A new social studies course is coming to Huntington High School. Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics has been approved by the Huntington School Board. The new class will be offered for the first time during the 2021/22 school year.
The Subject Matter Council and Educational Development Committee earlier gave green lights to the new course. The class will be available to juniors and seniors who have completed either AP World History or Regents World History 10. Estimated annual enrollment is pegged at 20-30 students.
The half-year elective course will “introduce students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of international settings,” according to the new course proposal submitted to trustees. “The course illustrates the rich diversity of political life; shows available institutional alternatives, differences in processes and policy outcomes; and communicates to students the importance of global political and economic changes. Comparisons will assist in identifying problems, analyzing policymaking and formulating explanations.”
Assistant Superintendent Beth McCoy told the trustees that the new course “includes the study of specific countries and their governments, including six countries that form the core: China, Iran, Mexico, Great Britain, Nigeria and Russia. The course moves the discussion of concepts from abstract definition to concrete examples.”
Ms. McCoy said the new course is a “natural companion” to the AP US Politics course that is already among the district’s offerings. “The current environment of globalization and international cooperation demands that our students understand that despite vast differences between economies and regime types, most countries face similar challenges, including those presented by the natural environment, social and ethnic diversity, economic performance and the delivery of health care to its citizens.”
The course will help students gain a “foundational understanding of the complex nature of alternative systems of governance in significant areas and regions of the world,” according to the course rationale.
For more information about the new course contact Joseph Leavy, chair of humanities, 7-12 at jleavy@hufsd.edu.