2008 Woodie Awards
Former senator to continue teaching at Miami
Vic Brotzman
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Campus
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Current students of DeWine's have given mixed reviews of his Inside American Politics course, as some say his teaching provides valuable insight into the political system, while others voice opinions on the direction of the one-credit hour sprint course.
When the former senator's time in the U.S. Senate ended in 2006, he thought it was time to pursue something else he had always wanted to do.
"I always had wanted to teach," DeWine said. "So after I lost the election (in 2006) I called Miami."
Following DeWine's request, the university created a political science course for him to teach.
DeWine said the sprint course, Inside American Politics, has covered a variety of topics. He said he offers the class a number of case studies he observed during his time in office, including the impeachments of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. District Court Judge Harry Claiborne.
"I try to draw on my experience to give the students an inside view of how the Senate and House (of Representatives) work," he said.
DeWine graduated from Miami in 1969 with a degree in social studies education, but decided to go on to law school at Ohio Northern University and become a lawyer.
Following the results of the 2006 congressional election, DeWine's political career gave way to his instructional one.
DeWine did have previous teaching experience as a student teacher at Cincinnati Princeton High School during his senior year at Miami, but assistance has been available for him throughout the semester in the form of professor and chair of the political science department, Ryan Barilleaux, and graduate assistant David Zellers. DeWine said that Barilleaux and Zellers have helped him to design the course. Zellers added that he and Barilleaux are there for "administrative purposes."
Barilleaux said so far he is happy with the class.
"DeWine is a gifted teacher," Barilleaux said. "He is really interesting and the class is going really well."
DeWine said that the students have been responsive so far,
despite the large size of the class. With an enrollment of about 100 students, he said it is difficult to get everyone involved. However, DeWine said he is always open to fielding questions.
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