BUZZ IN THE HALLS by Pam Koharchik: A look at life at Allentown High School.
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It was a week that tested all of our limits, some more personally than others. While most people huddled with co-workers and family members as the news unfolded, we at Allentown High School spent our time with dozens of inquisitive and horror stricken faces, all asking the question, "Why?"
Unfortunately, our answers were not supported by any textbook, and our hearts echoed the same disbelief. However, as educators, we knew we had to be strong role models on such an unbelievable day.
The unfolding of the events was swift. Sarah Defilippis, the president of the senior class, came into my room at 9 a.m. Sept. 11, the changing of the classes. Her face expressed her fear. "K, do you know anything about there being a fire in the World Trade Center?"
I had just finished setting up the background of "Ulysses" to my sophomore English class, so I had heard nothing. I did go straight to a news Web site, though, on my computer. The pictures came up quickly. At this point, only one plane was recorded to have hit, so the damage looked horrendous, but manageable.
Sarah’s face looked horrible. She told me that during gym class, a radio was on and they heard the news. She was concerned about her close friend’s mother, who works there. To add more panic to the situation, her friend was home alone due to sickness that morning.
To be honest with you, international terrorism was the last thought in my mind. It had to be an accident. And the Center would be safe, as it’s a smartly designed building, a titan of architecture. Or, in the least, perhaps it was an internal terrorist act. After all, we had so many domestic tragedies in the last few years that it seemed incomprehensible that an outside force would be able to do this to us.
Between Columbine and the Oklahoma bombing, we are almost used to our own citizens committing outlandish acts, but a foreigner infiltrating our security?
I went across the hall into the library, which has a TV hooked up to cable for the purpose of educational taping. The monitor showed the tragedy. Sarah immediately left to call her friend. As word leaked out, I had a decision to make, and it wasn’t an easy one. Do I turn on the classroom TV and allow the students to see what was going on or not?
My second period class is American Literature. We had just finished doing group word web displays where the students defined what the word "American" means. They are still hanging around the room, and cite such concepts as "freedom", "red, white and blue" and "proud." Next to those words are also "racism," "NYC" and "hatred." What was unfolding was an entire school curriculum civics, history, psychology, sociology, humanities and English.
I asked the students if anyone had a friend or relative working at the WTC. No one answered in the affirmative, but news was spreading through the school that there was a catastrophe in N.Y.
I chose to put on the TV because this was a piece of their unfortunate history that would later be called their generation’s "defining moment." We watched the next plane hit, the Pentagon erupt in flames, and the eventual crumbling of the buildings that had in so few years had become the modern symbol of NYC, a symbol that replaced the early immigrants’ icon of freedom, the Statue of Liberty. The buildings that the lady in the harbor watched rise fell to the ground under her (and our) blank stare.
The school went through the motions of "business as usual," as Principal Christopher Nagy implored, but the business was anything but. What followed are days of writing assignments, classroom discussions and thoughtful reflection. A senior girl’s mom still hasn’t been located.
Many school groups are providing what little assistance they can, including the Optimist Club, which is providing frozen meals for the family. Others are stopping by to spend time with the family as they wait for information. Everyone else is praying for a safe outcome for all. I haven’t been to church in a few years on a Sunday morning, but I was there this past weekend. All it took was two verses of "America, the Beautiful" before Mass to reduce my resolve to tears.
The teachers still don’t have answers for the students; as a matter of fact, many of us are asking their same questions. Friday was designated "Red, White and Blue Day" by Mr. Nagy to bring our small community together. I happen to be working at the firehouse after school that day, so I wore my uniform in. I wore it with pride knowing that even though I didn’t have the courage to face the situation directly at Ground Zero, I stood firmly behind those who did, many of which lost their lives during rescue operations.
And as I sit today thinking about that girl’s mom and the sense of the loss of innocence and security felt by the school age kids everywhere, I wonder how "American" will be defined by my classes to come.
Buzzing in the halls this week: Spirit Week kicks off next week with the Red and Black Assembly at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the auditorium …
School will be closed Thursday, Sept. 27, in observance of Yom Kippur …
Community Education brochures were mailed out late. The deadline for registration is still Sept. 27. If you did not receive a brochure, check out http://www.ufrsd.k12.nj.us/commed/ for a complete listing.
Pam Koharchik is an English teacher at AHS. Buzz in the Halls is a regular feature.

