Home » NewHampshire.com » NH People
June 27. 2012 11:12PM
Milford High School history teacher Stephen Vetack has been named a James Madison Fellow and will pursue further studies on the U.S. Constitution. (Nancy Bean Foster/Union Leader Correspondent)
Milford teacher nets fellowship to master the U.S. Constitution
Milford High School history teacher Stephen Vetack has been named a James Madison Fellow and will pursue further studies on the U.S. Constitution. (Nancy Bean Foster/Union Leader Correspondent)
MILFORD — Stephen Vetack is concerned that students today aren’t learning enough about their government and the Constitution to be active, informed citizens. After receiving a James Madison Fellowship, allowing him to receive his master’s degree with a concentration on Constitutional studes, he hopes to bring civics closer to his students.
Vetack, 50, was one of 58 history and social studies teachers across the United States to be awarded the 2012 fellowship from the James Madison Foundation, named for the nation’s fourth President and the so-called “father of the Constitution.” The fellowship awards educators up to $24,000 to further their education in constitutional government so that they can impart that information to their students.
“Madison looked at the Constitution as something that was absolutely necessary if the United States was going to succeed,” said Vetack, who has taught American history and social studies at Milford High School for 14 years.
At Rivier College in Nashua, Vetack will pursue his master’s degree in social studies education with a concentration on Constitutional studies.
“I did my undergraduate work at Rivier, so it seemed like a natural fit,” he said. “This will get me more up-to-date in teaching methodology while letting me more closely study the history of the Constitution.”
Vetack said it’s vitally important that today’s students be educated in the ways of the government and understand what makes their country work.
“Many students have a lack of historical knowledge that’s abysmal. They often have a naïve view of the world because they don’t understand history or how government works,” he said. “Studying history and civics is incredibly important in helping us understand who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going in the future.”
Vetack said he knew at a young age that he would spend his life exploring history.
“I had a phenomenal history teacher in high school,” he said. “When other kids were reading comic books, I was reading history books. I find the subject utterly fascinating.”
History can be something kids either love or hate, he said, so having the ability to pass the important lessons on to the next generation is important.
“We need to be able to bring more government to the students,” he said.
Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.
Vetack, 50, was one of 58 history and social studies teachers across the United States to be awarded the 2012 fellowship from the James Madison Foundation, named for the nation’s fourth President and the so-called “father of the Constitution.” The fellowship awards educators up to $24,000 to further their education in constitutional government so that they can impart that information to their students.
“Madison looked at the Constitution as something that was absolutely necessary if the United States was going to succeed,” said Vetack, who has taught American history and social studies at Milford High School for 14 years.
At Rivier College in Nashua, Vetack will pursue his master’s degree in social studies education with a concentration on Constitutional studies.
“I did my undergraduate work at Rivier, so it seemed like a natural fit,” he said. “This will get me more up-to-date in teaching methodology while letting me more closely study the history of the Constitution.”
Vetack said it’s vitally important that today’s students be educated in the ways of the government and understand what makes their country work.
“Many students have a lack of historical knowledge that’s abysmal. They often have a naïve view of the world because they don’t understand history or how government works,” he said. “Studying history and civics is incredibly important in helping us understand who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going in the future.”
Vetack said he knew at a young age that he would spend his life exploring history.
“I had a phenomenal history teacher in high school,” he said. “When other kids were reading comic books, I was reading history books. I find the subject utterly fascinating.”
History can be something kids either love or hate, he said, so having the ability to pass the important lessons on to the next generation is important.
“We need to be able to bring more government to the students,” he said.
- - - - - - - -
Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.
Arts and Entertainment
Family, Community and Culture
Outdoors, Sports and Recreation
Most Read
Most Comments
Most Shared
0
Gas leak forces Hooksett elementary students to be taken to nearby school
0
Hooksett school board members grapple with district’s future
0
Dodgeball returns to Windham schools
0
How Rosaly’s garden grew into organic Peterborough farm