Remembering September 11 and Responding to the NEA's Curriculum
by Mary Zimmerle

Recently, the National Education Association has been under attack for some of the content placed on its "Remember September 11" curriculum website.  Referring to their link to the John F. Kennedy University Graduate School of Professional Psychology,  "Tips for Parents and Schools Regarding the Anniversary of September 11, 2001”, many critics have been charging the NEA with supporting “lesson plans aimed at junior and senior high school students [that] can be seen as an affront to Western civilization” (Sorokin, Washington Times) and for suggesting that teachers and schools take a completely “blame-free” approach to teaching about the events of that day.  To test the validity of this criticism, the statements should be read in context.  
 
The critics refer to statements within the NEA-linked site as the basis for their criticism, most notably, “Do not suggest any group is responsible” and “self-blame may be a way for students to feel ‘in control’ (something different they ‘could have done’ or ‘could do’ in the future).”  Admitedly, these stand-alone statements can raise questions.  When read in context, however, the reader can get a clear picture of intent.  "Tips for Parents" states, "Do not suggest any group is responsible.  Do not repeat the speculations of others, including newscasters.  Do not encourage or allow random blaming; but understand that self-blame may be a way for students to feel ‘in control’ (something different they ‘could have done’ or ‘could do’ in the future).  Be careful to ensure students (e.g. Arab-American students) do not assume blame in order to make classmates feel better.  Blaming is especially difficult in terrorist situations because someone is at fault.  However, explain that all Arab-Americans are not guilty by association or racial membership."
 
In context it seems that the “blame-free” approach, criticized as threatening and anarchistic, is a call to students to be responsible in their research of this and any other similar event and to avoid blaming those who are innocent.  The “self-blame” approach, criticized as encouraging students to blame themselves for the terroristic event, actually acknowledges that some students may cope with the issue by rexamining the event and brainstorming what may have been done differently on all sides to change that outcome.  

The site's suggestions include: “discuss how it would feel to be blamed unfairly by association,” “emphasize positive, familiar images of diverse ethnic groups,” “violence and hate are never solutions to anger,” and “all people deserve to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity.”  
 
Another section that was criticized asked teachers to “discuss historical instances of American intolerance.  Internment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor and the backlash against Arab Americans during the Gulf War are obvious examples.  Teachers can do lessons in class, but parents can also discuss the consequences of these events and encourage their children to suggest better choices that Americans can make this time.”  "Tips for Parents"  uses the Japenese-American experience not as an equal to the experience of Americans of Middle Eastern decent, but illustrative of possible results of intolerance.   
 
The racial hysteria that has surrounded post-September 11 has been worrisome.  Many ethnic minorities of Middle Eastern descent have been intimidated or even hurt simply because of how they look, their last names and/or their religious background.  These are real issues about which our children must be informed and educated so that they may make decisions based on just principles.  "Tips for Parents" offers various ways to approach these sensitive topics.   
 
The “Tips for Parents” site and the NEA’s “Remember September 11” site both urge educators to teach their students to examine the facts of the case and to avoid speculation that is potentially damaging to those who are innocent of blame.  Suggestions are made to encourage students and teachers to exercise responsibility in their judgements and to avoid the sensationalism in the media that often surrounds events such as September 11.  These suggestions recognize the sensitivity that many students may still have for this topic, and encourage teachers and parents to help our youth understand these difficult and painful situations and deal with these issues effectively and wisely.  
 
Sources of the ideas in this site range from PBS “Tolerance in Times of Trial”, to a Smithsonian sponsored digital archive of September 11 memories, to programs hosted by the Red Cross, as well as countless other syllabi.  It is only through the lack of objectivity that the entire website of ideas can be condemned as worthless “back-to-school nuttiness.” The critics' quickness to dismiss the entire curriculum ironically appears to suffer from the sensationalism that the NEA is attempting to combat.  
 
September 11 was a horrific event, one that will be etched into our national consciousness for decades, if not centuries.  But with these events comes a responsibility to fairness, justice and dignity to which each and every one of us must attend.  As American citizens, it is our duty to uphold these principles upon which our nation was founded.  
 
I encourage you to check out the site yourself and make your own judgements about the NEA’s attempt at intelligent and sensitive curriculum development to teach these values in the classroom through a multifaceted approach.   
 
NEA
http://www.nea.org/
 
Remember September 11
http://neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/september11/materials/lessonhome.htm
 
Tips for Parents and Schools Regarding the Anniversary of 9/11 syllabus
http://neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/september11/materials/n07.htm
 
Tips for Parents and Schools (main link)
http://www.jfku.edu/psych/parents.html
 
 
Critics: 
 
Green, Tanya L.  “No-fault Terrorism?: NEA-linked article says not to ‘suggest any group is responsible’ for 9-11 attacks”, Concerned Women for America, August 21, 2002. 
www.cwfa.org/library/education/2002-08-21_nea.shtml
 
Knott, Tom.  “NEA not sure who to blame for attacks”, The Washington Times.  August 22, 2002.
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20020822-68157575.htm
 
Will, George F.  “The Feel-Good Approach to Sept.11”, Washington Post, August 25, 2002.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55511-2002Aug23.html