--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in middle school, and teachers…" description: "\"When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly distant and irrelevant. And it had only happened ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg" --- # When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about… ![“When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly distant and irrelevant. And it had only happened 15 years earlier.” quote by Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg) > “When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly distant and irrelevant. And it had only happened 15 years earlier.” [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical events feel remote until personally connected, highlighting the need for relatable teaching. **In simple terms:** History feels distant without personal relevance. Key Takeaway Make history personal to engage learners. Themes education history relevance Mood thoughtful engaging Type educational reflective When to use this quote - classroom lessons - family stories - museum visits Key Concepts pedagogy memory generational perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you link past events to current student lives? - What stories make WWII feel immediate? A Different Perspective Students may still disengage despite relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Middle school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [With 'Fellow Travelers,' I think I was consciously trying to imagine what my own life as a gay man might have been like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/with-fellow-travelers-i-think-i-was-consciously-trying-to-imagine/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [If Gamergate had happened to somebody else, years earlier, I probably would've been on the wrong side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-quinn/if-gamergate-had-happened-to-somebody-else-years-earlier-i-probably/) [Zoe Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-quinn/) > [“had been published years earlier, Bosch was nevertheless”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/had-been-published-years-earlier-bosch-was-nevertheless/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [It seemed like most of the memories faded before they had time to form. And after a while, my life with my father seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/it-seemed-like-most-of-the-memories-faded-before-they-had-time-to/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [Anytime new insight replaces an old assumption or a fossilized perception is the spring. New understandings sprout, new tolerances appear, and new curiosity draws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/anytime-new-insight-replaces-an-old-assumption-or-a-fossilized/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I think that if I had grown up and had been in show business and the movies twenty five, thirty years earlier, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-think-that-if-i-had-grown-up-and-had-been-in-show-business-and-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [In early 1993, when I was 12, I was separated from my family as the Sierra Leone civil war, which began two years earlier,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-beah/in-early-1993-when-i-was-12-i-was-separated-from-my-family-as-the/) [Ishmael Beah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-beah/) > [If I'd met the prince two or three years earlier, perhaps I might not have married him - at least not so soon. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-kelly/if-i-d-met-the-prince-two-or-three-years-earlier-perhaps-i-might-not/) [Grace Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-kelly/) > [“Of course, human tissue completely It's unlikely that scar was composed of the same molecules. Do you think it is really appropriate to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/of-course-human-tissue-completely-it-s-unlikely-that-scar-was/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [“She had joined the Viet Cong herself four years earlier, its Young Pioneer Organization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bowden/she-had-joined-the-viet-cong-herself-four-years-earlier-its-young/) [Mark Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bowden/) > [I wish I had been born 20 years earlier, so I could have been in the movie business in the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-renck/i-wish-i-had-been-born-20-years-earlier-so-i-could-have-been-in-the/) [Johan Renck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-renck/) > [Most of the time, when I get an idea that hinges on some science 'thing,' it will have been because of something I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/most-of-the-time-when-i-get-an-idea-that-hinges-on-some-science-thing/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [Four years earlier I had been selected, with Kay Boyle, the writer, and a number of others, to go to Cambodia and come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/four-years-earlier-i-had-been-selected-with-kay-boyle-the-writer-and/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [Nowadays a lot of what was wrong with me would no doubt be ascribed to Attention Deficit Disorder, tartrazine food colouring, dairy produce and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/nowadays-a-lot-of-what-was-wrong-with-me-would-no-doubt-be-ascribed/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) ## More by Don Kardong > [Runners like to train 100 miles per week because it's a round number. But I think 88 is a lot rounder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/runners-like-to-train-100-miles-per-week-because-it-s-a-round-number/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [The toughest trail I ever ran was the Escarpment in the Catskills of New York State. This was an 18-mile race through Rip Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/the-toughest-trail-i-ever-ran-was-the-escarpment-in-the-catskills-of/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Beginning runners come in all shapes, sizes and pre-existing conditions, so there's no magic formula for determining exactly how much basic running is needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/beginning-runners-come-in-all-shapes-sizes-and-pre-existing/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [In those long, lonely miles you put in during the off-season, and in those knife-in-the-gut repetitions and hill repeats that buckly your knees -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/in-those-long-lonely-miles-you-put-in-during-the-off-season-and-in/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Cold is not without its risks to runners, of course, especially ones who don't head south when winter visits their neighborhood. Even pooh-pooh-ers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/cold-is-not-without-its-risks-to-runners-of-course-especially-ones/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [If an athlete takes a shortcut - literally, for example, by running a street that shortens the marathon route by a quarter mile -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/if-an-athlete-takes-a-shortcut-literally-for-example-by-running-a/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Fartlek, or speed play, is variable-pace running that emphasizes creativity. During a 30-minute run, choose objects to run to - telephone poles, trees, buildings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/fartlek-or-speed-play-is-variable-pace-running-that-emphasizes/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Running at night used to frighten me. Part of it was simply safety, the question of whether level ground would truly appear under each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/running-at-night-used-to-frighten-me-part-of-it-was-simply-safety-the/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [A good teammate is someone willing to get outside of personal thoughts and emotions, a friend who tries to understand, appreciate, and encourage other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/a-good-teammate-is-someone-willing-to-get-outside-of-personal/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [We (ultra runners) alternate between depression and stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/we-ultra-runners-alternate-between-depression-and-stupidity/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [You entered a marathon with hills? You idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/you-entered-a-marathon-with-hills-you-idiot/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [When I started running, a gadget was a wristwatch with a secondhand on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/when-i-started-running-a-gadget-was-a-wristwatch-with-a-secondhand-on/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [If you run 100 miles a week, you can eat anything you want - Why? Because (a) you'll burn all the calories you consume,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/if-you-run-100-miles-a-week-you-can-eat-anything-you-want-why-because/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [For most teenage runners, the right foods means a varied diet, decreasing the amount of fat found in the typical American diet and replacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/for-most-teenage-runners-the-right-foods-means-a-varied-diet/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Even for runners who never make the transition to more sophisticated workouts, easing into speedwork will lead to more enjoyable running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/even-for-runners-who-never-make-the-transition-to-more-sophisticated/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) [Explore all 43 Don Kardong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly distant and irrelevant. And it had only happened 15 years earlier.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Kardong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers-lectured-about-world-war-ii/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers-lectured-about-world-war-ii/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/don-kardong-15282_about_when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers_818367.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly…” — Don Kardong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Kardong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was in middle school,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers-lectured-about-world-war-ii/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/when-i-was-in-middle-school-and-teachers-lectured-about-world-war-ii/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```