CCBC-Net Archives
Towers
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 06:37:20 -0500
Even though I admire Gerstein's book, I haven't bought it for my classroom. Hadn't really noticed this till the current discussion and realized that it is because I'm afraid to read it aloud to my students. I'm afraid I'll choke up at the end. 9/11 is always at the back of my mind, every day. Especially in school, say when we have an unannounced fire alarm. as we did recently. I worried and worried as we trooped down those nine flights of stairs (always seems an eternity till we are outside) because it was 4 degrees outside so I knew it had to be real. Turned out to be something minor, but you never know.
I wrote before that the day is a dim memory for my students (who were 2nd graders when it happened) and I don't think they dwell on it as do many of us adults. Still, things upset them. A few days ago they came to school chattering about an industrial fire across the river, the smell of which wafted it across to us. The immediate reaction was ---- something bad happened. Again.
Gerstein stated in a NYTimes interview that he wanted to do a book in response to that day. However, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers does not put the day front and center as is the case with certain other books for children. Gerstein's book can be read as a fabulous feat by an unusual individual or because of the towers or because the art is amazing or for a myriad other reasons. That is its power.
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Sat 31 Jan 2004 05:37:20 AM CST
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 06:37:20 -0500
Even though I admire Gerstein's book, I haven't bought it for my classroom. Hadn't really noticed this till the current discussion and realized that it is because I'm afraid to read it aloud to my students. I'm afraid I'll choke up at the end. 9/11 is always at the back of my mind, every day. Especially in school, say when we have an unannounced fire alarm. as we did recently. I worried and worried as we trooped down those nine flights of stairs (always seems an eternity till we are outside) because it was 4 degrees outside so I knew it had to be real. Turned out to be something minor, but you never know.
I wrote before that the day is a dim memory for my students (who were 2nd graders when it happened) and I don't think they dwell on it as do many of us adults. Still, things upset them. A few days ago they came to school chattering about an industrial fire across the river, the smell of which wafted it across to us. The immediate reaction was ---- something bad happened. Again.
Gerstein stated in a NYTimes interview that he wanted to do a book in response to that day. However, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers does not put the day front and center as is the case with certain other books for children. Gerstein's book can be read as a fabulous feat by an unusual individual or because of the towers or because the art is amazing or for a myriad other reasons. That is its power.
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Sat 31 Jan 2004 05:37:20 AM CST
