Keep Greatest History Class Going!
When Ben began teaching high school in 2001, he said he promised himself that he would create such an amazing classroom environment for his students, one that would be completely engaging – and one that would provide them with an educational experience like none other. To do this, he put a lot of time and money into turning his classroom into this:
[Above: A full historical mural adorns the classroom wall.]
[Above: A view from the classroom doorway toward "The Pulpit of Knowledge".]
[Above: A view from the front of the room out toward the students' desks... and life-size Warrior statue, functioning guillotine, and Egyptian pharaoh's chair!]
[Above: A "Hartnell-Original" lecture as it appears on the H-MAX, a 15' x 15' theater-esque screen.]
[Above: What do you get when you combine ESPN's Sports Center with the American Revolution? Playing various Founding Fathers (and Chris Berman), Ben anchors a memorable trip through the Revolution!]
[Above: If it's your birthday, be ready to see everything that happened on your "special day" during Ben's "This Day in History"... and receive the prized "Birthday Pencil"!
[Above: Outside Room #135, you can find a visual history of the American Flag with 17 authentic reproductions running the length of the hallway!]
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It took years, but Ben was finally able to create a visually pleasing space, from the giant “pulpit” from where he delivers his movie theater-sized sermons/lectures to the gorgeous mural on the classroom wall.
To add to the experience, he purchased historically accurate uniforms to bring his lectures and reenactments to life. For example:
[Above: Dressed in Antebellum attire, Ben spoke at the City of Westerville's Sesquicentennial Celebration.]
[Above: A Spartan Hoplite soldier.]
[Above: Roman General. This is one of Ben's favorite and is an on-set replica of the one worn by Russell Crowe in the movie "Gladiator".]
[Above: Ben's 9/11 Heroes tribute - and a VERY powerful 9/11 presentation every year.]
[Above: Medieval Knights Templar... all 75 lbs of it!]
[Above: The feared "Redbeard" of the 18th Century!]
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Ben uses these uniforms to create authentic and hands-on educational experiences for his students, including his "Tar and Feather Day" (where his classes use syrup and feathers to protest taxes), his "Civil War Battle Reenactment" (where his students use over 3,000 water balloons, cannons, horses, and Civil War reenactors to simulate a battle), and his "Presidential Fight Club" (where 32 of our nation's Commander-in-Chiefs go toe-to-toe to answer "Who's #1?" and take home an actual boxing trophy!).
[Above: "Tar & Feather Day"]
[Above: Union soldiers absorb a "direct hit".]
[Above: Reenactors provide a real sense of panic and chaos for my battle simulation.]
[Above: The Confederates hold the line during a volley of balloons from the Union soldiers.]
[Above: The "Presidential Fight Club"... the best way to get students excited about American Presidents. Plus, the winners take home a trophy!]
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As Ben gets ready to begin his 15th year teaching in the fall, he would like to replace classroom equipment that has begun to break down due to wear and tear, as well as purchase new uniforms and accessories that, too, have grown old over time. For instance – when he wears in the 75lbs of chainmail, he brings in a spare set for the students to try on. The same goes for other uniforms that he provide students so they get to “feel” and “see” history. He frequently loans his props and uniforms to fellow teachers for use in their own classrooms. This has expedited the uniforms' deterioration.
In 2012, Ben turned 35 and promptly announced his candidacy for U.S. President. Ben used his actual campaign as a way to teach his students about the issues by having them discuss and debate what his varying platforms should be. To carry out this campaign, his students made shirts, yard signs, and websites. And while he didn’t win (bummer, right?), he did receive 34 votes - which floored the students! The success of this approach to “hands-on” teaching has Ben and the Sparty Party gearing up to run again in 2016. The students already have a website set up in anticipation: www.electthebeard.com
[Above: In 2016... Elect the Beard!]
It has been Ben's experience that his classroom provides students with an amazing educational experience – but, more importantly, a “safe-space” where their troubles can be set aside for the 45-minute class period. Ben turns history into a series of daily stories in order to show students how their own "stories" are important and how they are writing their own history every day.
Ben has grandiose visions of adding new uniforms and outfits to the mix, as well as continuing (and creating new) larger-than-life activities.
In short, everything he does, creates, and wears in, he does for his students and in his neverending pursuit of making history come "alive".
Students of all walks of life can (and do) benefit from this kind of approach. Students that are visual learners, students that are “hands-on” learners, students that are English Language Learners, students that require Special Education services, and students that need that little extra “kick” of motivation flourish in Ben's classroom. This, in turn, produces students that are excited about education and creates a wonderful atmosphere not only in Room #135, but around the high school and community.
However, after 15 years, we have run out of the personal funds to continue running Ben's classroom at such an interactive level. To date, we have spent $68,277 of our own money on his classroom and students. In fact, just the other night, Ben spent $80 getting this year's Presidential Fight Club Championship trophies crafted and ordered. Small amounts here and there to "spice up" a lecture or to add something special to a student's day (like spending $50 each year buying birthday pencils for his students), or paying yearly to keep the domain name on his classroom websites... it all adds up. And while every teacher spends money out-of-pocket, Ben has certainly gone well beyond basic expenditures. As such, we simply lack the financial means anymore (and never really could afford these purchases) and kindly ask for contributions to allow Ben to continue to provide future generations with the same kind of experience that past students were able to enjoy. The cost of supplies and materials to replace and repair items in the classroom that Ben brought in or created are, understandably, not covered by the school/district.
The funds generated will 100% be used for Ben's classroom and school and will, in NO way, be used for any private items outside of Westerville North High School. The items purchased for his classroom will all be available for the community to view (and passed on to future teachers when Ben retires as they will be community/school/district property) and documented by receipts and/or Purchase Orders. This money will also NOT be kept in our personal banking account; rather, it will be placed in a school/district account from which Ben will be able to withdraw (and document) any and all purchases.
To read more about Ben's classroom and his approach to education, as well as to see additional pictures of the classroom itself and many of his current uniforms and activities, please visit www.drhartnell.com. For those of you who remember Ben's history and holiday "packets" (Lord knows I remember watching him work on those things!), he has started to "go green". In 2012, he launched www.nuttyhistory.com as his own on-line textbook, free for his students (and anyone else in the world). Since 2012, and over the course of the next few years, Ben's goal is to complete the site with all of the packets he used to spend hours xeroxing and distributing to his students. Take a look!
