What does a successful government look like?

[BmorePat87]

(03-05-2016, 12:04 PM)Vlad Wrote: I'm glad you brought that up.
Are kids really taught the uniqueness of our founding? Or is telling the story of our founding viewed as American exceptionalism  and to be avoided like the plague?

In US history? I can't say as 9th grade US history begins with Reconstruction. They learn founding through Civil War in 8th grade.

Do i teach it when I go over our foundations in Government class? Yes.

Quote:As you know the founders were influenced by people such as philospher John Locke who believed the duty of that government was to protect the natural rights of the people..life, liberty, property.
You mentioned authoritarian monarchies which were prevalent in Europe. The founders wanted none of that "Im the king, do as I say" 

All part of the government curriculum and all things I like to focus on. Also on Maryland's government assessment.

Quote:The colonies evolving into individual states, with their own leaders (governors), legislators, and even their own military, and the concept of states rights.
The idea of a bunch of small countries (states) being united...and free from authoritarian rule.

The concept of what a "state", "country", and "nation" really means is usually lost on those not in AP or honors, but I try to explain it anyways to my reg kids. The concept of federalism is repeatedly referenced in the class.

Quote:The branches of government...checks and balances.

We'd be doing  a bad job if we didn't. Start with the constitution, introduce these concepts as principles of the Constitution, and then we spend a unit each on the branches. Obviously Legislative is the longest unit and judicial the shortest. 

Quote:All that stuff..that which makes America's founding and her Constitution the most unique and exceptional in the world. Are kids taught all that?

At least here.




In case you're curious about the format of this class, here are the units:
-Principles of government
-Foundations of the US government 
-Constitution
-Legislative
-Executive (after this you would teach Judicial but I don't)
-Citizen Involvement (parties, elections, lobbying, etc)
-Domestic Policy
-Foreign Policy
-Judicial Branch (I move it down here because it pairs better with law)
-Criminal and Civil Law
-Economy and Monetary Policy
(This is where we take our state assessment you need to pass to graduate)
-Financial Literacy (budgeting and personal finances)