Nearly ten years have passedĀ since theĀ horrificĀ eventsĀ that occurred onĀ September 11, 2001. This upcoming Sunday will be a day of remembrance and unity for millions of Americans who witnessed the events first-hand or on live television. But what of today’s children, who were either too young to comprehend the day’s importance or not yet born?
Ira David Socol, a Ph.D.Ā graduate studentĀ in specialĀ education at the Michigan StateĀ UniversityĀ College of Education,Ā reminds educators everywhereĀ that it is crucialĀ for students to reflect on the terrorist attacks that forever changed the world.
InĀ a blog postĀ for the New York Times,Ā “Why September 11 Must Be in Our Classrooms,” Socol and co-writer Pamela Moran argue thatĀ teachers and studentsĀ must examine the attacks in critical, multidimensional ways in orderĀ to preserve the day’s historical significance.
“We must engage our young people in the construction of history,” they wrote.Ā “In this century, we are all historians, researching, comprehending, assembling, reporting and storytelling.”