Student Work Dr. John R. Murnane's classes
As a follow-up, we had an Islamic art contest. Students were shown the design-patterns used to decorate mosques. I used Duad Sutton's Islamic Design: A Genius for Geometry (2007) as a guide.
American Studies, 11th Grade Public History Project
War and Remembrance: War Memorials at Worcester Academy
As an institution founded in 1834, the Academy’s history is uniquely suited to serve as a springboard for learning about our nation’s past and connecting it to the present–-the possibilities are endless. The war memorials located in the Megaron (a multi-purpose building on campus) provide a case in point. Many members of the community walk by the two plaques in the Megaron everyday. But there is a history to be explored here. The realization that we are all part of something larger than ourselves can be discovered through a careful examination and analysis of these memorials to faculty and former WA students who served in the catastrophic world wars that dominated much of the 20th Century.
This public history project in 11th grade American Studies was designed with the mission of the History and Social Science department at Worcester Academy very much in mind, particularly the goals of sharpening communication skills and helping students to see the relevance of History for understanding and solving today’s problems. It is now part of a display to honor WA’s veterans, sponsored by alumni and development at WA.
My AP World History students created an ebook, available on Amazon, in 2012.
I oversaw Real-world Graduation Projects; students created videos on a variety of topics from drug rehabilitation to the health effects of meat consumption to stress reduction to the rise of China.
John Murnane began teaching history at Worcester Academy in 1996. He has a B.A. from Salem State University, an M.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Ph.D. from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Murnane is also a part-time Instructor of History at Fitchburg State University and an AP consultant and reader for the College Board in World History. He has published articles in the New England Regional World History Association Newsletter, The History Teacher, World History Connected, The New England Journal of History, All About Jazz and the Jazz Times. Dr. Murnane also co-presented a workshop at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference in Boston in March, 2006, called “From Meat and Potatoes to a 21st Century Curriculum,” which looked at and contextualized the major changes involving Worcester Academy’s curriculum over a ten year period. Dr. Murnane served as the Arts and Humanities Curriculum Coordinator at Worcester Academy for two years (2004-6), Chair of the History and Social Sciences department (2006-10), Director of Open Gates and Director of Academic Programs (2010-2014). Dr. Murnane served in the U.S. Air Force, 1984-88. He lives in Holden, Massachusetts, with his wife and three sons. He plays the saxophone, the clarinet and the drums.