Day of Remembrance or Significant Historical Event: 9/11 and War on Terror in U.S. Schools

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Teaching and Learning History Within Classroom Contexts

Abstract

This paper presents the results of how a nationally representative sample of secondary teachers report teaching about the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in the US and the resulting War on Terror. The events of 9/11 have greatly impacted countries and peoples around the world – but little is known about how or what young people in the US learn about the events. Our survey results suggest that the majority of teachers teach about the events on the anniversary of the attacks – but with a growing tension between those who wish to keep it as a day of remembrance and those who want to help young people understand how 9/11 has changed the world they in which they live.

Authors

• Jeremy D. Stoddard, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Paul G. Fitchett, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Diana E. Hess, University of Wisconsin - Madison