Winner of the 2009 Community Leaders Award for Leadership Through Education

Trent University Award for Leadership Through Education 2009 Recipient Norman Vandenberg Watch Clip

 

NORMAN VANDENBERG

Bringing History to Life

Norman Vandenberg, the winner of Trent University’s 2009 Community Leaders Award for Leadership Through Education, is in the history department at Norwood District High School and is known as the “Living History” teacher.

Mr. Vandenberg encourages students to become actively involved in the history they are studying in his experiential learning project. Twice nominated for a Governor General’s Award in 2002 and 2003, he is responsible for the creation of the American Civil War and War of 1812 Reenactment programs that have operated on alternating school years since 1991. His programs have been bringing awareness of history to his students and the entire local community since 1991.

“Of all of the history teachers in all of the schools that I have worked, I have not met anyone who comes close to the calibre of this teacher,” says Principal Leigh Facey-Crowther.

One of Mr. Vandenberg’s students Kayleigh Hindeman adds, “Mr. Vandenberg fills his students with a unique passion towards learning about the past.”

Mr. Vandenberg believes that better understanding is achieved through experience, that making history come alive generates enthusiasm and reinforces classroom learning. Each year under his leadership, the Ancient History class puts together either a Roman banquet or a medieval feast complete with costumes, props and music. The grade ten Canadian class creates a 1920s nightclub Speakeasy. The World History class produces the trial of Louis the XVI and Canadian History classes reenact Confederation debates. The trial of Joan of Arc and the Salem witch trials are reenacted every year.

“To walk into his classroom one must be prepared to enter another time completely,” says student Samantha Reid, “Mr. Vandenberg doesn’t just teach history, he takes you there.”

Upon the suggestion of former American History student Alistair Woodburn in 1991, Mr. Vandenberg decided to attempt a Civil War Reenactment for his American History course. “We study history from a Canadian perspective. 50,000 Canadian soldiers were involved,” says Mr. Vandenberg, who is also an honours graduate of Trent University. Approximately 500 men from Peterborough County signed up with the New York State Regiments in Rochester. “We look at war itself, the times of the 1860s and the Canadian perspective,” he says, adding that this allows students to have the opportunity to evaluate moral and ethical questions while acting out events.

The process teaches students about life and life’s choices. Mr. Vandenberg stresses that they do not glorify war. “The idea is to dramatize, not romanticize. You wouldn’t have wanted to be there.” One of the purposes is to breakdown myths. There are students who are interested in First Nations culture and would like to provide a “warrior” presence in the reenactments. They are encouraged to do the proper research.

Each year the students choose a particular battle as a focal point. One year, a fake cemetery was provided by Cobourg West High School for the battle of Lundy’s Lane in the War of 1812 reenactment, involving other departments in the school and organizations in the local community.

It all began with a handful of students and some tape-recorded sound effects. Muskets were provided by the technical department and costumes made by Mr. Vandenberg’s wife and Mother-in-Law. After attending a workshop on how to stage enactment battles a year later, Mr. Vandenberg invited some society members to the school and a new union of interested parties sparked the creation of an event that has been growing ever since.

The seed money came initially from the custodial staff, who raised money by selling pop to the students and donated $100 for the purpose of supporting a presentation to the Norwood Lion’s Club. The Lion’s Club in turn gave $500 to the reenactment project for the creation of costumes, gave $500 in the following year and continues to give. The Havelock Rotary Club, and the school’s parent council have offered financial and volunteer support over the years. The custodial staff members still routinely give money.

The event is now a two-day landmark community event that involves several school departments, three to five other schools, the town council, the fire department, local community organizations, civil war reenactment and War of 1812 groups, and musicians and tourists from across Canada and the U.S. Appearances have included the Camp Borden Field Kitchen.

The 1812 event has grown to include the mock battles, a Mess dinner, a Regency Ball at the Norwood Town Hall, a period costume fashion show and a fife and drum corps. Preparations take place from September to May with the year-round assistance and support from the local 49th Regiment of Foot Grenadier Company Re-enactment group. The local elementary schools line the streets during the parade and wave British and U.S. flags as the troops pass the Town Hall in review.

The war of 1812 Reenactment has received awards including the GE STAR Award, the Peterborough Historical Society Heritage Award and the Ontario Heritage Foundation’s Young Heritage Leader Award 2003.