Lakewood Schools Observe and Learn About 9/11

LAKEWOOD, OH — For 10 years, Lakewood High School and the Lakewood Key Club have been planting 3,000 flags in front of the high school as a tribute to those who died in the 9/11 tragedy.

The Lakewood Key Club is a high school organization sponsored by the Lakewood Kiwanis. Key Club Advisor, Emily Stephenson told Patch that this year, they opened up the traditional 9/11 flag planting to all students, not just Key Club members. The flags will be on display in front of the high school for a week.

Lakewood High School does more that just the flag display to observe 9/11, teachers will also use documentaries to generate discussion about the legacy of 9/11, according to Lakewood High School history teacher Joseph Lobozzo.

A schoolwide moment of silence took place on Friday, and flags were planted outside the school for every victim of 9/11.

"Social Studies teachers will be approaching the commemoration in their own way in their classrooms," Lobozzo said, noting that teachers have flexibility in how they approach the lessons. "Teachers using victims' accounts do inspire a conversation about how we should honor those who lose their lives in events such as this. One teacher has discussions about what 'patriotism' means."

The junior high and elementary schools were free to teach 9/11 as they saw fit.

One teacher from Emerson used a booklet called "September 11 Always Remember" as a teaching tool noting that with young kids (Most not even alive during 9/11), "you don’t want to unnecessarily frighten them."

Harrison took a moment of silence in recognition and broadcast a schoolwide message about the events which occurred that day and recognized the families that lost loved ones. Grades 4 and 5 did a more instructional piece in social studies exploring ways to prevent a tragedy like 9/11 from ever happening again.

Garfield Middle School observed 9/11 with a moment of silence following a presentation about Patriot Day.

The Ohio Board of Education does not require the teaching of 9/11. However, the Ohio Revised Standards in Social Studies, adopted in 2010 and fully implemented by 2015, offers a guideline for the districts to model a 9/11 curriculum for high school American history classes, along with instructional strategies:

The post-Cold War period and the attacks on September 11, 2001, presented new challenges for the United States, including:

• Instability produced by the demise of balance-of-power politics; Changing role of the United States in global politics (e.g., preemptive wars);
• Issues surrounding the control of nuclear weapons;
• Broadening of terrorism; and
• Dynamic of balancing national security with civil liberties.

Whether schools incorporate these standards is a decision made by each local school district.

See also on Patch:

• How Do You Teach 9/11 to Kids Who Didn't Experience It? A Patch Investigation
• 9/11 Memorial Taking Shape at Fire Station
• Construction Wraps Up on Lakewood's Fallen Firefighter Memorial
• High School Students Honor 9/11 Victims
• Lakewood High School Honors 9/11 Victims

Photo by Rick Uldricks/Patch