Saturday Morning in the Thomas’ South Side Apartment (1-11) (3-12) On the Street (12-23) (12-22) The Pool Hall (24-31) (22- 29) At The Movies (34-38) (29-34) Terrorizing Gus (38-47) (34-41) The Interview (47-53) (42-51) Mary, Peggy and the Blind Woman (57-70) (51-62) The Night Ride with Mary and Jan (70-91) (62-80) Bigger and Mary Stumble Towards Bed (91-100) (80-87) The Furnace (100-108) (87-93) Homework: Wright, Native Son, Book 2, "Flight" (study guide book 2) "Bessie's Blues" (See Bessie Smith on Pittsburgh State's Jazz and Blues Page)
3	26		10	Wed.
3	27		1	Thurs
			Richard Wright (1908-1960) Richard Wright as Bigger Thomas and Gloria Madison as Bessie Mears in the 1950 film version of Native Son		Essay Assignment on Native Son Wright, Native Son, Book 2, "Flight" (study guide book 2) (discussion) New Consciousness (97-116) Improvisation (116-129) Bessie (129-149) Interrogation (149-172) The Ransom Plan (172-184) Discovery (184-220) Flight  (220-241) The Manhunt (241-270) Homework: Wright, Native Son, Book 3, "Fate" (Study Guide) (discussion)
3	28		2	Fri
3	29		0	Sat
3	31		3	Mon.
			New Masses (May, 1933) Josh Cochran, New York Times 3-26-06		Wright, Native Son, Book 3, "Fate" (Study Guide) (discussion) Bigger’s Cell (271- 310) The Inquest (310-340) Interview with Max (341- 363) The Trial (363- 418) Max’s Speech (382-415) Bigger Achieves Consciousness (418) Homework: Essay Assignment on Native Son
4	1		4	Tues.
4	2		5	Wed.
			MLK RFK LBJ Malcolm X		Essay Assignment on Native Son, due 3:30 p.m. April 1, 2008 Liz Bowie, Sharp split found in graduation rates: Report calls disparity between Baltimore, suburbs biggest in U.S. (Sun) War on Poverty Flow Chart Assignment Helpful Chronological Framework The Post-War Liberal Consensus Hilfiker: THE MYTH OF THE WAR ON POVERTY 1960s Poverty Awareness (11) Civil Rights Movement (11) Vietnam (11) Black Power Movement (11) Riots (12) Moynihan Report (12) AFDC (12) Great Society Funding Levels (12) Failure of the Great Society (12) The American Experience: LBJ (PBS) “We Shall Overcome” Homework: Lemann, The Promised Land Washington, part one (study guide)
4	3		6	Thurs.
			LBJ		Lemann, The Promised Land Clarksdale (pp1-58) (Study Guide) (Answers) Lemann, The Promised Land Chicago (59-107) (Study Guide) (Answers) The Post-War Liberal Consensus Helpful Chronological Framework Class Discussion: What does it take to fight a “War on Poverty”? (just like a “War on Drugs” or a “War on Terrorism”) Lemann, The Promised Land Washington, part one (study guide) (answers) Flow Chart Assignment Homework: Lemann, The Promised Land Washington, part two (study guide) (discussion)
4	4		7	Fri.
			Malcolm X		Flow Chart Assignment Lemann, The Promised Land Washington, part two (study guide) (answers) Homework: War on Poverty Flow Chart due Tuesday at 3:30 pm
4	5		0	Sat.
4	7		8	Mon.
4	8		9	Tues.
			Streetcorner Men in Washington, 1963		War on Poverty Flow Chart due by 3:30 pm Lemann, The Promised Land Washington, part two (study guide) (discussion) Introduction to Talley's Corner (1966) by Elliott Liebow Context (published in 1966) The War on Poverty: Riots (1966) The Moynihan Report (1965): crisis of inner city family Refocus issue from delinquency (criminal teenagers) and dependency (welfare mothers) to the villain of the story, the absent adult male. Method: Not Sociology: data gathered by social workers, census workers, parole officers, and teachers using questionnaires to generate statistical reports. Urban Anthropology: long term participant-observation of a culture by meeting individuals on their own turf and on their own terms (as if studying a native culture). Liebow invented the discipline, or rather he renamed it: its practitioners used to be called reporters or novelists. Setting: Washington, DC (1962-63): How was the ghetto different in 1963? The New Deal Carry Out Shop The Cast: Tally; Sea Cat; Richard; Leroy Problems? Who funded the research? Who is Elliott Liebow? How did he select what would be included in this book? How did the men on the corner manipulate him? What is his ideological perspective? Homework: Talley's Corner (1966) by Elliott Liebow, Chapters 1 and 2 (Study Guide 1,2)
4	9		10	Wed.
4	10		1	Thurs.
			Romare Bearden: Rocket to the Moon (1971)		Talley's Corner (1966) by Elliott Liebow, 1 and 2 (Study Guide 1,2) (Lesson Plan 1) Fun with Numbers: The Inflation Calculator: $1.00 (1962)= $6.86 (2007) Previous Federal Minimum Wage: $5.15= $0.75 New Federal Minimum Wage: $5.85 - July 24th, 2007= $0.85 (1962) $6.55 - July 24th, 2008= $0.95 (1962) $7.25 - July 24th, 2009= $1.06 (1962) Top Pay for Jobs Available to Corner Men: $45.00 per week= $308.71 (2007) Rent= $12-20 per week= $82.32 (26%) -$137.22 (44%) (per week (2007) (I pay @ 18% of my income on rent.) Laborer Wage: $1.50 to 2.65 an hour= $10.29 to $18.18 an hour (2007) $60 to 106.00 a week = $411.62 to $727.20 a week (2007) Talley's Corner Essay Homework: Talley’s Corner, 3 and 4 (Study Guide 3,4)
4	11		2	Fri.
4	12		0	Sat
4	14		3	Mon.
			Streetcorner Men in Washington, 1963		PACA SATURDAY ON APRIL 19^th Talley's Corner Essay Who's voice do you trust most? Hilfiker (doctor) Kozol (educator) Wright (novelist) Lemann (journalist) Liebow (sociologist) Talley’s Corner, 2,  3 and 4 (Study Guide 1,2) (Study Guide 3,4) Chapter 2. "Men and Jobs" Main Idea: Why is getting and keeping a job a low priority on the corner scale of real values? What conclusion is Liebow leading us towards? Is his evidence convincing? Chapter 3: "Fathers Without Children": Main Idea: How can we inform our judgment of "deadbeat dads" by considering the influence of environment and culture? Chapter 4: "Husbands and Wives": Main Idea: What impact does economic insecurity have on the relationships between man and woman in the corner culture? Homework: Talley’s Corner, 5 and 6 (Study Guide 5,6)
4	15		4	Tues.
4	16		5	Wed.
			Streetcorner Men in Washington, 1963		Ta-Nehisi Coates, ‘This Is How We Lost to the White Man’: The audacity of Bill Cosby’s black conservatism, Atlantic Monthly May 2008 (for further reading: “the Pound Cake speech”; “Come On People”) Talley’s Corner, 5 and 6 (Study Guide 5,6) Chapter 5: "Lovers and Exploiters": Main Idea: How does economic insecurity turn physical attraction into 'cynical, self-serving marauding'? Chapter 6: "Friends and Networks": Why do attempts to organize and maintain solidarity fail? Homework: Talley’s Corner, 7 and Appendix (Study Guide 7, Appendix)
4	17		6	Thurs.
			Streetcorner Men in Washington, 1963		Talley's Corner Essay due Friday, April 18th at 3:30 p.m. Talley’s Corner, 7 and Appendix (Study Guide 5,6) (Study Guide 7, Appendix) Homework: Talley’s Corner Essay Due Friday at 3:30 pm
4	18		7	Fri.
			Jitney at Huntingdon Theatre, Boston  (1999) August Wilson (1945-2005)		Talley’s Corner Essay Due at 3:30 pm Introduction to Jitney (1977) by August Wilson August Wilson Backgrounds Jitney (1977; 1997) The Time: 1977 ; The Situation of African-Americans in 1977 The Place: Pittsburgh  Jitneys in Pittsburgh (Center Stage) Homework: Read Act One of Jitney (Study Guide) August Wilson, Theater's Poet Of Black America, Is Dead at 60 By Charles Isherwood (NYT) October 3, 2005 The Plays of August Wilson (Slide Show) (NY Times) An African American Century (NY Times)
4	19		0	Sat.
4	21		8	Mon.
4	22		9	Tues.
			Paul Butler, Michole Briana White and Russell Hornsby in "Jitney." August Wilson (1945-2005)		Act One of Jitney (Study Guide) Today's the day that Becker will announce to his drivers that the Urban Renewal is moving in, he's moving out, and he's not sure that he wants to keep the business going. Today's the day that Fielding finally gets himself fired. Today's the day that the feud between Youngblood and Turnbo breaks wide open. Today's the day that Rena confronts Youngblood with her suspicions about his running around with Peaches. Today's the day that Becker's boy, Booster, is getting out of the penitentiary and coming home to meet his father. Thesis: How are the strands of the action inter-related? (ie, is it just an accident that each of these thunderheads breaks simultaneously?) Homework: Act Two of Jitney (Study Guide)
4	23		10	Wed.
4	24		1	Thurs.
			Paul Butler as Becker August Wilson's last play, Radio Golf, opens on Broadway.		Act Two of Jitney (Study Guide)  What problems are Youngblood and Rena having in their relationship? (How would Liebow analyze their situation?) What must they do to make it work? (73-77) How about Becker's problem with the city? Will he work that out? (How would Liebow analyze this situation?) What are the stakes? How important is Becker to this neighborhood? (36-37) How are the problems between Becker and his son Booster related to the neighborhood's crisis? (How would Liebow analyze this relationship?) (What would Richard Wright have to say?) (53-60) What plan does Becker come up with? (84-87) Unpack the political meaning of the play's conclusion. How does Becker's death relate to Wilson's point? What will happen to the jitney drivers? What about Booster's response? (88-96)  Homework: Jitney Essay Due Thursday at 3:30 pm.
4	25		2	Fri.
4	26		0	Sat.
4	28		0	Mon.	Professional Day
4	29		3	Tues.
			"Who Gets to Tell a Black Story?" Scott. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Jun 11, 2000.		Jitney Essay Due at 3:30 pm Introduction to The Corner (1992) by David Simon and Edward Burns: The Corner Video Homework: The Corner 1-2 (Study Guide)
4	30		4	Wed.
5	1		5	Thurs.
			The Corner of Monroe and Fayette in West Baltimore "Facing Up to Baltimore's Reality on HBO" Pamela Haag Christian Science Monitor Aug 6, 2007		The Corner 1-2 Homework: The Corner 3-4 (Study Guide)
5	2		6	Fri.
					The Corner 3-4 Mayor Dixon's New Policing Strategy Homework: The Corner 5-6 (Study Guide)
5	3		0	Sat.
5	5		7	Mon.	AP Exams
					The Corner 5-6 Homework: The Corner 7-8 (Study Guide)
5	6		8	Tues.	AP Exams
5	7		9	Wed.	AP Exams
					The Corner 7-8 The Corner 9-10, Epilogue (Study Guide)
5	8		10	Thurs.	AP Exams
5	9		1	Fri.	AP Exams
			From Two Broken Lives to One New Beginning NY Times August 9, 2007		The Corner 9-10, Epilogue Homework:  Wilson, New Yorker Profile by David Remnick April 29, 1996
5	12		2	Mon.	AP Exams
5	13		3	Tues.	AP Exams
					Wilson, New Yorker Profile; Reading Guide The Conservative Final Word: "Are jobs the solution?"  Loury, Glenn C. The Wilson Quarterly. Washington: Autumn 1996.Vol. 20 vs. "Why Are So Many Americans in Prison?" Glenn C. Loury,  Boston Review July/August 2007 Homework: Essay: Wilson on The Corner For further reading: Fifty-three years after Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court will rule this month on two cases that will decide the future of school integration.
5	14		4	Wed.	AP Exams
5	15		5	Thurs.	Senior Exams
5	16		6	Fri.	AP Exams
5	17		0	Sat
5	19		7	Mon.	Senior Encounter Begins
5	20		8	Tues.
5	21		9	Wed.
5	22		10	Thurs.
5	23		1	Fri.	Awards Day
5	26		0	Mon.	Memorial Day
5	27		2	Tues..
5	28		3	Wed.
5	29		4	Thurs..	Reading Day
5	30		5	Fri.	Reading Day
6	2		6	Mon.	Exams
6	3		7	Tues.	Exams
6	4		8	Wed.	Exams
6	5		9	Thurs.	Gilman Prom
6	6		10	Fri.	Exams
6	7		0	Sat.
6	8		0	Sun.	Baccalureate
6	9		0	Mon.	Founders Day
			Recent Articles on Education and the Urban Poor		Recent Articles on Education and the Urban Poor Inside Education: Baltimore Sun Blog on Education 2-15-06  School closings favored by panel: 5,300 students in city will be moved in fall if board OKs plan aimed at increasing efficiency by Sara Neufeld Sun 1-18-07 Sara Neufeld, "Plan to shut about 2/3rds of city middle schools" Baltimore Sun 2-13-07 Student Photo Essays: Photos reveal decrepit state of city schools Legislators invited to view students' pictures on display in Annapolis gallery (Feb 24, 2006) 2-11-06 New Jesuit high school for low income students The Sun 2-11-06 Low-income families will welcome a parochial school they can afford The Sun 3-17-07 Elissa Gootman The Critical Years: For Teachers, Middle School Is Test of Wills NY Times 3-26-06  Successful School Fighting to Survive: New Song Academy is left behind while city funds go to failing facilities by Sara Neufeld (Sun ) 4-10-07 Md. will be the first state to provide 'living wage' Sun 1-17-08 Governor O'Malley Announces $333 Million for School Construction
					Recent Articles on Education:
					1-21-04 "Back to the Basics on Thornton: Why it Was Needed and What it Does,"  Maryland Policy Institute 5- 23-05 Alison Perkins-Cohen "Charter funding formula flawed" The Baltimore Sun 2-15-06 Sara Neufeld, School closings favored by panel: 5,300 students in city will be moved in fall if board OKs plan aimed at increasing efficiency Baltimore Sun 3-3-06 "In Baby Boomlet, Preschool Derby Is the Fiercest Yet" NY Times 3-29-06 Md. acts to seize 11 city schools: Grasmick seeks control under No Child Left Behind;  Baltimore officials furious, contend move is political by Liz Bowie and Sara Neufeld, Sun 4-03-2006 John Cassidy, "Relatively Deprived: How poor is poor?"  New Yorker June 2006 "2006 Maryland Report Card" June 2006 2006 Maryland School Assessment Baltimore Sun July 2006, Matthew B. Crawford, "Shop Class as Soulcraft" The New Atlantis Fall 2006 Karen Kornbluh, "Families Valued" Democracy 1-18-06 Lips, Feinberg "School Choice: 2006 Progress Report" Heritage Foundation 11-26-06 Paul Tough, "What It Takes to Make A Student" N.Y. Times Magazine 12-04-06 Yuval Levin, "Putting Parents First" Weekly Standard 12-4-06 David Herszenhorn, "Bucking Tide of School Reform", NY Times OP-ED 12-2-06 AP Article on Supreme Court Decision to Hear School De-Segregation Case 12-3-06 David Brooks, "Teaching the Elephant" NY Times Op-Ed 12-2-06 Derbyshire, "The Dream Palace of Educational Theorists" New English Review 12-7-06 Judith Warner, "The Real Value of Public Pre-School" NY Times Op-Ed 1-1-07 Sara Neufeld, "K-8 school backers call for funding" Baltimore Sun 1-10-07 Sara Neufeld,  "School board meeting disrupted" Baltimore Sun 1-3-07 Elissa Gootman, Trying to Find Solutions in Chaotic Middle Schools NY Times 1-10-07 Sara Neufeld,  "School board meeting disrupted" Baltimore Sun 1-14-07 Susan Gvozdas, "Law doesn't fit all" Baltimore Sun 1-2-07 Liz Bowie, "Can less equal more?" Baltimore Sun 1-18-07 Sara Neufeld, "Plan to shut about 2/3rds of city middle schools" Baltimore Sun 1-18-07 Andrew A. Green "O'Malley to slow spending"  Baltimore Sun 1-19-07 Tom Moore, "Classroom Distinctions" NY Times OP-ED 1-19-07 John Wagner, "O'Malley 'Conservative' In '08 Budget Proposal" Wash. Post 1-22-07 Elissa Gootman, Taking Middle Schoolers Out of the Middle NY Times Winter 2007 Albert B. Fernandez,  "The Almighty Facts: A Review of The Knowledge Deficit, by E. D. Hirsch Jr." The Common Review 1-27-07 Katherine Boo, "Expectations" New Yorker (More by Katherine Boo) 2-04-07 Liz Bowie, "Tailoring learning to tough middle years" Baltimore Sun 2-04-07 Brigid Schulte, "How Not to Pick a School" Washington Post 2-11-07 Andrew A. Green "Thornton Subverted Study Says" Baltimore Sun 2-11-07 Laura Barnhardt, "School closure strategy assailed" Baltimore Sun 2-13-07 Andrew A. Green, "Allocations of Funds for Poor Student Questioned" Baltimore Sun 2-14-07 Amit Paley, "'No Child' Commission Presents Ambitious Plan" Washington Post 2-14-07 Richard L. Colvin, "An Incomplete Lesson Plan for Struggling Schools" Washington Post 2-19-07 Sara Neufeld and Brent Jones, "Tensions simmer over school in Federal Hill" Baltimore Sun 2-28-07 Brent Jones, "Sweeping overhaul OK'd for schools: City board votes to close 7, give Towson University control of 4, restructure 3 failing high schools" Baltimore Sun 3-17-07 Elissa Gootman The Critical Years: For Teachers, Middle School Is Test of Wills NY Times 11-18-07 Gates, "Forty Acres and a Gap in Wealth", NY Times 2-04-07 Liz Bowie, "Tailoring learning to tough middle years" Baltimore Sun 4- 2007 Jeremy Kahn,  Stop Snitching The Atlantic 4-15-07 Gus G. Sentementes and Annie Linskey, Gang problem hemorrhaging: Feeding on drug trade, groups increasingly organized, violent Sun special report 12- 2007 Peter Wehner; Yuval Levin "Crime, Drugs, Welfare—and Other Good News" Commentary Magazine