Invitation to Present: Congress in the Classroom 2005

Posted by on January 14, 2005

**Invitation to Present: Congress in the Classroom 2005**

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: February 1, 2005.

The Dirksen Congressional Center, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization in Pekin, Illinois, invites proposals from scholars who would like to present at The Center’s Congress in the Classroom 2005 program.

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in its thirteenth year. It is sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center in cooperation with Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, and is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress.

Congress in the Classroom is a three-day workshop for 40 high school teachers from throughout the country. All of them teach American government, American history, civics, or a related subject.

The 2005 program theme will be “Our New Congress: The 109th.” Individual sessions will be offered on such topics as:

~A View from Capitol Hill
~The Importance of Teaching Democracy Appreciation
~George W. Bush’s Second Term: What’s in Store for Congress?
~Congress Has a Humorous Side
~How Congress Members Decide (Hint: It Looks Like a Game of Billiards)
~Teaching Congress Through Visuals
~The Struggle to Reform Congress and Its Consequences
~The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Using Document Analysis to Tell the Story
~How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
~The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers
~Congressional Insight: A Computer Simulation of a Member’s First Term in the House of Representatives

The workshop will take place from July 25 through July 28, 2005, on the campus of Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois. The Center will pay $250 for each presentation. We also pay travel and lodging expenses.

We invite proposals on topics related to the workshop theme, “Our New Congress: The 109th.” More specifically, we seek faculty who are willing to present on the following topics:

* Meet the Members of the 109th Congress: How Representative Are They?

This session would involve describing the demographic makeup of the House and Senate — what’s different compared to previous Congresses, trends in the types of people who are elected to Congress, comparisons between Members and the electorate, etc. The presentation might also give rise to the question, “How important is it for a representative body to resemble the demographic makeup of the people they represent?

* What Are the Ten Most Important Things High School Students Should Know about Congress?

High school teachers are confronted with a time problem. There is not much room in the typical curriculum to teach about Congress, so what is the most important information to convey?

* Reporting on Congress: The Role of the Media

How does the media portray Congress? What are the implications? What are the best media sources to follow the stories of the 109th Congress?

If you are interested in presenting, submit a proposal not to exceed two pages. The proposal should contain the following information:

1) A working title for the session,
2) An abstract describing the topics you would cover and the format you would use,
3) A description of the value to a classroom teacher of hearing your presentation, and,
4) A brief biographical statement emphasizing the experience you have had (if any) in similar settings.

Please submit your proposal via e-mail to Frank Mackaman at fmackaman@dirksencenter.org

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: February 1, 2005.

The workshop is endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies.

For more information, visit our Web site —
http://dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm