Abstract

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 had an immediate and far-reaching impact on people in the United States and the world. This study of a suburban public high school near Boston sought to determine how students' viewed and reacted to the event and whether it enhanced students' sense of civic engagement. Results from our pre-post measures revealed only an immediate increase in students' political interest and no changes in intended civic participation. Descriptive findings showed that most students' view of the world was changed after 9/11. Yet, fewer students reported that their view of themselves had changed. The majority of students responded actively by attending memorial services or vigils, donating blood or supplies, or organizing service pertinent to the aftermath of 9/11. Statistical analyses showed that students who organized service had enhanced and sustained levels of intended civic participation compared to students who responded through other means or not at all. Analyses also showed that students who attended memorials or vigils had enhanced and sustained political interest compared to others.