Teaching Sept. 11, to a Generation Too Young to Remember [VIDEO]

Principal Richard Littlefield calls Sept. 11, 2001, and the days that followed the most challenging time in his career as an educator.

"I can say that unequivocally," he said. "Our students at that time were looking for answers, they were looking to be assured, they were looking to understand the world around them. ... As far as they were concerned, they were seeing the world crumble around."

Now 10 years later, Littlefield leads a school of students who can't fully comprehend those feelings of shock and disbelief. That's because the memories of Sept. 11 and the events that followed are at best a blur. Like those youth, most of this country's younger generations were just small children or infants at the time of the attacks.

"It's definitely a history to them," he acknowledged.

With the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 approaching, educators across the region say they're challenged with finding a way to keep the memories alive in a generation of youth who were too young to remember that day in the country's history.

"We have sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at this school, most of them don't know much about 9/11 ... and when you ask them, they kind of give you a quizzical look," said Jeff Howlett, dean of discipline at in Warren.

Howlett was just retiring from 24 years of service in the Navy when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred. A year later, he began teaching at New Bedford High School, then moved to Kickemuit in 2003.

As someone who served in the Middle East, Howlett said he feels it's important for his students to have a knowledge of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he wonders how many of those students truly understand why our nation's soldiers are serving in those wars when so few of them understand what happened on Sept. 11.

Together, he and Principal Michael Carbone, also a veteran, are trying to determine how best to bring that lesson to the classroom.

"They hear the word 'terrorist,' but what do they associate terrorism with?" Carbone said.

At in Middletown, History Chairman Jim Connor said the conversation with students began last May after the death of Osama Bin Laden.

"Last May, our world history ninth-graders were interested in a lot of the changes in the Middle East, in particular with the U.S. raid on Bin Laden's compound," he said. "They didn't really understand the connection between America's effort, why American women and men were dying in Afghanistan. They had to be taught."

At Portsmouth High School today, Sept. 9, the Student Council is sponsoring Red, White and Blue Day. Principal Littlefield said he expects a majority of his school community to wear those colors. They will also dedicate their moment of silence to Sept. 11, 2001. In terms of teaching the lessons of that day, Littlefield said they have no official approach, but that he will be leaving it up to teachers to discuss the events in the classroom as they see fit.

"I think the real value is going to be the dialogue that takes place in school, as my teachers talk about their experiences, where they were at the time and how it has affected them," Littlefield said. "I think relaying personal history is going to make it relevant for our kids."

At in Massachusetts, Principal Jeff Newman said they will also be dedicating a moment of silence, theirs on Monday, Sept. 12. Students at his school are also taking part in a number of Sept. 11 community service projects, including Project 9/11. Under the direction of teacher Rebecca Richard, is an effort by the students to recruit 911 members of the community to donate one hour of volunteer service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Over at in Attleboro, among the lessons tied to Sept. 11 will be one about First Amendment rights. That's tied into a state requirement to teach elements of the Constitution as part of Constitution Day, which is Sept. 17. Retired educator Melissa Riley will help lead that lesson. She said the discussions about the First Amendment will be tied to the thinking that the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, were an assault on our nation's ideals of freedoms.

Back in Warren, Dean Howlett and Principal Carbone were still trying to finalize Sept. 11 lesson plans with their faculty earlier this week. Both said they were grappling with how much to share and how soon, but that all of their students, no matter what the middle school grade, should get some exposure to the fact that there were terrorist attacks on the country that day.

"We have a duty," Howlett said, "as their parents, their educators and as older Americans."

This story is part of a larger Patch series remembering Sept. 11. To see our region's complete coverage of the 10-year anniversary, you can follow our special Facebook page, Rhode Island Remembers 9/11.