Revisiting the 1986 Teacher in Space Program

Lab Out Loud

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We recently listened to the One Year, which covered 1986: The Ultimate Field Trip, describing the Teacher in Space program. Announced in 1984 by President Reagan as a way to boost science education, the Teacher in Space program invited teachers to apply to become the first citizen into space. Realizing that two teachers from Wisconsin were selected, we reached out to connect with one of them. From Tomah, Wisconsin, science teacher Larry Scheckel was a finalist in the program alongside Christa McAuliffe. Larry joins the show to describe the Teacher in Space application process, tell us about the state of science education in the 80’s, and relive the shared grief that he and other finalists experienced when the Challenger exploded.

About our Guest:
Larry taught high school-level physics and aerospace science for over 38 years. He started answering science-related questions in the twice-weekly Tomah Times where this experience grew into a few books. Currently, Larry gives presentations to thousands of adults and students in such venues as Children’s Museums, Boys and Girls Clubs, Rotary, and conventions. He lives with his wife in Tomah, Wisconsin.

Transcript:

Links:

• Hear from other finalists – One Year – 1986: The Ultimate Field Trip
• First Shuttle Ride by Private Citizen to go to Teacher (28 Aug 1984 NY Times)
• Reagan Says Teacher to Be First Space Passenger (5 Sept 1984, EducationWeek)
• List of all 114 finalist – 114 Teachers to Compete for Chance to Be First Private Citizen in Space
• Reagan’s speaks to the finalists in the Teachers in Space Project on June 26, 1985
• “Eisenhower” funds
• Retired Tomah teacher reflects on 35th anniversary of Challenger explosion (WXOW)
• Christa’s Lost Lessons Brought to Life
• Larry Scheckel, author page on Amazon.com
• LarryScheckel.com
• Larry’s Ask a Science Teacher blog
• Teachers Learn New Skills at McAuliffe Academy (Fox 11, July 13, 2010)

Larry Scheckel teaching Brian robotics at the Christa McAuliffe Academy in Appleton (July, 2010)

Dale’s trip to Kennedy Space Center for a teacher workshop (January, 2004):

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Featured image courtesy of NASA/Chuck Luzier from Wikimedia Commons. This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that “NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted”.

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