New Jersey Will Add 9/11 To K-12 School Curriculums This Year

by Frances Martel | 5:46 pm, July 13th, 2011

» 13 comments

For those of us who will forever remember the day Al Qaeda fatally attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it is difficult to keep in mind that September 11, 2001 was nearly a decade ago– which puts a child born on that day in fourth grade. This has presented a challenge to many teachers who realize their students are not old enough to remember the attacks but don’t quite know what to say about it. To solve the problem, New Jersey is set to adopt a curriculum that will teach September 11 and terrorism to K-12 students.

According to the Star-Ledger, a volunteer group comprised of families of the victims of September 11 called the 4 Action Initiative has compiled a curriculum they call “Learning from the Challenges of Our Times: Global Security, Terrorism and 9/11 in the Classroom.” It will teach not just the history of the event, but will aim to teach tolerance for others and how to handle the threat of terrorism in the post-911 world:

The material includes lesson plans on teaching the events of that day itself, but also delves into topics ranging from the “Impact of Hateful Words,” for elementary students to “What is Terrorism?” in middle school and “Reaction to and from the Muslim and Arab Communities” for high school students. Also included are lessons on “acts of kindness” that occurred on 9/11, and ideas for students to help their town, community and the world.

While the curriculum will not be mandated by the state, it is set to be released to teachers this week and has been well-received in pilot programs by elementary school teachers. Among those involved in its creation were former Gov. Thomas Kean and many teachers, some who also piloted it in class. While a 9/11 curriculum was tested in 2009 by seven states, it was far less comprehensive and provided fewer guidelines for teachers, and relied more on videos and other multimedia rather than traditional classroom teaching. Among the 60 classrooms in which it was implemented this year, it was considered a “phenomenal” success, and many teachers who were part of the pilot program tell the Star-Ledger they plan on using it again this year. It will be available online for free for teachers across the country to use after its official release this Thursday at Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center.

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911, Education Reform, New Jersey, School, September 11, Star-Ledger

Gefforyk

I am sure that this is going to be totally whitewashed and somehow blamed on christianity.. There will be a 1000 reasons given why this was not an attack by muslim extremest… but rather an understandable reaction to US imperialism and of course how would a class on 911 be complete without including a section on the Crusades..
http://constitutionallibertarian.co.cc DavidKramer

Well hopefully they will put the Democrat spin on it. That the US deserved it and there is a big question whether or not Bush was behind it all.

Maybe they could have Moore come in and give a few lectures after playing his “documentary”.

Now, they could start history when it all began, when FDR and his great society saved us from the First Great Depression by instituting socialism in the US. I mean, just because that Depression lasted for about 15 years does not mean the current one is not going to get over quicker doing the exact same things.

I am sure I will get someone to indoctrinate me in the true history here shortly.

Like, just because Muslims from Saudi Arabia and other Mideast countries committed the attack, does not mean that Bush was not REALLY behind it all.
http://constitutionallibertarian.co.cc DavidKramer

Gefforyk said:
but rather an understandable reaction to US imperialism and of course how would a class on 911 be complete without including a section on the Crusades..

Well, it is that whole fairness doctrine in education now don’t you know. Like how no one really wins anything, you get pats on back for just trying, the same is said that NO ONE is really to blame except the victim.
Jayson

I disagree. I think most New Jersey children, babies exempt, already know about 911, or at least have some knowledge of 911 from parents, family, friends, and most especially, the media. Why do the children need a class on 911 to boot? It almost seems morbid that the schools want to keep reminding our kids, especially the K kids, of a day of horror, by making it a manditory class. I have no objection to the children attending a yearly assembly to show their respect & remember 911, but I do object to 911 becoming part of the daily curriculum. It’s not needed.
http://justplaythegame.us JustPlayTheGame

DavidKramer said:
Well hopefully they will put the Democrat spin on it. That the US deserved it and there is a big question whether or not Bush was behind it all.

Maybe they could have Moore come in and give a few lectures after playing his “documentary”.

Now, they could start history when it all began, when FDR and his great society saved us from the First Great Depression by instituting socialism in the US. I mean, just because that Depression lasted for about 15 years does not mean the current one is not going to get over quicker doing the exact same things.

I am sure I will get someone to indoctrinate me in the true history here shortly.

Like, just because Muslims from Saudi Arabia and other Mideast countries committed the attack, does not mean that Bush was not REALLY behind it all.

Well, if they want to be honest, I guess they will….ummm pamphlets on diego garcia and operation northwoods could be included to show contrast and point of views I guess.
http://constitutionallibertarian.co.cc DavidKramer

JustPlayTheGame said:
Well, if they want to be honest, I guess they will….ummm pamphlets on diego garcia and operation northwoods could be included to show contrast and point of views I guess.

Good call, maybe another about the Gulf of Tonkin incident as well. I would like to see all the evidence on incidences that have been sealed for 100 years by the courts. Would that not be a hoot?
purveyor

Now we must be vigilant so that a”Jay Bennish” type doesn’t get ahold of the class. Remember Bennish? Back in 2006, the Colorado High School, Geography Teacher, was recorded numerous times devoting class time to leftist ideology. (Serious Leftist nonsense and the “cool” teacher had acquired a following by his easily influenced protege’s)

He cut his long blond hair and appeared on David Letterman, of course. A real big hero for quite awhile, when he should have been banished from the tribe. Just like another Colorado, system parasite, Ward Churchill. Both these two were lionized by the Left?

Anyway, curriculum is one thing, the teacher, is quite another!

PURVEYOR OF RHETORIC
Alinor

From what I read looking over the curriculum– which might have been a good idea before you comment on it–it’s not whitewashed at all. Kindergarten – 4th or 5th graders don’t need to view people jumping out of the WTC on 9/11– it’s inappropriate. As the students age, it become grittier, dealing with more complex issues. By HS, it is looking at specific historical acts of terrorism. Looks fact-based, uses primary sources, interviews, and challenges the students to draw their own conclusions. That’s what I want my kids doing, figuring it out for themselves, not some teacher telling them what to think. It isn’t sugar-coated, but doesn’t glorify terrorism either. I like it.
CAconservative

Isn’t that great. In California our Governor just signed a bill into law forcing our schools to introduce Gay studies to our children. We’re ahead of the curve…….or maybe not. It just keeps on getting weirder in this state.
purveyor

CAconservative said:
0 0
Isn’t that great. In California our Governor just signed a bill into law forcing our schools to introduce Gay studies to our children. We’re ahead of the curve…….or maybe not. It just keeps on getting weirder in this state.

Sometimes, well rarely, I don’t know what to say. This is one. The problems in the once paradise of California?

With all that States problems, and that is what the citizens focus on…
Anteeghey

You’d swear all the people in 911 were Mother Theresa or Gandhi(most were the same people that most vilify now, bankers,wall-streeters, insurance execs..)..geez it was like 10 years ago and in that time more than 3000 people have died from crime,drunk drivers,lack of health-care(some because those same insurance execs dropped them) and they don’t get a day of silence..don’t forget almost 1 million Iraqi and Afghans have died..they have “9/11′s” damn near weekly because of the USA occupation. This is just being used to promote jingoism..
Anteeghey

You’d swear all the people in 911 were Mother Theresa or Gandhi(most were the same people that most vilify now, bankers,wall-streeters, insurance execs..)..geez it was like 10 years ago and in that time more than 3000 people have died from crime,drunk drivers,lack of health-care(some because those same insurance execs dropped them) and they don’t get a day of silence..don’t forget almost 1 million Iraqi and Afghans have died..they have “9/11′s” damn near weekly because of the USA occupation. This is just being used to promote jingoism..
Anteeghey

You’d swear all the people in 911 were Mother Theresa or Gandhi(most were the same people that most vilify now, bankers,wall-streeters, insurance execs..)..geez it was like 10 years ago and in that time more than 3000 people have died from crime,drunk drivers,lack of health-care(some because those same insurance execs dropped them) and they don’t get a day of silence..don’t forget almost 1 million Iraqi and Afghans have died..they have “9/11′s” damn near weekly because of the USA occupation. This is just being used to promote jingoism..