Mr. Russell

I hated history all through grade school and just couldn’t understand why it was important to memorize dates and events. I didn’t care that World War I started in 1914 or that the Magna Carta was signed in 1215. To me, history was dead. My grades certainly reflected this! Once in a while I got a C, but I usually got a D.

Intro to World History during my freshman year started out the same way. Almost every member of my class flunked the first test. Then our teacher did the unthinkable – he quit using the textbook. Instead, Mr. Russell lectured. Wearing a white shirt and tie, he would perch on a corner of his desk. He asked us to imagine what people felt about what was happening at the time. Mr. Russell explained the significance of each event and how it affected the people living during that period. He brought history to life for me. I received good grades in his history class.

He instilled a love of history, and historical fiction became one of my favorite genres. I wish I could thank him and share how much his teaching changed my life.