By Nico Zeballos

“Fetty Wap should not be included in a project about Richmond,” was one of the many comical and lighthearted interactions I got to experience when I recently visited Middle School history teacher Michael Blair’s (‘10) 7th Grade history class. It seemed as if the kids interacted with Blair like one of their other friends but listened to him like a mentor.

After graduating from Collegiate, Blair earned his Bachelor of Arts from Elon University and completed the Teacher Licensure Program at the University of Richmond. He teaches Middle School history and has been an assistant coach for boys and girls soccer. 

I visited his Middle School class recently and was able to observe as If I were a Middle Schooler again. Walking in, the color and vibrancy of the classroom, combined with a chaotic and loud hallway, immediately brought my senses back to my younger days. The walls were covered in a variety of posters. Ranging from a list of US presidents to Ted Lasso’s “Believe” poster, it was truly a student’s dream environment and learning space. If your first impression of Blair came from his classroom, you’d be met with a welcoming atmosphere filled with curiosity and just the right amount of energy, fostering an ideal learning environment. 

This seating arrangement was very important in the engagement of the class, as instead of all the desks facing forwards and being separated, there were desks facing forwards, facing inside, and desks connected like a large dinner table but arranged in smaller groups in no particular pattern. There was a buzz around the class, with all the students engaging in different conversations right up until Blair started talking. There was a sense of respect from the students that immediately shifted their attention from their own thinking to the side of the room where Blair was talking. Blair briefly introduced me, explaining that all the boys could pester me with questions in the last five minutes as long as they finished their notes. 

The day’s topic focused on World War I and trench warfare. Rather than it being a dry overview of dates and battles, Blair used the students’ answers and participation to fill out the notes and information. He showed several videos and images, captivating the kids even more. A specific topic that led to more conversation was trench foot, which debilitated soldiers who stood for days in wet boots. For some reason only a Middle School boy would know, it fascinated the class. Blair laughed at the many reactions coming from the boys, leading to him retelling the time his cousin got trench foot from walking across the same river every day in the same socks, gaining a couple “ewws” from the class. It also led to a student asking, “Would there be a chance that he got trench foot?” referring to a friend who went to retrieve a lacrosse ball from the creek that runs through Collegiate’s campus. 

A true testament to the interest from the boys and relationships formed in this class occurred when a curious student needed clarity on the start of WWI and asked, a bit hesitant, “Wait, so are they fighting just to fight?” This question wasn’t met by shame or disdain; but rather, another student jumped in, explaining in simple terms why exactly the conflict was occurring. It truly highlighted the low-pressure, team environment of the group, which I felt as soon as I walked in. Instead of the teacher answering like usual, the student wanted to help their fellow classmate. This brief exchange fascinated me, demonstrating the brotherhood of this class. As one student explained to the other, Blair didn’t interrupt but nodded approvingly and expanded on the student’s answer with a little more specificity. 

In an interview, Blair explained that his philosophy of teaching is emphasized around having the goal to be “to meet kids where they are and to do right by them. My hope is to have class discussion lead our learning rather than just lecturing.” He believes that Middle Schoolers are just “trying to figure everything out” and that interacting with these intellectually developing students brings him joy. 

Blair isn’t the first of his family to lead by example at Collegiate. His father Charlie Blair worked at Collegiate from 1978 to 2019. He was a history teacher, varsity soccer coach, and long-time Head of Middle School.

Michael also has a 18-month old at home, and he has found that “working with Middle Schoolers got me ready for having a baby at home. I’m definitely more tired, but it has been great.”

Photos courtesy of Michael Blair.