Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10 comments Add your comment
David S
September 11th, 2009
6:20 pm
The lesson of 9-11 is that the unconstitutional actions of government as they interfere in the internal politics of other nations – including sanctions that kill millions, bombs that kill innocents, support of horrible dictators, support of genocidal regimes, manipulation of internal elections, the overthrow of democratically elected leaders, and everything else the US has been involved in since the late 1800’s – can ultimate have horrible consequences for the uninformed people of the country inflicting the damage.
If you got anything else out of 9-11 like “they attacked us because of our freedoms” or any other such nonsense, time to wake up and smell the reality. You are part of the continuing problem.
Anne
September 11th, 2009
8:25 pm
No. My students don’t care, mostly because when it happened they weren’t old enough to really understand what had happened. They’ve grown up with war and unrest as the norm and consequently, have become numb to it.
Megan
September 12th, 2009
12:06 am
I am shocked by the previous comments.
Particularly yours, Anne… if your students really don’t care, isn’t that reason enough to MAKE it part of your lesson for the day? If students don’t understand, it is our job to explain to them what happened. I’m not saying you should teach five year olds about the horrible details of terrorism, but surely even children in elementary school (at least by 2nd-3rd grade) are old enough to learn about what happened. Can’t we at least discuss the heroism shown by so many in the face of tragedy? If nothing else, I hope that all teachers honored the moment of silence in some way.
Young students cannot and should not be able to understand what happened, but that does not mean we should be okay with them being “numb” to such tragedy. I was 14 years old and in school when it happened, and I wasn’t really old enough to understand either. After the first tower fell, my teachers were asked not to let us watch the news. I wish they had let us, but we were young enough that they were right to be concerned. I don’t think I really cried until 2-3 years later, but understanding is a gradual process.
I’m now teaching, and I must admit that I did not incorporate 9/11. In hindsight, I wish I had done something… in a high school chorus class, a patriotic song in memory of 9/11 might have been appropriate. We did, however, honor the moment of silence. My students were 6-8 years old on 9/11/2001. These students who ignore the daily moment of silence each morning were quiet and respectful as they honored those who died. You don’t have to be old enough to remember a moment in history in order to respect a moment in history.
Jan
September 12th, 2009
7:09 pm
Our school ROTC unit planned and performed a very well-done ceremony in front of the school, and teachers voluntarily brought students to attend. All were respectful and attentive to the comments, thoughts and music and it was a touching remembrance.
Hypocrisy abound
September 12th, 2009
8:49 pm
“all teachers voluntarily brought students…” Was it really voluntary? Were students allowed to opt out, just like opting out Obama’s speech?
Lee in S. GA
September 13th, 2009
9:27 am
Our JROTC also planned and performed a marvelous ceremony, with assistance from the school band and chorus. Amazing to see a crowd of high school students, teachers, and staff standing in respectful SILENCE during the ceremony.
Yes, hypocrisy, attendance was voluntary. I asked my students if they wished to attend, and they said they did. One student indicated that he did not want to go, and was given the option of staying in the media center and reading (he always has a book for when he finishes his work), but he declined the offer and accompanied the rest of us.
Hypocrisy abound
September 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
peer pressur
Lee in S. GA
September 13th, 2009
9:46 pm
He didn’t want to go because there were no chairs and he didn’t want to stand up, not because he was morally or ethically opposed to the ceremony.
Hypocrisy abound
September 14th, 2009
6:56 am
Didn’t want to stand up… Hardly an evidence of conviction…
Anything to get out of boring classes…
No one with guts to admit such an assembly simply waste of time…
Meme
September 14th, 2009
8:26 am
Since most of my students were in Preschool when this happen, they don’t remember a lot. I used this time to talk about heroes.