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Making this Moment Possible

By January 20, 2009January 14th, 2023Academic, Civic Life, The Long Road

I woke, this much anticipated morning, to the news of the death of a colleague.  Professor Paul Lyons taught history, social work and holocaust studies for 29 years at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, where I began my academic career. He was a man dedicated to social justice and committed to teaching young people to think critically about the world and to orient their lives toward the question of justice.

Paul’s response to the attacks on September 11, 2001 was powerful: he collaborated with his fellow Stockton professor David Emmons to teach a course on the event.  The power of this response lies in the thoughtful and expansive influence it has on future generations.  In the wake of oversimplified, dogmatic rhetoric, Paul responded with a depth of historical understanding and a passion to engage students directly about an event that changed the course of our lives.

So, this morning, as we our attention to the future with the inauguration of the first black president, I also pause to remember all those teachers, like Paul Lyons, committed to orienting young people toward justice and opening the possibility of this moment.

One Comment

  • Lee Kirschner says:

    I was a student of Paul Lyons when I attended Miquon Upper School between 1972-1977. Not only was Paul a great teacher,and a wonderful basketball coach,but he was a warm and caring individual. Since Paul was such an outstanding person,I majored in history in college and to this day love politics and history. He will be missed by all and just like Miquon changed my life, Paul Lyons added so much to who I am today as he challenged me to really think.
    Regards,
    Lee S. Kirschner