Oxford Languages defines history as the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. However, history is much more. Going beyond the ground level and considering the broader definition of history can open not only an individual’s eyes but also those of our society as a whole.

   The earliest physical copy of Mountie Hi-Lites, now known as The Moxie Mountie, dates back to January 1965—60 years of asking, collecting, and reporting on our world as we know it. 

   In the January 7th, 1966 edition of Mountie Hi-Lites, the front page article discusses the potential for the lowering of voting ages. In this article, we can see the news publications’ passion for their readers, and we can also see how the publishers did not think to put space between their quotes. In both the good and the bad aspects, there are things The Moxie Mountie can learn and remember by taking a look at its origins.

   The Moxie Mountie has changed and grown exponentially over the years, and if it were to forget Mountie Hi-Lites, then The Moxie Mountie would lose its foundation of honesty and ethics. Through years of trial and error, this newspaper has developed its style and learned about these values. The loss of Mountie Hi-Lites would mean the loss of all that work.

   This idea can be applied to our country’s history. If it were not for the documentation and reporting of the past, a lot of the knowledge we have today would be lost, which is why it is important we have people to help us understand its power and value.

   “It’s a means and a method of trying to interpret all the things that have happened before,” said history teacher Mark Correll. Dr. Correll was once a Professor at Spring Arbor University, but he decided to leave his position to take on a role as a history teacher here at Northwest High School. 

   Correll believes that there is a great deal of power that comes along with telling people what their history is, and thus, he hopes to educate students and keep the power in their hands.

   “…If we only get history from one side…or people are telling us this is the only history that’s real, then what we are doing is giving them power because we are giving them the power to define who we are,” said Correll. With the assistance of teachers, students can be properly taught the importance of history, and its benefits can be drawn out.

   According to a study by the National Endowment For The Arts Research Labs, people educated on the history of the Holocaust are more likely to fight for civil liberties and value knowledge surrounding historical events. 

   By emphasizing the mistakes of the past, society can help students make informed decisions on what’s best for our world today. 

   A lack of the past makes the present void of any meaning. In the 20th century, there are millions of loving people who all have beautiful stories to tell. They have the ability to tell these stories freely because of the First Amendment. If lost, death is on the horizon.

   The death of our country. The death of our morals. The death of ourselves. The death of our loved ones.

   A democracy is nothing without its people, a populus is nothing without the teachers and family that have come before them. What does it say if a society wants to erase history? 

   Civil distrust and political aggression are prominent problems our society faces. One of the most prominent examples of this is the abundance of politically aggravated content on social media. Suppose we start to ignore all the instances of political violence from the past.

   If that were to happen, the risk of overlooking the consequences of these past mistakes would skyrocket. These two problems could lead to further political unrest, and in the worst case, another civil war or violent revolution. 

   Although history can be a messy read, it is essential to our society today. History holds the answers and the questions we need. To be able to further ourselves as a country and a society, history and all its mistakes need to be prevalent in our lives.

   As The Moxie Mountie staff moves into this upcoming school year, the staff will ensure that its ideas of honesty and ethics are upheld. With a thorough understanding of what journalism was built on, The Moxie Mountie will work tirelessly to protect Northwest High School from disinformation and misinformation.