Read the story below.
MARSHA MELLOW: A CASE STUDY
Marsha Mellow got ready to go to school. Her class in the United States was studying political decisions. Marsha didn’t care about that. “Only my family makes political decisions for me," she thought.
Marsha looked at the clock to check the time. The government of the United States decided what Marsha’s time zone would be. She turned off the television. lts programs are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission of the United States. The electricity to run the TV is regulated by the state through the Public Utilities Commission. The eggs and sausage her family decided to eat for breakfast had been produced and packaged in the state and inspected by the federal and state Departments of Agriculture.
Marsha waved good-bye to her mother and headed for school. Her town had decided to build the sidewalk she skipped along. State law required the cars and trucks to pull over as a city fire truck raced by carrying license plates issued by the state government. The state had also decided to erect the sign over the bridge regulating traffic weight and speed. State and national environmental protection laws helped keep down the pollution in the air Marsha breathed and in the stream she crossed.
She stopped to buy a box of pencils. Reluctantly, Marsha handed over the penny tax of her purchase. The store would turn over the penny to the State, which would use it to help pay for the decisions Marsha didn’t see around her. She passed the
library, paid for by the county and city, and strolled into the school yard.
Her city’s school board had decided to build Marsha’s school. The states Certification Board had decided what her teacher and principal had to do to get their positions. She took out the books her school had decided to use. Marsha Mellow wondered what political decisions had to do with her.
Now that you have read the Marsha Mellow story, identify 5 examples of public policy found in the story.
For every example explain what the policy is, identify who implemented the policy, and why the policy is put in important.
Write these in your Project Citizen Notes.