NORTH SEWICKLEY TWP. - It's sometimes difficult for a teacher to grab students' interest, but not for David Felder.
This Riverside High School English teacher brings the history behind his literature lessons to life by wearing period garb and filling in the background to make what is being read more significant.
Earlier in the week, Felder donned clothing that would have been worn during the Middle Ages, which incidentally weighed 30 to 40 pounds. His clothing, which he wore for his 11th-grade British literature class, included a helmet, a coif (additional protection for the head), a cape and tunic, chain mail (a type of armor), chain gloves, a sword belt and sword, and a shield.
Felder used the rather unusual outfit for the 21st century to help describe the times surrounding the reading of Arthurian legends and stories and describing the probable roots of the actual Arthur, who was probably a Roman Era dux bellorum (war leader). In describing that part of the legend, Felder dressed as would a member of the Roman legion - including a metal breastplate.
"I try to teach the history surrounding the literature to give students a better understanding of what they are reading," Felder said while catching unusual looks from students as he walked through the halls of the high school in costume.
While there are many who participate in medieval games, such as the Pennsic Wars held at Cooper's Lake in the summer, Felder says he collects the items just as a hobby.