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scorpyo72 t1_j6bba8h wrote

I walked in to my 8th grade science class to find my science teacher crying. She had set up a TV in the room to watch the launch. It had just exploded prior to the start of the class. We watched them play the explosion over and over.

Edit: it was a huge deal to teachers because Christa McAuliffe was to be the first teacher in space. We had a lot of teachers in our district that applied for the selection process when it was announced.

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immortalis88 t1_j6bklbq wrote

I’m 44 and I was in elementary school at the time. We watched live from class and I can remember how the room went from excited and lots of talking to pretty much dead silence. The only sounds you could hear were light sobs and tears falling. I still get emotional thinking about that day.

Then fast forward many years later in 98 or 99, I was in college and taking a Space Science course. My professor actually knew Christa McAuliffe and he wept in front of class while talking about it.

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zoinkability t1_j6fqxv8 wrote

I was in sixth grade and had a similar experience. We were in NH so Christa McAuliffe was a local hero of sorts. We were all pulled out of class to watch the launch in a common area, only to see the explosion and the see it replayed a bunch more times. Shocking and saddening.

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BOOGER3333 t1_j6bc2sp wrote

We did the same thing. My science class was last period. Mr. Haskins wheeled in the TV and just watched the news. 8th grade also. Very cool teacher.

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scorpyo72 t1_j6bnqfa wrote

My 8th grade teacher was probably my fave science teacher too. She was young and hopeful, a great teacher and very passionate.

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legodoodle4 t1_j6ck9oa wrote

Same here. Must be something about 8th grade science. Mine always said her dream was to watch a shuttle launch at night in person and I always wonder if she ever got to.

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