18.+OHinterview

I think it made me realize that we are much more vulnerable then we were everywhere. I grew up in post WWII and Korea era when wars were always fought over seas and this attack was right here where I am raising my children and it made me feel very venerable. The only difference was a difference of awareness. I was aware that my children could get called to service. I also realized that wars could go on for a very long time. For the first time in my life I had to fight feelings of prejudice against people of Middle Eastern heritage. I had to consciously examine these I could not ever imagine having.
 * __1. How did the 9/11 attacks effect you and your daily life?__**

Yes, a student that I taught and coach died when the North Tower collapsed. His name was Gordy Aamoth and he was one of those kids that was a true leader. He was captain football and hockey teams and President of the senior class. Friends of Gordy together with the school choose to raise money in his honor to build a new football stadium for Blake. Within a year this group raised 1.5 million dollars, built the stadium and on September 11, 2002 the Gordy Aamoth Jr. stadium was dedicated.
 * __2. Did anyone you know get directly affected by the attack?__**

I was in my computer lab and I found out by a phone call from my wife. I went on line and was shock and couldn’t believe that this had happened. At noon an emergency staff meeting was held to decided how we should handle this information. Some parents had called and wanted to pick up their students others didn’t want the school staff to talk about it with their kids. Ultimately, we decided to not share the information with students and allowed any kids to go home if their parents felt it was in their child’s best interest.
 * __3. Where were you when the attack itself happen? what was you reaction? What was your peers' reactions?__**

__**4. How did you tell the kids and teach them about the situation?**__ That day we did not inform the kids, because I worked at an elementary school and we felt it may be overwhelming for small children. Years earlier fifth grade students at our school were watching the live launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger when it exploded and it was very traumatizing for them and we used that as a touch point in the way we dealt with this tragedy

__**5. From a teaching stand point, how much or how little do you think is appropriate to tell the kids about the attack?**__ As I said earlier we didn’t say anything to the kids that day. We decided as a staff to compose a letter to send to the parents. I worked in technology and I was in charge of creating a website that linked all current data regarding the attack for our community. This helped inform and support teachers and families as they dealt with this difficult issue.

__**6. How was the school day different the next day on September 12th?**__ On September 12, 2001 was starting a new Engineering class with a Kindergarten group and felt it would be prudent if I changed the lesson that I had planned for that class. My lesson was to do a discovery project about why a building needs a solid base by building a tower as tall as each student was with LEGOs. I changed the day’s plan and ultimately choose not to teach than lesson plan by finding a different way to explore the subject.

__**7. Did the attack affect the rest of the school year, and if so how?**__ Yes, I think it did affect the school year. Everyone, even the youngest kids became keenly aware of the potential danger of air travel. Airports were shut down to create new security plans. Travel became tedious and dangerous as a result families flew less at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. The lives of our students took a sharp turn and we all felt it. As a staff we kept a closer eye on kids and how the dealt with, even the smallest things emotionally.