Receiving Thanks from Parents and Students

On occasion, I get very positive letters and emails from students and their parents about me and the courses that I teach; I learned years ago that when you get such great notes, place them in a file for a day when you really will need to re-visit them. For the most part, I am [...]

Good to Great

We have been exploring the topic of Good to Great on my campus. As a faculty, we even read Jim Collins’ book as a central point of what we would like to achieve as a school and a faculty;  in doing so, a number of academic departments have traveled or will travel throughout the country [...]

More Fox News

We all know how I feel about Fox News. This note was circulated on my very Republican campus today; I love the person that sent it out; she is bright and professional; however, if I sent a pro-Obama and pro MSNBC note like this one — I would be called on the floor for it. [...]

Campus College Fair

The campus lawn outside the performing art center and mustang corral  were empty Friday morning as many students arrived early to meet various representatives from across the country.

As a school that encourages students to find a college that is a fit for them, our reputation with national schools continues to grow. Houston Christian had over [...]

The Court

Okay, this completely contradicts everything I stated in a previous piece about not participating in homecoming activities. I was asked to wear my commencement robe as nine of us acted as though we had a desire to be Supreme Court justices; it was cool for a quick photo; however, it is safe to say that [...]

Homecoming Again

I assure you that I did not have a hard time getting a date in high school. With that said, there are two things I just do not care much for: Homecoming week…hence the homecoming dance, and Prom. It is not that I had a bad experience — though it is true that I did [...]

Giving A Test

My AP United States History classes are writing their first exam today; it should be a great adventure for many of them. Honestly, I think they will do very well.  About 20 of us met at the home of Parker Malone for a review session last night; it went very well. Parker’s mom took the [...]

Christian Schools

I am spending my day (literally) editing a survey form that I will email to a number of independent schools across the country. This will be the second such survey I will send. I am targeting protestant Christian schools with this one, including upper-tier Christian schools. The perception that many in the general public have [...]

Year 10 (Updated with a Cake)

Above: 10 Year cake from senior Sarah Salinas
With classes starting up on Monday, I spent the past few days getting “organized” while attending a number of meetings with administrators and my department. It will still take much of this weekend to get my syllabus up to speed in each of the three courses I teach, [...]

Colleague’s Wedding

Upon arriving back to Houston, I was honored to attend my friend and colleague’s wedding; Julia Raymond, a member of the English department, will be starting the year as a married woman. She is a great runner, an excellent teacher, and a great conversationalist. The wedding took place in the Pampell Chapel on the campus [...]

I Used To Be Hard

In the world of independent schools, most places have an evaluation process in place in which students mark evaluation forms of their instructors. For the most part, I have enjoyed the feedback from students on my teaching and the general nature of my courses. Before students evaluate me, I always ask them to write a [...]

Office Hours II

My Saturday was packed; it started with a 7:30 AM meeting on campus with two students: Joel Turman and Sarah Salinas. A few students and faculty members are taking a trek in China this week. Jim Kelly, my friend in the science department and Christine Metoyer, my chair, along with Head of School Steve Livingston [...]

HCHS Commencement 2009

Above: Metoyer (chair), Sivils, Malouf, Bourland, Phenicie, and Carson
The history department took a second to take this departmental picture just before HCHS 2009 commencement.
Kate Kreager, my top student in AP European history and this year’s valedictorian, delivered an excellent speech to her peers. Kate, who will attend the University of Texas Phase II honors program [...]

Another Great Student

Above: Veronica Forge and Carson
My soon to be former student Veronica Forge and I took a quick picture today for her scrapbook. The English department here and at my former school requires each student to construct a 15 page scrapbook. I am blessed to have had Veronica for three [years] courses: World History (sophomore year), [...]

Student to Attend Harding’s Honors Symposium

Left to Right: Jaime Zeal, Ashley Giffen, & Rachel Gracy
Jaime Zeal was a bright spot in my United States history course this past year; she will be attending my Alma Mater this summer and will most likely apply for admission come next fall. This summer Jaime will participate in Harding university’s Summer Honor Program. It [...]

Just Another Day on Campus

This particular section of AP European History spent time on the inner lawn of HCHS; I am a sucker to say the least. They needed additional motivation on what is an absolutely gorgeous day. We discussed World War II and the motivations that drove the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin to seek greater power; [...]

Required Readings for ‘09-’10 and the Trouble With History Teaching

With the exception of Richard Hofstadter’s The American Political Tradition, I have elected to add three new books to next year’s Advanced Placement United States History course; I am a big fan of Howard Zinn and his writings. Some believe his historical approach is a bit biased, but I contend what work is not. Because [...]

Debate at HCHS

For the second year, my friend and colleague Suzan Phenicie hosted a campus political debate. Phenicie, using the help of other faculty members, selected four students to participate in the debate. Phenicie, myself, and others including our department chair evaluated and modified a number of excellent debate questions submitted by students and members of the [...]

The History Excursion by Suzan Phenicie

Above: HCHS history department dinning in downtown Boston at the home of the Iron Chef after a campus visit to Phillip’s Academy.
Suzan Phenicie teaches in the department of history and social science at Houston Christian; she currently teaches Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics as well as Economics. Phenicie adds a bit of the [...]

Departmental travels — Kingswood-Oxford School (KO) & Phillips Academy (PA)

Above: Carson and HCHS members with KO’s history chair Anne Serow in the faculty lounge

Above: The history department building (house) at KO

Above: HCHS members joined by Emma Frey and Peter Drench outside the academic building that houses the history department
After our initial visits to the Calhoun and Brooklyn-Friends School, my fellow colleagues and I spent [...]