Verbatim: Paly staff recall shock, uncertainty during 9/11
September 12, 2018
Although most Palo Alto High School students did not live through the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, many staff members still possess vivid memories of the event. The Paly Voice asked teachers and administrators about their initial reactions when they heard the news.
![Economics teacher Eric Bloom encourages students to return their textbooks for the end of the year. According to Bloom, students might have recognized his unique fashion choices including vibrant shoes and belt buckles. Bloom said his attire choices actually linked to his lessons. "I have a lot of shoes, I have a lot of belt buckles and wear them purpose because of its educational value," Bloom said. "Especially in the earlier part of my career when we would talk about product differentiation, I had an assignment where students go home and count how many different kinds of shoes [they have]."](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-6-1-300x214.jpg)