My name is Tom Dreilinger, and I have been known to teach some of the courses you see listed at the far left. I have a BA in History from Loyola University, an MA in Humanities from California State, and an MS in Systems Technology from Southern Cal. I completed course work for a Ph.D. in History from the University of Kansas and am working on a dissertation for a Ph.D. in Education from Capella University. The purpose of this web-site is to let you, the student, have some idea of what you're in store for if you take one of my classes. Have some fun exploring the pages ... I designed them myself. Clicking on the links along the left border will open a new browser so you'll have no trouble finding your way back. I do have a life other than designing web sites (although I have won some minor awards for a few of them). I have a lovely wife named Carol and a fourth-grader named Michael. As you check out the picture of Michael and Carol (above left) and of Carol and me (below right), it is easy to see why I walk around all day long with a big grin on my face. As for "the little Mikey guy" as I refer to my son, whereas most yuppy parents are checking out brochures from upscale schools to help their little Junior get into Harvard, Carol and I are looking through brochures of reform schools ... but that is another story. As a potential student, you probably don't care about my wife and child, but it's my web- site, so there! Anyway, I've been teaching in the local area since I retired from a 20+ year career with the Army as a helicopter pilot. The really neat thing about the military is that they have some neat toys and let you play with them. If you happen to break them, they don't make you pay for it; they just give you another one. After I retired, I had to figure out what I wanted to do once I grew up and decided that, as a soldier, much of any job I held entailed teaching, so my association with local colleges and universities was a good fit. Besides, my last assignment was as an Assistant Professor of Military History at the Army's Staff College. Over the years, I've developed some philosophies concerning post-secondary education that I'd like to share with you.

First off, your first year of college is NOT like your fifth year of high school. I tell my students that class attendance is their responsibility. If they come - great; if not, I don't care. Homework is also their responsibility. If they do the readings, fine; if not, I don't care. If they work hard, do well on tests, and participate in class, they will get an "A" - if they stink up the place they'll get an "F" ... either way, I don't care. The school is responsible for providing a physical environment conducive to learning ... desks, lights, heat, no machine guns in the hall, etc. As the teacher, I'm responsible for presenting class material in a manner also conducive to learning. The act of learning ... that's you're responsibility! In closing, I believe that the major purpose of college is to teach you to think. High school taught you names, dates, places, things ... I learned more of practical value in 12 years of elementary and high school than in all my years of college. But college did teach me how to think. The why and wherefore to go along with the names, dates, places, and things. Hopefully you'll enjoy the same in your college experience. As one of my undergraduates philosophy teachers told me though, don't let academics interfere with your college education. Good luck! P.S. Please email me if you have any comments, criticisms, war stories, or lies!