History Commons^™

Big History At Dominican: An Origin Story, Philip Novak

Philip Novak

A Brimming Cup: The Life Of Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Kleinhenz

Dr Elizabeth Kleinhenz

Kathleen Fitzpatrick, born in 1905, was the grand - daughter of Melbourne real estate agent JR Buxton, whose investments in land and housing brought him wealth and significantly influenced much of his city's early development. In her memoir, Solid Bluestone Foundations, described by her great friend Manning Clark as 'a magnificent book of memories', Kathleen painted an evocative picture of family life at her grandparents' mansion Hughenden in Middle Park, and of middle - class living in early twentieth - century Melbourne. In adulthood she went on to become a brilliant academic and teacher whose former pupils became some of …

Moving Forward, Looking Back: Renewing The Struggle For An American Curriculum, Dave Powell

Dave Powell

Rationales for public school reform in the United States are often tied to historical perspectives on the birth and development of schools and are buffeted by the assumption that the history of public schooling says much about how reform efforts should proceed. This interpretive article explores 2 such perspectives on 21st century schools: those of Diane Ravitch, distinguished educational historian and commentator; and those of Herbert Kliebard, considered one of the preeminent authorities on the development of the American curriculum. This investigation reveals that Ravitch’s longstanding condemnation of progressivism and curricular differentiation as the source of what ails public schools …

Thoughts On Creative Teaching In The Undergraduate Classroom, Jeffrey Shepherd

Jeffrey P Shepherd

This article discusses several innovative approaches to teaching U.S. History in undergraduate classrooms. It argues that history teachers can engage students in dialogues about the past if they use more interactive forms of pedagogy. Role-playing, historical re-enactment, debate, and other creative formats will simultaneously enrich the classroom experience and strengthen students critical thinking and writing skills. Teachers interested in content do not have to sacrifice "the facts" for dynamic and stimulating--even exciting--approaches to U.S. history.