FREEP NEA 1-202-822-7200 Lesson plans for 9/11 Blame America but don't blame terrorists are out

NEA ^ | August 26, 2002 | TheEagleHasLanded

[TheEaglehasLanded]

Remember September 11

A Few Words from the 2.7 Million Members of the National Education Association

For as long as we live, September 11 will be a date that evokes searing memories and powerful emotions. We will each recall September 11 in our own, private way. But with the arrival of this first anniversary, there will be a universal desire to share our feelings and experiences with those around us, including teachers, students, family members, and friends. We must take the lead in helping our children as they struggle with the memories and emotions of this day.

To enrich and ennoble this first anniversary, NEA and the NEA Health Information Network have created a special “Remember September 11th” Web site. This site draws on the creative inspiration of our members and our partners in educational excellence. It brings together in one place an abundance of ideas, lesson plans, discussion points, and much more to help young people learn from the September 11 tragedy.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed your time and talent to create this important educational resource. We encourage you to make full use of this Web site as you fashion lesson plans and activities for your classroom, or as you talk within your own family. And then, please, let us know how these materials were helpful to you. Send along your comments and suggestions to: sept11@nea.org.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

These people have got some real nerve, Bob Chase the ringleader of this circus is blaming the Washington Times for biased reporting. Says their group is pro American.

[TLBSHOW]

they are terrorist lovers and stupid commie democrats

[TLBSHOW]

Is it right for teachers to tell students THIS FALL not to cast blame for 911?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/735393/posts

[j271]

There are several lesson plans on the web site for various grade levels, but I found no lesson plans focused on these facts:

• America was attacked
• America needs to defend itself
• Islamic extremists were responsible

A representative lesson is Circle of Feelings which is intended to give "students the opportunity to discuss and have validated their feelings...in a non-judgemental discussion circle." It's nothing but nonsensical gibberish.

There's another about how Muslims shouldn't be blamed, but the same plan contains no discussion of the fact that their extremist wing killed 3000 people on 9/11. Here's an excerpt:

Ask students to brainstorm a list of descriptors that come to mind when they hear the word "terrorist." Ask students to share their ideas (verbally, or anonymously by collecting papers and reading aloud). Note how many times "Arab," "Middle East," or "Muslim" get mentioned. Ask students if they think this characterization is fair. How does it compare to the characterization of Japanese-Americans and German-Americans during World War II?

Is the purpose of public schools to manipulate the social and cultural perceptions of the children? If so, it looks like they're doing a good job.

[BJungNan]

That "Circle of Feelings" garbage was, well, a whole lot of garbage. Is it any wonder why the students are so far behind in math, science, reading, writing and test scores.

This is a joke, right? The NEA is not really advocating this waste of time are they?

[TLBSHOW]

no joke

[Jean S]

We must take the lead in helping our children as they struggle with the memories and emotions of this day.

"our children"

That is the NEA's agenda. All students are their children, not the parent's.

[Cindy]

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: ATTACK ON AMERICA! (click here)

REMEMBER THE 11th.com: "VICTIMS AND HEROES" (click here too)

[cyn]

Interesting -- the NEA website says "The Lesson Plans section is made possible, in part, through
a partnership with the American Red Cross." -- http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/facingfear/

Is that true? Does the Red Cross know, or care, that NEA gives credit to them here in this way?

Using money/resources Americans donated after 9/11?

....

[cyn]

Suggested reading for high school students, to help put Sept 11 in perspective http://neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/september11/materials/hshome.htm#Facts -- The Hobbit????

As well as an extensive suggested music list (Sousa & Vivaldi's Spring -- but not, I guess, Summer or Winter). Thank goodness for NEA lesson plans.

[fr_freak]

I had a little fun sending an email in to the NEA in response to this. I'll be shocked if I get a response from them, though. I thought I'd share it with you guys to see what you thought.

---

To Whom It May Concern,

I have been following the controversy regarding the proposed Sep 11 lesson plans and your organization's insistence that they do not attempt to blame the United States for the attacks or portray anti-American sentiment. I have read your letter to the Washington Times protesting their representation of your lessons plans in a recent article. I have also read many of the opinions which state that your materials do, in fact, present an anti-American bias. I would like to present you with my opinion.

Your materials do, in fact, have an inherent anti-American bias for a very simple reason: while you labor extensively to study the past instances of US war hysteria toward racial groups as they relate to the present situation, you do absolutely nothing to portray or understand the depth of anti-American sentiment which caused many of these past (and present) events. For instance, concerning the WWII anti-Japanese sentiments in the US, your materials make no mention of the animosity toward the US that triggered the Japanese to attack us unprovoked. Likewise, in the case of the despicable Sep. 11 terrorist attacks on the US, you go to great lengths to discuss the resulting anti-Arab and anti-Muslim feelings in the US (which, in my opinion, have been remarkably restrained given the enormity of the horror). However, your materials seem to make no effort to discuss the rampant anti-American hatred that exists in the Middle East, primarily among Muslim countries. This is an extraordinary oversight, given the frequency and intensity of anti-American demonstrations and actions that have been occurring for many years. Nor do your lesson plans address the insult the US has suffered on top of our injury in the form of the constant popular accusations made by a surprisingly large number of Muslims throughout the world that blame the US or Israel for the attacks, rather than believing the plain evidence that they were, in fact, conducted by Muslims as directed by Muslim leaders held in high regard.

This one-sided study of the Sep. 11 attacks then, can only be seen as another attempt by your highly political, rather than educational, organization to further a left-leaning idealogy which, inasfar as it accuses the US of wrongdoing while it implicitly excuses those that wish to destroy her, is substantially anti-American. Whether this was intentional or unintentional is immaterial in the real world. Our only hope that the public school population will not be indoctrinated with this view rests in the common knowledge that those students dependent upon NEA-run schools are largely illiterate, and therefore unlikely to understand all of the written materials supporting this lesson plan.

[cyn]

But "our children" must be shepherded into right thinking: From the lesson "Guidelines for Responsible Media Coverage" (oxymoron):

GOAL: To explain the importance of the media's responsibility to address the public concerning the first year anniversary without causing harm by digging up painful memories.

So no reruns of that inflammatory Sept 11 video footage of planes striking WTC, we wouldn't want to upset anyone or disrupt the healing process.

[FreedomPoster]

< whiney voice > "But we've got to *understand* why they hate us!

It's simple. They're evil. Kill them before they kill us. Take steps to prevent a repeat. Winnie and FDR understood this in 1939/41. It isn't that hard.

Another example of the need to get back to basics in education.

[meenie]

It's easy and fitting that the NEA should be criticized for the "Don't blame the Islamics for 9/11" but I believe there was a campaign from the White House to get this message out after 9/11. This was and is complete nonsense that is being used to tear down our culture and make pacifists of us all.

[savedbygrace]

Parents should keep their kids out of school on 9/11 in protest of the NEA. In fact, why not stay home WITH your kids on 9/11 and make it a Family Day of Rememberance?

[nicmarlo]

j271, hope you don't mind I borrowed from your comments to send an email to the NEA (as follows):

To Whom It May Concern:

Is the purpose of public schools to manipulate the social and cultural perceptions of the children or tell them facts?

Facts:

America was attacked
America needs to defend itself
Islamic extremists were responsible
Your lesson plans blatantly leave out these facts and encourage anti-Americanism and "blame America first."

Additionally, "circle groups" and other psychologically manipulative plans are illegal under the Hatch Amendment, unless you first receive written consent by the parents. Why? Because teachers are not qualified or licensed counselors who are equipped to deal with the "provoked" emotions of children in a classroom setting. Teachers are trained (and paid) to teach children how to read, write, and calculate (i.e., math). These types of psychological and political lesson plans are forms of brainwashing children. Your techniques, lessons plans, and goals are intentional ways of turning our children against their parents' and their pro-American views.

It would be nice if the NEA's goals were less political and less socialistic. It would be a novel idea if it concentrated on teaching American children how to read and write and do math. In a recent national reading test, for example, California students scored lowest of all states, except for Guam, which was at the bottom. I'm sure the NEA would be more effective in "teaching methodology" with all the money it receives from America if it stuck to why it receives money at all: to educate our children so they can excel in the basics.

I doubt they'll write back to me, either.

[MrB]

Note how many times "Arab," "Middle East," or "Muslim" get mentioned. Ask students if they think this characterization is fair

How about if the students then ask the teachers, "how many of the 19 hijackers were 'Arab Muslims from the Middle East'?"

[PeteePie]

I'm sorry to stir the pot on this but I am compelled to put some of the blame on dubbya for his lack of leadership on this whole 911/War on Terrorism. There has been an acute lack of guidance from the top down on steering the national feelings on this, the hottest national issue since WWII. This could have been a no brainer to whip up national resolve toward kicking terrorists butts and gearing up for total war. The president's quick call for normalcy after the attack has had the negative effect of allowing the would-be national opinion makers (liberal news media ad nausium) to destroy our collective will through their brand of news shaping, re-education, and other subversive methods. There are now full-blown anti-war demonstrations in the absence of a war. I Gotta get to work.

[Mixer]

Show any age group of kids the videos that have been made by the terrorists for a real lesson on 9/11.

[Alamo-Girl]

Jeepers, cyn! This sounds like something Bill O'Reilly would want to explore. You might want to email him!