Contemporary Issues: A Study of History in the Making
NEIRAD enilno edition
Most students who classify history as their least favorite subject do so because they find topics studied in classes like Western Civilization and U.S. History hard to relate to.Students often struggle to understand how the Trojan War or the first Thanksgiving affect them today and are therefore bored with the notion of gaining a better understanding of them. However a new elective at DHS allows for juniors and seniors to study history on a much more modern and therefore relatable level. Contemporary Issues is an elective created by Mr. Chris Buckley who is now in his second year of teaching the course. “The class is based around a course that I took when I was in high school. It was one of my favorite courses,” Mr. Buckley said. He designed the class as part of his graduate work for his Master’s Capstone project.
“I wanted to create a class where students of all ability levels would have an opportunity to take an in-depth look at the world in which they live,” he said. What makes this history course unique is that it is centered on topics that are relevant to today’s society; the class allows students to choose topics that they perceive as the most controversial and explore how they feel about the issue, as well as how it affects them. Mr. Buckley feels that students respond well to this material because it is especially relatable.
“In my nine years as a teacher, I have found that the material that has engaged students most authentically has been current events,” he said. He also expressed that his students bring to the table a lot of good questions about current issues, but that “the curriculum of most history classes doesn’t allow for much time to discuss them.” This course does.
It is designed to encompass both seminars, in which students may speak freely about hot topics in the media, as well as debates in which two teams are formed to argue for or against a resolve. Mr. Buckley structures the teams based on students’ varying viewpoints and both the debates and seminars allow students to understand how to view issues through different lenses and accept opinions that may not be in accordance with their own. Topics that the class has debated and discussed recently range from the U.S. intervention with Mexican drug cartels, to the controversy of merit-based teacher pay, to the question of whether or not the U.S. should mandate military service. Clearly, Mr. Buckley’s students get a chance to explore very local, as well as global issues.
“I really enjoy the class because it gives me an opportunity everyday to have an intelligent and mature discussion about current issues. The class helps me not only to become a better speaker, but also helps me stay up to date with things going on in the world,” senior James Shanley said.
While the debates provide a structured outlet for students to do this, the seminars allow for more of a conversation. The resulting relaxed environment is one that Mr. Buckley works hard to create. He feels that it is essential, especially pertaining to this class, in order for students to feel comfortable with sharing their perspectives.
One of Mr. Buckley’s other goals in teaching this class is to help his students become more informed members of society. “They are the ones that will be making decisions for their communities in the years to come,” he said. Through the elective, students are enabled to become more knowledgeable about the immediate as well as the broader world around them.
In this regard, the course is also designed to help prepare students for life after high school. “The class is designed to treat students as adults as much as possible,” Mr. Buckley said. “Students pick the topics and the order in which they complete assignments.” In this way, juniors and seniors are given more responsibility than would be delegated to them in most of their other classes. Students are able to experience a more college-like course, utilizing their potential to learn as much or as little as possible (always keeping grades in mind, of course).
However Mr. Buckley’s hopes for his students extend past their receiving good grades. “When students leave the Contemporary Issues class, my hope is that they have developed or reinforced the time management and prioritization skills necessary to be successful in whatever pursuits they undertake after their tenure at DHS.”
