The History Teacher

Collins uses the setting of a children’s school to discuss the dangers of preserving innocence at the cost of dispelling ignorance. The teacher reinforces their ignorance in his attempt to protect their innocence. The teacher’s childlike wordplay reveals how the teacher is trying to mimic a child’s thought process. The students’ violent and aggressive behavior on the playground suggests that ignorance prevents children from developing empathy and compassion.

Despite historical realities that might be upsetting and uncomfortable, learning about these events allows students to practice empathy. History allows students to think critically, so this sanitized misinformation prevents students from practicing this skill because there are no conflicts, motivations, or biases to examine.

Despite his intentions to protect the children, the teacher is instead actively contributing to their harm. Leaving the school, the teacher himself is ignorant to what is happening with his students on the playground. His ignorance prevents him from intervening in the conflicts. On his walk home, he is planning the lesson, showing that he consciously created these stories to share. Collins uses the teacher to illustrate how dangerous continued and willful ignorance can be.