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 Thoughts

This 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.

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