Features

Area educators study U.S. policy in the Middle East in a class offered by the Center's outreach program.
04/27/2009

Course on U.S. Policy in the Middle East Draws 35 Teachers to Campus

This spring, the Center’s outreach program ran a free course for 35 area educators on U.S. policy in the Middle East. This is a new initiative funded by the Center’s Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The audience included teachers of U.S. government and U.S. history classes as well as educators who have an interest in the topic, such as those in world history and global affairs, and other current K-12 teachers who teach other subjects but would like to learn more about U.S. policy in the Middle East. 

The course examined American policy in the Middle East historically, beginning in the early twentieth century, and worked up to the present day. Each week a guest speaker, drawn from the university community and from a pool of local experts and scholars, explored significant historical periods and developments and analyzed specific issues. These speakers addressed larger U.S. policy decisions in the region as well key bilateral relationships. They covered structures and instruments of policy, such as diplomacy, foreign aid, intelligence, and military activities; specific areas of conflict or tension, such as Israel and Palestine, Iraq, and Iran; and themes such as oil politics and extremist movements. The final class explored policy options for the Obama administration. The attendees were expected to complete readings throughout the semester.

An evaluation of the course received largely positive feedback. “I've been very happy with the course, and it has really energized my knowledge of the Middle East,” said a D.C. high school history teacher. Asked whether she is learning and obtaining information that she did not have access to before, a Maryland social studies teacher answered, “Definitely. I am more excited to read news about the Middle East. Cities, countries and political groups in the region have come alive to me.”