Eastbayri.com

SEEKONK — Now in his fifth school year at SHS, Joseph Gerth currently teaches AP U.S. History, Global Studies and U.S. History I. He has previously taught other courses such as Government and U.S. History II. In late January, he was recognized with the Outstanding Teacher of American History Award by the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Attleboro Chapter. He will be given a statewide version of the award later this month.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Gerth holds a bachelor’s of arts from Miami University (OH) where he doubled majored American studies and history. Mr. Gerth later attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received a master’s of education in secondary education with a history/social studies focus. While at UMass, Mr. Gerth was also a teaching assistant for African history and American history.

The Star recently caught up with Mr. Gerth to talk a bit about teaching, this recent award and of course, history. Here is a little bit more on Mr. Gerth, including a few excerpts from the autobiographical statement he submitted to the DAR.

What first interested you in history?

“I have had a passion for American history for as long as I can remember. During my youth my family had instilled in me the values of patriotism, duty, and a sense of where ‘we’ came from. Every family vacation, regardless of location, seemed to tie into an historical event; whether that be a week at the beach in South Carolina that quickly turned into a trip about the Civil War and Fort Sumter, or a tour of my native state of Ohio, where every stop along the way gave me an appreciation for the rich indigenous and military history my state had held. In that time I found that knowledge of history not only gave me a sense of pride, but also the ability to converse with adults and new-found acquaintances. History was a glue, a shared bond, that tied me to my fellow Americans, as well as to the rest of the world. I feel that I have been very fortunate to have had an upbringing in which a love for history was fostered and revered, and it is very much because of this background that I have dedicated my life’s work to my passion for history.”

What do you enjoy about teaching?

“There seem to be many aspects that I enjoy about teaching. In many ways I feel a passion for the subject, and a passion watching students grow in their intellect and critical thought. I find that the days I most enjoy are the ones in which the students have grappled with the subject, applied their knowledge, and have high levels of critical thought. By this I mean, it is not me giving them the information, but they who have put all the pieces together and made a judgment about what has happened so that hopefully they have practiced that critical thought process enough they will be able to make intelligent decisions with faced similar/relative issues.”

What does the recent DAR award mean to you?

“I am very thankful for having been given the award, and for the nomination and hard work that my colleagues and students put into me receiving it. I was surprised, and it feels great, but on the same note I also feel that everyone I work with is just as worthy of such praise and I know that much of what I do is because of guidance and help from them. I also think it is wonderful that the DAR makes an effort to recognize the positive things that are happening in their community. I think they are doing a great service in furthering the teaching of American history by providing encouragement to what they see as ‘outstanding teachers.’”

What is your favorite period of history?

“I personally enjoy the 20th century, and perhaps more so 1950s on. There are a few reasons for this. Having grown up right at the end of the Cold War I wanted to know what everyone was talking about, what was driving so much of the concern. Also, I have so many people in my life in which that time frame is when they grew up, so it is kind of a way to get to know more about them and society. It is an era that had a major impact on today's policy makers, and I like to know about what has influenced them. I guess finally, today's society is still so heavily influenced by that time – I feel that we are only 1 or 2 eras removed – and in many ways we are beginning to see what has come out of earlier efforts; almost like watching a final phase of an experiment.”

Do today’s students understand the value of history?

“I feel that most students see the value in understanding history. You can see it in day-in and day-out classroom experiences. I always try to approach history as something more than trivia, or a series of facts and dates that must be memorized, but rather as a series of events that should be analyzed and used to make wise judgments in our everyday lives. I see my students get upset at past injustices, and proud of the positives; I don't think I would observe the emotional reactions if they didn’t understand that history is important. Also, I always try to emphasize that I am not trying to create historians, but rather effective and productive citizens, and I get to watch many of my students begin to apply what they have learned when they go to make their first decisions at the polls or town meeting (usually as seniors who have turned 18), and thus practicing that ideal citizenry.”