Vowing to never forget 9/11 by teaching those too young to remember

FABIUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Most everyone who was alive for 9/11 has an “I remember where I was” moment.

“I had actually just started teaching here at Fabius Pompey,” Matthew Neuner, Mr. Neuner said to his students. “I was literally in my sixth day here.”

Did Mr. Neuner know at this moment, that that would become the history he would teach?

“It didn’t immediately set in because there was so much unknown at that moment of ‘why was this happening?'” Mr. Neuner said.

23 years later Mr. Neuner is still at Fabius Pompey teaching history. Only now, he’s teaching something he experienced as a history lesson to students who weren’t alive yet.

“You know our students right now weren’t alive at that point but the more that you can share stories of the people that were there or bring in stories from their parents or other loved ones that can start to allow them to develop or understand a history behind it,” Mr. Neuner explained.

Mr. Neuner teaches history so it’s not doomed to repeat itself, but also, in 9/11’s case, to share the stories of heroism by the first responders, those in the trade center, and those on the planes.

“Those are the stories I want to make sure we continue to pass on so that the kids do understand the human side behind it and the wonderful people that we did lose on that day.”

While students learn about 9/11 across New York State, that isn’t the case nationwide.

Mr. Neuner explained that other than the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and World War II, September 11th, 2001 is among the few times that the United States of America has been invaded.

“So, that’s why it’s important for not just the people of New York State but our entire country to continue to learn and study about this so that we can keep our people here safe.”

Today, Mr. Neuner started his class off with a picture of the new Twin Towers with two beams shining upwards with the words “9/11 Never Forget.”

“That’s been a really nice almost bell ringer to allow us to discuss again even though these kids were too young to be born for this event, how it has impacted them,” Mr. Neuner said. “It’s a very open type of plan but not only to give them the opportunity to share their experiences, which in many ways are their parents or loved ones, but also to answer questions that they still have about the event.”

Several students at Fabius Pompey High School actually asked their principal if they could add a moment of silence to their afternoon announcements to honor the victims of 9/11.

History teachers across New York State are vowing to never forget, by teaching those too young to remember.

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