Sylacauga teacher highlighted by CBS News for 9/11 history lessons
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More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, teachers across the country are finding ways to turn something they lived through into a history lesson for a new generation of students.
Chris Theilacker was deployed overseas after the attacks and now, he’s using that connection and perspective to teach students at Sylacauga High School about the event.
This week, Theilacker was one of the teachers highlighted by CBS News’ Eye on America segment on how the historic moment is taught in today’s classrooms.
“It’s one of those watershed moments in U.S. history. It must be taught, the patriotic side of it, the messy side of it. It’s a great rallying moment for what we can achieve when we decide to work together.”
Chris Theilacker via CBS News
Eye on America
Theilacker, who teaches AP Psychology and history at the high school, was one of three teachers that CBS News featured on their national broadcast Wednesday night.
It started with a program over the summer where teachers from across the country traveled to New York to get a closer understanding of what happened at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.
“Their Eye On America segment is about the 9/11 Museum Institute for Educators I attended this summer, and I am one of the educators highlighted in the segment. CBS crews followed me around for two days at the Institute, and they then came to Alabama to film me teaching 9/11 content in my classroom. All I can hope for at this point is that I don’t make too big of a fool of myself.”
Chris Theilacker via Facebook
9/11 Museum Institute for Educators
Theilacker was a part of a group of teachers who went to New York in July for the annual program.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Institute for Educators offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the Museum’s content and collections. The goal is for the teachers to:
- Receive classroom-ready strategies to discuss 9/11 with students
- Discuss how to engage with difficult content
- Learn how to use artifacts and primary sources to explore the themes and issues raised by the attacks
Content sessions were facilitated by staff from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and other experts in fields of 9/11-related study. CBS News featured a surviving first responder from the day of the attacks speaking to the teachers in the program.
At the conclusion, participants were expected to develop their own unique professional development session plan to present to colleagues.
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