Nicholas Ferroni

Nicholas Ferroni

@NicholasFerroni

Nicholas Ferroni is an educator and historian who mentors lower-income students with deep personal commitment and care. This former actor turned teacher, writer, and host was recently named one of the 100 most influential people in America for his commitment to education reform as well as developing a "Teach the Truth" campaign to incorporate more minority figures and groups into the high school social studies curriculum. You can follow him on Twitter @NicholasFerroni.

articles

Santa Claus Is From New Jersey

Thomas Nast began drawing Santa as early as 1863. Over the years, Nast’s depiction evolved, but it is his 1881 drawing of a heavier, jollier Kris Kringle in Harper's Weekly that ultimately defined the modern Santa Claus. Nast, who heard stories of St. Nicholas as a child in Germany, fattened him up, gave him a red suit and rosy red cheeks, and also created or popularized some of the iconic things we associate with Santa, such as his North Pole residence and helper elves. St. Nicholas may have been... READ ON

questions

What is Martial Law?

After the tri-state area was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, food, gas, and power were in high demand but short supply. In those situations, people get desperate, and they sometimes become violent, throwing not just common courtesy, but also any sense of what it means to be law abiding, out the window. This lack of order usually leads the government to declare what’s known as Martial Law. In the wake of the hurricane, some news outlets reported that parts of New Jersey had been placed under martial law.... READ ON

articles

9 Beloved Fictional Characters Who'd Have a Rough Time in the Real World

1. Dennis the... READ ON

lists

10 Lines From Napoleon's Love Letters That Sound Like Crazy Texts

You might think Napoleon was a playboy, sleeping with the world’s most beautiful women. But his heart, head, and masculinity belonged to one woman: Josephine. The letters Napoleon wrote to her resemble the desperate, angry, and pathetic e-mails, texts, and voicemails you might see today. Here are ten excerpts. 1. In a letter to Josephine a few months after they married, Napoleon wrote, “I don’t love you, not at all; on the contrary I detest you – You’re a naughty, gawky, foolish slut.” And... READ ON

Subscribe to Author Articles