In the early hours of September 11, 2001, students and teachers found themselves just settling into a new school year when the day's tragic events began to unfold.

Now, as the nation prepares to recognize the one-year anniversary of the attack, there is an ongoing discussion on how the events of September 11 should be taught in schools.

Educators are trying to create lessons with the right balance of reflection and examination of the day's historical significance.

A new Web site is causing educators to consider other questions like whether lessons should emphasize tolerance or place the blame on the Islamic extremists who carried out the attack.

Controversial lessons

Many organizations have created lesson plans for the September 11 anniversary but one group's lessons sparked a national controversy.

The National Educational Association (NEA), the largest teacher's union, prepared a special Web site including a lesson plan titled "Tolerance in Times of Trial" that some people feel is improper.

The lesson asks students "to explore the problems inherent in assigning blame to populations or nations of people by looking at current examples of ethnic conflict, discrimination, and stereotyping at home and abroad."

Conservative critics say these lessons spend too much time talking about feelings and not enough time teaching history. They say lessons that are unwilling to pass judgment or try to explain the ideology behind the attacks are unpatriotic.

NEA supporters say the tolerance lesson plans can help students explore different opinions, deal with a difficult topic, and allows students to reflect on the impact the day made.

The teachers' union says its lesson plans were a response to requests from teachers and parents whose students are still suffering emotionally from the attacks.

What will students read?

Textbook publishers are also debating how to handle the terrorist attacks.

Last year, school textbook publisher McGraw Hill was ready to print new editions of its Social Studies books when the attacks on September 11 occurred. The editors added the events to the books, but were careful to note that the story is still unfolding.

Prentice Hall's history book, The American Nation, which previously included one paragraph on terrorism, added several pages on the September 11 attacks to its new edition.

According to the American Textbook Council, one state will play a large role in how September 11 is remembered in history books.

The state of Texas purchases the largest number of textbooks, so publishers will try to write their newer editions to meet Texas school standards. If schools in Texas decide certain topics should not be taught, they may not make it into many textbooks.

Meanwhile, most schools across the country won't order new books for a few years, having to rely instead on older editions to explain terrorism or updates posted on textbook publishers' Web sites.

Setting the Stage

How classrooms handle this initial anniversary will provide a glimpse of the future and set the stage for eventual historical interpretations of September 11.

Just three years ago, textbook publishers felt a similar urgency to include the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The event has since been condensed in revised editions.

"We thought that was the story of the end of the century, and of course now it probably will be a footnote in many history books," said Michael Stoff, a University of Texas history professor who co-wrote the The American Nation.

--By Raven Tyler, NewsHour Extra