Ed, you know you touched a soft spot...history. Though I never completed my PhD. thesis due to my father's illness and taking over the family business when in peril, I remain a historian when watching news broadcasts, reading the papers, and talking with friends. Unlike
Thucydides who coined the linear view of history, my approach has always been Herodotean, "life is cyclical." The cast of characters we have today are no better nor worse than those who preceded them. Yes, Ancient History remains alive in the 21st Century.
Yes, Larry, thanks for this fine note and the wonderful notes. I came too late to history as biology and a bunch of science stuff were in the way. Lucky you.
How I wish I'd had Luther for a history teacher! My U.S. history teacher at Classical High School had us memorize facts to pass his tests, and my ancient history teacher was a gym teacher/football coach. My first experience with a good history teacher was in college, where discussions were the basis for learning why history is important.
Thanks, Elsie. I suffered the same pain of being forced to memorize dates, dates, dates . . . ugh. Luther's history comes alive, making it real. Too bad you can't sit with him for just one hour.
A great story, Ed. I scanned the comments below and they ring oh, so true. We had to memorize dates. But teachers back then seemed to have not appreciated that the word ‘story’ in ‘history’ is the key word, and failed to tell it.
What a wonderful conversation and mentor. Thanks for sharing him with us.
Ed, you know you touched a soft spot...history. Though I never completed my PhD. thesis due to my father's illness and taking over the family business when in peril, I remain a historian when watching news broadcasts, reading the papers, and talking with friends. Unlike
Thucydides who coined the linear view of history, my approach has always been Herodotean, "life is cyclical." The cast of characters we have today are no better nor worse than those who preceded them. Yes, Ancient History remains alive in the 21st Century.
Yes, Larry, thanks for this fine note and the wonderful notes. I came too late to history as biology and a bunch of science stuff were in the way. Lucky you.
I appreciate it so much more now.
How I wish I'd had Luther for a history teacher! My U.S. history teacher at Classical High School had us memorize facts to pass his tests, and my ancient history teacher was a gym teacher/football coach. My first experience with a good history teacher was in college, where discussions were the basis for learning why history is important.
Thanks, Elsie. I suffered the same pain of being forced to memorize dates, dates, dates . . . ugh. Luther's history comes alive, making it real. Too bad you can't sit with him for just one hour.
Next time he's in Michigan or I'm in RI!
A great story, Ed. I scanned the comments below and they ring oh, so true. We had to memorize dates. But teachers back then seemed to have not appreciated that the word ‘story’ in ‘history’ is the key word, and failed to tell it.
Ned O’Donnell
Yes, it took me a long time to learn that, Ned. And a long time to learn history