by Nelson Graves | 17 Nov 2021 | European School Brussels, Future of Democracy, Government, La Jolla Country Day School, News Decoder Updates, Transylvania College, Youth Voices
In a public webinar, a leading UK youth advocate and students from News Decoder’s network discussed challenges to democracy around the world. Democracy might be in trouble around the world, but it will survive the challenges it is facing in the early 21st...
by Alan Wheatley | 19 Oct 2020 | Decoders, Donald Trump, Economy, Educators' Catalog, Joe Biden, World
On any day, the stock market can go up or down. But in the long run, a young person cannot afford to ignore the chance to invest in company shares. The effect of compound interest, with an initial investment of $1,000 and 20% annual interest, compounded at various...
Alan Wheatley’s article on stock markets touches on concepts of tremendous long-term importance to young people, such as compounded interest and interest rates. Wheatley has decades of experience covering international finance, and it shows as he connects investing fundamentals with economic growth and the current U.S. political situation. The article finishes with questions that can be taken up in a wide range of classrooms: Who would be better for stock markets — Trump or Biden? If you have $1,000, should you spend or save it? And why is Wall Street near a record high during the coronavirus pandemic? With Wheatley explaining matters, there’s no reason why economics should be “the dismal science”!
by Bernd Debusmann | 14 Oct 2020 | Americas, Decoders, Donald Trump, Educators' Catalog, Future of Democracy, Government, Joe Biden, Politics, World
A candidate can win the U.S. presidency without winning the most votes. Americans don’t like the Electoral College, but it seems here to stay. Senate pages carry presidential electoral ballots to a joint session of Congress, Washington, DC, 6 January 2017....
To understand our world of today, students need to know where we came from. But history in a vacuum can be a turnoff if it’s not connected to current events. Bernd Debusmann’s decoder offers a historical look at the curious institution of the U.S. Electoral College, while connecting the dots to today’s political events in that country. The article links to documents that open the door to further study and poses three questions at the end that are fodder for classroom discussion.
by Alexander Nicoll | 12 Oct 2020 | Americas, Donald Trump, Europe, Government, Immigration, Nationalism, Politics, World
Donald Trump and Boris Johnson won power as populists, backed by angry voters. Now COVID-19 is exposing their shortcomings in the U.S. and UK. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) and U.S. President Donald J. Trump (L) in London, 4 December 2019 (EPA-EFE/PETER...
by Tania Bagan | 5 Jul 2017 | Guns in America, Student Posts, United States
I grew up in Europe and study in the United States. I ask myself: Just how serious is the U.S. problem with guns compared to other countries? Semi-automatic rifles on display in Webster, Texas, 15 March 2017. (AP Photo/Lisa Marie Pane) This is the latest in a...