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Christine B. Morris - Short Essay D
"Historical memory is the key to self-identity...to one's
connectedness with all humankind; and all American students must have
equal access to well-prepared history teachers and to engaging, balanced,
accurate, and challenging curricular materials." (NCHS, 1996
42:56)
Curiosity is a natural human quality. We study because we want
to know "why and how." The American education system
structures learning into specific disciplines so that students learn
the "great ideas," and the processes involved with copacetically
living in society.
As a teacher of American Literature/Composition and U.S. History,
my goal is to inspire and motivate the 11th graders who come into
my classroom to want to learn "why and how" we are the
kind of people we are, and how we can live together in harmony.
My goal is to relate the course of study to their own lives, so
that my students understand that they have the power to determine
their own destiny and the destiny of the United States of America.
I have prepared myself for this task by continued learning through
reading, coursework, seminars, institutes, symposiums, and McRAH.
This summer session of McRAH has revitalized me and I am looking
forward to this school year to implement engaging, balanced, accurate
and challenging curricular materials. Together, my students and
I will continue to study who we are and how we are connected to
each other.
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