January 6, 2021 is a day that will forever be remembered in United States history and has changed the way US government is viewed in the public eye. As rioters approached the Capitol building and then proceeded to storm the heart of the American system of government, it became increasingly clear that this violent act is one that would forever change the climate of American politics. 

Upper School history teacher Clark Thomson not only taught through the attack occurring in real time, but is now faced with the difficult task of continuing to lead classes which curricula and topics of discussion have forever been changed. Thomson noted that “the whole idea that somewhere between your political beliefs there’s actual truth doesn’t seem to exist anymore, even when the truth seems so obvious and we all lived through it. I don’t even know how to talk about it in class cause I know I probably have students who have many different views on this and feelings are raw, even a year later.”

One year later, national news outlets are still releasing information daily regarding impending court hearings, subpoenas, and charges varying lawmakers and politicians will face for their potential involvement with the lead up to the events at the capitol. Although the “January 6 committee,” established in the House of Representatives in July of 2021, has been working to “investigate the facts, circumstances, and causes relating to the domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol” on a national level, schools have been tackling the challenge of how to address this topic both in and out of the classroom.

An event of this magnitude leaves an unimaginable impact that can be difficult for many to process, even a year later. The political nature of this affair coupled with the nation’s intense political climate, continues to leave people divided, and as Thomson expressed: “It seemed absolutely clear on all sides of the political spectrum in the days immediately following the events that this was really a bridge too far…and suddenly our views of what even happened- even though we have all the video- became this political rift.”

Many are left wondering, how far have we come in the last 365 days? And how much more must we uncover to be able to fully understand last year’s events at the nation’s Capitol?