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.
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.
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 Joseph Leavy, the department director, at 673-2079 or send him an e-mail at jleavy@hufsd.edu.
There is one other avenue open to students that many are taking to meet the state requirement. "A selective option exists where students can take the African-American politics course, which meets the local variance allowed by the New York State Education Department, to fulfill the ½ credit required for Participation in Government during the senior year," Mr. Leavy said. "This course was initiated this year and has been remarkably successful, engaging, and challenging."