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West Virginia Teachers Strike
Teachers in West Virginia were on strike for more than a week to protest a pay raise they viewed as inadequate. The strike ended when a promised 5% pay increase was negotiated. Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt, a debate question, […]
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Trump Considers Steel, Aluminum Tariffs
Last week, President Trump announced the possibility of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. This led many commentators to discuss an impending trade war. This week’s Lecture Spark discusses Trump’s announcement and includes links on the possible consequences of the implementation of tariffs. Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your […]
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Gerrymandering & American Elections
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court drew a new map for the state’s 18 congressional districts after it ruled the previous map violated the state’s constitution due to partisan gerrymandering. This week’s Lecture Spark discusses recent and upcoming court decisions as well as the history behind gerrymandering. Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for […]
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Gun Violence and Public Policy
A school shooting in Parkland, Florida left 17 dead last week. As the United States grapples with the latest bought of gun violence, there is again a debate over how Congress and state legislatures should respond. Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing […]
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DACA and Immigration
Congress passed a bipartisan, two-year budget deal last week. Over the objections of many Democrats and immigration activists, the deal did not address the status of “Dreamers,” those living in the United States under the terms of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. The Trump Administration rescinded the DACA program last fall, giving Congress until […]
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State of the Union
On January 30th, President Donald Trump appeared before a joint session of Congress to deliver his first State of the Union address. President Trump highlighted jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade, and national security in his remarks. Congressman Joe Kennedy, of Massachusetts, delivered the official Democratic response. Instructors, click the link below to download […]
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Government Shutdown 2018
On January 20, due to the lack of funding, a government shutdown occurred. Federal workers were furloughed and national parks closed. Some blamed the shutdown on President Trump and the Republicans, as they control both the White House and Congress, while others blamed the Democrats for not agreeing to a short-term deal that extended CHIP. […]
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
This week we look at the Tax Reform and Jobs Act that recently passed Congress and was signed into law by President Trump. Supporters claim the bill will streamline the tax process, result in tax savings for most Americans, and produce higher levels of economic growth. Critics complain the bill has been passed with no […]