In Questioning History, a veteran educator provides a unique perspective on teaching and understanding history. Joe Regenbogen examines human societies from the ancient world to modern times, making connections by means of essential questions. When should a nation go to war? What is the fairest way to share wealth? What is the best way to achieve equality? Regenbogen explains the value of posing such questions to stim ulate critical thinking and passionate discussion among students an alternative to teaching history merely as a set of dry facts. The book grounds abstract issues in well-chosen examples from world history, placing readers in the middle of Socrates trial, the Civil War s draft riots, and Nelson Mandela s release from a South African prison. These crucial events become a jumping-off point for interpretation. "Even as he roams across the ages, however, Regenbogen keeps one foot planted in the classroom. He tells compelling stories from his long career as a high school history teacher, including revelatory moments from mock trials and field trips. Regenbogen shows educators how to help students understand the past, put the present in perspective, and prepare for future decisions as informed citizens. For general readers, he makes history come alive with engaging narratives and thoughtful analyses. After Questioning History, required history courses need never be boring again.
"For history teachers who thirst for ideas, materials, books, etc., that continue the long tradition of embracing democratic education, engage students in intellectual interaction, use issues-orientated lessons, implement authentic inquiry discussions, in order to avoid the mind-numbing and anti-intellectual historical method of rote learning and memorization, this book offers an exemplary and exciting option. Mr. Regenbogen's meticulously researched and brilliant book, based on years of classroom practice and an unwavering commitment to student participatory democracy, is perhaps the most exciting and original gift to arrive for history teachers in many years. As the politics of our current time continue to force history teachers to be text-book addicted, trapping both themselves and, in turn, their students into experiencing mindless learning exercises, Mr. Regenbogen's book offers fresh ideas and actual examples of the process of learning that injects relevance and excitement into the history classroom. History teachers can use Mr. Regenbogen's excellent and carefully crafted lessons and then build their own lessons that represent the ongoing issues that confront our nation's citizens, including the young citizens in the history."
Questioning History - 16 Essential Questions That Will Deepen Your Understanding of the Past" does exactly what the title suggests , deepen your understanding. There is no doubt that Joe Regenbogen has written a book that secondary teachers and students will dive into immediately. Each essential question causes the student to question their own thinking and this makes them, in turn, question who they are as a person. It is obvious, Mr. Regenbogen has done a splendid job preparing his students with the critical thinking skills they will need in the real world and he has decided to share his classroom teaching experiences with others, for which I am thankful. I believe Mr. Regenbogen's book is a great resource that will enrich any discussion and should be used in Social Studies classes from the Middle School, Secondary, and Post-Secondary levels.
Joe Regenbogen holds a Masters Degree in Education from the University of New Orleans. He began his teaching career in 1979 in an inner city high school in New Orleans, Louisiana but spent most of the following three decades working in the Parkway Schools district of St. Louis. In his long teaching career, he taught a full spectrum of courses, ranging from American and World History to electives like Crime and Law and the American West. Classes were taught at the regular, honors and AP levels.
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