[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMEMBERING CHRISTA McCAULIFFE AND THE CREW OF THE ``CHALLENGER''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, a decade after the Challenger exploded, 
Christa McAuliffe is still fulfilling her mission, inspiring young 
people to look skyward with curiosity about science and outer space.
  On January 26, 1996, the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in 
Germantown, MD, honored their namesake by devoting a day of activities 
to her memory. In keeping with the wishes of Christa McAuliffe's 
mother, the students and teachers worked with a shared sense of purpose 
to remember the teacher-astronaut in a dignified manner. ``Christa, 
This One's For You and the Challenger Crew,'' was the theme for the 
day.
  Under the expert guidance of teacher Bettie Shortt, the children in 
the Head Start Program made a mural of the Challenger. The 
kindergartners listed Christa McAuliffe's character traits and 
elaborated on each one.
  Team leader Lynne Barrett asked the first graders to read an 
important book about the Challenger flight. Students then discussed why 
Christa McAuliffe was important. Each second grade teacher selected a 
subject and prepared a 45-minute lesson. The subjects included: 
Astronauts, the Space Shuttle, the Moon, Planets, and Christa 
McAuliffe. Teacher and team leader for the second-graders, Susan 
Gougeon made sure that the classes were rotated so that each class was 
afforded the opportunity to participate in all of the relevant lessons.
  Peggy Duffy asked each third-grader to make a symbol to put into a 
goal quilt, keeping in mind that ``Christa McAuliffe set a goal and 
went for it.'' The finished quilt was hung in the school hall and was 
``quite a display,'' according to Dr. Edith Rohrbacher, the assistant 
principal.
  The fourth graders viewed the film, ``The Dream is Alive,'' and then 
discussed the concept of being part of a team. The fifth graders wrote 
essays. One of the fifth grade classes will correspond with Christa 
McAuliffe's mother. Jean Withee and Kristin Dillman deserve credit and 
praise for their outstanding efforts as team leaders for the fourth and 
fifth grades.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the winning combination of students and 
faculty at the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Germantown, MD, 
for it is my understanding that the day set aside to remember the 
Challenger, was a huge success. I congratulate Principal Eugene Haines 
and the entire McAuliffe Elementary School on their ambitious program, 
and I wish them continued success in all of their future educational 
challenges and endeavors.
  As Keith Geiger, President of the NEA, stated: ``Christa taught us 
about living life to the fullest. Because she reached for the stars, 
she made the world a brighter place for all of us.''
  As a member of the Committee on Science that has under its 
jurisdiction our space program and as somebody who is a former educator 
myself, I commend the school. I hope that the Challenger tragedy 
becomes a symbol for future generations to adopt the kind of theme that 
the Christa McAuliffe School has, and that is, reach out and touch the 
future.

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