As your teacher I feel that my job is to shed light, not to give answers. I hope that I challenge you, and that you find this course valuable. Every topic studied in class can be applied out of class in a variety of situations. No matter what you choose to do with your life, the government and the economic system will affect your life deeply. For that reason you must understand what is going on in the government and economy so you can make it work for you rather than you working for it.

The government and economics curriculum is designed to give students a fundamental knowledge of the basic principles and institutions of United States and Arizona government and economy. I will focus also on our local government in an attempt to demonstrate the power of one citizen on her government and how one person can make the economy work for them. You will learn how the laws of supply and demand affect everything.

The course theme is "The role of governmental and economic principles in lives of individuals."In the process of exploring this theme, the required Arizona Standards in Civics, Government and Economics will be covered.

Preparation for the Senior Exhibition will be an important component of this class. The skills a student exhibits in the Senior Exhibition process are central to success in the world. I am proud of the students who have completed their Senior Exhibitions at Nogales High School. I seek to give the future citizen the skills and knowledge to be functioning members of the polity and economy.

In this class you will work in groups, write position papers,complete simulations, take traditional notes and quizzes, be expected to demonstrate and exhibit learning through portfolios, use technology and go beyond the class for learning. Through these activities,I will do my best to get you ready for the world outside this school.

One of the major assumptions of the class is that it will be student, not teacher, centered. This means that you will be active participants in the learning process. The course will be project oriented with students serving as worker and the teacher acting as the coach.I am not the deliverer of information you are the discoverer of new ideas. Only through individual initiative can knowledge be gained.

Above all you will learn to use your minds well. You will hear me talk endlessly about the "habits of mind." Habits of mind are ways of learning to use your mind well. I want to teach you how to think not what to think.

The theme for our class is: The Individual and the Government.How much do we need government to organize and protect our society and culture?

We have one rule in the class, it is "Trust until abused."I trust you until you show me that I shouldn't. You are an adult.

I look forward to teaching you. Please review all the information in this packet closely. We will refer back to it often in the class.

Course Outcomes

• To apply and recognize those fundamental principles of government and economics that protect individual liberty and safety and allow people free enterprise.
• To understand the relationship between rights and responsibility.
• To become an active member of a community.
• To understand how experiences of history affects the reality of today.
• To develop habits of mind to use your mind well.
• To improve skills of formal writing, speaking, communications,reading comprehension, goal setting and planning.
• To understand that all knowledge is connected.
• To develop a positive attitude toward intellectual activity and a desire for life-long learning.

Your life is a treasure.

Sincerely,

George Thomson
Instructor