 |
|||
| "There are people into whose heads it never enters to conceive of any better state of society than that which now exists." - Henry George | |||
 |
This course investigates the systematic efforts of the economics profession to marginalize the ideas of Henry George — even at the cost of changing fundamental concepts of classical economics. Taught by Bob Jene, and based on important work by Mason Gaffney. This advanced course requires prior completion of Progress & Poverty. Starts tonight, April 19, at 6 PM. More information here.
image credit: Joe Wolf via Flickr (cc)
We call this course Economics as if God Cared.
The United States has no formal established church, yet matters of religion keep popping in political campaigns. What has the Judeo-Christian-Muslim religious tradition to do with questions of political economy?
One perspective is to ask how “God” advises us to organize our economic life. According to John Kelly (who created this course) and John Kuchta (who teaches it, with assistance this time from David Harrell), the Old and New Testaments give clear directions about how communities and nations should treat landownership, debt, and taxes, to assure both justice and lasting prosperity. The course deals not only with religion and philosophy, but also with actual historical evidence. This term we offer Economics as if God Cared on Mondays at 6 PM, beginning April 16 and continuing each Monday thru May 7, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. As for all our classes, a $25 registration fee covers the entire cost of the course. You can pre-register here, or just show up. No prior study is required for this course.
adapted from work by Andrew McDaniel via Flickr (cc)
Three sections of Progress & Poverty start this week.
For the first time in decades, we’re offering the course in Brookfield, at the British Home ( 8700 W. 31st Street). Wednesday afternoon classes start at 2:00, comprising six sessions, April 11 thru May 16. This is the modern version of the course, using the “abridged for modern readers” edition of the textbook (which is also available as an audiobook.) Instructor is Bob Jene, and the total cost is just $25 including all materials.
A downtown section of the modern version is also scheduled, beginning Tuesday at 6 PM. Taught by self-described land speculator George Menninger, the first session comprises “How I made $1,000,000 in Chicago Real Estate: I $tole it from you!”
Finally, the classic version — which uses Henry George’s original text and goes into somewhat more depth — will meet Wednesday afternoons, for five double-sessions (3.5 hours with a break). Instructor Chuck Metalitz does not insist that every student read every word of the text, but you’ll find the class more rewarding if you can take some time to do most of the suggested reading.
All courses require only a $25 registration fee, with the first session always free. Preregistration is requested but not required, and can be done here. Optional suggested reading prior to the first session is here for the modern version, and here(pdf) for the classic.
*Taken from a comment by one of our graduates, an accountant who said of the Progress & Poverty course: “It forces you to think deeper than you are accustomed to thinking.” Some other comments are here.
credit: Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (HikingArtist) via Flickr (cc)
For those wishing to learn the root cause of worsening poverty on an afternoon schedule, our final Winter term Progress & Poverty course starts this Monday, February 27. This is the modern version of the course, meeting for five consecutive Mondays thru March 26. Class starts at 2:30. As always, you’re welcome to attend the first session without charge; continuing for the complete course requires a total fee of only $25
If this schedule isn’t convenient for you, check back in a couple of weeks when we will have our Spring term schedule posted.
photo credit: Daniel Chaeh via Flickr (cc)
If you have not taken, or would like to refresh your knowledge of, Progress & Poverty, you’ll have two opportunities to start this week.
At our Loop location, a Monday night class starts January 23 at 6 PM. This is the modern version, and Bob Jene will be the instructor
In the South Suburbs, our Saturday afternoon class starts January 28 in Blue Island. This class meets for five Saturdays, but each is effectively a double-session, 1 to 4 PM. More about this class is here.
Like all Henry George School courses, both of these are “almost free,” requiring only a $25 registration fee to help pay materials costs. All needed texts are included. And you’re welcome to sit in on the first session before deciding whether to register.
image credit: Ken Lund via Flickr (cc)
Successful land speculation is really a matter of capturing for yourself the gains that belong to the community. George Menninger is one of many who have done it. Far beyond any need to earn a living, George now spends some of his time explaining how the bad public policy he exploited not only made him rich, but led to continued poverty, unemployment, and even the current economic meltdown. Come to ask him why he does this and whether he is a traitor to the 1%.
George’s talk, on Wednesday January 18 at 6 PM, is also the first session of our Progress & Poverty course (modern version), which will continue on Wednesdays thru February 15. As with all our courses, the $25 registration fee need not be paid until the end of the first session, and George Menninger will provide a personal and accessible explanation of Henry George’s ideas. You can pre-register here, or just show up. You are also welcome to attend just this session; there is no obligation or expectation that everyone attending will enroll.
image credit: Todd Mecklem via Flickr (cc)
Traditional Henry George School classes, including Progress & Poverty, help us comprehend how an economy based on justice would never crash the way ours has over the past few years. But now that we’re in a mess, how do we get out?
After the Crash extends and applies Henry George’s analysis to the problem of today: How to help the economy recover and improve opportunity for productive work. The text is Mason Gaffney’s book of the same name, a copy of which is included in the $25 registration fee. Bob Jene is the instructor. Class meets Tuesdays, 6 PM, January 10 thru February 28, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. You can use this form to pre-register, or just show up.
image credit: Fergal of Claddagh via flickr (cc)
We call this course Economics as if God Cared.
The United States has no formal established church, yet matters of religion keep popping in political campaigns. What has the Judeo-Christian-Muslim religious tradition to do with questions of political economy?
One perspective is to ask how “God” advises us to organize our economic life. According to John Kelly (who created this course) and John Kuchta (who teaches it), the Old and New Testaments give clear directions about how communities and nations should treat landownership, debt, and taxes, to assure both justice and lasting prosperity. The course deals not only with religion and philosophy, but also with actual historical evidence. This term we offer Economics as if God Cared on Fridays at 6 PM, beginning January 13 and continuing each Friday thru February 6, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. As for all our classes, a $25 registration fee covers the entire cost of the course. You can pre-register here, or just show up.
United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program office, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Carole Y. Swinehart
This term we’ll offer four courses in seven sections, including our first south suburban class in decades (Progress & Poverty at the Blue Island Public Library.) The schedule includes links to the course descriptions. As always, each course requires only a $25 registration fee, and you’re welcome to sit in on the first session before deciding to make the modest investment.
In addition to classes, we have a range of free events including Bob Jene’s review, from a Georgist perspective, of the economic proposals of the Republican Presidential candidates. Dr. Strangelove will kick off our Saturday movie series on January 21, and there will be a number of other new and/or revised presentations during the term. These will be posted on the events list, among other places.
Henry George School photo
We have one more section of Progress & Poverty, Thursdays beginning November 17 (except Thanksgiving). See the schedule here and course description here. More sections will be offered in 2012, of course.
Another option is on-line instruction thru the Henry George Institute. HGI assigns an individual instructor for each student, and some of these instructors are the same folks who teach at various Henry George Schools. Individual tutorials in Chicago can also be arranged.
If geography is your constraint– you can’t get to downtown Chicago for classes– consider sponsoring a Progress & Poverty course in your neighborhood. You secure a location and help promote the class. We provide an instructor and materials, and can also furnish limited funds to defray site costs and local advertising. Contact us if you’d like to explore this option.