LHS Students to study global tariff's effect on local economy

students are seeking help from the community for an upcoming class about the effects of global tariffs on local economies.
“I like to look at local issues as a way to cover the content,” said government teacher David Rysdam, who is in his fourth year of teaching in Luverne.
“The trade war has been much talked about locally and nationally, and given our ag-based economy I am having the students research, survey, and then ultimately question our elected state representative on their findings.”
Rep. Joe Schomacker, Luverne, will visit with Rysdam’s class on Nov. 26.
The students, juniors and seniors, will distribute a survey to school faculty and the community as part of their study.
The survey will be available after 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, and asks questions related to the effect of global trade tariffs on local economies. The link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9QWHJVQ.
Rysdam said his students are fortunate to live in a community with active growth, which allows them to see firsthand how local governments play a role in the lives of citizens.
His first assignment in the fall of 2016 had students studying potential economic impacts of the proposed tru Shrimp coming to Luverne (company officials announced in January of 2018 the deal was off).
The following year students followed the campaign for a school construction referendum and its potential effect on the community.
And last year they studied the role of county government in local economic development. Examples included Lewis and Clark Regional Water, rural fiber-to-home broadband and green energy industries.
This year Rysdam and his students will study the effects of trade tariffs on local economies, and he’s hoping to keep politics out of the discussion.
“The students are going to be researching a national issue in regard to the impact it has — whether that be perception or real — on local government and industry,” Rysdam said.
“The hope is that students will learn to look past perception and focus on real effects.”
Ultimately, Rysdam said the goal is for students to learn about what the role might be of local governments in offsetting community economic impact and why.
He encourages area residents to answer questions posed by students on their survey in order to help them gain broader perspective on how global trade tariffs affect local economies.
The survey closes Nov. 24 and students will compile results ahead of Schomacker’s Nov. 26 classroom visit.
Rysdam invited the Rock County Star Herald to the classroom, because local news coverage of economic impact provides a backdrop for student discussion.
“I really want to drive home the value of local information with regard to students becoming active and aware members of their communities,” he said.