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| Remembering 9/11
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| Remembering is only a part of the equation, we need to teach and learn from this tragic moment in history |
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 | | | steve.swisher@crookcounty.k12.or.us |
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Today, Patriot Day, we remember those who were lost in the terrorist attack that took so many lives just a short few years ago. Novella and I watched the news coverage on that day in horror as the scenes were replayed over and over.
It occurred to us that one of our family friends had a son working in New York City in the financial markets and his office was located in or very near the Trade Towers. It took over three days to discover he was safe. It took his parents over 24 hours until they were able to make contact and learn that he was OK and unharmed. It was bittersweet when they learned that he had friends and colleagues who had perished.
All of our lives have been forever changed following 9/11. Most of us have some kind of direct connection to a friend, family member, or other acquaintances that were directly impacted on that day. I encourage us all to take a few minutes to remember those who lost their lives on that day in addition to giving thanks for those who were not harmed. We should also remember the many sons and daughters in our armed services who have lost their lives or have been injured in service to our country.
Events like this, also gives educators pause to think about how we deal with such topics in terms of curriculum, dealing with recent and current history. Many schools don't have history textbook updates or formal curriculum to study these topics.
Much of the current information about the 9/11 events and the many differing points of view about that time could be considered controversial topics in our schools. Our board policies indicate that we may teach about controversial topics at age appropriate levels providing that the differing points of view are presented as part of the lesson.
We do want students to be able to put events in historical context. They should learn to analyze information and draw conclusions while discerning the credibility of the information they are reviewing. Of course the school classroom is not the only place that a student should be guided and helped to process these kinds of topics.
One of the most important places for students to learn and think about such events is in conversations in their home with their parents and family members, in context with the family's values and beliefs. Religious institutions are other places for discussions on these topics to occur within the context of an individual's faith. Of course these conversations may also occur in other situations where an adult plays an important role, as a role model or mentor, in the life of a student.
We should remember, in our thoughts and prayers, the people who have made sacrifices or lost their lives. We should continue to learn from the experiences and work through our governmental, educational, spiritual, and family institutions to build a better and safer community, nation, and world for our children.
The one thing we cannot do is to continue our daily lives pretending that these events did not or do not happen.
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