Participation in Government Class Required for High School Diploma
Huntington High School seniors must enroll in and pass either the courses known as Participation in Government or AP Government and Politics in order to receive a diploma. These are half-credit classes that provide students with an opportunity to explore our system of government, the political parties that vie for control each election and the manner in which public policy issues are addressed.
The Regents level Participation in Government course is a one semester class that is available in both the fall and the spring. “This course focuses on the formation of effective public policy,” according to a description in the high school course bulletin. “Students are taught skills of decision-making and problem solving in the context of evaluating real issues confronting the communities in which the students live.”
The course stresses the necessity for citizen involvement in public policy issues and debate. Students are required to attend local government meetings to see how public policy is developed and enacted and to summarize their findings in writing.
“The Participation in Government class, fondly referred to as PIG, has at its core an emphasis on participation, and the instructors not only guide students in knowing the ins and outs of their local, state and national government, but also encourage them to participate in civic responsibilities,” said Joseph Leavy, director of humanities. “These responsibilities include informed voting, by means of knowing all sides of an issue thoroughly, appreciating where political parties stand on these issues, and ultimately, deciding how to vote for candidates and referendum that abide by their core beliefs.”
AP Government & Politics
AP Government & Politics meets on alternating school days for the full year. It is available to students who have been recommended by a teacher and who attained a grade of 85 or higher in the AP U.S. History or 90 or higher on the U.S. History Regents level course.
The course focuses in detail on six major topics: Constitutional influences on the U.S. government, political beliefs and behavior, how political parties function, the operation of the three branches of government, public policy and civil liberties and civil rights. “This course offers students an opportunity to achieve college credit and study politics on a more challenging level,” according to the official course description. Students sit for the AP Government & Politics exam in the spring.
“AP Government takes the study of government to a different level,” Mr. Leavy said. “Ms. [Deborra] Mellon, who has taught this course for the past several years, takes particular pride in focusing students on the current application of political theory. She engenders informed debate in her classroom and discerns for her students the nuances of political behavior.”
Only seniors are permitted to enroll in either of these required classes. For more information about these courses or any other Huntington High School social studies class call Mr. Leavy at 673-2079 or send him an e-mail at jleavy@hufsd.edu.
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