Hello and welcome! My name is Tasha Salisbury and I am your history teacher and this is a short history about me. I was born a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I grew up in Logan, UT with three crazy brothers. I enjoy going hiking, long boarding (yes, I can long board), watching movies, reading, writing, and listening to music – not all at the same time, of course. Please do not call me Ms Salisbury. That is my grandmother. She’s old. And has false teeth. I am young. And all the teeth you see are mine. Please, call me Ms. Sal or T-Sal. (These are nicknames some of the students I taught gave me. Want to know the story behind them? Ask me in class, where I will see you soon!)
So, why would a person who is clearly as awesome as your history teacher is, want to teach history? Well, to be completely honest, my love affair with history started when I was in the third grade and my teacher showed us Walt Disney’s, Johnny Tremain. Aside from the fact that I thought Johnny was super cute, I enjoyed the story. When I found out that the things Johnny Tremain experienced were real, I started reading about those events. I became fascinated with the stories of the past and the different people who told those stories. I was amazed by people like Helen of Troy, Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, Che Guevara, and Genghis Kahn. This fascination with peoples’ stories drew me to history. Story is a part of the word: HiSTORY. However, one thing I would like to clear up: In my class it is not just HIStory, it is also HERstory. So, when I see you next don’t just be ready to study HIStory (and I’m not talking about the Michael Jackson album), but be ready to study HIS/HERStory. Okay?
I know that some of you are only taking my class because you have to. You look at me and ask, “Miss Sal, why is history important? Why should I care about a bunch of dead people?” You’ll have to find that answer for yourself. After studying history, I have come to see why it is important. It affects what books are written (How many of the novels that you read are set some time in the past?), how scenes in movies are portrayed (Ever noticed how similar the Helm’s Deep scene in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is to the Alamo?), and even what is said in music (Maroon 5’s reference to Mick Jagger is a reference to living history!)! So to me, history is important because it isn’t really over, you and I are always making history!
So now that you know a little bit about me, I can’t wait to get to know each of you better!
P.S. Curious about some of the references that I put in here? Go ahead and look them up! For those of you who are wondering who Johnny Tremain is (or what a Johnny Tremain is), there is a YouTube link to a clip from the movie below. Yes, I know it’s cheesy, but I like it!
This posting could not be any lovelier! You have such an engaging, warm, voice and you invite your students to join you in the historical conversations. I love all the puns and word plays. Yes, history is definitely herstory too.
ReplyDeleteI never made that connection between Helm's Deep and the Alamo. I'm going to have watch LOTR again; it's one of my favorites.
I'm also going to have to watch Johnny Tremain again...it's been a while. These days, I know a lot of classes show the edited version of The Patriot instead to cover the same time period. Apparently, some students like Heath Ledger more than that Disney actor. Can't imagine why...
Thanks for a delightful posting!
Wow Tasha, you are so good at placing yourself in the teacher's role already. I love how you welcomed your students with friendly references to things they would be interested in such as Lord of the Rings and Maroon 5. I also love that you don't want to be called Ms. Salisbury. I decided that about my name too since so many people cannot pronounce Tervort. I will just have to use the nickname the lunch lady gave me in high school: Miss T.
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