story7628.xml

story7628.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-16

I am the librarian at our school. My husband called at 8am (central time) and said,"Get a TV on NOW." He gave the briefest of details, then I zoomed to the office to let the staff know. "This couldn't be true -- I better see on the TV before I let anyone else know," I thought to myself. But it was horribly real. As the back of the library began to fill with faculty, jaws dropped and everyone was silent as the news replayed the scene over and over. Then at 8:30, I had to try to teach kindergarten students. As I looked at their innocent, happy faces filling the reading room, I didn't know how I was going to teach. I felt so fearful and upset. I just wanted to watch TV. They had no idea of the event and I had to just go on. A collective moan came from the back of the library when the second tower went down, yet the kids were unaware. Tears came to my eyes and I could not leave my kids. That entire day was the most difficult teaching day I've ever had. The television in the back of the library stayed on for at least a solid week; faculty ate lunch there to see news, lean on each other, ask "Why?", and cry. They would then gather their composure, go forward, and teach the kids, as the rest of America has done.