Social Studies and History

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.

Phone: (469) 499-5448

MTh University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
MA Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX.
BA Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

Director of Admissions;
Form Master (Form III);
Social Studies (Form I);
Theology (Form II);
Make an appointment with Fr. Anthony

Mr. Jack Bitterman

Phone: (469) 499-5400

BA, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS.

Mock Trial Coach.

Mr. Bob Haaser

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.

Class of 2000

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 VII);
Latin (Form III);
History Senior Seminar;
History Elective.

Mr. Jason Joseph

Phone: (469) 499-5423

MA University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
BA University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

Head of Social Studies Department;
Social Studies (Form II-III);
Politics Senior Seminar.

Mr. Patrick Mehen

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);
Government (Form VIII);
Economics (Form VIII).

Mr. Peter J Saliga

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

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);
History Elective.