When I was in the 3rd grade, we went to war with Iraq for the first time. I remember this because it was announced on the intercom system throughout the K-5th grade building I attended at the time. Kids in class cried, our teacher teared up and I think we said the pledge a second time that morning. Years later we watched the OJ Simpson verdict in a middle school social studies course and we discussed, some argued and after that newspaper articles on the subject had my rapt attention.

Current events were a part of school it seemed, whether that was classroom discussions based off of articles we brought in for social studies or if something big was happening in the world around us.

Today in a world that bombards us with messages via social media and news updates and all the convenient ways in which we can get those updates, I was absolutely floored that none of my kids talked about the events taking place in Ferguson last week at all. Like not even a hallway conversation.

Now clearly my younger kids aren't of the maturity and understanding to even attempt to comprehend the happenings but our oldest two are in 8th and 10th grade. And while we definitely talk about these things at home, there's just something to be said about discussion that takes place outside of the walls of our home with others who might help us to see things in a different light, maybe disagree, maybe challenge our way of thinking. Especially a subject like the events in Ferguson, I can only imagine the emotion and feelings some students may have on both sides of the issue.

I've since been reminded that the day after the announcement was the last day of the trimester and I do understand finals and such were taking place. Yet, I find myself wondering and hoping that the discussion of current events isn't being done away with in the name of making it through curriculum and academic rigor.

What do you think? Do you think that school discussion of current events such as Ferguson is important or would you rather see that classroom time used elsewhere? Did your kids discuss the events in Ferguson in school last week? If you're a teacher, do you like having these kinds of discussions or is it difficult to add in differing views and opinions?