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IMP1996-03.Pdf THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY • FALL 1996 Contents: President’s Message ....... 2 Media Impact ................ 4 Development Impact ..... 8 Congressman and Scholars New Internet Services .... 4 Compassion and Convene at Summit ....... 3 Politics ......................... 9 Educational Events ........ 5 Ed Meese Speaks to Reed Wins Award ......... 12 President’s Council ........ 3 High School Debate ....... 6 Maze Joins Staff ........... 12 Study: Michigan Universities Provide Inadequate Preparation University Officials Take Center Recommendations Seriously eclining academic literature, language, and the Poor instruction in this course standards and ques- sciences, that all students once adversely affects a student’s tionable teaching took to gain a broad education. entire education and life.” Dmethods at Michigan The “process approach” to English public universities produce composition places less emphasis The study recommends ways to poorly prepared K-12 teachers on formal grammar and study of help universities better equip and graduates in other fields, classical literature than the new teachers and other profes- according to a new study traditional approach to the sionals to compete in the global released by the Mackinac marketplace. They include Center for Public Policy on October 31 at Michigan •Conduct a public trial to State University. Based on determine which method of employer surveys, K-12 teaching English composi- student test scores, teacher tion—the traditional or training studies, and an process approach—produces analysis of over 300 course the highest student achieve- syllabi from all fifteen state ment. Bertonneau said, “Let university campuses, the each method prove its worth study found that graduates and give students a chance to lack many basic skills that benefit from the better employers require, and that method.” aspiring K-12 teachers do •Re-establish core curricula not get the training neces- and the study of books sary to prepare their important to Western civiliza- students for college or tion. work. •Offer aspiring teachers a more meaningful curriculum Study author Dr. Thomas by requiring fewer education Bertonneau, a Mackinac courses and more courses in Center Senior Policy their specialty discipline, Analyst and an English such as math or history. instructor in Central •Alumni, parents, and Michigan University’s (CMU’s) course. Bertonneau said, “The employers should hold university Extended Degree Program, process approach fails to produce governing boards more account- traces the failure to the general students well-grounded in formal able for producing well-prepared demise of the core curriculum grammar and classical literature. graduates. and the widespread replace- Proper instruction in English ment of traditional methods of composition is critical because The study stresses that these teaching English composition that course, more than any other, improvements can be made courses with the “process should teach students how to without legislative action. “If the approach.” communicate clearly, how to legislature or governor must get interpret complex concepts, and The core curriculum is a set of how to separate fact from fallacy. See “Study...” on page 8 courses including history, “I cannot find any authority in the Constitution for making the Federal Government the great almoner of public charity. .” —U. S. President Franklin Pierce, in an 1854 veto message. See page 9 for related article. PRESIDENT’SPRESIDENT’S MESSAGEMESSAGE Board of Directors Richard Antonini, Chairman Lawrence Reed, President Peter Cook Richard McLellan Hon. Paul Gadola Richard Merillat Mara Letica James Rodney Rodney Lockwood Jr. Linda Shinkle Our Success Is Bruce Maguire Jr. Reason for Optimism Board of Scholars Dr. Donald Alexander David Littmann Lawrence Reed, Western Michigan University Comerica Bank President Dr. William Allen Dr. Brian Long Michigan State University Marketing & Management Institute s our supporters well know, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy seeks to Mr. Patrick Anderson advance sound economic policy and greater appreciation of private property, Anderson Economic Dr. Dale Matcheck Consulting Group Northwood University entrepreneurship, limited government, and individual responsibility. Mr. Brian Barnier Dr. Paul McCracken Strategic Innovations University of Michigan A These ideas are certainly not new. They are, indeed, the foundations of a free society, the Corporation Prof. Charles Milliken principles upon which Americans built a strong, prosperous and compassionate nation. Dr. Thomas Bertonneau Siena Heights College Central Michigan University It’s a timeless, inspirational message but I am often approached by doubting friends who Dr. Gerald Musgrave ask, “Are we really making progress in getting this message across today?” Dr. Peter Boettke Economics America New York University Dr. George Nastas I could, of course, preface my response with any number of wishy-washy qualifiers: “Well, Dr. John Bornhofen Marketing Consultants Grand Valley State University we just have to keep at it and hope for the best;” or “You know, nothing worthwhile comes Dr. John Pafford Dr. William Browne Northwood University easily.” But that wouldn’t do justice to what I genuinely believe. So when someone asks Central Michigan University me if we’re making headway, I say without a moment’s hesitation, “Yes!” Dr. Karen Potter-Witter Dr. Stephen Colarelli Michigan State University Central Michigan University If you measure progress against where we were a few days ago, or before the last election, Gregory Rehmke Dr. Robert Crowner Free Enterprise Institute or prior to a particular recent debate in the legislature, you can always come up with Eastern Michigan University Dr. Steve Safranek reasons for pessimism. But progress ought to be considered in a broader, longer-term Dr. Richard Cutler University of Detroit Law School context. Are we better off today than we were, say, thirty years ago? Michigan Association of Scholars Dr. Parth Shah Robert Daddow University of Michigan-Dearborn Oakland County Executive The term “privatization” was not even an entry in Webster’s dictionary thirty years ago. Louis Schimmel Jr. “School choice” was a fanciful concept discussed by a mere handful of people. Faith in Dr. Stephen Dresch Municipal Advisory Council of Jhéön & Associates Michigan government spending as a cure-all was widespread. Few people were challenging the prevailing orthodoxy that called for higher taxes, more regulation, and the false and Prof. Richard Ebeling James Sheehan Hillsdale College Competitive Enterprise Institute ineffective compassion of government welfare Prof. Greg Fleckenstein Fr. Robert Sirico programs. Baker College Acton Institute for Religion and Liberty Dr. Christopher Fleury In Michigan thirty years ago, we didn’t have a Eastern Michigan University Bradley Smith Headlee Amendment to constitutionally limit state “I never take any Capital University Law and Dr. Wayland Gardner Graduate Center spending. We didn’t have a lively, informed debate Western Michigan University setback as a reason to David Sowerby about the proper role of government. And we didn’t Dr. Dale Haywood Beacon Investment Company have a Mackinac Center to provide economic let up or feel glum. I Northwood University Dr. John Taylor education to teachers and students and problem- take it as a reason to Dr. Ormand Hook Wayne State University Michigan Resource Center for solving ideas to the media, legislature, and the Charter Schools Dr. Charles Van Eaton governor. The public debate today is fundamentally work harder and Hillsdale College Prof. Harry Hutchison different and profoundly improved over where it was smarter. .” University of Detroit Law School Prof. Harry Veryser Jr. then. Walsh College Dr. David Janda Institute for Preventative Sports Dr. William Wilson Medicine Comerica Bank Sometimes progress takes the course of “three steps forward, two steps backward,” which can be a little discouraging at times if you don’t Mrs. Russell Kirk Dr. Martin Wing Author, Lecturer GMI Engineering & Management maintain a long-term view or if you forget to “keep your eyes on the prize.” Personally, I Institute never take any setback as a reason to let up or feel glum. I take it as a reason to work Dr. Robert Kleiman Oakland University Dr. Gary Wolfram harder and smarter, and so does the incredibly talented and dedicated staff I work with Hillsdale College George Leef every day. Patrick Henry Associates So let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made, reaffirm our mission, and face the future IMPACT! knowing that good ideas on behalf of a noble ideal will ultimately prevail. We’ve come too Joseph Lehman Todd Crelly far already to ever waste a second on self-defeating pessimism.! Editor Graphic Designer IMPACT! is a quarterly publication of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization classified under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Mackinac Center for Public Policy 119 Ashman Street • P.O. Box 568 Midland, Michigan 48640 (517) 631-0900 • Fax (517) 631-0964 Internet: http://www.mackinac.org • mcpp@mackinac.org EVENTEVENT IMPACTIMPACT Congressman Hoekstra Explores Role of Ideas at Scholars Summit representation; finding solutions to balancing the ongressman Pete federal budget; Hoekstra of •Transportation Holland delighted Policy Analyst •Adjunct Scholar and Russell an audience of over C and Wayne State Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal 60 scholars
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