Teaching So We Never Forget

Civic Superhero Suzanne of Westport, CT, found her calling as a social studies teacher after experiencing firsthand the 9/11 attacks. Learn what drove her from a political reporter on Capitol Hill into education.
Hear her story.

Teaching so we never forget

Today, teachers across the nation will discuss the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001 with their students, many of whom yet weren’t even born.

The New York Times lays out 10 ways to teach about 9/11, which can be used as a conversation guide outside of the classroom. Twenty years later, reflecting on where you were on 9/11 can ensure we never forget.

The Philadelphia Enquirer profiled local teachers on how they are making the education lesson real for their students.

After 9/11, division, misinformation, and conspiracy theories were rampant in our country. FRONTLINE PBS discusses the external and internal threats our democracy faces still to this day, drawing a line from that day leading up to the events of January 6th, 2021.

How do you think teachers will be talking about January 6th in twenty years?

Citizens aren’t born, they’re made

This piece from The Fulcrum discusses the concept of “democracy learning communities” and how they bring people together across political, class, race and religious divides to address some of our society’s biggest problems.

At the Franklin Project we think these conversations can start with what we call a Junto club, where you form a group to gather for discussions.

Show the world you care

Want to tell the world you give a damn about democracy? Get a friend to take the pledge! After they sign-up, take a selfie and tag us with the hashtag #GiveADamnAboutDemocracy to enter to win some Franklin merch!