Inside Scoop
Facts on NEA's September 11 Website

What's up on what's offered.

Launched August 19, NEA's Remember September 11 Website attracted thousands of visitors with its teacher-designed lesson plans and documents of American democracy, all searchable in an Internet "library" database so parents and educators could choose from a wide variety of age-appropriate material for K-12 students.

Unfortunately, some in the media severely misinterpreted the site's content, perhaps intentionally. Some NEA members who heard the media might have been confused. Here, we sort through the facts.

What is actually on the site?
More than 100 age-appropriate lesson plans and links to more than 60 outside resources that adults can use as they choose with their children and students.

The site is a celebration of America--and American values, like respect for law, freedom, and individual liberty. Rich with praise for heroism and calls to patriotism, the site provides links to the array of September 11-related information, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, words to "God Bless America," and flag etiquette. Also included are links for presidential speeches, defense and anti-terrorism agencies, and memorial sites to the victims.

NEA built its site by drawing on the experience and expertise of its members and its partners in educational excellence--the American Library Association, the Public Broadcasting System, the American Red Cross, and others.

So what's the big deal?
A Washington, D.C.-based newspaper singled out one of over 150 links on NEA's Remember September 11 site. This link notes the importance of understanding the difference between members of religious and ethnic groups and terrorists who share the religion or ethnicity.

The newspaper took some of the material from that one link out of context, distorted it, and then misreported it as NEA's viewpoint. The newspaper's inaccurate criticism seeped out to other media, spreading the distortion.

What is NEA's position?
NEA stands firm with our fellow Americans in condemning terrorism and its conspirators. In July 2001, NEA took a stand against the Taliban. And immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks, NEA and the American Federation of Teachers set up a joint NEAFT September 11 Fund to assist children of the victims and other members affected by this tragedy. By this past summer, $765,000 had been disbursed to individuals, along with $21,000 to New York City schools to replace blast-damaged copiers.

Can I decide about the Website for myself?
Absolutely. Just go online to http://neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/september11/.

Can NEA members expect more media tiffs in the future?
"NEA can be a target for those who resent our successful advocacy of public education," says NEA President Reg Weaver. "But we all need to stay focused on the higher ground--on the fact that we have a responsibility to give all children access to a quality education.

"That," says Weaver, "is the main story."