Welcome to American Lit 010. I am looking forward to meeting the class and discussing some of the thoughts and philosophies of the American writers we read.
I hope that the members of this class can inspire each other and me with original insights and ideas. I also hope that this website can develop into a useful and important source of information and scholastic exhibition.
To that end, I have grabbed a few of my favorite quotes from American writers and posted them to the left. I started with one of my own, and I hope that each of you will submit your own quote soon, Ideas from the past should serve to inspire us to communicate our own thoughts, and this is just a start.
This site will also serve to remind you of assignments, inform you about our daily activities, and provide you with forms and documents you may need during the course of the class. Spend some time exploring the site to see what is here. If you have any ideas about how the site can be improved, let me know.
It might prove useful to know something about me, as I will be learning about each of you. I was born, bred and educated in Merrimack, NH. This is my 28th year of teaching. I student taught at ConVal in 1976 and was hired that summer as a full time teacher. I teach Sophomore English, Journalism, Mystery and Crime and Philosophy. I enjoy listening to what students think about literature and life, and I enjoy long, respectful and honest class discussions. I live at 15 Winter Street in Peterborough with my wife Betsy, who is a fourth grade teacher/assistant principal at Troy Elementary School. My son Marcus graduated from ConVal in 2002, my son Lucas in 2005. I enjoy reading, writing and gardening. I have been trying to figure out how to use computers well in my classes and this website is an example of that. I am the advisor to the school newspaper.
I believe in the life of the mind. I embrace the idealism of Plato, the Stoicism of Seneca, the humanity of Montaigne and enthusiasm for life of Emerson. I believe in people and in education. I think that people need to be educated more now than ever before and that education is the key to personal improvement and contentment. I enjoy reading the histories of civilizations. I am currently reading Caesar and Christ by Will Durant. I read Robert B. Parker mysteries for fun. I occasionally write columns for The Keene Sentinel and The ConVal Current.
To me, the best classes are ones that have students who are prepared for class, who are willing to share their thoughts and work, and who respect their classmates. Great classes bond in hard work and achievement and the students are willing to take chances to pursue quality. I hope this is such a class.
I hope that you work hard, have fun and become legendary this year.
Mr. O'Leary
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