This will interest high school American History and Social Studies teachers - free text & resources to discuss 9/11

[Meryl Zegarek]

The tenth anniversary of 9/11 offers a time to reflect on whether America’s response to the terrorist attacks has challenged our nation’s commitment to its core values. High school students have grown up in the post-9/11 world and may be unaware of the challenges to civil liberties made in the name of national security. Yet they must understand these issues because the future of our democracy will be entrusted to them in due course.
 
To facilitate a balanced discussion of the issues, Open Society Foundations is offering high schools in the U.S. 50 free copies of Securing Liberty: Debating Issues of Terrorism and Democratic Values in the Post-9/11 United States. Books can be ordered any time after April 14th directly from http://www.idebate.org/securingliberty

Compiled by David Cole, who teaches law at the Georgetown University Law Center and has litigated major national security cases, Securing Liberty offers a  range of opinions on key questions raised by the response to 9/11 including:

• Should law enforcement authorities pay special attention to individuals because of their race, religion, or national origin?
• Is the use of torture ever justified?
• Should the government lawyers who developed the justifications for the use of torture and the officials who approved these tactics be held accountable; if so, in what way?
• What role, if any, does preventive detention play in fighting terrorism?
• Should the president as the nation’s commander in chief have unchecked authority to engage the enemy in whatever way he deems appropriate, without regard to existing statutes or the approval of any court?
• Do the greater risks we face from terrorists justify more substantial intrusions into our privacy?
  

The book includes an overview essay by David Cole and questions at the end of each chapter to encourage discussion in your classroom.
 
Open Society Foundations is also offering supporting materials that can help teachers use Securing Liberty to discuss the issues. These materials are available on the website. They include:
·      3-to-5 lesson plans for each of the six chapters (also available on CD)
·      Video of a recent public high school debate on the issues
·      Video of an interview with David Cole conducted by a high school debater
·      A webography
 
We hope you will want to tell educators about this unique offer.