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Show Local PTA's to honor Christa McAuliffe By KALYN SECRETAN All of the local PTA's honored their teachers during Teacher Appreciation week during January and February, a time suggested by the State PTA. The National PTA set aside Teacher Appreciation Activities to be held during the month of May. This is the third year that the National PTA has sponsored Teacher Appreciation Week as a way for parents and students to honor their teachers. The National PTA is calling on all of its 24,500 local units to honor the memory of Christa McAuliffe during May. "All of America grieves for the families of the astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle recently," commented National PTA president Ann Kahn in making the announcement. an-nouncement. "But we in the PTA feel an even greater loss because Christa McAuliffe represented all of the dedicated educators who share their pioneer spirit with students each day." The first citizen in space was scheduled to speak about her experiences ex-periences in space and in the classroom at the PTA's 90th annual national convention, June 20-23 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Due to the circumstances, the National PTA will instead pay tribute to Mrs. McAuliffe at that time. The new Council President, Eva Ercanbrack along with other b oard members had the opportunity to hear Ann Kahn address PTA members in Salt Lake City a couple of months ago. Mrs. Kahn heard from so many PTA leaders and members since the terrible shuttle tragedy that took the life of seven astronauts including in-cluding Christa. All of America grieves for her family and students as well as for all the families of the other, astronauts. But sotmany wonder how they can express " sympathy as well as- help work out some of their grief. For this reason, "We are sking PTA's and PTA members to remember Christ McAuliffe during their Teacher Appreciation Week activities as a positive way to honor this dedicated and brave individual. We hope PTAs will also inform the public about the significance of a teacher being selected for the space program to focus attention on the important place of teachers in our society. The local council would like us to all remember the significance of a teacher, Christa McAuliffe, representing our nations classroom teachers in space, and realize the importance of our local teachers in Pleasant Grove and the influence they h ave on the lives of our children. |