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In This Issue
Welcome to Current Events! In Issue 2, CE marks the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Time Trip looks back at the hunt and capture of Osama bin Laden.

In this issue's news debate, CE explores whether teachers and students should be banned from texting, tweeting, or chatting on Facebook.

Objectives
Main News: Students will learn about the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, and the ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary. Time Trip looks back at the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
News Debate: Students will be able to conduct a debate about whether students and teachers should be able to communicate via social networking sites.

Standards
SOCIAL STUDIES (NCSS)
Main News: Civic ideals and practices; Time, continuity, and change
News Debate: Science, technology, and society; Individuals, groups, and institutions

Language Arts (NCTE)
Main News: Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of society.
News Debate: Students conduct research by generating ideas and questions.

Geography (NCGE)
Main News: How to apply geography to study the past

Social Studies Vocabulary
Sharia law; Al Qaeda; First Amendment

Skills Builders
Page 3: Comprehension Skills
Page 4: News Crossword

PREVIOUS ISSUES

Issue 1: Game Over?

Always Remember

Get Talking
Explain to students that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Then ask: What do you know about that day?

Notes Behind the News
• The Pentagon’s September 11 memorial was completed in 2008. The site includes 184 benches—one for each victim who died when terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the U.S. military building. The Pentagon will hold a 10th-anniversary ceremony for victims’ families and military members. U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the services at all three crash sites.
• The new World Trade Center site will include some of the nation’s tallest skyscrapers, a museum, and a memorial. When it is completed in 2013, 1 World Trade Center will stretch 1,776 feet high, making it the tallest tower in the United States. The 102-story skyscraper will have office space, restaurants, and an observation deck. No completion date has been set for Tower 2. That tower will be coated with sparkling crystal materials. Towers 3 and 4 will border the site’s memorial grounds. They will be completed by 2015. No schedule is set yet for the fifth tower.

Doing More
More than 1 million Americans will donate their time as part of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Started in 2009, the day’s goal is to bring Americans together to help others. As a class, brainstorm a good deed that students can carry out in honor of the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. Then pledge to complete your project at www.911day.org.

Web Resource
Download a curriculum to teach students about Sept. 11, 2001, from the 4 Action Initiative: www.sites.google.com/site/the4actioninitiative.

Friend Request Accepted?

Get Talking
Ask: How does communicating using electronic media compare with using traditional letters and phone calls?

Notes Behind the News
• Prohibiting certain kinds of electronic communication between teachers and students was just one part of Missouri Senate Bill 54. The bill as a whole was intended to protect students from sexual misconduct. Another provision prevented school employees who were fired for sexual misconduct from being hired by other school districts.
• A number of teacher organizations, including the Missouri National Education Association, the Missouri State Teachers Association, and the Missouri School Boards’ Association, supported the bill as a whole, and it passed unanimously in the legislature.
• The one point many teachers took issue with was the vague and broad provision that made it unlawful for teachers to have nonwork-related Web sites or to use social networking sites that allow exclusive access to current or former students. The bill defined former students as people 18 or younger who were at one time students at the school at which the teacher is employed.
• The Missouri State Teachers Association lawsuit charged that the provision would make it illegal for teachers to communicate with their children, relatives, youth group members, and even reporters who happen to be former students using social networking Web sites, e-mail, or text messages. It would also prevent teachers from interacting with students privately via Twitter, Facebook, and possibly other sites used by teachers for online classes
or distance learning, such as Blackboard and Global Virtual Classroom.

Doing More
Legislators are holding hearings to get input from students, parents, and teachers. Divide students into groups representing each of those parties, and ask them to present opinions about the law from that perspective in a classroom hearing. What changes would they make to the law?

Test students' comprehension with this activity.

Try out this issue's News Crossword.

Are your students Smart Stuff? Get this issue's Smart Stuff activity here.

Click here for the answers!

Teaching Centers and Issue Dates, 2011-2012

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