The anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, offers a time to remember, to reflect about this unforgettable moment in history, and to reconsider the effect that September 11 has had on our country and the world. To honor the anniversary of the day that changed America, St. Michael Parish School in Wheaton dedicated Friday, September 9 and Monday, September 12 to education and prayerful reflection. Friday’s activities were concluded with an all-school prayer service.
In seventh and eighth grade students were shown the Chicago Tribune program, Attack on America. Following the presentation, teacher, Lora Vires led a discussion about the tragedies of September 11, 2001.
The seventh graders, who were toddlers at the time, reacted with concern and curiosity about the terrorist assault.
Students’ concerns centered around the possibility of another terrorist attack and how this attack had happened.
“How did it happen? How could they (the terrorists) take over the planes?” asked one student, having only known a post-9/11 world.
In fifth and sixth grade classrooms, students read a story from their scholastic readers about a girl who was eleven and lived in New York, near Ground Zero. Fifth Grade teacher, Lisa Los, also read from a book of poems written by seventh and eighth grade SMPS students in the days following September 11, 2001.
As she read the Scholastic Reader story, I was Eleven on 9/11. Los’ voice cracked. Students stirred, visibly affected by their teacher’s reaction to the lesson.
Los asked students to imagine how the people in New York, near Ground Zero, felt that day.
“Scared,”
“Shocked,”
“Panicked,”
“Terrified,” the students responded.
Like the seventh grade students, the fifth graders responded with concern about how and why the events of 9/11 had happened.
Before concluding her lesson, Los mentioned to her students that they might see a program over the weekend about September 11. She cautioned them to get their parents’ permission before watching it and to watch it with an adult.
When asked why, Los responded, “Because it is graphic and would be inappropriate. It’s hard for me, as an adult to know what these people went through. But, it is going to be on TV and it NEEDS to be. We need to remember these people: the people on the planes, the fire-fighters, police officers and EMT’s, even the civilians that became saints that day by helping others. We need to remember the families, the loved ones, the children who witnessed this; children whose parents died. We need to remember this event. During our prayer service, I ask you to remember these people. I ask you to also pray for our enemies. Pray for them. That they get rid of the hatred in their hearts and find the love that God has given them and that they can stop hurting people. They are the ones who need prayers."
