Bending the Moral Arc: How One Teacher's Conscience Changed Lives

From Teacher Stories by Teacher Stories

July 8, 2025 · 56 min

About this episode

Bruce Wasser shares his inspiring journey from conscientious objector to impactful educator, highlighting the reciprocal influence between teachers and students.

In this episode, host Ken Futernick sits down with Bruce Wasser, a former history teacher whose life story is as inspiring as his teaching career. Bruce shares his poignant journey from being a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War to becoming a beloved educator who had a profound impact on his students. Listen as Bruce recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his life, including the influence of his high school basketball coach and the challenges he faced in standing up for his beliefs. The episode also features Julia Damer, a former student of Bruce's, who shares her experiences in his classroom and the lasting impact he had on her life. The conversation highlights the reciprocal influence between teachers and students, as well as the enduring power of education to inspire change. The conversation also raises an important question about the kind of influence one would want teachers to have on their students. Bruce says, “I am in the business [of teaching] so I can help young men and women become proud, strong citizens, loving their country when it's right and earnestly trying to change it when it's wrong.” Might such an approach to teaching lead to indoctrination? Do we…

People in this episode

Guests: Bruce Wasser, Julia Damer

Topics covered

education
teaching
history
conscientious objection
student impact

Keywords

moral arc
Vietnam War
education
indoctrination
citizenship

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Bending the Moral Arc: