Teaching Philosophy

It is my personal belief that History always repeats itself. It was created by the actions (or

inactions) of the individuals who have come before us. My role is to enable students to gain a

historical context that allows them to understand and critically evaluate the motivations and the

significance of these historical events and individuals. I want my students to understand,

intellectually and emotionally, that their present lives are the result of these historical events;

events created by imperfect beings very much like themselves who often did not completely

understand the implications of nor foresaw the consequences that resulted from the actions they

undertook.

I am committed to providing a learning environment that is both an exciting one and at

the same time rigorous. One that empowers both the students and myself to pursue continuous

learning and growth. Above all, I treat my students with the utmost respect, creating an

environment where students feel safe to candidly discuss topics that they might otherwise be

hesitant to address. To have students learn not only from myself but also from themselves and

their own experiences.

Students are empowered to take responsibility for their learning by preparing questions

designed to promote class discussion and help the other students learn. Questions are the roots of

all learning and often arise not only from curiosity but also through their own experience. These

questions will hopefully then result in conversations between groups of students, the students and

myself, and the student’s internal musings.

My aim and goal is to show that the study of history is a process that can be creative

rather than boring, through the analysis of historical evidence. As well as teaching from various
cultural frameworks, beliefs, and practices. It is crucial that history be presented within a

multicultural framework. In hopes that all sides to any event can be understood and analyzed.

History is created by various individuals, and groups that operate from various cultural

frameworks, beliefs, and practices.