By Forum Staff
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) recently reached out to principals and superintendents to remind them of a law she passed in the Assembly in 2019 regarding commemorating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in public schools.
Pheffer Amato and State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) introduced the bill that would require all public schools throughout the state to observe a moment of silence and discuss the events of Sept. 11.
File Photo
The State Legislature passed the bill in 2019.
The law is aimed at ensuring that all school children would forever understand and learn how to honor the victims of Sept. 11, while also commemorating the survivors and heroes. The bill A.1801 (2019) amends the New York State Education law to make a special provision for the observance of a “brief period of silence” each Sept. 11 at the start of the school day in schools state-wide. According to the language in the bill, this would provide students with the “opportunity for silent prayer or for silent reflection” on the anniversary day.
“The terrorist attack had, and still has, a deep impact on our state’s history and was felt by many residents in our community, and across our great state. As no student currently in K-12 was alive during the attack, it is imperative that our public education system take the time to educate students on both the loss and heroism experienced on Sept. 11. By mandating a brief moment of silent reflection every year on Sept. 11, we ensure that future generations will better understand this day and its place in our history,” Pheffer Amato said.
