The Paul McGhee Division

Clif Hubby

Master teacher of history

"Many people think of history as the memorization of names and dates, but the students in my classes learn that history is really about the art of interpreting."

Many people think of history as the memorization of names and dates, but the students in my classes learn that history is really about the art of interpreting the past. At its best history helps us understand how the past has contributed to the emergence of today's globalized world. Conceived in these terms, history becomes a dialogue between the past and the present.

My classes reflect these themes both in content and in the nature of the assignments. In a course on the Middle Ages in Film, for example, we explore how filmmakers manipulate images of the past as a means of commenting on contemporary issues. In my core classes my students create imaginary newspapers which mirror the social, cultural, and political trends of the era they are studying. This assignment encourages students to use their imaginations in recreating and understanding the past, while considering how broader trends relate to individual lives. In all of these ways I try to convey to my students the excitement of studying history while making it relevant to the lives of the diverse and dedicated professionals who make up our classes.