How can you be 43 and not know who Hitler was and what he did?

[Desert_Leslie]

54. Heads on Desks

I was fortunate enough in high school during the '70s to take "advanced" classes. We had great teachers. Students were really interested and engaged.

I took just one "nonadvanced" class. In the junior year of high school, all students took US history. During my US history class, I was really stunned to see students (nearly always guys) with their heads on their desks, sound asleep -- something I had never seen before. Even the teacher seemed bored to death. He droned on giving dry lists of dates and events.

My lifelong love of history was sparked by a college professor who sat on the edge of his desk and made world history come to vivid life. I'll never forget him talking about the Horde sweeping through Central Asia. Just wow.

I am not trying to fault teachers. Each and every one deserves a huge raise and all our gratitude.

We have so many great story tellers. We need a huge increase in history-based story telling. Instead of Batman #8 and Marvel #13 (Zzzzz ...), let's tell the HUMAN stories. Let's tell them every night on TV. Let's have multiple TV series bringing HISTORY to life.

(Sigh.) I know. I'm preaching to the choir here.