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Special Report
War talk in the schools

Editorís note: This is the first in a series of articles about the issues facing our local communities with regard to war and terrorism.
By Danielle Strenke
As the nationís leaders make decisions that could send the United States into war with Iraq, students in local schools are asking some tough questions to help them understand how those decisions will impact them.
In Rush City, many students in grades seven through 12 watch a 12-minute news broadcast one time during the day through the Channel One program.
The broadcasts are produced by college students and include some of the top headlines of the day, as well as a question of the week.
RCHS teachers show the broadcast to students, and some talk about current events with their students or incorporate the issues into the curriculum.
Kevin Jensen teaches world geography and world history at Rush City. He said his students watch the broadcasts and then talk about the issues. Most of the broadcasts this year have centered around the situation with Iraq and possible terrorism.
ìWe look at the politics involved, the presidential standpoints, weíve talked about the situation with Korea,î he said.
Jensen said it depends on the topic whether the students will enter into an in-depth discussion. ìTheyíre always willing to offer their views, though,î he said.
Tuesday morning, Jensenís 8th grade world geography class watched the Channel One broadcast for the day. The top story was an update on U.N. resolutions concerning weapons inspections in Iraq.
The next story was about a young freelance journalist who interviewed teenagers and younger children in the streets of Baghdad.
Following the broadcast, Jensen asked the class how they viewed teen life in Iraq. ìIt would be boring there,î one girl said, ìbecause they have nothing to do.î
Jensen reminded the class that the Iraqi teens probably do not see their lives that way, because it is what they know. ìThey are not allowed the same access to technology and materials as we are, but itís what they are used to so itís probably not boring to them.î
Another boy said life was probably scary for children in Iraq. ìThey know that if they ever said anything against the government, they might be killed,î one said.
After discussion on the programís topics has ended, Jensen gives the classes a brief quiz on the broadcast. Sometimes the discussion will last much of the hour, while other times students will talk to Jensen about the issues in passing as well.
Jensen said he has heard from a lot of students on whether the U.S. should enter war with Iraq. ìIíd say itís 50-50. Those that are against it think it should be a U.N. sponsored act,î he said.
Others have more personal reasons to be for or against the war. ìSome kids have parents who are already activated or relatives overseas,î Jensen said.
He said those students are keeping in touch with relatives overseas through e-mail, but have learned that most of them are being kept in the dark about what is going on.
Jensenís classes have also talked about biological and chemical warfare, but he said students donít seem too worried. ìThey think the plastic wrap - duct tape was blown out of proportion,î he said. ìTheyíve talked about attacks are more likely in highly populated areas.î
Other classes at RCHS, like Mick Louzekís, watch the Channel One broadcasts but Louzek said he doesnít normally incorporate them into his twelfth-grade classes.
At North Branch High School, Bill Baumannís current affairs classes are ìdeeper into it than anyone,î Baumann said, when it comes to discussing possible war and terrorism.
Each trimester of the class has focused on a specific issue, although Baumann didnít think the current trimester would still be focusing on Saddam Hussein in the final weeks of the class.
Baumann said the students are learning how the present ties into the past, and better understanding current events as a result. ìI talk about when Saddam took power and the Iran hostage crisis ñ they donít understand because they werenít even born,î he said. ìSo I say, ëOK, letís go back and talk about that, so they can understand whatís going on now.î
Most high school students have only a vague recollection of the most recent war involving the U.S., Desert Storm. Baumann said they are gaining a better understanding of how the U.S. came to this point, but along the way the students are asking some tough questions.
ìThe real problem is I canít give them all the answers,î Baumann said.
During a class Monday, Baumannís students viewed a video on biological attacks presented by the Bureau of Public Affairs. It reviewed some of the history of terroristic attacks, including those on the World Trade Centers prior to Sept. 11 and the Oklahoma City bombing.
ìAre we ready for this type of terrorism?î Baumann asked the class.
ìBut what can we do?î one girl asked.
Baumann said they would have to give up more personal freedoms in exchange for protection from terrorism. ìDo you want to give that up ñ let the government look at all your e-mail?î he asked. One student said yes, it was the governmentís right to do so.
During a discussion on biological and chemical agents, the topic of war was still on the studentís minds. ìWhatís happening with Iraq?î one asked.
Baumann updated the students on the latest U.N. talks. ìWhy donít we go in now ñ weíre giving them more and more time,î one boy asked.
Baumann said he knows at least three people serving in the U.S. military in Kuwait right now. ìEveryone is saying if we go in, we better do it right,î he said.
When the class learned that the U.S. possesses weapons of mass destruction including biological and chemical weapons, they wondered why the U.S. isnít using them. ìWhy are we sitting around waiting for them to come after us if we have all this?î one girl asked.
ìItís against policy, itís against moral policy. These are weapons of mass destruction,î Baumann said.
He said the federal government is preparing for possible attacks, with the stationing of eight ëpush packagesí at unspecified locations around the U.S. The ëpush packagesí are actually large cargo planes stocked with drugs, vaccines and medical supplies that can be flown within a matter of hours to the site of an attack.
ìWhy tell everyone ñ why not keep it a secret?î one girl asked.
ìDoes it ease your mind though?î Baumann asked. ìThey are preparing.î
A recent project in the class was to make a research poster relating to a specific topic concerning the Iraq crisis. Some compared President Bush and Hussein, others dealt with different views from U.N. member countries, and others compared current events with past events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Even with their curiosity piqued, Baumann said it is difficult for many of his students to comprehend the implications. ìIt didnít hit them until gas prices went up. When it hits them in the pocket book, they see that they can be impacted too.î

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