Government & Economics
Teacher: Mark Lauer
Class days: Fridays, 8:45 - 10:00 a.m.
Textbook: Exploring Government curriculum package (includes We Hold These Truths reader, by Ray Notgrass (available from the publisher). This is a new edition which was released in January 2024. Students will need the new edition, as well as the new edition of We Hold These Truths, and the Exploring Gov’t Student Review Pack. The “Bundle” option of literature associated with Exploring Government is not used in this course, because most students separately have taken, or will be enrolled concurrently, or will take a literature course in the future.
The class uses lecture, game play, team projects, and printed text material from Notgrass History, as well as video and printed instructional material from Hillsdale College. Students will learn governing principles from the Bible and various historical models, with most emphasis on USA history and structure of government.
Student projects include a variety of small projects to communicate different forms of governing structures, as well as creating a Measure or Proposition (as if for a state or local election) and presenting that ballot offering to the class. The term ends with the students working in teams on a major project to create a country and a government structure to lead that country. When the team projects begin, students may choose to come to class on Tuesdays so their teams will have more time to work through their projects together in person. If students have conflicting schedules, reasonable efforts will be made to help them find a group time.
Students will also use the companion text, We Hold These Truths, and the student quiz, exam, and answer guide. These materials have been updated by the publisher as noted above, so please do not use the older versions.
The Economics course is held in the spring term and is structured the same way, with the final project being the team development of a game which helps communicate economic concepts the students have learned. The materials may be purchased from the publisher here.