Bloomberg Education Radio: Teaching about 9/11

Adam Strom, Facing History's director of content, research and development, and Tracy Garrison-Feinberg, a senior program associate in Facing History's New York office, recently spoke with Bloomberg EDU Host Jane Williams to explore ways to bring a conversation about the events of September 11, 2011, into a classroom.

Adam explained that memories of September 11 are different for teachers and students. He emphasized that classroom lessons about September 11 begin with professional development for teachers.

"The first part about professional development is a reminder that teachers are human," he said. "Good teacher professional development starts with giving teachers an opportunity to process their own thoughts and do their own adult learning."

He and Tracy also spoke about the importance of teachers understanding the varied perspectives and stories that students would bring to a conversation about 9/11. They discussed the complexities of having such discussions just days into the new school year, when, Tracy pointed out, a classroom “might have the children of people who were lost that day or children who have suffered some other loss” and that the conversation could be very emotional for students.

"What do kids know? What do they want to know? What questions do they have? That's a useful starting point," Strom added.

Click here to hear Jane Williams' interview Adam Strom and Tracy Garrison-Feinberg on Bloomberg EDU. The first twelve minutes feature an interview with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The interview with Adam and Tracy begins at 12:48.

Read "Remembering 9/11 Ten Years Later" on our website.