Unveiling a Statue, and a New School Year

Is it possible to bring any kind of lasting goodness from events that caused overwhelming loss?

It was FDR who, on December 8th 1941, referred to the preceding day — when Pearl Harbor was attacked, bringing the United States into World War II — as one that will “live in infamy.”

September 11th, 2001, became another. No matter the glorious weather, we still feel a shudder each time this somber anniversary arrives, mourning the devastating loss of life and the shock to our collective consciousness that happened on that day, leaving a forever scar.

A week and a half ago, here in the capital city of New Hampshire, 500 of us gathered in front of the State House to celebrate the life — it was her birthday — of someone who will always be remembered for her bravery in signing up for a NASA assignment that would end in a tragedy felt around the nation.

This was the Challenger space shuttle launch, occurring on Jan. 28th, 1986. If you’re old enough, no doubt you’ll recall exactly where you were on that fateful day. Were you in front of a television (as I was, on a brown couch in Lyndonville, VT)? Or did someone come into whatever room you were in to tell you the terrible news? Either way, you’ll remember the crushing reality of the horrible explosion.

The Commemoration

Those of us who came together on Labor Day morning to consider the legacy of Christa McAuliffe, and to welcome a new sculpture of her, felt such a mix of emotions: the same whoosh of shock and sadness, revisited; also shared pride in appreciating who she was; and some hope for the future.

The ceremony began with Bishop Rob, who had been asked by the Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission, leading us in a prayer,

In precious few words, he set the tone by weaving together various strands of meaning to bring us to this moment. He reminded us of the “irrepressible confidence” that NASA, and the country had been experiencing in the days leading up to the launch. We also heard from a representative from NASA itself, a woman, former astronaut, who spoke about what the original flight mission was and how the agency vigorously renewed its work on safety protocols after that January. And then came (can’t recall exact order) Chris Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire; the sculptor, from Idaho; a local teacher who had been a student of Christa’s at Concord High; a young man — about 12 — who read, with strength, the essay he’d written for this occasion; and then Christa’s husband, Steven, who described his wife’s shining qualities and reminded us that she was all about education and serving her students.

I was happy to learn, too, that a student from the school where I work — Belmont High — had won recognition for a painting she’d done, in response to an art contest that the Commission had promoted. Here she is, featured in The Laconia Daily Sun.

When I found her to offer congratulations during one of those early days back at school, Jennie was clearly pleased by the honor….and also willing to ask me if I could arrange a job shadow experience in a different field she’s interested in pursuing: a young woman eager for a new opportunity.

A Citizen/Teacher/Astronaut, Striding Forward

After all the speakers had finished on that bright morning, it was time for us to see the statue — the reason for our gathering. This was the work of Benjamin Victor, the only living artist to have four works in National Statuary Hall, in the US Capitol. You can see a gallery of his work here: https://benjaminvictor.com/

She is looking up and stepping out! Perhaps we are to imagine her in the moments heading to the launch, or maybe sometime over the course of the previous year, when she was in training, never forgetting about her Social Studies students back in Concord. She wrote college recommendations, sent back updates on what she was learning. This, clearly, is a woman who had everything to live for.

Here are the two inscriptions on either side of the statue:

Now, she will stand there forever, the only woman permanently installed on the State House lawn, not far from tough-guy Daniel Webster and other New Hampshire politicians and war heroes.

Moving Into Another September

Several days before this event, on my district’s first all-staff day back, held in the high school cafeteria, Superintendent Michael Tursi gave us a rationale for how public education advances the public good. He showed many photos of district happenings over the past year (including the Spring Career Fair) which were notable for how they brought people of different ages together in positive ways, sometimes raising funds for excellent local causes.

Acknowledging that many factors — in our state and across the nation, too — were contributing to the current situation of public schools being embattled, he urged us to stand tall in our jobs, reminding ourselves of our mission to be there for all students. I received his message gratefully.

Right around the same time, I’d been reading a sad, short feature by Alec MacGillis in The New Yorker, describing the decision-making that went into closing one particular school, in Rochester, NY. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/09/02/school-closures-public-education-charters-homeschooling-rochester. While his account is only about one place, and especially one immigrant family, he suggests that something quite big is happening in our society, partly but not only due to the pandemic.

The news from a growing number of districts suggests that the institution of public schooling has indeed suffered a lasting blow, even in cities that are better funded than Rochester. In Seattle, parents anticipate he closure of twenty elementary schools. The state of Ohio has witnessed a major expansion of private-school vouchers; in Columbus, a task force is recommending the closure of nine schools.

That’s a chilling phrase — “a lasting blow.” Christa McAuliffe, walking with such enthusiasm towards her launch and the science experiments she would do on board for the benefit of students everywhere, saying with her actions that it’s right to accept new challenges leading to growth, would want us to do everything we can to support our local schools, the ones that have always taken everyone in regardless of race, religion, income level, or anything else.

I didn’t used to think of NASA and rocket ships all mixed together with brick-and-mortar schools..but I do now.

Do you remember where you were on Jan. 28th, 1986? And what are people in your community — not only parents with kids there now — doing on a regular basis to keep public schools strong and vibrant? Leave a comment!