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The impending war with Iraq gives educators around the area another chance to utilize ''teachable moments.''
By MONIQUE FIELDS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 18, 2003
David Taylor had two questions for students in his eighth-grade social studies class at Dunedin Highland Middle School.
"If we went into Iraq without the support of the United Nations, how many of you would approve?"
Half of the 27 students raised their hands.
Then Taylor asked how many thought it would be wrong to attack a nation that hasn't attacked the United States.
Only two hands went up.
The results surprised Taylor, but that happens when you teach history while it's still unfolding. Last month, there was the space shuttle disaster. Then came the flurry of terror alerts. Now teachers across the Tampa Bay area are struggling with the impending war with Iraq.
Educators refer to such instances as "teachable moments."
They can be tricky.
The Hillsborough school district, for example, has 3,000 students with parents in the military. Officials are trying to identify every child who has an immediate family member deployed and instructing teachers on dealing with war-related stress.
They also are preparing for the worst, creating materials that will "help students and faculty members deal with anxiety and grief," said district spokesman Mark Hart.
Meanwhile, teachers around the bay area are being peppered with questions:
Will our field trips be cancelled? Will the draft be reinstated? Could terrorists go after MacDill Air Force Base? How about the Crystal River nuclear power plant?
Carey DiPompo, who teaches contemporary history at Tampa's Alonso High School, said she searches for answers every night, watching television news and sifting through newspapers and magazines.
"They're going to come the next day, and they're going to have questions," she said.
DiPompo is one of many teachers struggling with how best to teach about impending war. There are no curricula or textbooks that deal with the subject. And while the National Council for Social Studies just put together a 12-page resource guide on Iraq, the subject remains a delicate one.
Michael Berson, an associate professor of social science education at the University of South Florida, said teachers need to be careful about injecting their opinions into classroom discussions. But he said there are lessons to be taught.
Teachers can focus on Middle East geography and how it influences the events taking place, he said. They can look at why Turkey is important to military strategy. Students can study the price of gas and its impact on the economy.
"The worst thing in the world is a teacher who walks in after a big event and says 'So, what did y'all think?' " Berson said. "You could have a child in a class who starts standing up and railing on the Iraqi people."
At St. Petersburg High School last week, a student in a work experience class argued vehemently that war would boost the economy.
He was right, but he may also be wrong, said his teacher, Don Macneale. Local businesses with defense contracts will see a rise in their bottom line, he said. But gas prices could keep socking drivers in the pocketbook.
Macneale said the discussion was a good opportunity for him to talk about past wars and their impact on the economy. World War II, for example, triggered widespread shortages and rationing.
Taylor's students were more concerned about a resumption of the draft and terrorist threats. His answer focused on the United Nations, its security council and the votes needed to pass a resolution for war.
"I've been enjoying this a great deal, but I know this is something that takes a mature mind," he said.
Some students say the prospect of war doesn't bother them.
Devin Letona, a senior at St. Petersburg High, leaves for naval basic training on July 10. The 18-year-old plans to become a gunner's mate, and will be trained to operate weapons from small firearms to rocket launchers. He said he wants a career in the military.
"I'm not the type of person to sit around and watch things," Letona said.
Juliana Carvalho, 18, also has enlisted in the Navy. The St. Petersburg High senior said the possibility of war wasn't a factor in her decision. She wants the life experience and the money for education.
"I understand watching the news there are a lot of circumstances, but something has to be done," she said.
-- Researchers Caryn Baird and Kitty Bennett contributed to this report.