Reviving History: A First-Person Experience at Genesis Christian Academy

Joe Lyons • November 15, 2023

Step into the captivating world of Genesis Christian Academy History class, where teacher Ken Hammontree brings the past to life with an audacious twist.

In Genesis Christian Academy’s history classes, the teaching method employed by their dedicated teacher takes education to the next level.

As Ken Hammontree, the history teacher, walked through the doors at Genesis Christian Academy, dressed and looking like Tecumseh, it was as if a spark ignited within the students. Their eyes lit up, and fingers eagerly pointed in astonishment.

Addressing the class in a professional tone of voice, Ken Hammontree began sharing the captivating story of Tecumseh.

He conveyed, “Although Tecumseh, The Panther crossing the sky, met his untimely fate at the Battle of Thames in 1813, and his vision of a great Indian Confederacy was shattered, his reputation as a remarkable leader remains etched in history.”

With an air of authenticity, Ken Hammontree transported his students back in time, enabling them to witness the struggles faced by Tecumseh and his people, the Shawnees. He elucidated upon Tecumseh’s critical juncture in the spring of 1813 when only two options lay before him and his tribe: assimilate into the white man’s culture or resist until their ultimate demise in battle.

Neither alternative appeared appealing to Tecumseh; nevertheless, with unyielding courage, he and the remaining members of his pan-Indian confederation chose to fight fiercely against the corrupt culture imposed by the white man.

This immersive and personalized teaching approach employed by Ken Hammontree further enhances the students’ understanding and appreciation of historical events, instilling within them a profound connection to the past.