Classes Taught at PSHS

US and the World II, Honors--A course designed to prepare students for potential enrollment in AP history.  Research and writing are emphasized in this history course that takes students from 1900 until the present. 

Civics/Government -- A course dealing with the "nuts and bolts" of our political system. Because of the nature of that system, debate is a major part of the Civics/Government curriculum.  Debate topics may include abortion, gun control, the death penalty, voter registration and other privacy issues. The state of West Virginia will soon be requiring all students to earn a Civics/Government credit.

Contemporary World -- This course deals with the day-to-day occurances in our world today.  The curriculum is flexible--we never know what we will be doing on a day to day basis.  We do watch the news and discuss it on a daily basis. There are also units dealing with such issues as death, budgets and pandemic.  A seperate page on this website deals with Contemporary World.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to my classroom responsibilities, I am the advisor to the Parkersburg South High School Student Council. Our biggest activity of the year is the annual Homecoming celebration. We also sponsor a  blood drive and a compatibility survey.

I am also the "Voice of the Patriots."  I handle the public address for football games, boys and girls basketball, wrestling and track.  I love this activity--it keeps me in the athletic arena that has always been a part of my life; allows me to work with students outside of academics; and is rewarding whether we win or lose--but definetly when we win!!

Who is Ken Davis?

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.  After spending seven years in the city that I love, even though it was frequently referred to as the "Mistake on the Lake," my parents and I moved to Aurora, Ohio.  In 1968 I was graduated by Aurora High School and in August of that year I headed to Glenville State College in Glenville, WV, to further my education.

It is very easy for me to say that school has always been an important part of my life.  I loved high school; I dearly loved college; and spending the past 33 years in the classroom as a teacher has been wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling career.

I began my teaching career in 1972 in Webster County where I taught at the Special Opportunities Center in Bergoo. After one year, I moved to Parkersburg and took a job as a reporter for The Parkersburg News.  But in August of 1973 I accepted a social studies teaching position at Washington Junior High School and kick-started my teaching career in Wood County. For the next 17 years I worked at WJHS and worked part-time at the newspaper as a sports reporter.

In 1990 I transferred to Parkersburg South, and feel that this has been the highlight of my teaching career.  I loved junior high kids, but high school education seems to be where I am most comfortable and feel most successful.