During the month that was a wake of emotions since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, different institutions in America have had to deal with the event collectively almost as much as individuals have had to on their own.

Schools are definitely not an exception to this. In fact, the ways schools handle the situation with their students could be one of the most important teaching scenarios there is.

That’s why when Jefferson County, Mo. fifth-grader Paul Volz sketched two World Trade Center towers under attack it caught the attention of his teacher.

But what North Jefferson Intermediate School did next was suspend Volz – a step that not only was inappropriate, but that also teaches the 11-year-old very little.

“How a child handles that drawing could be just as important (as the drawing itself),” district spokesperson Ben Helt said, explaining that Volz only smiled after questioned about why he drew the picture.

Maybe Volz, like several full-grown adults, was having a tough time comprehending the magnitude of the terrible events of Sept. 11. Or maybe the 11-year-old was purely looking for attention.

Whatever his motive for making the drawing, Volz and his classmates would have been better served had the school taken action to explain why drawings like his can be so offensive and upsetting to people.

Volz likely spent his three days at home idly watching cartoons and game shows. Would a class discussion about the issue have been a more effective use of everyone’s time? Or what about a meeting with Volz, his father, his teacher, the principal and a counselor?

It seems that sending a fifth-grader home for three days simply shows the school is out of touch with the needs of its students.