(no subject)

[asterroc]

I was in second or third grade when my teacher decided to have us all crowd around the TV to watch the first teacher going into space. Of course you all know that it was the Challenger, and our childish excitement turned into confusion. I don't remember my reaction at all, nor what my teacher said/did - I wish I did recall in case as a teacher I ever have to face this situation myself. In 2005 I watched Discovery's return-to-flight mission with bated breath, having just asked my students to crowd around the TV to watch, hoping Challenger and Columbia wouldn't repeat themselves in front of my students. I tell people the Challenger incident is why I was never interested in becoming an astronaut, but I'm not sure if this really triggered it or if the interest was never actually there.

Last summer I heard a speech by Barbara Morgan, the actual first teacher in space, on Endeavour in August 2007. She had been Christa McAuliffe's backup in 1986, and she didn't fly until 21 years later. Morgan's speech about the importance of science and math in children's education, and how Christa would have wanted the program to go on no matter what, was quite moving. I am not a fan of manned missions for science purposes, but for inspirational purposes they are absolutely 100% necessary.

Comments

[framefolly.livejournal.com]

3rd grade, because that was my first time in an American classroom. There was an Asian American on the Challenger, I think -- that's my strongest recollection from the boondocks of ESL...

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I remember it as third grade too, but one of my elementary school classmates says it was second. *shrug* Not a biggie either way. :)