RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Woodrow Wilson High School history and civics teacher John Quesenberry says receiving the Above and Beyond Award from West Virginia Public Broadcasting is not only a great honor for him, but also his students.
Quesenberry’s storied career and dedication to inspiring young minds earned him the prestigious recognition (celebrating the excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers).
“Wanting to help others become what they can be,” he said. “And a lot of times helping others that may not have somebody to believe in them. It’s a sense of accomplishment. But it makes you feel good to make other people feel good.”
He teaches history in the ‘now’ — where his students step into various scenarios, including taking on the role of ‘police officers’ looking at crime scene and evidence photos to determine what happened at the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire or the role of Progressive Era Congress members. What reforms would you pass?
“Or Woodrow Wilson as president, how are you going to keep us out of World War One? What will you do to protect our trade and our neutrality?” Quesenberry said. “So they’re learning history as if they were there, trying to figure it out for themselves. And then we go back and look at what really happened. That’s a way to get them more engaged.”
And in the teacher’s civics class they’ve been talking about media bias with children’s books: Three Little Pigs and then listening to someone read (True Story of Three Little Pigs) and compare the different versions.
“What’s biased, what’s accurate, what do they have in common? Now, let’s apply that to the media; let’s apply that to somebody running for office or trying to sell you a car. How do you have those thinking skills and differentiate?” said the history and civics teacher.
They discussed Muckrakers – early 1900s investigative journalists. And the students listened to the Blackeyed Peas Where Is the Love. Quesenberry is thrilled to hear them discuss, debate, and express differing opinions about today’s problems and how they should be solved.
“I’m hoping this generation can become the role models for us adults on how to treat people with respect, but still stand up for your own convictions and like other people who are different than you or disagree with you,” he said.
For this teacher of 30 years, it’s all about the kids.
“They’re who we do it for,” said Quesenberry. “They’re who challenge us to become better to give them opportunities, to try to teach them what it’s like to be an American (and) why it’s important, what they can contribute.”
