Subject: Proposed Project

Posted by Rafael Soto on 6/2/2004
In Reply To:Proposed Project Posted by Richard Turnock on 6/2/2004

Message:

Two thought on your note below:

1) On the statements below there is an implicit assumption: the cost to "provide vital services" is constant. What if the provision of these vital services were possible by increasing the efficiency with which they are provided? You may get the desired result (stimulating the economy) without an increase in taxes. If this assumption was intentional, then the real question is whether the result of an increase in taxes (a given) would stimulate the economy or hurt the economy, both short and long term (using time-delays).

2) Capstone projects are ideal for this type of activity. The only concern would be to find a class the students can use to do the work; typically all their classes have to have a syllabus and schedule, along with lesson plans - which may or may not allow for a good chunk of the class time to work on "special projects". If this was a "one-time" deal, it is possible to find a high school willing to dedicate a class (in advance) and plan it according to what the work would require. Most likely an elective, but could also be an AP class under some department willing to offer it.
From the project perspective, it would make sense to go to a high school which has adopted SD and capitalize on their teachers' experience. However, from a broader perspective - such as promoting SD to schools new to SD, it could involve several teachers, resulting in ownership at the end of the project, which could lead to the high school adopting SD thereafter.

Rafael Soto