David M. Gossman, PhD ( Philosophy Statement)

Junior High and High School

History and Social Studies Teacher

David Gossman first moved to Lubbock in August 1997 to attend Texas Tech University.  He began teaching at Christ the King Cathedral School as a substitute in April 2006, then became a full-time teacher in August 2006.  He previously taught U. S. History part-time at Texas Tech University from 1998-2003 and worked part-time as an archivist at the Southwest Collection and Vietnam Archive during 1999-2002 and 2004-2006.  Additionally, he worked part-time as a substitute teacher and math and history tutor during 2004-2006, and taught for one year as a math teacher at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.  He has one son Thomas (5) who lives with his mother in Oregon.

David Gossman has taught Texas History, US History, AP US History, World Geography, Pre-AP World History, US Government, Economics and a Computer Elective at Christ the King Cathedral School.  He has also served as faculty advisor of National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society and Assistant Golf Coach.  In addition to his teaching and related responsibilities, David Gossman is currently revising his dissertation on astrophysicist George Ellery Hale (who built Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories and was one of the founders of the California Institute of Technology) into a book manuscript. 

Prior to attending Texas Tech University, David Gossman worked at Lightning Powder Company (a manufacturer and distributor of crime scene investigation equipment) in Salem, Oregon from 1989-1997.  He has degrees in both physics and history. 

PhD, Texas Tech University, 2005
MA, Texas Tech University, 2000
BS, Willamette University, 1988

Following are some website links useful to students to complete Internet research assignments in history and social studies classes:

General Reference:

www.answers.com - multi-entry on-line encyclopedia, with links to many other on-line encyclopedias, including Columbia and Brittanica.

www.infoplease.com - website with broad-ranging information concerning history, geography, culture and current events.  Site includes longer articles, bibliographies, timelines, world and regional maps, and links to other on-line encyclopedias.  This website is an expanded, on-line edition of the Information Please almanac.

www.fofweb.com - website for Facts on File on-line edition.  To log-on, enter username region17 and password database. 

www.brittanica.com - on-line edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

www.dictionary.com - on-line dictionary (also see www.m_w.com, which is the on-line version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary).  Includes on-line encyclopedia, thesaurus and foreign phrase translator accessible from tabs located on the homepage.

www.historyguide.org - This site includes links to many other websites in American and European history.  Search using the “Resources for Historians” tab on the home page.

www.plato.stanford.com - Stanford University’s Encyclopedia of Philosophy on-line, covering political, economic and religious philosophers and writers.

www.econlib.org - The on-line Library of Economics and Liberty includes detailed biographical information and summaries of the works of prominent political and economic philosophers and writers.

www.EH.net/encyclopedia - This is an on-line encyclopedia of economic and business history.  Very useful for definitions of economic terminology.

www.loc.gov - the Library of Congress on-line, including its on-line catalog and interactive historical information (also see the link to other libraries and archives throughout the world at www.worlddigitallibrary.org). 

www.whitehouse.gov - the White House’s official website includes information about the executive branch of the government, and short biographies of each of our 43 Presidents of the United States.

www.cia.gov - the CIA’s website includes World Fact Book, with comprehensive information (history, politics, economics, geography) about all the countries of the world.  Information is updated frequently.

www.vatican.va - the official website for the Vatican, this is the best source concerning the history of the Church, information about popes and saints, and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  Includes articles and documents in pdf format.

www.newadvent.org - This is the on-line edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia.

www.catholic.com - This is the Catholic Answers website, maintained by Catholic apologetics in the Diocese of San Diego, California.  This site includes articles and analysis of Catholic theology and doctrine, the history of the Church, and Papal encyclicals and pronouncements.  Includes numerous links to other Catholic websites, such as Ignatius Press, EWTN, and archives of Catholic radio broadcasts.

Websites by Subject:

www.freetranslation.org - translate phrases and short text from English into over 15 different languages. 

www.math.com - receive help with your math homework, and quiz yourself over important concepts, from basic arithmetic through calculus. 

www.bookfinder.com - the largest on-line bookseller on the web (includes textbooks, class materials and out-of-print books).

www.history.com - website for the History Channel, which includes videos, simulations, interactive materials and “Time Lord” history trivia.

www.discovery.com - website for the Discovery Channel (science and nature), which includes videos, simulations and interactive materials.

www.icom.org/vlmp - website with links to virtual museums throughout the world.

www.smithsonian.org - website for the Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum in the United States.  Take virtual tours of all the museums and log-on to simulations such as a virtual dinosaur dig.

www.nationalgeographic.org - website for National Geographic magazine, which includes photos, maps, and videos covering history, nature, and other countries.

www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/ - published jointly by the Texas State Historical Association and the libraries of the University of Texas at Austin, this comprehensive website contains information about the history, geography and culture of Texas. 

www.nasa.gov - website for NASA, including links to current manned and unmanned spacecraft missions.  View videos and simulations, such as a trip to the moon or the formation of a black hole. 

Syllabus 7th grade Texas