WEBER SPREADS LOVE OF HISTORY TO STUDENTS

DELTA -- Social Studies instructor John Weber became a teacher because he loved learning about the past. He has spent the last four years trying to convey that love to students at Delta High School.

Weber said his favorite history lesson is the Civil War battle at Gettysburg. He draws a large battle map on the board and walks the students through every move of the battle. "Then we watch the movie "Gettysburg" and write a paper where the students describe what they the might have done differently," he said. "They are supposed to explain how their battle plan might have changed the outcome of the battle."

Weber said using this style of teaching helps develop the decision-making and judgment skills of students. It also teaches them to use their minds and do things they never thought they could master, which he finds very gratifying.

When he's not in the classroom or reading a book, Weber said he enjoys golfing and other sports. He is the junior high school head basketball coach and assistant varsity basketball coach, as well as the varsity baseball coach.

Weber also works with students as the Student Council sponsor. He said his most humorous experience with this group didn't involve history or sports: It involved food. While helping the students with a chili supper, he and the students ran into a little problem with cleanup.

"We made a mess so large in the home-ec room I did not think we would ever clean it up," Weber said. "By the time we were done cooking all of the cooks were covered in enough chili to serve about 10 people."