Editorial

Children have found what patriotism is all about

Children across the United States suddenly were confronted with the harsh realities of the world when hijackers slammed two commercial jets into New York's World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon in Washington.

At Orchard Elementary School in Jackson, hallways are lined with students' papers about what being an American means to them. In the school's foyer, 483 red and white paper hands with students' names join 50 white stars with the names of teachers. They combine to make a giant American flag.

Teachers there, like elementary teachers most everywhere, decided not to talk about it with students, leaving that responsibility to parents.

Other schools have held penny drives and other fund-raising and patriotic events.

While it is difficult without proper guidance for young children to cope with such tragedies, projects like that at Orchard have taken place in schoolhouses all over this great nation, and they are helping teach children patriotism and how to unite in these difficult times. Those qualities will benefit the students for the rest of their lives.

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