Teachers can make or break how students experience school subjects. In World History, where the subject matter ranges from brutal conflict to the political spectrum, it is imperative that students are being taught by somebody who truly cares about the topics. At Hingham High School, the students who have had Mrs. Black for this class—she also teaches AP Euro, a senior elective—know that she has genuine passion for the topics she teaches. To her core, Mrs. Black loves teaching and wants her students to love learning.
Throughout her high school years, Mrs. Black attended Hingham High School, where she thoroughly enjoyed school. Her favorite subjects in high school were history and english, which is reflected in her choice to become a history teacher as an adult. Although it never occurred to her that she might come back to teach at Hingham High School, she is happy that she did. In high school, Mrs. Black was a member of the chorus and school plays, and many of her own students today recognize the theatrical spark that drives her lessons. HHS sophomore Lily Chamberlain mentioned, “Having Mrs. Black’s class A-block is fun because you can tell that she is really passionate about what she teaches, which makes it possible for me to enjoy what we learn about.”
When Mrs. Black was growing up, she didn’t know that she wanted to be a teacher, but she was sure that she was headed for a career where she could continue learning with others. She majored in history at Villanova, but it wasn’t until graduate school that she decided she wanted to educate others on the subject. In graduate school, part of the funding for her program involved leading discussions with the undergraduates. This is what sparked her love for teaching, as she enjoyed the challenge of coming up with lesson plans that would keep learners engaged. HHS senior Kaitlyn Manning noted that Mrs. Black achieves her goal of keeping students interested, commenting, “Mrs. Black is such a great teacher. I have her this year for AP Euro and I’m really enjoying the class! She makes every lecture super interesting and always takes the time to make sure everyone understands what’s happening.” Mrs. Black’s favorite part about teaching is hearing all sorts of perspectives that she never would have considered herself.
Having taught a plethora of topics within the World History curriculum, Mrs. Black noted that her favorite is Russian history. When she initially began teaching at Hingham High School, Mrs. Black felt that her prior knowledge of world history did not sufficiently include Russian history. So, to prepare herself to teach about the topic, Mrs. Black did a deep dive into Russian history and became fascinated with the culture.
History is not the only subject that Mrs. Black feels passionately about. If asked to teach another subject, Mrs. Black would choose english, because she recognizes the importance of reading and discussing literature. She also sees the value in creative art classes, such as those offered by Ms. Papuga. She expressed interest in combining history and art, conveying her idea that creativity and knowledge go hand in hand.
Her connection with students goes beyond the classroom; Mrs. Black is one of the assistant girls’ track and cross-country coaches at Hingham High School. Although she ran independently throughout adulthood, Mrs. Black didn’t know if she considered herself qualified enough to coach the sport. However, girls’ cross-country coach Dave Jewett assured her that all she needed was a love for running and a love for students. Sophomore Ava Parker remarks, “Getting the chance to have Mrs. Black as both a coach and a teacher has been amazing, because I get to witness her love for teaching, running, and her bond with the students.”
Mrs. Black’s one piece of advice for high schoolers is to “read more.” She encourages students to read anything that they enjoy, as reading, allowing people to explore literary worlds and develop personal ideologies, can be transformative. She noted that reading can also make you a better writer and a more empathetic person.
It is crucial for teachers to appreciate the value of what they teach, and to communicate this value to their students. It is clear that Mrs. Black understands this. In room 287, Mrs. Black encourages a positive learning environment that she hopes allows her students to thrive.
Article informed by interview with Mrs. Black.
