Florida Lawmakers Want Students To Know Details Of 9/11
worldstatesmen.org
Legislation filed in the Florida House of Representatives would require all Florida public schools to teach students about the events surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the impact of those events on the country.
Representatives Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) and Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) filed the legislation this week, known as House Bill 1027. “The best defense of our nation is through the education of our children. We must teach the history of 9/11 to avoid a recurrence of these tragic events,” said Abruzzo in a written statement.
“Recognizing the important historical impact 9/11 had on our nation, it is vital that our students be taught about the events that transpired on that infamous day,” said Berman. “Just as previous generations ensure that students understood the tragic events of Pearl Harbor, it is our responsibility to assure that the actions and ramifications of September 11, 2001 will not be forgotten.”
Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) plans to sponsor a companion bill in the Florida Senate. He calls 9/11 “the single deadliest terrorist attack” on American soil. “It’s important that our students have a keen understanding of the historical context of this event,” said Altman.
The lawmakers are getting support from the September 11th Families’ Association. President Lee Ielpi issued this statement:
“I believe the legislation in Florida mandating education about 9/11 in schools is a turning point in the conscience of our country. Over the past 10 years educators have hesitated to discuss the attacks of 9/11 with students because they were uncertain about approaching such recent history. The problem with that is that generations of young people are growing up without the knowledge they need to understand the world we live in now. I congratulate the legislators of Florida for having the courage to introduce this legislation. I believe that by creating informed citizens in our upcoming generations of young people, we will be strengthening our democratic process. Only through knowledge can we hope to make decisions that move us towards a more peaceful world.”
If the bill is approved by the Florida Legislature and signed by Governor Rick Scott, it will go into effect on July 1, 2012.