I was a teacher when Christa McAuliffe was selected for the mission in space. Because I was minority, I didn't bother to apply, and then it was different , for women in science. But I followed her, with the resources that NASA had and was ironically dressed in an astronaut jumpsuit, with a room of 75 children , who had come to see the faux, inside of a space shuttle we had constructed. I had the curriculum in hand and was ready to teach, following her prompt.
The loudspeaker called me, and I had to leave the room. When I returned.. there was an ominous silence. Children took me by the hand and hugged me and said.. it could have been you. I was breathlessly silent, because I didnot understand what had happened, but the kids were all hugging me and crying. We went through the day ok. I think it was the first time I realized that the children really loved the science I taught, and that they valued me as a teacher. I can't tell you how many hugs I got that day and little notes to make me feel better. After that I became more proactive about girls and minorities in science , and in fact was chosen to be a Christa McAuliffe Educator for the NFIE, and a Challenger Center Fellow. It was an absolute tragedy, but we , in Christa's honor , taught lots of children about space science education. We met Christa's mom, who came to our Institute .. I hope we met the expectations that Christa had , to be a leader and a role model. I still sometimes have nightmares about that day, but more than the nightmares was the guidance of children to let me know how interested in science they were and that I should teach more of it. Thanks Andy, a perspective on that day. Bonnie Bracey Sutton bbracey at aol com. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
