PHOENIX, AZ — The teaching of the history of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 could be mandatory in Arizona’s schools. Governor Doug Ducey announced his intention to make it so this week.
Currently, only 14 states require students to receive instruction on the events of September 11. Ducey’s office is partnering with the Arizona State Board of Education, Arizona State Rep. Steve Kaiser, and others to join these states.
Kaiser, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, intends to sponsor the necessary legislation.
“Arizona’s children need to know our nation’s history — even the events that are hard to talk about,” said Kaiser. “I look forward to working with Governor Ducey, educators, first responders, board members, and fellow legislators to get legislation focused on September 11 education passed next session.”
“September 11, 2001 was a day that changed America,” said Ducey. “It shaped a generation, forever altering how we view the world, how the world views us and how we interact with each other. But as indelible as the memory of that tragic day is for many of us, the passage of time has taken an inevitable toll. We are now at a point where Arizonans of a certain age have no direct recollection of the pain and anger we felt two decades ago when terrorists attacked our country, or the resolve and courage demonstrated in the days that followed. For this reason, my office will work with educators and lawmakers to introduce, pass and sign legislation that guarantees the next generation of Arizonans never forgets what happened on September 11, 2001.”
One of the participants in the project is Derrick Johnson of Ahwatukee, who along with other Arizona firefighters traveled to Ground Zero to assist with recovery efforts.
“Americans from all walks of life stepped up to help one another in response to September 11,” said Johnson. “Firefighters ran into the towers, people lined up to donate blood, Americans flocked to Ground Zero to assist with recovery efforts, and so much more. It’s important that kids these days learn about all of this, and they must learn about the horrible attacks against our great nation. My thanks goes to Governor Ducey for his plans to present legislation that will strengthen September 11 education.”
Currently, Arizona’s academic standards include broad references to September 11 and terrorism, but there is not a specific requirement in place. The Governor plans to work collaboratively with the State Board of Education and key stakeholders to present legislation during the next legislative session that will guarantee Arizona K-12 students, who were not alive on the day of the attacks, will receive instruction on what occurred that day and the ripple effects it has had on the American way of life.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 four commercial airplanes were hijacked by al-qaeda terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The tragic terrorist attacks against the United States set in motion the war on terror, including the 20-year war in Afghanistan.