Political science adjunct believes in learning policy through experience

02/26/09 - Students taking John Miller's Legislative Process and Public Policy, a hands-on teaching course, have the opportunity to take action to make a positive difference in real-life issues facing today's society.Miller, the URI adjunct political science professor teaching this class, said he thoroughly enjoys this course and has brought a new teaching method into the classroom for this year's bunch. Prior to coming to URI this fall, he had taught for 22 years as an adjunct professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in New York.

Miller said that the best way to learn something is to experience it yourself.

"I try to get my students to actually participate and become active in the political process," he said.

For URI junior David Bedard, a Student Senate presidential candidate, the class was not what he had expected.

"Originally, I had signed up for it because I needed another class for my major," the political science major said. "The first couple days of class, professor Miller made it very clear to us that he wasn't going to stand there and lecture. He used jokes and was able to get the students excited about the class in the beginning of the semester. It's a pretty good class and it is much more interesting than I had expected it to be."

The skills-based course focuses on learning how to solve problems facing the community, state and the nation. Each student chooses an aspect of today's society within the United States that they would like to change for the better, research it in-depth, understand the causes of the issue and then present their findings and solutions to their classmates.

"They have to contact the person who can make a difference in their policy, or their player/client," Miller said.

Students often invite their client to come as guest speakers in Miller's class.

Last semester, students who focused on unemployment issues, wind energy and immigration issues in Rhode Island, had the opportunity to present their solutions to the governor.

"He does a great job with the material he is teaching, he tries to relate it to the students," Bedard said. "For example, he'll talk about issues like policies the URI administration makes here on campus."

"When they leave my class, they will be able to solve a problem, be more active citizens and be able to achieve the goal they set out to do," Miller said.

His goal is for his students to continue to do good things for society, become a more effective and good citizen and be more aware of issues facing the United States today, after they complete his course.

Miller said that his teaching style is very hands on and involves open discussions and some teamwork. Students must also fulfill a five-hour community service requirement, followed by a one-page reflection, pertaining to the problem they are trying to solve.

Bedard said that he will most likely complete his community service requirement in the upcoming Relay for Life fundraiser event. "Miller likes to engage the students," he said.

"We can't solve all the problems in the world, but we can ameliorate and try to solve some of the smaller problems," Miller said.

Miller served two tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, worked on presidential and local campaigns and was involved in community service programs for District Attorney Jeanine Pirro of Westchester County, N.Y.