Who are you and why are you here?

Dangerfield Newby

In our first few classes we introduced ourselves to one another and discussed the nature and expectations of the Early World History course.  We reviewed the Course Outline and participated in a getting to know you activity which was accompanied by the Student Questionnaire.  Both documents were to be submitted for grade.  During our introductions, we discussed the importance of names as being a main component of individual identity and also recorded history.  I mentioned to a couple classes that one of my all-time favorite names in history is Dangerfield Newby, a participant in John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry.

On Friday, we attempted to answer the question "Why study history?".  We read and excerpt from David McCullough's 1993 speech on the topic, entitled "Why History?".  In the speech, McCullough states "lessons of history are largely lessons in appreciation," reminding us that the world we inherited was wrought by the hard work and sacrifice of those that came before us.  While history is a reminder to appreciate what we have, it also serves as a motivating factor to value "our own brief time on earth" and continue the legacy left by our ancestors of working for positive change.  After discussing the speech, we split our class into small-groups and participated in a brainstorming activity in which students were asked to identify changes that have happened in the world since their parents and grandparents were born.  Frequent themes discussed were technology, transportation, education, and other elements of culture including music, dress, and pressure of expectations placed on teenagers.  Hopefully, this exercise instilled in students a sense that we are living through history as participants and that we will, in turn, leave a legacy for those who come after us.