2011-09-10, 06:37 AM
I was in the eighth grade and we were in the middle of my french class when the teacher was pulled out suddenly and didn't come back for quite a while. We were acting like retards because we had no idea what was going on and had essentially the whole school to ourselves because all of the teachers had gone into the lounge to watch the live broadcast. Sometime latter the teacher came back with her face red from crying and attempted to explain what had happened but even at that age the significance of the event and how many lives were lost didn't really impact anyone. There was sort of a unanimous shrug amongst us that set the teacher off and she actually ended up going home because she was so distraught.
Within an hour the 5th - 8th graders were in the large gymnasium watching live footage while the teachers split the responsibility in the small gymnasium keeping the little ones occupied while the system scrambled to get us home because, even in Canada, the mood was too sombre to continue with day-to-day activities. I believe we were home by lunch that day. I ended up sitting there watching live coverage with my dad all day, his mouth agape.
I really wish I had been more mature, because I honestly regret my behaviour that day. Not that one can blame a child for being immature but just in retrospect, it was horribly dishonourable. Still, though, I do remember it being one of the most important days in the history of the west, just because of the way it impacted everything. I can't believe it's been 10 years though, especially in a world where even the largest disasters are forgotten quickly (does anyone remember the oil spill? No? Didn't think so. How about the earthquake in haiti? JAPAN? Everything is lost so quickly.)
Within an hour the 5th - 8th graders were in the large gymnasium watching live footage while the teachers split the responsibility in the small gymnasium keeping the little ones occupied while the system scrambled to get us home because, even in Canada, the mood was too sombre to continue with day-to-day activities. I believe we were home by lunch that day. I ended up sitting there watching live coverage with my dad all day, his mouth agape.
I really wish I had been more mature, because I honestly regret my behaviour that day. Not that one can blame a child for being immature but just in retrospect, it was horribly dishonourable. Still, though, I do remember it being one of the most important days in the history of the west, just because of the way it impacted everything. I can't believe it's been 10 years though, especially in a world where even the largest disasters are forgotten quickly (does anyone remember the oil spill? No? Didn't think so. How about the earthquake in haiti? JAPAN? Everything is lost so quickly.)