Yesterday as I picked Kylie up from preschool, the first thing she said to me was, "Today we learned about planes crashing into the twin towers and killing lots of people." I was flabbergasted. Kylie is only 4...why are they teaching 4 year olds about 9/11?!?!?!?
I have a big problem with this. I understand that Kylie cannot live her life isolated in a bubble, but for goodness sakes, she is only 4. A 4 year old cannot process the horror that is 9/11. Last night she asked me all kinds of questions about the planes and the people who died and asked me what their names were. I was completely caught off guard. I didn't expect to be talking to my 4 year old about terrorism and death and destruction.
Today I was hoping she would have forgotten about 9/11, but this morning we drove past a tower and she said, "Look Mama, it's a tower like the ones that the planes crashed into." Obviously she has not forgotten and is still processing what she was told at school.
I thought about this situation last night and most of today. I decided to discuss it with the director of the school. I called her this afternoon and explained my concerns. She said that the principal did say a prayer for 9/11 victims over the intercom. Kylie's school is in the lower level of the Christian school, so every morning she hears the principal say the Pledge of Allegiance and the morning prayer over the intercom. The director said that she wasn't in Kylie's class so she's not sure what exactly was discussed. She said that she will be talking with the teacher to find out more.
After I spoke with the director I asked Kylie specifically how the topic came up at school. She said that her teacher drew the towers and planes crashing into them on the dry erase board! This just keeps getting worse and worse! What the heck is up with this teacher? Is she completely clueless or what? You don't tell a 4 year old that planes crash into buildings and kill lots of people. We planned on taking a family vacation to Jamaica in the summer...now do we have to worry that Kylie will be afraid of planes? Ugh, I am so mad right now.
1 comment:
That is REALLY strange IMHO that a preschool teacher would be teaching the kids about 9/11. Totally inappropriate!!! I was a principal on 9/11 and we only told the middle schoolers what had happened. The younger children (PS-4th grade) we wanted them to be with their parents when they found out. I truly don't understand why she'd bring that up as a topic for 4 year olds. I remember seeing 1st graders acting it out with legos the day after the event but of course back then you couldn't escape it as it was on the tv all the time. Well my guess is she'll be fine with flying next summer as long as you guys seem confident about flying I doubt she'll be nervous. It's a much shorter flight than from China! :-) What a fun thing to look forward to. DH and I love the Caribbean...
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