Who is Emmy Quinn? A History Teacher’s Journey

Paul Hazzard sits down with Emmy Quinn, an experienced history teacher with a fascinating career path. Emmy shares insights on teaching in Northern Ireland, England & Dubai, the evolving role of history in education and why she’s passionate about broadening students’ perspectives.1️⃣ Teaching Abroad – Is It Worth It?✈️Emmy reflects on her time teaching in Dubai and whether she’d recommend it to others.📌 A Unique Experience – Teaching in an international school brought opportunities to work with students from diverse backgrounds.📌 Challenges of Private Schools – With education seen as a business, parents had a customer mentality, sometimes reminding teachers that they "pay their salary."📌 Would She Do It Again? –Emmy acknowledges that for some, the lifestyle and career opportunities make it worthwhile.🎯 Takeaway: Teaching abroad offers adventure & professional growth but it’s not for everyone. 2️⃣ Growing Up Surrounded by Teachers 🍎Emmy’s path to teaching is a family affair.📌 Trying Other Careers – Before committing to teaching, she explored other roles, including supporting students with disabilities.📌 A Passion for History – Inspired by an engaging history teacher, she fell in love with the subject and its power to tell stories.📌 Grammar School Reflections – Emmy attended an all-girls grammar school and found it competitive. The merger with a boys' school changed the environment for the better.🎯 Takeaway: A family background in teaching helps prepare you for the realities of the profession, but personal passion is what really matters. 3️⃣ The Importance of Teaching a Global Curriculum 🌍Emmy is committed to making history more inclusive & relevant to today’s students.📌 Beyond British History – The national curriculum claims to cover British history but often overlooks Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.📌 Challenging Assumptions – Students were shocked to learn that Northern Ireland is only just over 100 years old—a sign of gaps in history education.📌 Bringing in Diverse Perspectives – Emmy ensures that women’s history and global perspectives are included throughout her lessons.🎯 Takeaway: History teaching should challenge misconceptions and provide a broader understanding of the past. 4️⃣ The Role of History in Today’s Polarised World 🏛️With rising political divisions, does history have a role in helping students navigate current events?📌 History as ‘Weapon’ – Emmy argues that history is often manipulated for political agendas.📌 Critical Thinking is Key – Teaching students to question sources, analyse interpretations, and understand bias is vital.📌 Do Young People Care? – Some students are deeply engaged in history, while others struggle to see its relevance.🎯 Takeaway: History equips students with the tools to think critically about the world around them. 5️⃣ AI in History Teaching – A Help or a Hindrance? 🤖Artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of education—what does this mean for history teachers?📌 Misinformation Risk – AI can produce biased or misleading historical interpretations, which could misinform students.📌 AI-Generated Work – Some students attempt to use AI for assessments, but teachers can usually spot when work doesn’t match their writing style.📌 The Bigger Picture – Emmy is more concerned about students accepting AI-generated content without questioning its accuracy.🎯 Takeaway: AI can be a useful tool, but students must learn to verify information and think critically. 🎤 Final ThoughtsThis episode explored key themes in education:✅ The pros and cons of teaching abroad.✅ The importance of a diverse and inclusive history curriculum.✅ How history shapes critical thinking in a polarised world.✅ The role of AI and digital tools in education.To hear the full conversation, listen to Teaching Matters and follow for more insightful discussions!📌 Follow & Listen Here:🌍 Education Matters🎧 Spotify📸 Instagram📘 Bluesky🐦 Twitter/X