My 3rd grader in MCPS said there was a brief discussion about the significance of the day. He is incredibly sensitive on this stuff and would only say that he knew people had died. He didn't want to talk about it further, but he wasn't traumatized or disturbed by what went on his class either. This is about the level at which we have discussed this issue in the past, based on his preference (he will make me turn off NPR in the car if the news gets unpleasant.) I think at 8yo it is appropriate to make some reference to the day and its meaning. Fwiw, I also talked to him this morning about the events yesterday in Libya, again very briefly.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing at school, but at DS' Cub Scouts pack meeting last night (so 1st-5th grade) there was a very brief statement about what happened on 9/11 and there were several veterans and a local firefighter who spoke the the boys at different stations around the room about their service. The two WWII vets were amazing and great storytellers. I think the parents all got more out of it than the kids though.

The Cub Scout leader said that 9/11 had been declared Patriot's Day. I'd never heard of that before.

It was named Patriot Day (not Patriots' Day - the 3rd Monday in April in MA) in 2001. It was renamed this year to include Day of Service and Remembrance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Day

My child is in 3rd grade. Beginning when he was about 4, I started discussing it with him. I took a very high-level approach to it - similar to what the PP with the first grader said her child was told. "People who hated America and our freedoms crashed planes into buildings. Innocent people died. It was very sad and scary." I didn't mention the Pentagon to him (which he knows about) as I lost a friend there and couldn't really keep my composure.

Two years ago, he came home with a book from the school's media center called "The 10 Events that Changed the World Forever." 9/11 was one of the events. So we had more and more discussions. He knows that it was more than just the WTC - he knows about flight 93 and the Pentagon. He now knows about my friend. I don't think he fully understands it all on an emotional level, but he is quite aware of many facts.

I did not ask him last night what they did, if anything. (I know he had a reading quiz as he was proud of his score.) I don't think it is really appropriate for an ES to bring up / teach about, esp. since only a few of the 5th graders were even alive when the attacks happened. And those 5th graders would have been babies... (Our school does not have 6th grade.)

Showing 1st graders images is just so wrong. And yes, ask the teacher.

I think high schools having a moment of silence is fine.

So... anyway... I think for younger kids, it is a parent teaching moment, not a school-teaching moment.

Nothing at school, but at DS' Cub Scouts pack meeting last night (so 1st-5th grade) there was a very brief statement about what happened on 9/11 and there were several veterans and a local firefighter who spoke the the boys at different stations around the room about their service. The two WWII vets were amazing and great storytellers. I think the parents all got more out of it than the kids though.

The Cub Scout leader said that 9/11 had been declared Patriot's Day. I'd never heard of that before.

Anonymous wrote:I teach 3rd grade. Here's how many discussions we had: 0. Just another day at school, as it probably should be at this age.

Thank you! Especially in the younger ES years I think 9/11 and some other tragic events, while they could be made into teachable moments, are best left to the parents' discretion. My child's friend, who attends a different MoCo ES, came home yesterday all fired up and full of hate for anyone who wasn't American, based on her perception that all non-Americans are against American. I overheard her speak about this with my child, but she did not speak with her parents about this until I told them what I had overheard and they raised the issue with her. Hopefully (most likely) that wasn't how the topic was presented, but we never know what kids will take away from a discussion. If events are discussed at school it might be helpful if parents are notified that a discussion will or did take place so they can also discuss it with their kids. (Not all kids share what happened during the day.) I'm not saying kids need to live in oblivion, but at an early age some discussions may do more harm than good, depending how how they handled.

My 1st grader did not have any mention at school - just another day. We did discuss it at home in broad/general terms. To the PP with the 1st grader, all I can say is, Wow...that seems over the top for that age. I would want to know quite a bit more about the context in which it was shown, did the kids get a chance to ask questions, was this just for 1st graders or were older kids there.

My kids are in high school, and they had a moment of silence during the morning announcements.

Anonymous wrote:My 1st grader was shown a video with still images of it. She cane home and told us that someone who hated America crashed planes into the twin towers, people ran down stairs and tripped over each other, 400 people died (there comes the lost in translation) and there were rescue dogs. Should I ask the teacher or school? I'm sad she saw/heard all that at age 6.

whoa! I would be on the phone to that principal so fast...

My 1st grader was shown a video with still images of it. She cane home and told us that someone who hated America crashed planes into the twin towers, people ran down stairs and tripped over each other, 400 people died (there comes the lost in translation) and there were rescue dogs. Should I ask the teacher or school? I'm sad she saw/heard all that at age 6.

I teach 3rd grade. Here's how many discussions we had: 0. Just another day at school, as it probably should be at this age.

Hi ... If you know, please share your child's age and how 9/11 was addressed at the school. Talking both remembrance as well as teaching/curriculum. Thanks!