Show History teacher connects then and now 2 w i iI I n Nf Y a. a li j 1 7 c r a r R Rn r n V wi J Y Professer David Walden enjoys sharing his passion for history with students Kathryn Jones Globe Weekly News Except for the name you could say David M. M Walden adjunct American Civilization teacher at is a aJack aJack aJack Jack of all trades and grades Walden who began his work at in 1993 taught school in both junior high and high school It was tough he said I spent more time in discipline discipline discipline pline management than in teaching He is happy to be at where he can actually teach without having to worry about discipline Walden has written nine books related to the subject of history A book entitled Former Mayors of Provo Utah gives biographical sketches of mayors from 1985 1851 and was published in 1990 Another book a Medical History of St. St Marks Hospital chronicles the year Legacy of Quality Health Care in Utah Walden has also written a brief study on the History of the Provo City Energy Department and has enjoyed writing and publishing oral biographies and company histories In the book Centennial Utah Utah the the Beehive State on the Eve of the Twenty First Century by G. G Wesley Johnson and Marian Ashby Johnson Walden was hired to write write comp company ny profiles c u J I I like learning learning- about businesses he sald JS f. f J Writing is my time full-time work work Walden Walden sara said sam 1 11 I also also like teaching working with students especially if they show some interest in the subject Sometimes even if the student hasn't gotten an especially especially especially espe espe- good grade in the class they will come up to me later and tell me they were glad they came because they learned something he said Walden believes in history especially current or contemporary contemporary contemporary con con- temporary history as it relates to the history of the past Some people think history is not truly history unless its it's over fifty years old But if students keep up on current current current cur cur- rent events they will see how these events relate to the civil war the cold war and World War II for example He relates the story of Thomas Jefferson fathering slave kids In an article published by USA Today in January of 2000 evidence is suggested that there was a strong likelihood that Jefferson fathered at least one child by Sally Hemmings his black slave and probably probably probably ably all six of her children Still there were skeptics The new report did not s satisfy them And then theres there's the Columbus controversy where American citizens citizens citizens citi citi- zens have taken various sides in celebrating celebrating celebrating cel cel- Columbus as a n national t onal hero According to the Denver Post on one side are activists many of them Native Americans who argue that it would be just as proper to celebrate e a Hitler Day or a Stalin Day On the other are upholders of tradition tradition tradition tra tra- tra- tra who point out that Christopher Columbus was a great sailor who forever changed the course of world history Cities from around the world have rejected Columbus Day Walden said In Denver the name of the Columbus Day parade was changed to Italian-American Italian Heritage Celebration Day Still Walden admits that whether you love Columbus or hate him he changed the world No Noone Noone Noone one else did even if they came here first Think Think of the symbolism present present in m the civil war I Consider the confederate confederate con con- federate battle flag The civil l war ended in in 1865 and today the white south has positive feelings about the flag nag although they lost Walden said African Americans however ever see the confederate flag as a symbol of ot racism and slavery Walden believes in history the history of the past and present and how K they connect His class cla's theme Then then Now gives students opportunities to learn how this happens happens hap hap- pens through involvement jokes and music If you want to be a good citizen you nee need to know history wi your cot J Tt Walden i said saia The The majority of the th-e kids I teach will never take another nother history class I Im I'm m going to have fun It Its It's s class my and weve we've got to learn together |