Democrats and Republicans alike, stood shoulder to shoulder, united in a new resolve 'to fight evil

The American Nation, middle school text book

And these are written in a way that reflects the mood of patriotism that has swept through many schools since the attacks.

"On the evening of September 11, 2001, Americans across the nation gathered in grief. Many people wept openly. Some held candles," begins an excerpt from The American Nation.

"On the steps of the Capitol Building, the leaders of Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, stood shoulder to shoulder, united in a new resolve "to fight evil."

And it goes on to sketch out the possible future ramifications of the attack and the military response that has followed.

"The price of world leadership" as felt in Manhattan

"The hijackers were terrorists from the Middle East. As you read, the United States would often be called on to lead in resolving regional conflicts.

"But world leadership, as grief-stricken Americans learned on September 11, could carry a terrible price."

These new editions will still take months and sometimes years before they reach classrooms, depending on when school authorities replace their current stock.

When history is still in the making, this is proving a challenge for publishers, uncertain of the final outcome of the events now being hurriedly added.

As a way of keeping pupils updated, several publishers have set up special websites which carry updated material, which can be changed as events require.

Living text books

These "living textbooks" contain lesson plans and information about the conflict, ideas for "understanding and coping" and promoting tolerance.

The text of Tony Blair's speech is included on a website for US school children

These also contain a flavour of the upsurge in public demonstrations of patriotism, with downloadable copies of the pledge of allegiance and printable images of the US flag.

Houghton Mifflin's school website, entitled United We Stand, shows a picture of President Bush holding up a US flag in the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.

As well as links to news sources and official advice on addressing children's worries about the conflict, there are also links to information about the Islamic faith.

Prentice Hall has also produced a website called United We Stand, which contains updates on the conflict and a range of texts of speeches.

These include President Bush's day of remembrance address and Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement to the House of Commons on launching attacks on Afghanistan.

There are also biographies of Osama Bin Laden - identified as the "world's foremost terrorist" - and an essay on "Who are the Taleban?"