The events of September 11th forced many Americans to consider their own mortality in a way they never had before. The terrorists' attacks as with any traumatic event were difficult to talk about. But as Americans struggled to comprehend the factors that lead to such tragedy we found our increasingly diverse country ripe for emotionally charged and deeply personal debates. Many of us found ourselves in heated discussions that took place with strangers in diners and with our own families at the dinner table. And so, seven years later, has it gotten any easier to explore the nuances of September 11th? And how are future leaders in American classrooms dealing with the questions of patriotism that were raised post 9/11?
Anne-Lise Halvorsen of Michigan State University researched the ways in which three Midwestern schools approached the challenge of “teaching and learning” associated with this tragic event.