U.S. Government Disclosure Statement
Teacher: Jeff Ferlo
Email: Room: B202
Conference: 3rd and 7th periods
Course Description
This course will offer students an opportunity to learn more about the United States government and politics. Students will be engaged in writing, discussing, analyzing, thinking critically, reading and collaborating to understand the realities and complexities of the American governmental system. Many topics will be presented throughout the semester that will include: the Constitution, founding documents, civil liberties and rights, foreign policy, economic policy, government institutions, political behavior and state and local governments.
The world is deficient in civility and respect and this course will teach students to show respect to all people regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, economic or social status, or ethnicity. This means to respect those in the classroom and in the larger community as well.
Textbook
Magruder’s American Government by William A. McClenaghan will be used for this course.
Classroom rules (General) More specific rules will be made in class
Students are expected to be on time to class and be in their seats reading to participate by the time the bell rings.
Practicing civility and respect for others is a part of the course objective in this class.
Turning in assignments on time is a vital part of this course. Late work will be accepted, but will not receive the full points possible for that assignment.
No cell phones usage during class time.
Use polite and appropriate language when discussing or talking with others in the classroom. Cursing, sexual innuendos, threatening or bullying, and racial slurs are types of behavior not accepted or tolerated in the classroom.
Please read and follow the Jordan District and and Bingham dress code. Please dress appropriately for school.
Following these rules and the others we will make in class will result in full participation and citizenship points at the end of the semester. Continued and consistent breaches of the peace of these rules will result in a student/teacher meeting after school. An email to parents will follow the meeting. More infractions will will involve school administration and parents.
Attendance and Missing Work
It is expected that you complete all your assignments on time, which includes classroom work, tests and other assignments. It is also expected that you come to class to learn the content and that only happens if you are in class. If you miss classroom work, test, or other assignments, you must get the missed work the first day you are back to school. You must complete work that was missed by the next class period or by the same deadline that the class was given if longer than that. If you are absent when an assignment is due, you can email me at f you having missing work from an excused absence, each day after the next period that the assignment was due will result in a deduction of 20% for that assignment. You can get the assignment that you missed from me or another student in the class. The attendance policy is on the Bingham website and needs to be read by the student.A few reminders: if the student is 20 minutes late to class, they must have a note from the Office and I need to know that you have come into the classroom. I take attendance at the beginning of the class and will mark you absent.
Media
Movies and movie clips will be played in class throughout the semester to enhance the learning of certain topics. The clips are G and PG and are monitored by me for language, sexual content and violence. Some of the movies that will be shown as a full movie or as movie clips are:
Amazing Grace, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Long Road Home, Remember the Titans, North by Northwest, and A More Perfect Nation.
Grading
Students are responsible for their own success in this class. It is important that you do your own work and that assignments are turned in on time. This is the grading scale for this class. Extra credit is not normally given, but may be given at the discretion of the teacher.
A 100-93.00 A- 92.99-90.00 B+ 89.99-87.00 B 86.99-83.00 B- 82.99-80.00 C+ 79.99-77.00
C 76.99-73.00 C- 72.99-70.00 D+ 69.99-67.00 D 66.99-63.00 D- 62.99-60.00 F 59.99 or less
Course Requirements
The following items will be used in class to determine your grade for this class:
Disclosure
Exams
In-class work
Writing Assignment—3-4 page opinion paper
Participation
Citizenship
Movie assignments
Extra credit is possible by reading and writing a 2 page summary on one of the following books:
**In Search of the Republic by Richard Vetterli
**Common Sense by Thomas Paine
**The Prince by Machiavelli
**Democracy in America by Tocqueville
**The Five Thousand Year Leap, Cleon Skousen
**7 Tipping Points That Saved the World, Chris Steward
** Second Treatise of Government by John Locke
**The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
**The Politics by Aristotle
**Dreams from my Father: Barack Obama
**You may also memorize the Gettysburg Address and recite it to me after school.
I have read the above disclosure. Please return by August 26th.
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Print student name Parent signature and date
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Student signature Date
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