By Nick Hartmann

 

Many people can look back upon their educational journey and pinpoint an influential instructor who instilled in them inspiration and ambition. To students in the Westerville City Schools, this instructor may be Ben Hartnell, who has taught in the district for nine years.

 

Hartnell, whose motto reiterates that of New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio, says, “There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, (and) I owe him my best.”

 

This philosophy is manifested in his collection of 60-some historical costumes, an encouraging visual method which undoubtedly contributed toward his Westerville “Teacher of the Year” award for the 2006-2007 school year.

 

Before his family moved to Westerville in 1978, Hartnell lived the first six months of his life in Holt, Mich. After growing up in Westerville and graduating from Westerville North High School, he returned to Holt to attend Michigan State University, where he earned a teaching certification in secondary education.

 

In addition to his teaching license, Hartnell earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in geography. After college, he returned to Westerville in 2001 to teach history at his alma mater and Walnut Springs Middle School. The next year he moved exclusively to the high school. Hartnell’s dedication and enthusiasm earned him Alumni Hall of Fame status at the high school in 2009.

 

The teacher points to childhood excursions in Michigan as the foundation for his costumed approach to historical education.

 

  “Up until about fifth grade I was a big dinosaur guy and I wanted to be a paleontologist. My fifth grade teacher taught the American Revolution and the battle of Bunker Hill. For whatever reason, that was it – it was quite fascinating,” Hartnell says. “Taking trips to forts in Michigan, I saw people walking around in costumes bringing it to life. That was the motivation to present history in a different light – discovering the untold stories, pointing out that things we’ve learned can be incorrect, and presenting some of the things that haven’t been written down.”

 

Representing a wide spectrum of history through his uniform collection (ranging from medieval warrior through the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s), Hartnell still remembers his first uniform acquisition fondly.

 

“It started off with a British soldier’s uniform from the Revolution,” he says. “It was the first one I wanted to get, and the transitional piece.”

 

While building his collection, Hartnell has become acquainted with several savvy resources in historical fashion.

 

  “I asked a lady I came across on the Internet who worked for Hollywood Studios how much it would cost to create uniforms. She was always the one who made the uniforms for me. You go to Renaissance festivals and meet people who can make uniforms for you. There are several local online sources I use, too,” he says. 

 

Tracking down and modeling these impressive pieces is only half of the equation for Hartnell, however. It is the reality which accompanies his portrayals that he seems to appreciate the most.

 

“Usually when I have everything on, it’s over 100 pounds,” he says. “For example, when I’m teaching the Crusades, it gives the impression of the reality of how hot things can be and the actuality of what things were like back then. With the Crusades in the Middle East, just to imagine how heavy (the armor) was and to give (students) that extra background information, I can show them how special and fancy uniforms could be.”

 

Hartnell says his objective is to provide students with a tangible memory of these historical events they won’t easily forget.

 

  “It provides them with a visual to bring the lecture to life. I’m not pretending to be from the 18th century, but it does give them an idea. They can take a look at it and it provides a visual element whereas otherwise they might zone out. It’s authentic stuff, too – 100-percent wool. By third period, I’m starting to sweat,” he says.

 

The effect Hartnell’s classroom presentation has upon the teacher himself has also become an expectation fulfillment of sorts. The costumes not only inspire the students to learn visually, but also inspire him to teach with more energy.

 

“It’s funny how students who have had me will ask what (costumes) I managed to acquire this past summer. It’s always an element of, ‘What’s Mr. Hartnell going to be wearing today?’ There is an expectation that comes with it. When you’re dressed like that, it gets you jacked up to teach. You kind of run around the room and get worked up,” Hartnell says. “It’s not there for the students to blow off. I think they see it as an extra element to the lecture.”

 

Hartnell’s wife, Molly Hartnell, says she appreciates her husband’s teaching style.

 

“I am really proud of him,” she says. “He really engages the kids. The costumes have really helped bring to life the historical things he is talking about.”

 

Ben Hartnell’s costumes aren’t reserved exclusively for the classroom, his wife says.

 

“He does different speaking engagements in costume around the community,” Molly says. “He can show his approach and talk about his classroom.”

 

Historical costumes are not the only additions for the Hartnells, who welcomed their first child, Fraser, in February. Looking into the future, Molly says she sees her husband sharing his passion for history with their children.

 

“I think he would be glad to do that,” she says. “It’s something he’s very proud of and would be delighted to share with the kids.”

 

For now, however, Hartnell’s methods will continue to engage his students.

 

  “The days of just lecturing are gone,” Hartnell says “This is a new approach to get them wrapped. It’s something they remember, and they can link back to the uniform and to what was said. You can do a lot to trick them into learning.”

 

Nick Hartmann is a contributing writer for Westerville Magazine.