Hannah Decatur has taught history at Darlington since 2013. She currently teaches Modern World History and U.S. History. Decatur holds a B.A. in History from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Cooper House with her invisible pug, but is a duty teacher in Regester House.
What is the biggest heartache you have faced as a teacher so far?
I guess my biggest heartache would have to be seeing a student fail and not caring or trying to improve.
If you could choose to be married to a significant leader you teach on, whether it be U.S. history or modern world, who would it be and why?
I would be married to Henry VIII so that I could try and be the only wife to not get her head chopped off without birthing a son. I think of it as one of my Pinterest projects.
When did you know that history was your passion?
During sophomore year of college, I took a class called History Seminar, in which we picked our own topic to research for the entire year. I truly learned then what a historian does, and how I could create my own theories about past events. This showed me that history was not just about memorization (which is the impression I got in high school), but about serious inquiry of our world.
When you were a child, did you want to be a teacher?
For 12 years of my life, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer until I learned that I could not understand science, and marine biology would never work out. Anyways, I always loved helping my two younger siblings with schoolwork. My sister and I always played "school" when we were younger where I would make assignments for her to do. Teaching was always my fall back plan ... but I must say, my students will never be as cute as dolphins.
What makes it worth it?
When students who told me at the beginning of the school year that they have always hated history are not only able but willing to lead conversations outside of the classroom about the subject matter. Sometimes I hear conversations in the dorm between students debating past or current events while applying what they learned in the classroom.
Who was your favorite teacher in high school and why?
My Spanish teacher, Señora Alvarez, was from Argentina, and I had her for two years of Spanish. She used to take us out to lunch at the one Mexican restaurant in town so that we could practice our Spanish. She would hold class at the restaurant so after we ordered (in Spanish), class would take place. I also love Mexican food so … that’s a given.
