Post 9/11 Help

The questions listed below represent a nonscientific sampling of inquiries that have been made to the NEA staff from members and other educators across the U.S.

The content and links displayed, as answers to these questions, have been selected to provide an overview of resources that are available to teachers and educational support personnel. Obviously, there are many additional sources of information for each question.

The sites chosen do not indicate a preference or bias for one site over another not listed. The sites selected and information provided do not necessarily represent the views of the National Education Association, its affiliates and members.

The Web links shown are accurate as of the day of posting. We are endeavoring to provide as specific an address for content and information as possible. But, please note that specific links may change at any time. If the link to a specific page is not available, please click on the main site address.

Terrorism on Trial

What is the current status of the alleged American al-Qaeda member John Walker, alleged terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui and others?

• http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/02011509.htm (1/31/02)
• http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01121213.htm (1/31/02)

Media

What are appropriate suggestions for viewing events on TV/video/computer Web sites in classrooms during a terrorist incident or major war event, and in the weeks that follow?

• How should TV/video/ computer Web site recommendations be broken down by the ages of students?
• How should this information be provided to parents?

What guidelines should be given to students and parents for viewing at home?

• www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/ (11/12/01)
  www.ces.purdue.edu (home page)
  The hints provided here are based on two assumptions: that children and families are affected by world events and news media, and that parents would benefit from seeking alternatives to violence in childrearing and in their children’s lives.
  
• www.talkingwithkids.org/twk-news-terror-dom-tips.htm (11/12/01)
  www.talkingwithkids.org (home page)
  “Talking With Kids About Tough Issues” is a national campaign by
  Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation

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Military Affairs

What special recommendations should be made for schools near military bases and major government facilities?

• www.csmonitor.com/2001/1004/p3s1-usmi.html (11/12/01)
  www.csmonitor.com (home page)
  The Web site of the Christian Science Monitor newspaper
  

What are the military reserves and why are they being called up? Are the current jobs of reservists guaranteed? How might this impact the children of military parents?

• http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/guardandreserve/ (11/12/01)
  Comprehensive listing military and civilian sites with information about all the reserve branches, obligations of employers and questions that reservists and their families may have.
  

How are kids coping with parents leaving for tours of duty?

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63789-2001Oct15.html (11/5/01)
  www.washingtonpost.com (home page)
  The Washington Post online service, (washingtonpost.com), publishes a “kidspost” section each week with articles for and about kids.
  
  
• http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/kidslink/intro.htm (11/12/01)
  http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/index.shtml (11/12/01)
  Department of Defense pages for families and children of parents being deployed overseas.

Has the War in Afghanistan Really Worked?

• www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/1605.html (12/19/01)

What is the timeline of events in the search for Osama Bin Laden?

• www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/america_under_attack/bin_laden/framesource_timeline.html (2/21/02)

What happens if America captures Osama Bin Laden?

• www.msnbc.com/news/644479.asp#BODY (2/20/02)

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Social Studies/Government

What did President Bush say about terrorism in his State of the Union address?

• www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/index.html

As President Bush so compellingly argued in his speech to Congress on terrorism following Sept. 11, the terrorists attacked America because they despise our values. We will defeat this enemy by arms and law, but also by holding fast to the core values that define us as Americans: our freedom, our liberties, our commitment to an open, tolerant, democratic society.

Of necessity, public schools will be a frontline institution in this new era. America’s domestic security will depend on more than metal detectors and sky marshals. It also will depend on the values taught in America’s public schools. In the months and years ahead, it is our challenge as educators to guide an entire generation of young Americans to understand the freedom and democratic ideals that are at stake in this struggle.

What is the 'axis of evil' President Bush mentioned in his State of the Union Address?

• www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/east/02/18/bush.terror/index.html (2/18/02)

Where can my students find a copy of the Declaration of Independence?

• www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/declaration/decmain.html (11/12/01)
  

Where can we find the Constitution?

• www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/conmain.html (11/12/01)
  

Where can we find the Bill of Rights?

• www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/billrights/billmain.html (11/12.01)
  

What is the proper way to display the American flag?

• www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html (11/12/01)
  

What are the words to our National Anthem?

• www.treefort.org/~rgrogan/web/usa1.htm (11/12/01)
  

What are the words to “God Bless America” and its history?

• www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm019.html (11/12/01)

What are Homeland Security Alerts?

• www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/ (12/10)

Who is in control of Afghanistan now that the Taliban are surrendering?

• www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20011114wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons (12/11)
  www.nytimes.com/learning (home page)
  New York Times lesson plan on the turbulent history of governing Afghanistan and prospects for the future.
  

• www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/1592.html (12/19)
  www.epn.org (home page)
  The Electronic Policy network (EPN) is a consortium of top policy organizations and advocacy groups providing timely information and leading ideas about the policies and politics that shape our world.

• www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/1613.html (12/19)

Cultural

What is Islam, its roots and foundation of beliefs?

• www.freep.com/jobspage/arabs.htm (11/5/01)
  www.freep.com (home page)
  Like all people, Arab Americans are too often described in simplistic terms. Although the Arab culture is one of the oldest on Earth, it is, in many parts of the United States, misunderstood. There are no easy, one-size-fits-all answers. Culture, language and religion are distinct qualities that act in different ways to connect Arabs, and to distinguish them from one another.
  The differences that seem to separate Arab Americans from non-Arabs can be much smaller than the variations that at times differentiate them from one another. It takes time to learn the issues and to understand them, but it is essential and rewarding for us to do that. Misunderstanding ultimately hurts each one of us.
  At the Detroit Free Press, published in the city with the United States' most concentrated Arab-American population, we try to better understand and explain these issues daily. After consulting with others, we offer this guide as a step toward more accurate journalistic portrayals of Arab Americans.

What are the differences and similarities between Christianity, Judaism and Islam?

• www.beliefnet.com/index/index_40118.html (11/5/01)
  www.belieftnet.com (home page)
  Beliefnet is a multi-faith e-community designed to help people meet his/her own religious and spiritual needs -- in an interesting, captivating and engaging way.
  Beliefnet is an independent and not affiliated with a particular religion or spiritual movement. Fundamental to its mission is a deep respect for a wide variety of faiths and traditions.
  

What is the Taliban and are the Taliban representative of Islam?

• www.beliefnet.com/story/90/story_9095_1.html (11/5/01)
  www.beliefnet.com (home page)
  

What words of inclusion should be spoken about American Muslims?

• www.adc.org/education/antiarab.htm (11/5/01)
  www.adc.org (home page)
  The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC, which is non-sectarian, non- partisan is the largest Arab-American grassroots organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk and has chapters nationwide.
  

How can schools be most effective in teaching tolerance and preventing prejudice from forming in light of the ongoing news coverage and images?

• http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/09/19/national/19LESS.html?Partner=NYTLearningNetwork&RefId=jWoSmS=EutttnJnue (11/12/01)

How do we prevent young people from stereotyping all Arabs as persons to be feared?

• www.edc.org/spotlight/schools/beyondblame.htm (11/5/01)
  www.edc.org (home page)
  In addition to designing curricula and other educational tools and systems, EDC works to improve the conditions for learning. EDC manages projects focusing on nutrition, environmental protection, substance abuse, and injury, violence, and disease prevention. And EDC collaborates with communities, institutions, and governments to create environments in which ongoing learning is valued and nurtured.
• www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2001/09192001c.html (11/5/01)
  www.ed.gov (homepage)
  US Department of Education

Should we send/open cards and packages?

• www.usps.com/news/2001/press/mailsecurity/consfaq.htm (12/11)
  US Postal Service information.

How are women being treated Afghanistan after the Taliban?

• Afghan Women Protest in Pakistan (12/12/01) [URL too long to display]
  www.voanews.com (home page)
  Commentary from the Voice of America

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History

What is the history of Afghanistan and our relations with it?

• http://history1900s.about.com/library/world/blxafghanistan.htm (11/5/01)
  http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://dosfan.li
  http://home.about.com/history/ (home page)
  About.com is considered the largest special-interest Web content provider with over 1,000 sites. It is owned by PRIMEDIA, one the largest publishing firms in the US with over 300 magazine titles.
• www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/af.html (11/5/01)
  www.cia.gov (home page)
  US Central Intelligence Agency
  

If the US helped to develop the Taliban in response to the Soviet invasion, why do they hate us?
What are our relations with the countries that surround Afghanistan?
Why are we worried about Pakistan and India in these developments?

• www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/SouthAsia/afghan_US.html (11/12/01)
  www.lib.berkeley.edu (home page)
  The University of California at Berkeley’s online library is a source for in-depth articles on US relations with countries throughout the world. Use this link to locate additional resources on South Asia and the history of US relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan
  

How does the current conflict relate to the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation?

• www.merip.org/index.html (11/12/01)
  The Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP ), founded in 1971, is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization based in Washington, DC. A completely independent organization, it has no links to any religious, educational or political organizations in the US or elsewhere.

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Science

Are we prepared for biochemical attacks in America? How do we answer these and related questions to students of different ages?

• What is anthrax?
  www.neahin.org/4e.html (11/12/01)
• How did it get into those letters?
  Am I safe opening mail at home?
  www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax/10122001Handle/10122001Handle.asp (11/12/01)
  www.cdc.gov (home page)
  US Centers for Disease Control

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Building Security

What considerations should be given to improving school crisis plans?

• www.schoolsecurity.org/terrorist_response.html (11/12/01)
  www.schoolsecurity.org (home)
  National School Safety and Security Services is a Cleveland (Ohio)-based, national consulting firm specializing in school security and crisis preparedness training, security assessments, and related safety consulting for K-12 schools, law enforcement, and other youth safety providers.
• www.aasa.org/publications/sa/2001_06/foc_safety.htm (11/12/01)
  www.aasa.org (home page)
  The American Association of School Administrators provides information, articles and other resources on guiding schools in developing crisis plans.
• www.k12.dc.us/dcps/disaster_manual.htm (11/12/01)
  www.k12.dc.us (home page)
  District of Columbia Public Schools’ online crisis resource guide.
  

Are schools safe from biochemical attacks?

• http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/isssa/lawrencegdlsanthrax.html (11/12/01)
  Information from the Indiana Department of Education

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Mental Health

What are practical tips for managing and reducing stress?

• www.neahin.org/mentalhealth/tips.htm (1/31/02)
  

How can families work together to cope with the events surrounding September 11th?

• http://www.7-dippity.com/other/op_freedownloads.html (1/31/02)

How should we help students express their feelings following tragedies such as September 11th?

• www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010912wednesday.html (11/12/01)
  www.nytimes.com/learning (home page)
  The New York Times’ Web site publishes a wealth of lesson plans for teachers on current issues such as terrorism and the war in Afghanistan
  

How should schools respond to the students whose parents or relatives are killed in a terrorist attack or military action?

• www.nasponline.org/NEAT/grief.html (11/12/01)
  www.nasponline.org (home page)
  National Association of School Psychologists
  

Does existing research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) conducted with adults apply to the current situation with children? How might children react in similar or dissimilar ways?

• www.ncptsd.org/facts/specific/fs_children.html (11/12/01)
  www.ncptsd.org (home page)
  National Center for PTSD
  

What services or systems are available for school staff experiencing their own level of fear and uncertainty?

• www.nea.org/crisis/b4home17.html (11/12/01)
  National Education Association