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Social Studies

Why study the social sciences?
 
America is a nation in turmoil, and most of our conflict may be rooted in “unresolved” history.  This is a term conceptualized and advanced by BBC journalist Nick Bryant. 
All countries have had historical friction, and most have developed a collective consensus about and recognition of an events role in their development.  For instance, Germany agrees that the twelve years of Nazism is both horrible and an event for which they continue to owe a debt to humanity; Britain has continuously expressed regret for its imperialism despite departing the practice in 1945, and so on.
Not so much in America.  There is little such accepted consensus...  Was the Civil War more over slavery or state sovereignty?  Is the potential life of the unborn more or less important than the liberty of choice for women?  Do programs which are socialistic in nature have any value to the country?   What was the vision/wisdom of the Founding generation, and would it be sufficient to address modern matters?
America has not fully confronted its past on issues of race, firearms, the meaning of liberty, economic access, social mobility, or state-sponsored victimization (slavery, sterilization, etc), just to name a few.  There are many events of which we do not agree on the 'Why' or the significance or outcome of.  It is in these divergent views on topics -- the very existence of which indeed is what makes such history "unresolved" -- where many of today’s tensions reside.
 
Courses taught in recent years by the Social Studies department at Phoenix High School follow.  (Look to the drop-down menu to the left to see if they have any curriculum resources on the site for curious minds to access)    (** may earn credit from Southern Oregon University)   
All teachers may be reached by email at FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME@phoenix.k12.or.us
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Mr. John Cornet            AP United States Government and Politics **
Teaching since 1999      American Government
                                        AP United States History **
                                        United States History
                                        Honors International Studies **
                                        Honors Psychology **
                                        Psychology
                                        Psychological Literature **
                                        Western Philosophy
                                        Sociology
 
Ms. Lisa Robin              World History
Teaching since 2004      Leadership
 
Mr. Jon Theiring            AP European History **
Teaching since 2005      AP Macro-Economics **
                                        AP Micro-Economics **
                                        Economics
                                        American Government
                                        History of Rock and Roll
                                        World Religions
 
Mr. Leif Larsen              United States History
Teaching since 2023      American Government
                                        Pre-AP