KGW Archive: Portland students react to the Challenger disaster

34 years ago the Challenger disaster happened. This KGW archive footage from 1986 shows how students reacted right after the crash.

[soccerguy]

Damn that seventh grader is a good writer.

[ripriv]

My uncle told me that when it happened the teacher pulled out a cart with a tv on it and showed the class a video of the tragedy. Absolutely devastating.

[anastasiabeaverhausen.]

I was in 7th grade when it happened and I remember the Weekly Reader asking students to nominate their teacher. We were all SO excited for Christa and then heartbroken when it happened. We were watching live. 💔

[anothermonday]

"Sorrow gripped my body." Whoa, um, a 12-year-old wrote that? Wouldn't be surprised if that kid went into counseling.

[Rjshadow]

What a wonderful class. I can't imagine what they felt having seen this live, whilst expecting it to be a heroic moment.

Side note - I tutor high school students, and that 7th grader writes at what would be considered an 11th, or even 12th grade level today.

[wheelmanstan]

writing it all down really helps, helps get things out and figure things out as well

[nicksrandomthoughts]

I was in 6th grade when this happened. I remember my band teacher telling me. At first I thought he was joking. But as we all know he wasn't joking.

[WickedlyMe]

I was only 4. I was in school, pre-school. My brother was in 3rd grade, who was watching it on TV. His teacher was too a finalist in the program. I only remember being picked up early from school by my dad and being upset. I never saw the video until I was an adult and remember asking my grandma what it was…

[brendanwalsh]

0:24 ik this is a serious topic and it's truly heartbreaking but God damn that 12 year old can write

[jacasoasheland]

Wow, 7th graders were really good writers back then

[pwned]

“You’re lucky” kids are brutally honest 💀

[MarianRenta]

The letter the girl is writing is dated ‘Jan 28 1985’… that threw me off

[williamminter]

The educational system is failing us. I doubt that many 7th grade students could write such a well composed letter now. Few seniors could, for that matter.

[LordValorum]

Can just imagine some class of 7-year old kids, watching the launch. Everyone just cheers and then comes the explosion
Teacher: *Turns pale af
Some student: Uhm, excuse me Mr. Jones but did we just see those people FUCKING EXPLODE IN THE LIVE TELEVISION?

[johnshafer]

I was in 2nd grade when this happened.

[jbrisby]

We were more ruthless in our school. The day wasn't over before we were telling "Need Another Seven Astronauts" jokes and wishing our own teachers had been on board.

[rosapineda]

My 6th grade teacher watched thus in his class

[anaihilator]

I was jn 5th grade.

We watched live on tv in class.

My God. We didnt believe it was real at first.

Numb wjth horror

[Nobody-xefc]

And to think that this could have been Big Bird. 😮

[viking]

Myra's parents probably wrote that message and had her copy it for school. Twelve year olds don't talk like that.