The Boston Marathon Bombings
I have a request of you. Please read the folllowing three assignments I received yesterday from my grade 5,6,7 Social Studies students. Their job was to write about the Boston Marathon Bombings. They were to write two paragraphs; one factual, one representing their opinion of the events.
I would very much like your responses to these assignments. These students live 400 kilometers away from the nearest movie theatre or mall. We live in a small, remote, rural northern Canadian town of less than 500. I can NOT take my students out to the world, but I can try to bring the world to them.
They know I am doing this, and they are looking forward to your comments. Please know that if you comment here, I will share it with my students. No names will be used, as this is a completely anonymous activity. Thank you in advance for your participation.
#1 The Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in eastern Massachusetts. It is always held on the third Monday of April, Patriot’s Day. It begun in 1897. The Boston Marathon is the world oldest annual marathon, and ranks as one of the world’s best known road racing event. The marathon attracts 500 000 spectators each year. It started with 18 participants in 1897, and now about 20 000 registered participants each year. This year’s marathon, two bombs went off about 100 yards from the finish line, injuring 22 runners, and about 170+ in total. The bombs were made of scraps of metal, nails, and ball bearings (balls, about the size of a large marble, strong enough to break bones) intending to injure as many people as possible. The bombs went off about 9 seconds apart, and about 50 meters apart.
I feel that the bombing at the Boston Marathon was just as bad as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and the 9/11 tragedy. An 8 year old girl died in this bombing, as well as a different girl. That girl was there with her boyfriend, who was planning to propose to her after the race, but she got killed before he had the chance. I have never experienced as much emotional pain as he probably did right then and now as well. I probably never will. My thoughts go out to all the families and spectators who were affected by this event. #PrayForBoston
#2 Bombing the Boston Marathon
On Monday, April 15, 2013 at 2:50pm a tragic accident happened. What was supposed to be a fun day turned into something that no one will forget? The first Boston Marathon was 117 years ago! Now this year, a bombing happened at the Boston Marathon and now trending everywhere is ‘#prayforboston’. In the bombing three were killed and one hundred forty four people were injured. A man was at the finish line for his girlfriend to finish the race then the bombs went off. He was going to purpose to her when she finished. Can you imagine what he was feeling? Can you imagine what the parents of the eight year old girl felt when she was killed by the bombs? In the terrible bombs there were cooking oil, nails, and ball bearing. When the first one was fired people were knocked down from either being shot or of them being in shock. The second bomb was set off twelve seconds after the first, having the same materials in them. There was a total of 24,662 runners in the marathon this year and 500 000 were watching the marathon live.
My opinion or feelings on this? I personally think this was terrible and the person who did it needs to go into a mental hospital. They must have had a good reason for doing it, but why? An eight year old little girl was killed! Eight year old girl. She had a long full happy life ahead of her, but it was ended by bombs at a marathon! Every time I either watch a video of the bombing and my stomach gets all weird and I feel like crying. I can’t imagine if that was one of my family members who got killed. I feel bad for all the children who were either watching, or running because imagine still being alive and remembering you watching someone being killed. I would be traumatized for the rest of my life!
#3 Boston Bombing
Yesterday in Boston there was a terrorists attack. It was patriot Day and there was the Boston marathon being run. The race has been around for a long time as it started in 1857. Yesterday was a normal race until two bombs went off at 2:50 pm about 50 meters from the finish line. Over 173 people have been hurt, three have died, one of which was an eight years old. These bombs were made out of pressure-cookers filled with shrapnel. They were homemade. There was about 20 000 people running the race and well over 4000 in the stands.
My feeling towards this is I have no idea why someone would do something as bad as this. The people who did this have no rights to go set up a bomb and kill a whole bunch of innocent people. I feel so bad for everyone who was in the race and for their families in the stands watching. I hope the person gets caught and thrown in jail for what he or she did. This is horrible and hopefully never happens again.
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These comments could have come from Belfast children.
For 30 years they suffered under the bomb and the gun. The bombers and the gunmen were supported by many Americans in monetary terms knowing that their donations would be contributing to the deaths of innocents.
Yes, I mourn for the loss of life and limb of the victims of the Boston bombing, but get it in perspective.
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First, it was an 8 year old boy, not a girl who was killed. His mother had a head injury requiring surgery to remove shrapnel from her brain and his sister lost her leg. Can you imagine what the father, who was running in the race, is feeling? I suppose he feels a great sense of loss as well as guilt. If he had not run in the race his family would not have come out to see him. Yet, he should not have to feel that guilt. He had a right to run in the marathon and have his family there to support him. The bomber had no right to kill people.
I think all your feeling are very truthful and is exactly what many are feeling.
It is so difficult to comprehend how someone could do such a terrible act and to imagine what they gain from it. Killing an 8 year old to gain what??????? This is just so horrendous and so hard to comprehend……………………………………….
I assume the children who wrote these are between 10 and 12 years of age. All of them show a maturity far beyond their years. You have taught them well, as have their parents. Eventually they will become the spokespersons for a new generation. Too bad, because we could use their wisdom now. Love, Jackie
Thank you for sharing this with us Anurri – these children are to be commended for their caring and their empathy. They may not live in the big city, but these days, the world comes to them, and not always pleasantly. I wish we could shield our children, but this is not possible, all we can do is to let them express their feelings – as you have done- and hope they never personally experience the sorrow of those involved in these tragic incidents that happen all over the world. Please give them the heartfelt love of a lady from Australia who is very proud to know of them…..Lina xxxx
What an articulate group of young children, it was good to see they had no problems expressing their anger and sadness, A very healthy way for them to express in words how they feel, this can be very healing for children. Thanks for posting these Anurri..:)
Somewhat concerned about the child who wrote ” They must have had a good reason” for what they did. There is never a good reason for taking a life, or causing pain to other people. This was done by a seriously disturbed person or persons.
I think in the persons mind they really believe they have a good reason to do what they do, that there is a justification in heir own thinking.
Anurri, the children in your school are amazingly articulate and show understanding far beyond their years. I know how hard you work to bring the “outside” world to your students and you are doing a terrific job. Your students are able to express their feelings so well. Having talked to you for years about your schools and your students, I was under the mistaken impression that in such a remote location, with limited resources and the number of special need students you have, I was sure their educational opportunities would be severely limited, but from these essays, it is apparent that they are probably farther advanced than students of the same level of education in most schools in the US. I applaud your efforts.
Anurri, you should be very proud of your students. The views expressed here show amazing understanding and empathy. To anurri and her students, well done!! 🙂
One of the them is now dead and the other will be soon, Russian background!
But are they the ones?
Yes without a doubt!!!