A living history lesson for young students

By SHARON GINN
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 31, 2003

[Times art: Rossie Newson]

Some bay area teachers might avoid the topic of Iraq, but spirited discussion about the nation's decision to go to war is part of the curriculum in freshman Jessica Dwyer's debate class at St. Petersburg High School. The words fly fast -- and sometimes furiously.

"My class," said Jessica, 14, "is really into this."

Some of her classmates favor an aggressive U.S. military approach, meaning bombs, and lots of them, she said. Jessica leans the other way. She and fellow members of her school's debate team participated in a two-hour debate at Harvard University this month that addressed the finer points of U.S. policy. As she wrapped up a spring-break trip to the mall last week, Jessica was happy to share a few of her views.

"(President Bush) insulted the United Nations, so we didn't get as much support as we should have," she said. "I think this is more of a personal issue for Bush. . . . This could have been handled much, much better."

Though it was spring break for many Tampa Bay area students last week, they weren't always able to escape reality. Trips to the mall and the beach were fun, easy ways to avoid the nonstop news coverage about the war, but many kids still found themselves thinking about it, and sometimes talking about it with their friends.

And many found that they and their friends don't always agree.

"I don't see why we're at war," said R.J. Joker, 14, of Clearwater, a seventh-grader at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School. "We do all these weapons inspections. I think that should keep things under control."

"But," said his 12-year-old cousin Anthony Spincken, a seventh-grader at the Broach School of St. Petersburg, "(U.S. officials) have to know stuff we don't."

That's what Nathan Hosea, 18, says.

"I support the war completely," said Nathan, a senior at Riverview High in Hillsborough County who wore a T-shirt bearing the American flag to the movies last week. "I'm pro-America, and I feel the war in Iraq, (while) you never want to go to war, is something that has been coming along the past few years. We should support President Bush in everything he does and keep praying for our country. I just feel the Iraqi people have to be free from that dictator."

Nathan said he was glad to register for the Selective Service and has considered joining the military. "I've not closed that door yet," he said. "If my country needs me, I'll go."

In some ways, 12-year-old Kelly Priestley, a sixth-grader at Burnett Middle School in Seffner, wishes her country did need her.

"If they would let me go out there, I would go out there, and I'd fight," Kelly said. "Saddam Hussein is disgusting. He cuts people's ears off."

Hussein has gone way too far, agrees Christian Moriarty, a 17-year-old junior at Lakewood High in St. Petersburg. Though his friend Tanya Gerber, a 16-year-old Lakewood sophomore, contends that the country should not be at war, Christian said that going to war is the right thing to do.

"A lot of people think this situation started in January," Christian said. "But it's been going on for 12 years. Diplomacy hasn't resolved anything."

Sean Bruce, 14, agrees.

"We talk about (the war) a lot in geography class," said Sean, an eighth-grader at Pinellas Park Middle School. "Some people think we should just let (the Iraqi leadership) do what they want. Others say, if they're making the weapons and (use them on) us and we're not ready for it, we're all going to die."

Sean said that he worries about terrorism. "Absolutely," he said. "You never know. We have so many different races and religions. Some guy could be walking down the street and be a terrorist."

Sean's friend Danny Webb, 13, said that he isn't that concerned about terrorism and doesn't like the war. "I just want it to end," said Danny, also a seventh-grader at Pinellas Park Middle.

Even those who disagreed with the war still said they were supporting U.S. troops and hoping for a quick victory.

"I don't think war is the right thing to do," said R.J. Joker, the seventh-grader from Clearwater. "But I don't make that decision; Bush does. Besides, I don't think my opinion really counts. I don't think Bush is going to listen to any kids. He didn't listen to all those protesters."

Terrell Richardson, 11 and a sixth-grader at Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg, wishes Bush would listen long enough to answer his one big question:

"I want to know, are they going to kill the civilians?" said Terrell, taking a break from playing with his younger siblings at North Shore Park. "I think they should kill only the people that are fighting back. They shouldn't kill people that are not in the war -- the poor people."

Terrell said that some of his teachers discourage students from talking about it, "but we still do, like at lunch and stuff. People say (the Iraqis) should learn a lesson from messing with us. I do, too."

"I don't think they would send our troops if there wasn't a reason," said Jovan Cullins, a 16-year-old junior at Plant City High. "A lot of people who don't agree with (the war) aren't informed enough."

Still, there may be such a thing as being too informed. Jovan and Plant City High classmate Emily Newton, 17, have watched plenty of war coverage on TV. "I think (the coverage) is fascinating, but it's scary," Emily said.

At the same time, Jovan said, it disturbs her how quickly she has gotten used to the shocking images.

"It's like Sept. 11. When they show it so much, it's like" she said, waving her hand around in mock casualness, " 'Oh yeah, we're at war.' "

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