When Deerfield history teacher Thomas Heise gives the keynote address to the Round Square delegates tomorrow morning, he plans to consider the history of the American frontier.

"I compare the myth of the frontier to its historical reality and consider throughout the strengths and weaknesses of the frontier sensibility," he said. Mr. Heise will begin his speech by making reference to September 11, and then work backwards to Frederick Jackson Turner, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the 1704 Deerfield Raid.

"In introducing Round Square visitors to an important idea in American culture and American history, my hope is that all Round Square participants will find a lot to talk about as they meet in discussion groups," Mr. Heise noted.

His introduction to American history should prompt consideration of and comparisons among the histories of the countries represented. "Ideally, my remarks about the frontier idea in America will cause delegates to share observations not only about this country but also about their own," Mr. Heise said.

At Deerfield, Mr. Heise has taught Honors U.S. History, the History of Technology, and Modern Times: Twentieth Century World History.

Mr. Heise graduated from Dartmouth College in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history. He earned a Master of Arts Degree in American History at the University of Wisconsin in 1988, as well as a Master of Science degree in History and Philosophy of Education from Indiana University in 1997.

Mr. Heise began teaching at Deerfield in 1988, when he moved from St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware, where he had worked for two years.

Mr. Heise is the author of "Local Connections: Teaching the History of Place," "As Natural as Breathing: Teaching History at Deerfield," and co-authored The Deerfield Reader with his wife, Karinne T. Heise, and former Deerfield history teacher G. Alan Fraker.

Mr. Heise coaches boys' varsity soccer, as well as boys' junior varsity basketball.