[quote]This sets the stage for what is facetiously referred to as “the coach’s lesson plan”: Monday: read the chapter in the textbook; Tuesday: outline the chapter and take notes; Wednesday: take a quiz on the chapter; Thursday: study for the chapter test; Friday: take the chapter test. Simple? Yes. Effective? Most assuredly not. To walk into the classroom, pass out worksheets and recycled tests, and “entertain the troops” for 55 minutes is no longer acceptable, especially in this age of standardized testing and teacher accountability.[/quote]

it says this is not acceptable, we need to fix this problem.

“Personally I believe that if todays teachers (especially high school) would take summer school classes in specific subjects rather than education they could be better teachers and be able to interest their students in the subject they are teaching, especially history.”

That sounds amazing to me! There is no academic field in which change doesn’t occur. In my (hypothetical) high school…all teachers, especially science and history teachers, will take continuing education during the summer.

Thanks for stopping by!

In those days the emphasis for teachers was on subject matter not “education classes”. Personally I believe that if todays teachers (especially high school) would take summer school classes in specific subjects rather than education they could be better teachers and be able to interest their students in the subject they are teaching, especially history.

As an ROTC instructor at the University of Idaho I developed a Military History curriculum that provided the students with “hands on” experience in military arms for various periods in this country’s history. It was just a matter of thinking outside of the box. The students became more engaged when they had something to relate to for the period we were studying.. The lesson plan later became standard for the Sixth ROTC region.

In many cases I believe that todays history teachers are not allowed to experement with teaching methods or curriculum. They are constrained by school district or other government regulations or requirements. The cookie cutter approach if you will.

I believe that a competent teacher can provide the necessary information in an interesting format to their class without having to follow some bureaucratically established format.

Thank you for stopping by, and more importantly, thank you for not attacking my actual writing. (Unlike the above, grumpy commenter.)

Do I believe that at least 50.1% of the problem is because of the student, teachers, and government involvement? Yes.

I wholeheartedly agree that the majority of issues in teaching are NOT due to teachers. That being said; however, there is a small percentage of history teachers that fall into a specific category. From the comments I have received at LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, I am finding that this is a southern problem. So teacher, such as yourself, may not experience much of this in Montville, NJ.

It is, however, a large enough problem for the AHA to write a ‘How to teach history guide for coaches.’

This is from an article in Florida, bragging about how their coaches teach AP…like it is a modern day miracle.

“Three coaches who are AP teachers. That doesn’t happen too often. This is a unique situation … unique skills,” McCabe said. “These guys are true educators.”

(Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/community/clay/2011-02-24/story/coaches-teaching-ap-clay-high-coaching-teaching-and-vice-versa#ixzz2DOratGbt)

Here is a job listing in Oklahoma. They are specifically hiring a “High School History Teacher / Coach.” (http://www.oklahomacoaches.org/index.php/job-board)

All that being said, I am glad that your students are fortunate enough to have you as a teacher. You appear to care and make teaching your top priority. 🙂

1) “When I was growing up (and I doubt much has changed)” “I doubt much has changed?” You obviously didn’t do much research in college if you got away with that gem.

Sorry you don’t recognize quotation marks, I clearly didn’t write that part…I am sorry that you don’t like my quote.

2) “We found that 51 percent of eighth-grade civics students and 57 percent of eighth-grade history students report that their work is often or always too easy.” (Center for American Progress: Do Schools Challenge Our Students? Page 2. http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2012/07/pdf/state_of_education.pdf)

There is that word, “often.” I got you a statistic…. Looks like you need to step up your teaching and quit boring the youth of America.

3) “in all likelihood”…if you have a problem with that, then take it up with the AHA. It is another quote, directly from their “handbook.”

4) “many coaches who teach history tend to lecture.” Again, this is a quote directly from AHA. It unfortunate that in all your years of education you never learned what quotation marks were…

If you want the best and the brightest to become teachers, support those who are already working with your children. Turn off the TV, encourage reading. Drive your kids to the nearest historical site, engage them and make history come alive. We, that’s right if you didn’t figure it out I’m one of them a High School history teacher and dam proud of it.

History lives in my classroom. We participate in History Day, write eulogies, develop time capsules, debate issues and discuss elections. We look at the blemishes in history as well as the halos. Our society has to do its part and stop making teaching a dirty word. Take part in your child’s education. My love of history has been fostered by my parents, family, teachers, professors, friends and public historians. Stop playing the blame game, stop complaining and do something. Only together can we make education better. And yes visit an AHA, OAH, NCHE or NCSS meeting to see those working to learn more and improve at their craft. It won’t be new standards, tests or curriculum that will change everything. It is creating the best and the brightest and then cherishing them. Colleges bear just as much blame in not preparing future teachers better as do those who have “retired on active duty” as we used to say in the Corps. To all teachers I say Semper FI, stand tall, be proud and keep working. Support your local teacher, they are helping to create the citizen of tomorrow.

Peter Porter