"I Hope They Invent Time Machines!"

A rather encouraging sign has popped up in my world history classes, so I figured it was worth sharing. During a rather heated discussion about the morality of soldiers killing one another during World War I, a student blurted out: "I hope they invent time machines!"

The phrase seemed a little silly initially; something I would imagine hearing in an elementary school classroom. The more I considered it, however, the more I really appreciated the sentiment. It is perhaps the ultimate the compliment to a history teacher. I think every great love for history probably began with a similar thought, whether it was voiced or not. Not only is the student showing clear signs of participating in class discussion, he wants to take history even further...he wants to *see* it. While I may not be able to grant the students' wish, I certainly hope that my class begins to provide him with the glimpse of the past he seems to really desire.

If that's not motivating for a history teacher, I don't know what could be.