History

Head of Department: Mr J.W.Martin

Staff: Mr P.W.J.Allen, Mr R.M.Beggs, Miss L.M.Montgomery, Miss S.Pinkerton, Mr S.L.Turtle

History has traditonally had a bad press - maybe you too have unpleasant memories of being force-fed with lists of dates and the names of the Kings and Queens of England! But this kind of approach is now itself history, and our boys are more likely to be found researching battle sites and websites than making endless notes.

So what do we teach?

In Years 8 to 10 we cover almost nine hundred years of history, from the Norman Conquest to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of Communism in Russia. In between, the boys study the Spanish Armada, the English Civil War, the Williamite wars in Ireland, the two twentieth century world wars, the partition of Ireland and the Cold War which froze east-west relations down to the 1990s. Local history is not neglected – in Year 8 there is a study of Dunluce Castle, and in Year 9 we look briefly at the history of Coleraine.

What do we do in the classroom?

First, and most important, we teach boys how to make sense of the past. They learn about long-term developments over many centuries, and also about the dramatic events that can change the course of history. We train them to interpret sources and to sort out fact from fiction. And we help them towards an informed knowledge of the world, and the society, they live in. We all live with our past – we teach our boys to learn from it too!

What do we use in History teaching?

The basic material is the printed text, and over the past three years we have updated and renewed all our textbooks. The boys have access to the school’s Information Technology resources, and we are developing this aspect of our work. Video and DVD material is incorporated into classroom teaching. In addition to notebook work, boys are encouraged to produce colourful material for wall displays. We place a big emphasis on active learning, and we encourage boys to acquire knowledge for themselves through carefully prepared study guides.

History beyond Key Stage Three.

Up to Year 10 History is compulsory. After that, it is a very popular option for Key Stage Four and beyond. G.C.S.E. History begins in Year 11 and covers the Twentieth Century, including the rise of Hitler, the impact of World War 2 on the British Isles and Europe, and a coursework element on the Allied Bombing of Nazi Germany. The second year of the course is devoted to a study of International Relations from 1945 to 1990, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the nuclear arms race and the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. Beyond G.C.S.E. we offer A/S and A2 level study both in History and in Government and Politics.

Mr Joe Cassells

Mr Joe Cassells has taught at Coleraine Inst for 35 years. During that time he has taught History and Politics, been a House Master and then Head of Boarding . He has been in charge of swimming, taken countless photographs for school publications and sports teams, sat on planning committees and been front of house manager for many dramatic and musical productions. Since Sept 1996 Joe has been Head of Year 8 and most recently a member of the Promotion Committee. The list could go on and on.

Yet the really significant thing behind this list is that it does not even begin to scratch the surface of Joe’s contribution to the school over the years. It is not in the quantity of activities that he engaged in but in the quality and dedication that he applied to them for which Joe will be best remembered.

Joe was an immensely able teacher of History. His preparation for his classes was detailed and immaculate; not just depending on real scholarship but also on the deep thought which he put into teaching his classes in the most interesting and easily understood way. His methods became legendary – spider diagrams, colourful overheads, handouts of all kinds and the walls of his classroom were always covered with his pupils work. Joe put long hours into preparing these materials. His colleagues in the History Dept with whom he shared them are most grateful for this help and for the advice he made available to them over the years.

Joe has always been eager to stay ahead of the game in the continuously changing world of teaching and was quick to appreciate the possibilities of computers. Indeed for anyone who has had to decipher his handwriting, his keyboard skills, initially on the computer and latterly on the computer have been a real god send in enabling them to gain access to the subtle interpretative skills that Joe invariably can bring to bear on his subject

During his early years in the boarding school Joe was able to develop his pastoral care skills which were to serve him so well throughout his career. Within 4 years of starting at the Inst he had been appointed Housemaster of Benone. Joe’s ability to deal with the youngest and most vulnerable in a kind and unobtrusive way was noticed and appreciated by all. Joe spent 25 years in the Boarding school and for 21 of these years he was either a Housemaster or Head of Boarding.  In the robust atmosphere of the resident staffroom Joe’s Belfast humour, ability as a mimic and occasionally a contortionist added to many an evening’s entertainment.

Mr Cassells who was a well respected teacher to so many boys and a friend to members of staff will be much missed in school and we all wish him a long and happy retirement.