History Comes Alive at Episcopal

“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.” Theodore Roosevelt

History can teach us countless lessons that remain relevant our entire lives.  While you may not remember precisely all of the dates presented to you in your World History or Western Civilization courses, the hope is that the ideas and concepts helped you make connections to current events.

Here at Episcopal, history is much more than reading a textbook and memorizing facts.  The six faculty members want to make history come alive for their students.  Recently, students had the opportunity to take a history-inspired field trip to the World War II museum in New Orleans to do just that.  Students spent the day surrounded by the artifacts and stories of this pivotal period.  The experience was made even more powerful when students had the opportunity to meet with veterans of the war, who shared first-hand knowledge of a time these teenagers usually only read about in books.

This past weekend, students had another opportunity to take history beyond the books.  Nick Delahaye and Christian Sample participated in a World War II quiz bowl tournament at the museum.  The team was quizzed on a range of topics regarding the era.  They performed well and had a great time representing Episcopal.

Social Studies Department Chair Dr. Rebecca Kuhn says it’s exciting to be a part of a school where so many students are passionate about the past.  In addition, she says it’s a pleasure to work with a group of dedicated teachers who truly are experts in their field.

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Left to right: Dr. Billy Pritchard, Clara Howell, Edwin Way, Dr. Rebecca Kuhn, Vincent Hoang, and Jennifer Vu

Combined, Vincent Hoang, Clara Howell, Dr. Billy Pritchard, Jennifer Vu, Edwin Way and Dr. Kuhn have a tremendous depth of knowledge.  The group boasts two doctorates and several advanced degrees, but it is their passion and desire to help students understand history that is truly remarkable.  Dr. Kuhn says it’s a benefit for students to learn from these experts who are committed to helping them think critically and study concepts in-depth.  Ultimately, she says the department staff share the same philosophy when it comes to teaching history.

“What I hope history does is give students a context for the modern world we’re in,” says Dr. Kuhn.

Dr. Kuhn and the social studies team want what students are learning now to help them make sense of the world today and tomorrow.  It is just one example of how history and Episcopal School of Baton Rouge are preparing students for meaningful and purposeful lives.