Mr. Timothy Connelly

Biography:

Mr. Connelly was born right outside of Detroit, Michigan (Go Lions!) and then quickly moved on to Sweden, Thailand and Germany. He finally settled back in the states where he went to The College of William and Mary for a BA in History and then Virginia Tech for his MA in Education.

When he's not at school you can usually find him hanging out with his dogs (one or all three of them) or watching/listening to/reading about/thinking about football (Go Lions!).

Mr. Connelly's favorite subject has always been History. Understanding the events of the past allows you to truly comprehend the world as it is today. He believes that an informed citizen can make a difference. A theme that runs through all of his lessons. He is excited to join the staff at the GW Community School and continue in their tradition of building well educated life long learners.

Courses Taught:

Government:

Ever wondered what Congress was really up to? Pondered the idea of whether the media is biased or not? How DO those politicians get elected anyway? This course is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the American political system. We will cover the philosophical underpinnings of our guiding documents, the evolution of our government, the institutions and players, and how policies and priorities are decided and enacted.

AP U.S. History:

What do Martin Luther King, Jr and Gandhi have in common? Did George Washington win the Revolutionary War through skill or pure luck? What was Watergate all about anyway? Why did the South believe cotton would help them win the Civil War?

All of these questions and more will be answered in this course designed to provide students with knowledge of the 500 years in United States history. In addition to the traditional voices of our country's history, we will also read and learn about a variety of individuals who contributed to the American narrative.

War, What is it Good For?

Why do people fight? What makes one group of people hate another? When is it time for the United States to get involved? Is there any good that comes from conflict? People around the world are engaged in conflict. Darfur, Somalia, Sudan, Kosovo, Kashmir are all places we here about in the news and know very little about. Throughout the year we will take a look at conflicts going on around the world today and in the past. By the end of the year we will be able to answer the age old question: War, what is it good for?

Hours Available For Extra Help: