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Students get a hard lesson in current events By JONEL ALECCIA An introduction to democracy gave way to a lesson in terrorism Tuesday as students in an Eagle Point High School American government class struggled to make sense of national tragedy. "I think this is the closest to war that any of us have ever experienced," said senior Jason Renfro, one of some three dozen students who watched, riveted, as a classroom television offered images of apparent terrorist destruction in New York and Washington. "I think if we don't act on it, we'll look like we're weak," said senior Lisa McKinley. "How is this going to affect our future and our freedom?" wondered senior Katy Clason. "We were going to talk about the beginnings of our more perfect union," teacher Mike Curtis said wryly. "That all changed at 8:48 a.m. New York time." For students across Jackson County, morning attacks in the East resonated in classrooms here, making for an unsettled school day even as administrators and teachers worked to maintain calm. "There's just been a lot of concern from students at all levels," said Bill Jones, Eagle Point superintendent. "I think it's just the enormity of it all." In general, school officials adhered to as normal a schedule as possible Tuesday, under the theory that routine is comforting during stressful times. Medford Superintendent Steve Wisely advised staff to keep televisions off for most of the day, with only occasional news updates allowed. "We believe that we have an opportunity to continue education in an environment as free as possible of fear," Wisely said. A handful of parents at districts throughout the region kept students home because of the attacks, but most of the estimated 30,000 public school students attended classes as usual, officials said. The decision to downplay the tragedy was most common at elementary schools such as Briscoe in Ashland, where Principal Jeff Schlecht and staff reassured youngsters. "We assured children that they were out of harm's way, that they were safe here and that their parents are safe," Schlecht said. "They're mostly worried that they're going to be OK and that the world around them will be OK." Counselors at most area schools were on alert to help students affected by the consuming events. At Talent Middle School, officials worked to quash rumors and soothe jittery pre-teens. "At the beginning of school there was a lot of 'Oh my gosh, we're all going to die,' " said Teresa Sayre, assistant principal. But by the end of the day, most students' attention had turned to victims in New York and Washington, she said. "I was very impressed with their empathy," she said. "They wanted to half-mast the flag and know what they could do to help." Officials at most local schools encouraged students to bring questions and fears to their parents at home. That means parents will need to ponder the issues themselves, said Schlecht. "Compassion, patience, understanding, tolerance: Those are the things we need to demonstrate," he said. "We're having to come to grips as adults with the incomprehensible; think about that with children." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.