Adult Education Course at ACC's South Austin Campus

I will be teaching a course on citizenship at ACC's South Austin Campus during the summer of 2024. The impetus for the course was my concern about the growing polarization and tribalism of contemporary politics. The course is located on the Continuing Education schedule here. The course description is here. The information on the course section is here (tuition and fees). The syllabus is below:

 

Being a Citizen

GOVX 3000

Synonym 96442

Summer 2024

 

Instructor: Stefan D. Haag	Phone: 512-925-2878
Office: South Austin Campus, Rm 1202	Office Hours: Wednesday 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Web Site: http://www.austincc.edu/shaag/Index.pdf	Email: shaag@austincc.edu

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

Are you frustrated with contemporary politics and have stopped paying attention? This course explores what it means to be a citizen and gives you a framework to help you understand and influence political decisions. By taking this course, you'll gain a unique advantage over others by understanding the nuances of politics and how to navigate them effectively.

The current level of polarization in American politics is not normal, but this course will give you the tools you need to bridge the gap between opposing viewpoints. You'll learn how to have civil discussions and reach an understanding of each other's perspectives, which is crucial for creating a better, more unified future.

If you're looking for a way to become more confident and engaged in politics, this course is an absolute must. It will transform you into a knowledgeable and influential citizen, who is capable of making a positive impact on the world around you.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

The materials required for this course will be provided free to the students. They will consist of a few journal articles, magazine articles, Websites, articles by organizations promoting civic engagement, blogs, and videos. All materials will be accessed through the class Blackboard site. The cost of printing the materials is the student’s responsibility.

Students only need to bring a desire to learn, a willingness to participate, and the courage to express their views.

CLASS MEETINGS AND TOPICS:

Date	Topic	Specific Topics
July 10, 2024	What a Citizen Is & How To Become One	What is a Citizen? Political Polarization State of Citizenship in the United States The Civic Engagement Process
Date	Topic	Specific Topics
July 17, 2024	Head: Becoming Savvy Through Various Types of Media	Role of the Media Types of Media     Newspapers     Magazines     Journals Fact-checking
July 24, 2024	Head: Internet, Social Media, and Voting Decisions	Websites     Evaluation Social Media     Evaluation Voting Decisions     To Vote or Not to Vote     For Whom or For What
July 31, 2024	Heart: Friendship in the City	“Patriotism” Affiliation Achieving Concord
August 7, 2024	Hands and Feet: Freedom Through Action	Community Service Public Action
Due by July 10, 2024	Course Evaluation	Course Evaluation: Complete On-line Faculty Evaluation Course Improvement: Suggestions for Course Improvements

ACADEMIC FREEDOM:

As described in Austin Community College Policy D-2, academic freedom protects professors and students in their search for truth and its free expression. However, professors and students also share a responsibility to respect the opinions of others and to ensure that course materials and discussions are relevant to the course objectives.

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES (SAS):

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Student Accessibility Services on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to act three weeks before the start of the class.

 

CONCEALED HANDGUN POLICY:

The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code while maintaining ACC’s commitment to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. License holders are responsible for concealing their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999.

OTHER COLLEGE POLICIES:

Relevant college policies are posted on the Blackboard site for this class.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• describe what it means to be a citizen of the United States and Texas.
• describe the level of political engagement in Texas and the United States
• describe how civic engagement can be increased in Texas and the United States.
• use and evaluate various forms of media to learn about political issues that interest the public.
• use their knowledge to influence politics at all levels of government.
• deliberate civilly and responsibly in groups of people holding different political views without becoming combative or hostile.
• understand how concord results from love, empathy, honesty, and active listening to others' positions
  on controversial issues.
• recognize how freedom results from engagement in the political process through collective action.

ABOUT ME:

 

I taught politics and government at Kaskaskia College in Illinois before joining ACC in 1979. My interest in politics grew out of a year in Burma after high school, serving in the Air Force after college, and taking graduate courses at SIU-Carbondale. My passions are competing in SCCA Solo events, reading about politics, writing my blog, listening to country music, and enjoying Austin’s many sights and sounds. 

 

 

How Did Abbott and Paxton Do in the 2024 Republican Primary Election?

Governor Greg Abbott still wants the Texas Legislature to approve his signature agenda item: school vouchers. In response, he targeted several incumbents in the 2024 Republican primary election by supporting opponents who would vote for vouchers. Similarly, Attorney General Ken Paxton seeks revenge against many Republicans who supported his impeachment in the House of Representatives during the 88th Texas Legislature. Paxton endorsed candidates in Texas Republican primary elections who opposed his impeachment in the Texas House of Representatives. Here is a list of candidates for the Texas House who either did not seek reelection or who were targeted both by Abbott and Paxton.

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates the incumbent is not seeking reelection.

Source: Texas Tribune for the designation of the House members' position on school vouchers and Paxton's impeachment. The Lib/Con Score is from a personal email from Professor Jones at Rice University.