09/11/2018- It’s a day known most simply by its date. Many adults can clearly recall the details of 9/11 and the days that immediately followed, however, the same can’t be said for the majority of today’s students. That’s the challenge educators face as they attempt to explain the impact the terrorist attacks had- and continue to have- on our country to a classroom full of people who likely weren’t even born at the time. Bob Smith is an AP US History teacher at Marinette High School. He says the lessons on 9/11 often now address the day as a historical topic rather than a current event.
As with most topics, much of the information students see about 9/11 comes from the internet. So, to preserve the memory of the day, Smith has turned his lesson into a personal one- asking students to interview family members about their experiences on 9/11.
Smith isn’t the only one setting the textbook aside when it comes to 9/11. Marinette School officials say history teachers across several grade levels will share their own memories of the day, as well as show news reports and other footage captured on 9/11 to teach students about the attacks.