Teaching 9/11 In Local Schools
As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we wanted to know how this major event in our nation’s history is being taught in schools. Is it in our student’s textbooks?
“Not necessarily is it part of the curriculum that we’re given to teach, but we feel like it’s important for them to understand it because they’re going to be learning and hearing about it for the rest of their lives,” said Kate Danielson, a sixth-grade teacher at Ethel Boyes Elementary.
With the events of Sept. 11, 2001, lacking in student’s textbooks, she spearheaded the push to teach history and not just from a book.
“As a faculty, we thought we really want to do something so that the kids remember this day, and so basically Sept. 11, 2002, we started doing an assembly out front. We just had the kids involved and we read some famous quotes. We really feel like as teachers, it’s really important for the kids to understand and remember the day,” said Danielson.
And they do.
“I feel bad for all the people who died in the buildings and their families who lost loved ones,” said sixth grader, Aubrey Stout.
“We’ve had a ceremony outside and we sing patriotic songs,” said Katelyn Nielson, another sixth grader.
“I feel sad for the people who died and feel like we should respect them,” said sixth grader, Austin Charboneau.
Paige Cooley, another sixth grader, said, “The firefighters were very brave for going out there and trying to help people.”
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have asked for young students to perform service as a way of showing respect and remembrance for 9/11.
“We are collecting cans for a food drive to help people that don’t have food,” said Kylee Nelson, a sixth grader.
“Makes me feel really proud of them. Proud of them to understand it. Proud of them to take it seriously and to really think about the events that happened and how it has changed our country and how it has changed their lives,” said Danielson.
This year’s Patriot Day Ceremony will be 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12 at Ethel Boyes Elementary in Idaho Falls. Parents and the public are welcome. Of course, you can donate canned goods there at the school if you’d like to help in their efforts.
As for 9/11 in text books, it is “mentioned” in the latest text book nationwide, but it is not given a lot of space. Then, of course, at the state and district level, it all depends on funding and the adoption cycle for purchasing the most recent text.
