About Comparative Government (Semester 1) and Economics (Semester 2)
This course is an introductory course about Comparative Government (semester 1) and Economics (semester 2). Government students will explore the foundations of the government, structures of various governments, different electoral systems, various methods of political participation, and introduction to Japanese politics. This course is a non-AP version of AP Comparative Government and Politics. Economics students will learn the basics of concepts of economics, economic analysis, introduction to microeconomics and macroeconomics, and global poverty. I will frequently refer to the US system as a point of reference.
Government students will be challenged with the following question: what is the importance and responsibility of living as a citizen in a democratic country? It is also my desire that all of us can discuss and learn what it means to honor and love God and to love our neighbors in the realm of politics; (Matthew 22.37, 39, etc.); to pray for our leaders (Timothy 2.1-2, etc.); and to act responsibly in our communities (Philippians 2.1-11, etc.). Economics students will be exploring what it means to use our gifts to serve others. Students will also reflect on what it means to beresponsible with God’s creation and cultivate our talent in a manner that glorifies Him.
For this course, I would like us to spend time on events/themes that spark interest for students rather than "bulldozing" through Comparative Government & Economics. If there are certain issues/events/concepts that students would like to discuss at depth, please let me know. I will take student suggestion into consideration!
Q. How can I keep up with current affairs? A. Some of the news outlets are free to read, e.g. Al Jazeera, Guardian and Reuters. Some will only allow 10 free articles a month (e.g. Bloomberg and The New York Times). Please keep in mind that there are satirical news outlets, e.g. The New Yorker and The Rising Wasabi. Political satire is fun to read if you understand the context! YouTube can also be a platform to gather information (TLDR News does a fantastic job on covering Brexit-related UK politics). As with any article or video, please check whether it is reliable.
All news outlets have a bias. State-owned media can be used as propaganda, e.g. Xinhua News Agency and Pravda. When reading the news, it is always important to look for multiple opinions. If something seems fishy or fake, try looking up the same event in different news sources!