At the end of a school day late in my junior year, I headed to a familiar classroom. I was disappointed to see it empty, but I knew that he occasionally left early... Suddenly, I was interrupted by a classmate. “Did you hear?” “About what?” I replied. “They're talking teacher furloughs again.” She had my attention now. “Who?” I asked nervously. In a school as small as mine, your favorite teachers become your family. My heart dropped as she responded....

I met Dr. Isherwood of the Civil War Institute...