History professor brings lessons to life
The storytelling ability of Kendall Staggs brings life to United States history.
In order to interest students in 20th century U.S. history and American foreign relations, Staggs spices up his lectures with suspense and intrigue.
“I tend to use a narrative approach to teaching” Staggs said. “I tell a story about how the U.S. found itself involved with countries such as Iraq. The story is intriguing; it has some surprises, and maybe a lesson in the end.”
Staggs said he gets excited about having the opportunity to tell these stories along with some of the things that make them relevant to today.
Staggs was hired on the history department’s staff to help while other professors are on sabbatical.
“I was hired on a one-year basis to teach 20th century U.S. history and American foreign relations” Staggs said.
Students really enjoy his classes, and his teaching method.
“I really like the way that he teaches,” said Michelle Weston, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. “He is really good at explaining everything, and he has a real passion for his subject.”
Eric Alder, a junior majoring in history, said, “Professor Staggs is sometimes entertaining and he really knows his stuff. He likes to share every little detail.”
David Hoyal, a senior biology major, said, “I think that the way he teaches is great. He excites everyone with his subject.”
Staggs said he hopes students who take his classes will simply know more about their past, and be better informed about the present and future.
“We are products of our pasts, personal, family, cultural, and the greater community,” he said. “The more we can learn from our past and draw from it, the better we can understand who we are and what we’re all about. As Jimmy Buffet put it, ‘We are recycled history machines.'”
Weston said she has learned quite a bit about U.S. history.
“So far, I have received a greater knowledge and understanding of the Vietnam War,” she said. “He is really good at bringing out perspectives that the general public has overlooked.”
Alder said he has also learned specific details about certain parts of American history.
“I have learned about the brutality and ugliness of the Vietnam War from a political standpoint, and about the mistakes of the Johnson administration,” he said.
Staggs said he often deals with students who have had a mixed experience with American history.
“They may have had a very good high school history teacher or their teacher could have been mediocre or awful,” he said. “Some students are not even U.S. born. It is easy to take that for granted.”
Staggs said he finds himself teaching a part of American history and trying to demonstrate that a lot of the old fashioned interpretations are no longer considered appropriate.
“They are no longer useful in presenting the whole picture, and explaining it well,” he said.
Hoyal said he enjoys the lessons taught and Staggs’ style of teaching.
“I think he is the best professor I have had in college,” he said. “They should give him a permanent position.”
Staggs said, “I am not going to reach everyone at the same level of interest and enthusiasm that I have some of my students. But if I try to make the subject matter lively and interesting I stand a better chance.”
Staggs, who is an Oklahoma native, came to Utah State University after teaching for seven years at Oregon State University.
Staggs is teaching U.S. History 1877 to the Present, U.S. History 1900 to 1945, and the U.S. and Vietnam War this semester. He hopes to be involved with a symposium on the Cuban Missile Crisis in November.
Spring semester he will teach U.S. Survey since 1837, U.S. History 1877-1900, and U.S. Middle East Relations.
“There is a very small chance that I will be back next year because it was never intended to be an ongoing position,” Staggs said. “I have enjoyed the experience here at USU. The students are good; they are very conscientious, and I do enjoy the courses.”