Erskine White: Why I Teach
by Erskine White, high school history teacher
I teach because I love to learn. I must learn before I can teach, and I continually learn as I teach. American History, Western Civilization, World Religions, the Middle East, Ethics, Human Geography, Great Books, Hollywood and History... Learning is its own reward, and I can't imagine any more rewarding, fulfilling path in life than the ever-growing and evolving understanding of myself and the world which I’ve received as a teacher.
I teach hoping to promote USN’s core values of excellence and diversity. The former requires hard work and the above-mentioned eagerness to learn. The latter requires a continuing commitment to living a varied, multicultural life as a teacher and a human being. These two core values are mutually reinforcing: becoming a more excellent teacher leads one to seek more diverse life experiences, and diverse life experiences make one a more excellent teacher.
Last but by no means least, I teach to help create positive growth and change in my students. Helping someone see that it’s OK to speak up with her own well-informed opinions about questions that matter. Helping someone self-identify as a student and overcome the self-doubts brought on by stereotypes of race, gender, background, learning styles, or living in the shadow of “superstar” older siblings. Watching students who didn’t think they like history discover that they like it after all. (I live for that!) You don’t always (or often) get recognition when any of this happens, but that’s not the point. If learning is its own reward, so is teaching.
Ancient wisdoms of the East viewed education as a path to self-realization and liberation. The classical, humanist tradition of the West saw education as learning how to live the good life. There’s no denying the importance of a good education for making a good living today. I teach with the conviction that a complete education means learning to make a good life as well.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Class of 2025 athletes continue college commitments
Tessa Chomsky '25 will play soccer at Williams College, and Carson Darr '25 will play baseball for New College of Florida.Read More -
Collin ’25 earns UVA’s prestigious Jefferson Scholarship
The senior has been awarded one of the most highly selective merit scholarships in the nation, making it two consecutive years that University of Virginia has selected a USN student for a full ride covering the cost of instruction, housing, and meals.Read More -
Seniors earn National Merit Scholarships
Congratulations to Elena Rothman ’25 and Ophelia Cherry-Pulay ’25, who have been selected as National Merit Scholars.Read More
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Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.