Lesson on 9-11 aftermath teaches students importance of the attack

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Jason Brown was a ninth grader in biology class when he learned of the attack on Sept. 11. Now he teaches the new generation about its impact at Windsor Forest High School.

“To my dismay I’ve learned that kids don’t really know what happened that day,” Brown said.

Windsor Forest student Patrick Burrows said he had not thought much about the attacks before.

“I never reflected on it much, I wouldn’t say I never took it seriously but I never got the emotional part of it,” Burrows said.

Windsor Forest junior Ella Brady said she felt disconnected from the collective experience.

“Like as a country I feel like we all had to move past it but I wasn’t there to move past it with everyone,” Brady said.

Brown said students often know only the basic facts.

“They might have heard about a plane hitting a building, but the aftermath, I don’t think they knew much about and so that’s why I make it my business now about the residuals of what happened after the attack,” Brown said.

Lesson covers days after the attack

The lesson covered not just Sept. 11 but the days afterward. Groups of students discussed how they would respond in that situation.

Some students compared the attacks to the COVID-19 pandemic, which they called the most impactful event of their lifetime. Brady said there was a difference between the two events.

“There was some way to see that something could happen, whereas 9/11 was sudden,” Brady said.

Teacher emphasizes unity

Brown said one of the most important things for students to understand is how unified the country became after the attacks.

“Especially in times with social media where what you see there can sometimes cause you to feel a certain type of way, the comments are negative, but I think it’s important for them to see that we can come together on a united front. And it’s not us against the world but it’s to help your fellow neighbor,” Brown said.

Brown said he was glad his students took the lesson as seriously as the event. Principal Joanna Brooks said she is glad it is being taught.