Today in class I talked to my 4th graders about the events of September 11. Most of them were babies, some were not even born when that horrible day happened. I realized by the end of discussing it with three separate groups of 4th graders that no one else is teaching them about it. And I don't mean in school...I mean at home or even on TV. I had to answer A LOT of questions about the events that led up to, during and after the 4 planes crashed that day. Basic stuff that I just take for granted that they know...but they don't. It is kind of like my daughter always looking at the back of a camera for the picture that someone just took. She has no concept of film and having to wait to get pictures developed. Really! These are just things that are a part of their everyday life...like the fact that we have had troops over in Afghanistan... they can't remember a time when we didn't.
My Reads and RantsWith that all being said I think I did a good job discussing what happened on that early Fall day nine years ago and how it brought a nation of strangers together in a wonderful and heartbreaking way. I hope if they ever get to go to the Pentagon Memorial, The World Trade Center Memorial, or the Pennsylvania Memorial that they think back to the class today and think to themselves that I did an ok job explaining what happened on September 11, 2001.
