Heather, it's getting so every morning I say to my husband, "Heather's Letter for today is really good!" I learned so much from this letter. If Rudyard Kipling really did say this, he was so correct. "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten."
Heather, it's getting so every morning I say to my husband, "Heather's Letter for today is really good!" I learned so much from this letter. If Rudyard Kipling really did say this, he was so correct. "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten."
I was so lonely in high school, and books were my armor. I read a lot of historical fiction back then, and absolutely nailed every history exam. The stories made me see connections beyond names and dates, and to understand and remember. The people came alive. You are so right.
Kathy, I was lucky enough to have a history and government teacher in high school whose philosophy was, "I don't care if you don't know when the War of 1812 was fought - I want you to understand WHY it was fought, and what were the ramifications!" He taught as if it were college level; lectured an hour, you took notes, and the text book was only a broad outline. If you missed a class, you'd better borrow someone's notes to copy, because the tests all came from the lectures, and they were essay questions. None of that namby-pamby multiple choice crap!! We at first hated his guts, and soon worshiped the ground he strode on! His father had been a US Senator from Iowa, so he grew up partially in DC and knew his subject intimately. He would regale us with stories that would never be found in a history text back then.
I, too, was lucky enough to have history teachers who taught with passion and made events come alive. We needed to know dates, and to fill in blank maps with boundaries, rivers, cities, etc. but I actually loved that. And we, too, needed to know the why of things. We were so lucky. I only wish I could remember it now haha.
This sounds like my partner's high school and fifth grade history teachers. He grew up remembering and loving history. I grew up feeling it was boring and irrelevant (because I never had a good teacher until now-with HCR).
Diane Love and Liz Ayer, Yes, I was very lucky. But I also had an American History teacher who was from Alabama, and an old school Southerner. The difference between the two was night and day. If I hadn't been inclined to love history as I did, I would have never learned anything in Mr. McC's class.
The Federal Writers Project State Guide series also covers all states (48 in 1930s). They're obviously dated now, but the history sections were good at the time, and the itineraries offered lots of local history.
Heather, it's getting so every morning I say to my husband, "Heather's Letter for today is really good!" I learned so much from this letter. If Rudyard Kipling really did say this, he was so correct. "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten."
I was so lonely in high school, and books were my armor. I read a lot of historical fiction back then, and absolutely nailed every history exam. The stories made me see connections beyond names and dates, and to understand and remember. The people came alive. You are so right.
Kathy, I was lucky enough to have a history and government teacher in high school whose philosophy was, "I don't care if you don't know when the War of 1812 was fought - I want you to understand WHY it was fought, and what were the ramifications!" He taught as if it were college level; lectured an hour, you took notes, and the text book was only a broad outline. If you missed a class, you'd better borrow someone's notes to copy, because the tests all came from the lectures, and they were essay questions. None of that namby-pamby multiple choice crap!! We at first hated his guts, and soon worshiped the ground he strode on! His father had been a US Senator from Iowa, so he grew up partially in DC and knew his subject intimately. He would regale us with stories that would never be found in a history text back then.
I, too, was lucky enough to have history teachers who taught with passion and made events come alive. We needed to know dates, and to fill in blank maps with boundaries, rivers, cities, etc. but I actually loved that. And we, too, needed to know the why of things. We were so lucky. I only wish I could remember it now haha.
The word history contains the word "story.". If only it were always taught that way.
Yes. I, too, had one history teacher in HS that made history/herstory come allive and it made all the difference.
This sounds like my partner's high school and fifth grade history teachers. He grew up remembering and loving history. I grew up feeling it was boring and irrelevant (because I never had a good teacher until now-with HCR).
How I wish IтАЩd had your history teacher.
Diane Love and Liz Ayer, Yes, I was very lucky. But I also had an American History teacher who was from Alabama, and an old school Southerner. The difference between the two was night and day. If I hadn't been inclined to love history as I did, I would have never learned anything in Mr. McC's class.
Lucky youтАФmy history teacher in high school was intimidating.
Yes, I start conversations with several friends and family with тАЬHave you read Heather yet today?тАЭ
I was very interested in Maine history but when I looked into it, I had trouble finding any overview.
In the years around 1976, WW Norton published a general history of each state. Most are of high quality. Here's the one on Maine.
https://www.amazon.com/Maine-States-Nation-Clifford-Clark/dp/0393056538/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=maine+norton&qid=1615823976&sr=8-15
The Federal Writers Project State Guide series also covers all states (48 in 1930s). They're obviously dated now, but the history sections were good at the time, and the itineraries offered lots of local history.
Thanks much!