Pa. schools required to remember 9/11 attacks with moment of silence
All students across Pennsylvania will pause for moment of silence on Wednesday to reflect on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
It will be the first in what is now a mandated annual observance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the nation that left 2,997 people dead in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill in June that instructs public and private schools to hold the moment of silence.
The new law also directs the state Department of Education to identify and make available, starting next year, a model curriculum to teach students about the significance of what transpired that day.
On 9/11, Islamic terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, flying two into the World Trade Center, leading to the collapse of the twin towers, and one into the Pentagon. A fourth plane was likely en route to the U.S. Capitol when passengers fought back, forcing the plane down in rural Somerset County.
Cumberland Valley School District Superintendent Mark Blanchard said the principals in all district schools will read a prepared statement to introduce the moment of silence, and teachers have been given material to use in the event students have questions.
Following its past practice, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Harrisburg will observe the day with the playing of “taps,” followed by a moment of silence and then a prayer, principal JoAnn Cantos said.
West Shore School District will hold a moment of silence in the morning with individual building principals deciding how to prepare students for learning about the event and any lessons about it, said spokesman Bradon Long.
Mechanicsburg Area School District schools will honor the lives lost on 9/11, but each building will do it in an age-appropriate way, said spokeswoman Tracy Panzer.
The state bill requiring schools to observe the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil passed unanimously in the House and Senate.
According to the education department, it is Pennsylvania’s only statewide moment of silence mandate on schools. The department shared educational materials it’s making available.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Luzerne County, although several lawmakers going back to 2006 had offered legislation to encourage or require an observance of the day.
Haddock was mayor of Avoca, a small borough 150 miles from New York City, at the time of the attacks. He said he vividly recalls the day and phone calls from the FBI and Secret Service advising the borough to patrol the local airport and be on the lookout for any unusual activity.
“You wouldn’t think a small town like Avoca would possibly be a target,” he recalled thinking that day. “It was scary.”
But students in school today weren’t born when the horrific events of that day occurred, and they may not be aware of the heroic acts of passengers and emergency responders that saved untold numbers of lives.
That fact was not lost on the lawmakers, who cited that as a reason for making it a law. They saw it as a way to ensure future generations of Americans understand the day’s significance.
“9/11 was the darkest day in our nation since Pearl Harbor,” said Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, who introduced legislation similar to Haddock’s bill that passed the Senate last year. “Yet, it’s shocking to me that this defining moment in our history has gone generally unnoticed each year in public schools and receives no mention in the state academic standards for history, civics and government.”
He said: “This legislation ensures that this defining moment of our generation is not forgotten and reminds us of the precious lives lost that day, as well as the families they left behind. We made a promise more than 20 years ago to never forget what happened on Sept. 11, 2011. This bill honors that promise.”
Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, separately had offered legislation requiring the state education department to develop model curriculum about 9/11. She looks forward to that material being made available to schools next year.
“As we reflect on another anniversary of 9/11, it’s more important than ever to ensure students understand the profound impact of that day as well as the events leading up to and following that somber day in American history,” Phillips-Hill said.
Haddock, who is in his first term, said he takes pride in this being his first piece of legislation to become a law. He said he was aware some schools have held voluntarily observances of the day. This measure now ensures that happens everywhere. New York is among the states that have passed a similar law.
“It was just a striking moment for all Americans,” Haddock said. “This bill will help make sure people don’t forget America was attacked on our soil.”
