On September 11, 2001 I was living in California teaching first grade. When the alarm went off that morning the radio came on and I remember hearing something about an attack on New York. I didn't quite understand what was happening so I turned on the news. There I saw the replay of plane one going into the first tower and as I watched, plane two hit the second tower. California is 3 hours behind New York so we were seeing the violence unfold the minute we got up that morning. Unfortunately that meant that some of the children in my class saw it as well because their parents were watching the morning news. I remember getting to school and every teacher and parent that I encountered was numb and just stunned. We really didn't know what to say or how to act. Some of the children were asking questions but I honestly didn't know how to answer them. How I am suppose to respond to questions regarding terrorism when I don't understand it myself? I can remember one child, who was 6 years old, thinking how cool it was to watch the airplane hit the building. He had no idea the consequences of those actions, for him it was like watching a movie or something on tv because that is where he saw it, it wasn't real for him. It was very had to explain to him what was going on and how it wasn't "cool" that planes were being flown into buildings and that many people were being hurt. Being on the West Coast we were so far removed from the violence as well that again it was very hard for the children to understand. I think it was hard for all the adults to understand. That was 10 years ago. My students at that time are now getting drivers licenses and I am sure have a better understanding of terrorism and war but still I don't think any of us will truly understand why it has to happen.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children released a position statement in July of 1993 regarding Violence in the Lives of Children. At that time they stated that "the culture of violence is mirrored in and influenced by the media. They also stated that "a large number of children are growing up in conditions that have been described as "inner-city war zones" (NAEYC, 1993). Children are becoming desensitized to violence like my friend in the example above. He thought it was neat to see a plane crash through a building and the building come toppling down because he had seen similar violence on tv but he didn't understand how real this was. He didn't comprehend that people had died and that our country was being threatened. I have mixed feelings on that as well. Do we want our children to know all the violence that exists in our world or should we shelter them from it?
Because our country was attacked many children lost their parents. A former student of mine, who had moved to Boston, lost her father. He was on the second plane that hit the towers. Her mother was 9 months pregnant with their second child. Many families were destroyed by this violent act. When violence touches children's lives they can experience post-tramatic stress disorder. According to NAEYC they can experience "sleep disturbances, inability to concentrate, flashbacks, images of terror and nightmares" (NAEYC, 1993). Our losses didn't stop that day. Due to the attacks on our country our military had to go to war. Now even more families have been destroyed due to the loss of husbands, fathers, mothers, wives, sons and daughters. "As of July (2006), more than 1, 200 children had lost parents in the war in Iraq, and thousands more had parents with serious injuries according to the Center for Studay of Traumatic Stress at the Uniform Servives University in Bethesda, Maryland" (Hardy, 2006). A counselor at Duncan Elementary on Fort Hood's Army in Texas has started "worry counseling" for the children. The school has also made accomadations for families of deployed troops, for example because of the time difference between Texas and Iraq parents can't talk to their children at night before bedtime so the school allows them to skype on the computer during school time and that way the children can talk to their parents and keep in touch (Hardy, 2006).
What we have gone through and endured is not equal to what the children in Palestine are going through. Parents in Palestine are particularly concerned about their children's moral development. With so much war and destruction taking place children are not getting the chance to be children. "Children may be traumatized, either by being forced to fight themselves or by witnessing death and destruction on an everyday basis. They may experience psychological damage, evidenced in nightmares, panic attacks, withdrawal into themselves, bullying, insecurity, muteness or violence towards family and friends. If their schools have been attacked or taken over as military bases or if it is unsafe to make the journey to school, they may be denied the most basic education" (Affouneh, 2007, p. 343). If it is unsafe for the children to get to school they are missing out on positive social and moral development. "Children in conflict situations may be over-influenced by violence, hatred and aggression. Children's play in contemporary Iraq includes games such as Americans and terrorists, militias, beheadings, torture, throwing grenades and kidnapping" (Affouneh, 2007, p. 344). Parents no longer feel they can keep their children safe because they don't feel safe themselves. "This indirectly affects the relationship between parents and their children, since the children cannot see their parents as totally dependable annymore and may start to lose respect for them (Affouneh, 2007, p. 347). Children need examples of positive moral character development and that is near to impossible with what they are having to live through. How sad is it for these children to not know peace and to feel safe?
Reference
National Association for the Education of Young Children. (1993, July). Violence in the lives of children a position statement of the national association for the education of young children. Washington, D.C. NAEYC. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSVIOL98.PDF
Hardy, L. (2006, September 5). When kids lose parents in our war in Iraq. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?vid=15&hid=125&sid=4ecadc13-7a7a-4e66-8836-6d22cb2cb707%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=ehh&AN=23254003
Affouneh, S. (2007, September). How sustained conflict makes moral education impossible: some observations from Palestine. Journal of Moral Education, 36, 3. p 343-356. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=125&sid=4ecadc13-7a7a-4e66-8836-6d22cb2cb707%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=ehh&AN=26706371
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI was at the daycare on Sept 11, 2001. My daughter called me on the phone, and told me to turn on the television. I took a minute, and checked the TV. I was shocked! I walked out into the daycare, and asked my staff to go check the television while I watched the children. When the children saw our faces, they picked up on our emotion, and asked what was wrong. My staff and I put smiles on our faces, and told the children that everything was OK. I don't think they believed us. My staff and I got over the initial shock, and discussed the best way to handle the situation. It was inevetable, the children were going to hear of the disaster. It was on television, radio, everywhere you went you saw pictures and heard stories. Sometimes it is more fearful and stressful to not know what is happening around you.
We gathered the children, and told them that something big happened. They were all ears, sensing that something happened. We told them that two planes flew into two big buildings far away from their homes and daycare. We emphasized the far away part. We told thm that we were all going to be fine. Of course, one child asked about the people on the plane and in the building. We told the group that most of the people ran really fast, and got really dirty. A few of the people had to go up to heaven to be safe. One little boy said, "Well, at least everyone is safe, up in heaven, or by running!". The children asked a few more questions, then returned to their daily routine.
A year later, a child newly enrolled in our daycare was outside playing. A plane flew over. The three year old ran and leaped under a table, shaking. I wonder how the adults in her life handled the 9/11 situation. Did they address it, let her come to terms with it, or inore it and allow her to absorb their fears?
I could not imagine what it would be like for a child living in a war ravaged country! I am so thankful that there are no wars being fought on our soil.
Mary L
I remember Sept. 11 very well I had just came home after giving birth to my daughter watching the news with my father and I begin to cry because of the loss and the uncertainty ahead of us. I have family members in the military and my children's father was also and all I could do was worry. I can never forget that day. I like the idea where the school allows the children to talk with their parents via skype and I think all schools should consider implementing something like that especially the schools in the area where there's military bases.
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you.Children do need examples of positive moral character development.No, I don't think children should be exposed to violence, and t.v. is one of the most top sources to show violence.We as educators need to be that positive role model for children when they are away from home and in our presence. Children that live in an negative environment suffers alot,and my heart goes out to them. I love children, and I feel they should have the best out of life- love,peace,and happiness.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how confusing the 9/11 attacks would be on children watching it on the news. I remember when I was in 4th grade and the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after take off. We didn't do any school work that day, we just sat in a group watching the news and the video footage. That was confusing enough to me, and it didn't even involve terrorism.
The children in war torn countries are in such a hopeless situation. They do not live normal lives at all! The things they see and the stress they endure seems like it will only perpetuate the mindset and actions that have caused the problems that are going on now. It's a vicious cycle, and I don't know how it can be stopped. To me, war is entirely irrational and barbaric. It's all we have to end conflicts between countries right now, I guess. But it seems like humanity would have come up with something better by now. It's all very sad.
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