Hudsonville offers many unique classes from Fashion Design to Geoscience to Advanced Foods, but there is only one class whose curriculum changes as fluidly as the news itself: Current Events.

The school has been offering a Current Events course for years, which is currently taught by Brandy Walker. Walker has been teaching the class since 2019 and she says, “The purpose of Current Events is to help students become aware of current issues in our world, as well as sometimes looking at trends over time or connections even to history.”

Current Events is a student-led class, as opposed to heavy teacher involvement. This way of teaching encourages students to think for themselves and research topics that are not only relevant but interesting to them. Walker admits that she has noticed many students get their news primarily or even exclusively from social media, which can be limited and inaccurate.

Social media has become a gray area when it comes to news coverage. The accessibility of platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow people to get relevant information quickly, but with this, people now have more ways to consume false news, biased news, and even disturbing content. Current Events helps students highlight and question stories that have gathered media attention and understand the facts more thoroughly.

There are hardships when it comes to talking openly about events circulating the media, particularly politics. In an increasingly polarized world, student bodies are often divided on certain issues. Walker says that it has been somewhat difficult to address these topics, but she tries to create a safe space for students to voice their opinions without feeling isolated or rejected.

Current Events is a unique class because it allows students to understand the world they are stepping into as they exit or enter high school. The curriculum is based on events that are happening in real time, meaning much of the material learned in class can be applied to personal experience. “It's powerful to see your learning playing out around you every day,” says Walker. Students are the voice of their generation, the activists of their time, and the future of the world.