Schools Seek Return to Normalcy
Oct. 5, 2001 — -- Thousands of teddy bears from Miami schools. Friendship bracelets from fifth graders. Origami "peace" art from a Japanese private school in Purchase, N.Y. Fund-raising proceeds. Home-baked cookies. Hand-drawn banners. And letters — tons of them, every single day.
"It's still pouring in, fast and furious," says Nancy Retherford, director of national media for the American Red Cross. "We have bags that are as yet untouched in this room because the volunteers have not been able to get through in a day more than what's coming in."
Schools continue to account for a large percentage of the of the gifts to victims, relief workers, public officials and even rescue dogs dealing with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
However, teachers say day-to-day life at most schools outside the attack zones largely returned to normal weeks ago.
"The nation has been urged by the president on down to kind of get back to business," says Janet Bass, national spokeswoman for the American Federation of Teachers, a teachers' union. "There's a lot that has to be done in schools."
Educators say the return to normal lesson plans, homework and standardized tests, and the continued outpouring of tributes and gifts are not in conflict. Both are efforts to return kids to zones of comfort.
"It's the routine itself that provides a lot of normalcy and emotional balance to kids," says Jerald Newberry, executive director of the health information network of the National Education Association, a national teacher's union.
At the same time, he has heard of "thousands of examples" of student action, including students at a K-2 school in Virginia who raised $3,000 by collecting change, Texas students who mailed 1,000 pairs of gloves to New York relief workers and kids everywhere who surprised school officials by expressing encouragement and gratitude, rather than fear, in their letters.
"School officials, teachers, understand at a gut level the healing power of giving," Newberry says. "And they're finding ways that are appropriate to their locations, their budgets, the age of their students, to devise activities where kids can participate and give."
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