ARIZONA NEWS

History class important for students who didn’t live through 9/11

Sep 11, 2018, 4:54 AM | Updated: 10:29 am
(AP Photo/Moshe Bursuker)...
(AP Photo/Moshe Bursuker)
(AP Photo/Moshe Bursuker)

PHOENIX — High school history teachers are seeing classrooms filled with students who were not yet born or are too young to remember the day the Twin Towers fell.

Bryan Rossi (Mountain Ridge High School Photo)

“I have to go back and rehash with the students as to what led to the attacks, because they understand we were attacked, but they don’t understand why,” Bryan Rossi, a government and U.S. history teacher at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday.

Starting with a journal note at the beginning of each class period, Rossi asks his students to all write down what they do know about Sept. 11, 2001. Then he gauges their knowledge and begins an open discussion on the terrorist attacks.

“I like to use primary documents. I like to use video from that day,” he said. “It’s one thing to talk about it, but it’s another thing to actually see it.”

Rossi said there are plenty of students who don’t know much about what happened on the four flights that were hijacked that day.

“When people stood up on a flight and fought back with the terrorists, started calling their loved ones, and the Pennsylvania flight that had to ditch because the men had broken into the cockpit,” he said.

“I try to bring up the details to teach them the awareness and gravity of the attack.”

Explaining what led to the attacks and how their impact is still felt today, from airport security to military action, plays a major role in the lessons.

Rossi wants to leave a lasting impression on his students regarding what happened that day by using plenty of visual aspects in a PowerPoint presentation.

“I show them vivid photos of that day as well as different video clips, not just from helicopters but also from people watching from their apartments and other office buildings,” he said.

One aspect that history teachers now face are conspiracy theories.

“There is so much online and my students are always on YouTube, and it’s constant conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory all about 9/11,” Rossi said.

Rossi encourages his students to talk to their parents and older peers about that day to get their perspective and learn more about it.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)...
KTAR.com

Arizona Democrats sue third-party No Labels, Sec. of State Fontes

The Arizona Democratic Party filed a complaint Thursday against Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and newly recognized third party No Labels.
10 hours ago
(KTAR News Photo/Jeremy Schnell)...
Taylor Tasler

Arizona corrections director says drugs getting into prisons, has plan for reform

Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry Director Ryan Thornell knows drugs are in prisons and has a plan for reform.
10 hours ago
(Photo by Gordon Chibroski/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)...
Griselda Zetino

Advocacy group to act as ‘watchdog’ for Arizona English-language learners

A Valley advocacy group plans to act as a "watchdog" for all things coming out of the Department of Education, including Arizona schools chief Tom Horne's efforts.
10 hours ago
(Everclear Photo/Ashley Osborn)...
KTAR.com

Alt-rock veterans Everclear to take center stage at Mesa Music Festival in April

Alt rockers Everclear headline the upcoming sixth annual Mesa Music Festival, a free three-day event designed to promote emerging artists.
10 hours ago
(RED Development Rendering)...
KTAR.com

Life Time plans luxury apartments, fit living complex for Paradise Valley Mall makeover

A Phoenix developer and a national health club chain are working together to build a luxury community at the reimagined Paradise Valley Mall.
10 hours ago
Desiria Bell, 36, Kross Cain, 3, and Zhariel Cain, 9. (Surprise Police Department Photos)...
KTAR.com

2 young children missing from Surprise found safe, police say

Two children reported missing from a West Valley suburb were found safe late Wednesday, authorities said.
1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

(Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona Photo)...
Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona

5 common causes for chronic neck pain

Neck pain can debilitate one’s daily routine, yet 80% of people experience it in their lives and 20%-50% deal with it annually.
...
Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Prep the plumbing in your home just in time for the holidays

With the holidays approaching, it's important to know when your home is in need of heating and plumbing updates before more guests start to come around.
(Desert Institute for Spine Care photo)...
DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Why DISC is world renowned for back and neck pain treatments

Fifty percent of Americans and 90% of people at least 50 years old have some level of degenerative disc disease.
History class important for students who didn’t live through 9/11