September 11th, 2001 was a day that changed our world, and it personally changed the trajectory of my life. As a teenager in New York City on that day, the loss of the World Trade Center altered my reality forever. I had the unique privilege to teach the students my personal story this week, interweaving it within the broader story of that day.
We began our learning this week by exploring what students already knew about the attacks, and I was impressed with what they did know. Understandably for their age, I was able to identify the gaps in their understanding, and we spent two days investigating and detailing the timeline of events of the day for a more comprehensive understanding of the enormity of the eventg. The Middle School students did this by watching a thorough presentation, supplemented with documentary footage from Lower Manhattan, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville. The classes sat silently, watching and listening, writing down their thoughts and questions. After each class, we discussed how the students felt and they thought after the presentations. I was truly amazed by the depth of their commentary.
One of the main topics we discussed was the symbolism of the targets. The students reflected on what the WTC, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Capitol symbolized/symbolizes to the American people and the global community as a whole. Students brought up ideas of power, wealth, influence, and democracy in their answers.
On the second day of presentations the students were introduced to more personal testimonies from survivors and those who lost loved ones on that day. We particularly focused on the heroes that fought back on Flight 93. Several students applauded and gave thumbs up when they heard the story of how people took a stand and resisted against the terrorists that hijacked their plane. By the end of the second day of presentations, the students approached me with a myriad of respectful, considerate questions. We discussed the symbolism of the targets, the motives of the attackers, and the resilience of the American people. Though class ended, students followed me during my breaks to continue to ask questions and engage in dialogue. Their boundless curiosity and respect for the subject matter was something to behold. It makes me so appreciative of the Yavneh community and the respect and reverence our students have for challenging moments. They showed a depth of compassion and resolve to ensure that the world they inherit as adults will be a better one, for all.
–Harold Ohayon, Social Studies Coordinator
