Reasons to Thank Our American History Teachers

J. C., February 15, 2021

Teachers are some of the hardest working people in America. These individuals wake up every morning with an important job: to pass on knowledge to the next generation, and to help them develop into informed citizens. History teachers in particular are often under-thanked for their role in making sure the history of our country lives on.

Showing gratitude to those who taught us in the past and thanking teachers who are educating our children now is essential. Especially today, the job of a history teacher is extremely important. As history unfolds right before our eyes in 2020 and 2021, students need to understand everything that came before to understand how our country will overcome the challenges it currently faces.

From the most tumultuous presidential election of the modern era to the recent  appointment of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, American history is unfolding before our very eyes—and doing so at a rapid pace. Fortunately, we have a good framework as to history topics, thanks to our American history teachers, past and present.

We need to take the time to thank our American history teachers for helping us (and our children) take advantage of the following.

American History Teachers Present Information About the Past

The subject of American history is an expansive one. From world-changing events to larger-than-life figures, American history class covers a wide array of topics. History teachers take this information and compile it in a way that’s easy to understand and become engaged with. We’ve all read about the likes of the Revolutionary War, the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, the Gold Rush, WWI and WWII, and even modern-day events. It all culminates in an understanding of how we got to where we are today.

American history teachers find a way to cram more than 200 years of history into our brains, in a way that helps us remember it all—and appreciate it all! From knowing the full list of presidents to remembering the most defining events of the modern era, every American student has their history teacher to thank.

Teachers Apply American History to Present Day Issues

In addition to teaching about the various aspects of American history, these teachers must also take the subject and apply it to present day issues. American history teachers put the information out there in a way that shows how it’s relevant today. It’s not just talking about a subject; it’s about educating students on the concepts that expound from it.

What impact did the Bill of Rights have on the trajectory of citizens’ rights? How did the Boston Tea Party set the precedent for taxation in America? What implications did the Cold War have on the space race? Teachers connect these historical events to everything that came after them, all the way up to modern day.

They teach students why the historical events or figures were so important, and explain where we’d be today if they never existed.

American History Teachers Interpret Historical Events

History is history because it already happened. But beyond the event or the person, it’s important to understand the context of history. American history teachers have the arduous task of helping students interpret historical events, both for the time period and for everything that happened after it.

American history teachers get students to open their minds and explore the possibilities. With the help of American history teachers, we’re able to ask the question, “What if…?” What if Martin Luther King Jr. never spent the night in a Birmingham jail? What if the Japanese never bombed Pearl Harbor? What if Abraham Lincoln survived his evening at Ford’s Theater? By asking students to imagine history differently, they illustrate how important our history actually is.

Show Your Appreciation for our Everyday Historians!

With the help of our American history teachers, past, present and future, we gain a better understanding of where we came from—and where we’re going in the years ahead. For this, and many other reasons, we say, “thank you” to our American history teachers.

If you want to give your American history teacher a gift to say thank you, we recommend a historical reference button up shirt, protective face mask or other American flag clothing item found at The Flag Shirt! Explore all the patriotic clothing and accessory products on and let your American history teacher know how much you appreciate them. They’re sure to appreciate whatever you get them—after all, they have a deep appreciation for everything that the flag stands for!

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