In my role as an educator, I've worn many hats over the years. It's funny that as knowledgeable as I am about US History and Macroeconomics (the two subjects I've taught most often), I would never describe myself as an "expert." There are people who know way more about both than I do. And there … Continue reading Inflation vs Prices
Like many other Americans, I went to bed on election night before the outcome was known. But deep down, I knew the outcome of the election. My fitful sleep was evidence. It wasn’t necessarily surprising that he won. It was the margin of victory that surprised and...if I’m being honest...saddened me. I've been wanting to … Continue reading The Soul of America
I had a student this year who is originally from Columbia. One of the nicest kids I've had in a long time. Smart too. But since he'd only been in the country for a handful of years, he had some issues with comprehension, especially when it came to interpreting old primary source texts. That's mostly … Continue reading English is Hard
(Just a quick note...I wrote this in November of 2021 for my Medium account, which I have now closed. I'm posting it again here...because...well...I like this piece. It's kinda long and a little wonkish at times, but not much has changed in the past year. I did make one update about halfway through.) A few … Continue reading Dealing With Changing Trends in Social Studies Curriculum
I'm a little late in my recollections of Veterans Day, but like they say, better late than never. With the end of the fighting in what was then known by many as the “War to End All Wars,” November 11, 1918, marked a day of remembrance for all those who gave their lives serving in … Continue reading Giving Thanks
This past week I began my twentieth year as a high school social studies teacher. After the excitement of last school year, this summer was a much-needed break. In fact, I gave myself more of a break than I normally do.
As a teacher (and forever a student) of US History, one of my favorite presidents is Franklin Roosevelt. Whether or not one agrees with his policy actions, the thing that most impresses me when I read about Roosevelt is how in tune with the American people he was throughout his time in office. Sure he … Continue reading Freedoms
One of the nice things about being a history nerd is that it's often easy to find good deals on books. If you're patient enough, even highly acclaimed books will show up in the bargain section of the book store, as recently happened when I found Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton for $5. If it would … Continue reading Hamilton
Once upon a time, I would hear politicians speak of returning the United States to its “Founding Principles,” and I would simply chalk it up to a type of misguided patriotism - the “Spirit of 1776,” if you will. Recently, I’ve come to realize that either through my own naivety or a lack of understanding … Continue reading Ideals
In the days leading up to the Cub Scout camping trip that we went on in October, my son asked over and over if we would be able to go fishing while we were there.
Reflections Of A Middle Aged Nobody 