CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – President Donald Trump will deliver his first address to Congress Monday night since retaking the White House–and some students in the Heartland will be paying special attention.
“It’s a course that just kind of talks about all the different types of institutions we have,” said Dr. James Newman, a political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University.
From the Constitution and political parties, to how citizens interact with the government, Dr. Newman’s Intro to American Government Class has a lot to learn.
And he said President Trump’s upcoming address to Congress will be an added lesson.
“Trump came out and said he’d do all kinds of things when he was running for office, and now we’re getting to see how much of what he’s actually following through with,” Newman said.
First-year student Devyn Kennedy will be listening for any talk about tariffs. She works at a local candy shop that depends on goods from overseas.
“Hey, if these tariffs make it too hard for my boss to get these candies,” Kennedy said. “What’s going to happen to our business?”
And Kennedy believes this class can help her and her classmates make political decisions long after they graduate.
“I think it will greatly help us with our decision-making: what’s right and what’s going to be better for our country,” she explained.
Newman hopes his students make use of the information they learn.
“I want them to have certain civic skills so that they can do what they want to do in life and impact their community in a way that helps their community be a better place,” he said.
You can watch President Trump’s address to Congress tonight, beginning at 8 p.m. on KFVS-12.
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