The Space Shuttle Catastrophe Off Cape Canaveral

I have lost a colleague, as did all the nation’s teachers. I stood in front of the television amazed, sick at heart, and unbelieving as I watched Challenger go down with seven daring, courageous, and adventurous explorers.

I felt very close to Christa McAuliffe even though I did not know her personally. I had the honor last spring of being on the California committee for choosing California’s two representatives for the Teacher in Space program. We read more than 900 applications and each one was filled with the enthusiasm and the dedication of teachers from all over the state. It was far from easy to make the final selections of the two who would go to Washington to represent California.

I watched the progress of Christa McAuliffe through these months of preparation and felt that she was a true representative of the teaching profession. She believed in her job and gave it her all.

I would like to think that her life will emphasize to the world the importance of teachers who dedicate themselves to lead the youth of America. Daily we try to lead students to reach for the skies, to find their dreams, to explore new frontiers. That’s what teaching is all about. Christa McAuliffe has left a message to all Americans--take a look at the teachers of America! The majority of us are in this lofty profession because we believe in the youth of our nation. We are the ones who will lead children to believe, too.

I salute you, Christa McAuliffe, my colleague. Your short time on Earth was well spent. You were a teacher!.

EVALINE KHAYAT KRUSE

Los Angeles

Kruse was California Teacher of the Year in 1985.