Mr. Jason Joseph, Head of Department
The Social Studies and History program in the Middle School roots itself firmly in a significant survey of past societies and civilizations worldwide. Students in Forms I-IV concentrate on the geography and history of these civilizations. First, students focus broadly on the peoples, socio-political movements, and storied events of the two world hemispheres, taking up the West in First Form and continuing with the East in Second Form. Third and Fourth Form students carry out a two-year survey of the principal players and events that brought about the founding and subsequent growth of the United States, the first modern democracy of the West, with a significant unit on Texas History and an extended trip to Austin and San Antonio occurring during the second semester of Form III.
In the Upper School, students in Forms V-VIII learn the art of historical inquiry by studying source information. Throughout the four years of Upper School, students read portions or the entirety of epics, biographies, charters, letters of personal correspondence, and political treatises and engage in basic historiography. In Forms V and VI, students intensify their original survey of civilizations' cultural and political history worldwide. Here, a formal study of regional artistic and musical expression is introduced. In Form VII, students renew their focus on the development of the United States of America, this time with a particular emphasis given to the social, political, and economic movements fomented and played out there. Finally, students in Form VIII study the political principles and basic structure of our United States regime in a college-level course on American Government.
Social Studies Department Faculty
Fr. Anthony Bigney , O. Cist.
Form Master, Faculty, Social Studies, Theology
Phone: (469) 499-5448
MTh University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
MA Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX.
BA Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.
Form Master (Form IV);
Social Studies (Form I);
Religion (Form IV);
Mr. Jack Bitterman
Faculty, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5400
BA, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS.
Mock Trial Coach.
Mr. Bob Haaser
Faculty, Athletics, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5411
MA North Texas State University, Denton, TX.
BA University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
History (Form IV);
Genealogy Elective;
Assistant Coach in Middle School Baseball.
Fr. Augustine Hoelke , O.Cist.
Alumnus, Class of 2000
Form Master, Faculty, College Counseling, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5443
MTh, BA University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
MA University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX.
Director of Campus Ministry/Liturgy;
Form Master (Form VIII);
Social Studies (Form III);
History Senior Seminar.
Mr. Patrick Mehen
Faculty, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5416
MP University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
MA St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM.
BA Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.
History (Form V);
Politics Senior Seminar.
Mr. Peter J Saliga
Faculty, Fine Arts, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5414
MAS, MA University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
BA Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH.
Field Studies Coordinator;
World History (Form VI);
History Elective;
Arts Senior Seminar
Junior Patrons' Guild Sponsor.
Mr. Jim Taylor
Faculty, Science, Social Studies
Phone: (469) 499-5453
MA Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX.
MLA Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX.
BS Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX.
US History (Form VII);
Science (Form I).