Government
Class Expectations
Mr. Snidman
2013-2014
Government is an introductory course to United States and Missouri government. The course is
designed to encourage students to explore, discuss, investigate and analyze the society we live in. We
will cover the following topics: Foundations of American Government, the Legislative Branch, the
Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, Civil Rights/Liberties, Participation in Government and Missouri
Government/Constitution. You are required to pass this class and the Missouri Constitution test in order
to graduate high school in Missouri.
Instructor: Robert B. Snidman, B.A., J.D., Lt Col, USAFR
Telephone: 983-5874 (voicemail)
School e-mail: rsnidman@ladueschools.net
-I will check the e-mail and phone messages at least once every school day.
Academic Lab Room: 252
Instructor Background: I graduated from Venice High School in Venice Beach, California. I attended
the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where I received my Bachelors degree in history.
While a student at UCLA, I worked in the 1984 Olympic Village, and served as a campus emergency
medical technician. I also attended Warwick University in Coventry, England and worked as an
agricultural laborer at Kibbutz Hanita in Israel during the summer. I received my Juris Doctorate degree
from Northern Illinois University College of Law. I then served on active duty as a judge advocate
(“jag”) with the United States Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois and Yokota Air Base in Japan.
I am currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve and the Staff Judge Advocate at the 932nd
Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, IL. I also served in the city of St. Louis as a public defender for juveniles. I
then attended Fontbonne College, where I qualified for my teaching certificate. I worked as a Social
Studies teacher in the Hazelwood School District for 5 years, and this is my ninth year at Ladue. I coach
mock trial and am a member of the National Honor Society faculty council. I have traveled to, and/or
lived on, every continent except South America and Antarctica. I currently live with my family in
Olivette, MO and will see many of you when you are out and about in the community.
Behavior Expectations
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Be respectful of yourself and others
Comply with all school rules
Turn off and put away all cell phones (not vibrate), i-pods, and any other electronic devices for
the entire class period.
Come to class promptly and prepared to learn (3 tardies = I, 4 tardies=U, 1 unexcused absence
=I, 2 unexcused absences =U)
Academic Expectations
Grades in this class will be based on the following:
 Reading one to two sections of the textbook before each class (5 to 15 pages)
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Daily quizzes
Class participation
Daily note checks
Small projects/ worksheets
Summative Assessments (Tests)
Make-Up For Written Class Work
Make-up work for daily, open-note quizzes and note checks, will consist of taking the missed-quiz and
having your notes checked in the next AC lab, that you are present in school. You may use your own
notes, while you take the quiz in the AC lab.
If students do not come to the first AC lab after their absence to take the missed quiz and have their
notes checked, they will have up to a week, to turn in the work and take the quiz for 1/3 off. After one
week, there will be no credit.
If students have an excused absence and missed a test, they must take the test in the testing center during
the next AC Lab (or after school), within one week. If they fail to do so, they will receive a “zero” on
the exam.
Make-up work for unexcused absences is not allowed.
Participation Grade
For everyday that you come to class on time, and prepared, you will receive 2 participation points that
will be calculated at the end of each quarter. If you are tardy to class, you will lose 1 of those points. If
you are absent or leave class early, you will lose 2 points. If your absence or tardy is excused, you can
complete a make-up assignment to regain your missed participation points.
Make Up Assignment for the Participation Grade in the case of Excused Absences or Excused
Tardies
In order to make up your points for missed participation due to excused absences or excused tardies, you
will need to complete the following assignment and turn it in at the first AC lab after the excused tardy
or excused absence. I will check the computer before I accept the assignment to make sure that the
absence or tardy has been “excused” in the computer. Parents and Guardians have 24 hours to excuse an
absence.
The assignment is simple. Since we discuss current political events most days in class, if you are absent,
you will miss participating in this discussion. Therefore, you will need to seek out this information and
conduct this analysis on your own.
You will need to clip or printout a current article about government. It will need to be no more than a
week old. You can use sources such as CNN.com, MSNBC.com. NYTimes.com or STLToday.com. You
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may also use other authoritative news sources of your own choosing. The article will need to be at least
750 words.
You will need to write ½ page in your own words that summarizes the main ideas and identifies the
parties in the article.
You will also need to write an analysis that discusses your opinion of the article. You must address
whether you agree with what the government is doing in your article. You must explain why you agree
or disagree with what the government is doing. You must also explain why others disagree with you.
This analysis should be ½ page.
You will turn in the article and staple it to your 1 page write-up. You will write the date you turned it in.
You will also need to write the date that the assignment is a make-up for. You will not receive credit if
it is turned in past the first AC lab after your excused absence or tardy.
Class Conduct
We have a lot of material to cover, and it will be tested on the End of Course Exam from the state of
Missouri. Therefore, we will need to have several rules in order to minimize disruptions and maintain a
productive learning environment.
-Bathroom Breaks: You are expected to take care of your bathroom needs before you come to class. If
you have more than 3 bathroom “emergencies” during a quarter, I will contact your parent to discuss
your medical condition and attempt to work out a solution to minimize class disruption. After 3
bathroom “emergencies,” you will lose participation points for each class that you must leave.
-Drinks: You will not be able to leave class to get a drink. Please bring a bottle of water if you feel you
will need to take a drink during our 90 minute class.
-Tissues: Please bring your own tissues to class, as the school does not supply any. If you can spare one
box per semester for the class, you will receive one extra credit point. We will keep a box of tissues in
the front of the classroom. If you will need a tissue during the class, please pick up a few on the way to
your seat, in order to minimize class disruption once the class starts.
-Cell Phones, i-pods and other electronic devices: Please make sure that they are off, and put away, at
the start of class. If I see a phone, i-pod, or other electronic device, I will remind you to put it away
(unless it is during an exam; see below). If I see it a second time, I will again remind you to put it away
and reduce your citizenship grade for the quarter. If I see it a third time, you will be directly sent to
room 191 (in-school suspension) and will receive a referral to the assistant principal. I will also attempt
to contact your parent, and you will receive an unsatisfactory (“U”) citizenship grade for the quarter. I
avoid taking phones, i-pods or other electronic devices away from students, as I have no secure place to
store them. Bottom line: Please turn off your phone, i-pod, or electronic device as soon as you sit down,
and put it away for the next 90 minutes.
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-Academic Honesty: Students are expected to do their own work, unless they are participating in a
designated group activity. Homework that is copied, or completed in someone else’s handwriting,
will receive no credit. Exams, quizzes, notes and projects must be the student’s own work product,
otherwise they will receive no credit for the assignment. If a student has a cell phone, i-pod or any other
electronic device out during an exam or test, they will receive zero credit for the exam or test.
-Class disruptions: If I need to ask you to respect me, or others on more than 3 occasions during the
class, I will ask you to leave the room and report to room 191 for the rest of the class period. A severe
disruption will result in immediately being directed to room 191. You will be obligated to make up the
written assignment and the participation assignment. I will also attempt to contact your parent or
guardian to discuss the situation.
-Attendance: Please make sure you that you are in your seat when the bell rings. If you come in after
the bell has rung, please go to your seat quietly and be advised that you will need to complete a
participation assignment, as well as any missed class work, by the next AC lab. Remember, the tardy
must be excused in order to receive credit for the participation make-up assignment.
Questions?
You have had class time to read over these expectations on the first day. If you have any personal
questions or concerns, please come see me in my AC lab to discuss your concerns privately. If you have
any general questions, please ask now. Also, please have your parents contact me if you have any
medical concerns that prevent you from meeting this class’ expectations.
Lastly……..
Government is fun and interesting. Everything around us is organized and/or provided by the
government. You all are already paying for the government through taxes, and it is now time for you to
learn what this all means to you and your future!
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Class Expectations Acknowledgement
I, _____________________________________(please print your name), have read the class
expectations for this class. I understand them, and understand that these expectations apply to me. If I
have any questions or concerns, I know to ask Mr. Snidman. I also will receive 2 points for turning this
sheet in with my parent’s or guardian’s name and signature, at the start of the next class.
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Signature
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Date
I,_______________________________ (please print your name), am the parent or guardian
of ________________________________. I have read the expectations for this class and discussed
them with my child. I am aware that the use of cell phones or other electronic devices are prohibited in
Mr. Snidman’s class. I am also aware that prompt attendance is a significant part of my child’s grade. If
I have any questions or concerns, I know I can reach Mr. Snidman at rsnidman@ladueschools.net or
(314) 983-5874. I am also aware that Mr. Snidman will be regularly posting grades and attendance on
“Infinite Campus,” the online grade book, to help me and my child keep track of his/her progress. If I
need any help accessing my child’s grades, I will contact the main office.
__________________________________
Signature
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Date
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