Ramapo High School

Why do we study history?

History is and should be fun and in this class my goal is to make it such. I graduated from Utica College with a bachelors in history and obtained my Masters from Hunter College. I have been teaching for 8 years and enjoy incorporating activities that encourage students to learn by engaging in meaningful conversations. At the end of my class I hope that my students will be informed active citizens ready to take on all the challenges that this world has to offer.  Together, we will see that everyone naturally possesses the inquisitive traits of a historian.

Access to the past is one of the most liberating and interesting parts of learning. Understanding the conflicts and resolutions of the past few days helps us to shape our perspectives of our world today. Yes, history repeats itself, and there is still much pain in countries like Syria, North Korea, Egypt and countless others. It is our job as historians to break cycles, become globally aware, and effect the change we want to see. This one-year course is based on the general theme of human rights.

Students will explore evolution of human rights from the past to the present. In addition, students will be required to think critically about how individuals have or have not exercised their free will. This course will also help you think like a historian and make you think about questions like: What is justice and injustice? And, how was the definition changed over time? What are the individual and collective responses appropriate to injustice? Are human rights universal or relative? How can we effect change around a global violation of human rights? How has technology and industrialization changed society?

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