Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
It was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when an armistice, an order to stop fighting, was issued during World War I.
Official peace wouldn’t be recognized until June 28, 1919, during the Treaty of Versailles. However, it was the first declaration that would be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1919, at the order of President Woodrow Wilson, thanking all veterans for their service. The day would eventually become the national holiday known as Veterans Day.
A day to thank and honor military men and women for their service, Nov. 11 continues to be the official Veterans Day. During the week of Nov. 9-13, school districts across the state of Missouri will prepare to host events in honor of their local military men and women.
Many of these student-led gatherings are centered around thanking both active and former armed forces personnel and their families for their service to their country.
All service members are honored on Veterans Day. It doesn’t matter if they served during a war or in peacetime, or if they are living or gone.
Students will sometimes prepare videos and request that their peers bring in pictures of any of their family members who are serving or have served.
World War I involved 30 sovereign nations that formally declared war, and over 100 countries and territories spanning nearly every continent.
Veterans may be invited to share coffee and donuts before they speak to students about personal experiences. Schools’ choirs sing and bands play.
Local veterans groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, recognize winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth essay contests that ask young learners about their thoughts on freedom and patriotism.
Death toll estimates for World War I vary, with references putting the number between 15 to 22 million military and civilian people who are believed to have died. Since then, the United States has been involved in seven to 10 military conflicts and undeclared wars.
Events that happened 107 years and 11 months ago continue to impact the nation. As newspapers prepare to celebrate local military members within their communities, Newspapers in Education is offering a free graphic that shares a quick history of the origins of Veterans Day, which teachers can use in the classroom, and readers may choose to reflect on.
When publishing the graphic, available at https://mopress.jumbl.app/store/Product/Details/647, encourage students and readers to write about their conversations and experiences while speaking with veterans in their communities.
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Newspapers work every day to build a relationship of trust with the communities they serve, striving for truth and accuracy, fairness and balance while maintaining independence. However, according to a Pew Research Center article, 51 percent of U.S. adults said they generally find it difficult to determine what is true and what is not when they get the news.
Newspapers In Education invites the press to help students and teachers dive into media literacy by learning how to measure the quality of the message using local news in the classrooms. Ask the class to consider where they get their news. Can they trust the source? Are they trained reporters? Are they experts on the subjects they are writing about?
News is everywhere. From social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X to TikTok videos and more, these distant relatives of newspapers aren’t held to the same standards as the press. With the rise of generative AI, more and more Americans are finding it hard to identify what’s real and what isn’t.
Traditional news agencies such as newspapers, radio and television stations work behind the scenes to investigate the accuracy and facts before they reach the reader. Encourage students and teachers to explore how news reporters evaluate information for accuracy before it’s published. Have them use the same methods to determine the accuracy of a published article in your newspaper.
Remind readers and educators that once they understand how to use the test, it can be applied to any platform and help them stay informed or look for a different source.
You can find a helpful guide explaining media literacy online at www.mopress.com.
