So much of what the students and teachers learn in history class is confined to the words, pictures and video reels of the past, but Sept. 11, 2001, is a part of history etched in memories.
“When our parents talked about Pearl Harbor, we heard about it, but never experienced it,” said Washington Elementary School teacher Brenda Jackson. “Sept. 11 was right there in front of us.”
As the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks passes, local teachers look to memorialize the past and find a way to teach a big part of history still unfolding.
At the elementary level, most teachers agree some details of the attacks need to be put aside.
“We’re more going to remember and honor those lost, rather than focus on the terrorism aspect,” Washington Elementary teacher Sally Weihl said. “At this age, I don’t know if it’s a good thing to expose them to too much.”
Still, the young students can be curious and ask a lot good questions, Weihl said.
“I think we have to be honest, but they don’t need to know any gory details,” she said.
Washington Elementary Principal Todd Bloss said he has advised his teachers to answer most Sept. 11 questions from the kids, but any emotional questions and concerns dealing with Sept. 11 will be forwarded to the children’s parents.
Washington Elementary School students will get a chance to express themselves through poetry. Every student in the school is expected to write a poem commemorating the date.
Throughout Washington County, most elementary schools will use Sept. 11 as a day to recognize American patriotism. Students will be wearing red white and blue, writing patriotic essays and poems, listening to veterans speak, and observing moments of silence.
For the older students in area high schools, the discussion of Sept. 11 will be a bit more full fledged.
“I want the students to follow the process and keep an open mind,” said Jeff Ritzman, who teaches American history at Marietta High School. “I’m from New York originally, so its tough to keep emotions out of the discussion.”
Belpre High School’s U.S. history teacher Bick Tice has planned an entire week around Sept. 11.
“We need a whole week to walk them up to Sept. 11 and why it happened,” Tice said.
Tice said he will teach students about the history of the Middle East and its rocky relationship with the United States.
“We have to understand the past to make the right decisions in the future, Tice said. “Sometimes the media floods the students with all this information, but forgets that they (the students) don’t know the history.”
Marietta High School philosophy teacher Pete Kincaid said the morality questions surrounding Sept. 11 will spark many discussions throughout the year in his class.
“I think students are willing to talk about anything with Sept. 11,” Kincaid said. “They have their opinions right now about going after Saddam. I plan to have a debate on what the next steps against terrorism should be.”
As much as there is to be discussed, most teachers agree that they do not want to overload students with Sept. 11. At its one-year anniversary, most local students see a different United States, but their resolve to seek their futures has not altered.
“We had as many kids apply to schools in New York that we normally do,” said Marietta High School guidance counselor Jim Thrash. The high school choir also made their April trip to New York with no problems.
“Just as President Bush advocated, to go back living your lives, we’re doing that,” Thrash said.
And students seem to be answering that call.
“Everyone is a lot more patriotic now,” said Marietta High School student Ashely George, 18. “We talked a lot about the organizations that you could join to help.”
“Our whole country has changed,” said Marietta High School student Jacqueline Wirtz, 15. “We are more aware of security now. I feel safer.”
All six Washington County school district superintendents said they left it up to their principals and teachers to organize events memorializing Sept. 11. Additionally, many local students in band and choir will be involved at community evening events.
“We thought rather than be splintered at 10 different events, we’d pull it all together,” Belpre Superintendent Tim Swarr said.