By the Talon Staff
Every September 11, Sharon High School (SHS) dedicates a moment of silence to remember lives lost in the terrorist attacks that occurred 23 years ago… but is this gesture of respect enough?
Office workers, chefs, tourists, medics, police, firefighters, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. Four airplanes, two New York City towers, a portion of the Pentagon, and thousands gone in one morning.
The shattered piles of steel, aluminum, glass, concrete, and bone may have been cleared away, but the rubble left in the American psyche remained.
Mr. Alex Scarelli-Smith, the Library Media Specialist at SHS, holds the library’s copy of The Only Plane in the Sky, which is a compilation of oral histories of 9/11. Photo by Staff Photographer Tiffany Jordan.
The traumatic day has continued to make a lasting impression on our nation, from increasing support for patriotic action against terrorism to moments of silence in classrooms. In commemoration of the fallen, SHS teachers have various perspectives on how to remember the losses. While the importance of the day in the classroom differs between teacher to teacher, it is always approached with respect.
SHS Journalism students asked teachers what they do in the classroom to commemorate the disaster. Some focus on showing documentaries and facilitating discussion on the attacks; others encourage personal reflection. However, one common trait between the teachers is they prioritize the importance of learning about the attacks.
Ms. Lisa Jolicoeur, an English teacher and a 1983 graduate, believes that everyone needs to commemorate 9/11 with intention. She reminds students to attempt to be more sensitive with remembering the day, and she encourages community service. In her hometown, she participates in “Foxboro Never Forgets,” an annual gathering of local clubs and organizations that “drop everything and do service,” reminding participants that they should help others.
Every year, the town of Sharon holds a “Remember to Remember” ceremony to honor those who were lost, including Michael Rothberg, an alumnus of the SHS class of 1980, who was killed along with many of his Cantor Fitzgerald colleagues in the World Trade Center. His name lives on through a memorial scholarship at SHS, recognizing students who exemplify his heroic legacy and community orientation. Born and raised in Sharon, Michael contributed to the welfare in his workplace and in his community. He channeled his kindness through philanthropy, supporting the likes of Dana Farber Institute’s Jimmy Fund.
A memorial clock in his honor decorates the front of town hall and the Sharon Post Office was renamed in his honor in 2010.
Such memorials have created lasting imprints and messages in everyone who notices them, Ms. Jolicoeur said.
“Learning about [9/11] is important… students should be sensitive to the fact that some people might be greatly affected by that particular day,” said Ms. Tracy Smith, a math teacher.
The passage of time truly affects the memory of an event, as all K-12 students did not witness the deadly hijacking of four planes,the towers falling, and the aftermath of fear and uncertainty. Ms. Smith noted, “Kids born after 9/11 don’t understand that feeling of security, of that nothing like this could ever happen.” A moment of silence is still important, but the need for a full school remembrance is no longer necessary, she said.
Library Media Specialist Mr. Alex Scarelli-Smith contrasts how Pearl Harbor and 9/11 are remembered in the present. “It’s interesting because we don’t remember Pearl Harbor like 9/11,” he said. “I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future. I do think that teachers should be talking about it. A moment of silence might be helpful to remember the victims and their families.”
Ms. Courtnay Malcolm, a social studies teacher, emphasized that educators should give “students… a chance to talk about it.”