On this day in 1984, President Ronald Reagan announced that the first citizen to go into space would be a teacher.

Everyone says that teachers are important. We even have “National Teacher Day” (May 7). But when President Reagan announced that the first citizen in space would be a teacher, he was showing the nation that teachers really are special.

Eventually, Christa McAuliffe was chosen. Then, tragically, she died when the Challenger exploded on take-off on January 28, 1986.

Not all teachers are like Christa McAuliffe, who was willing to risk her life on an exploration adventure. But all teachers are involved in a daily adventure as they help students explore nature, history, language, government, faith, mathematics, relationships, art, and many other fields of study.

While teachers are important, they may not always feel special. Some teachers feel that they are not paid enough for the work they do. And their students can treat them very poorly. Teachers may feel overworked and taken for granted. They may feel pressure from both the school administration and from the parents of their students.

Teachers aren’t perfect, of course, and some teach better than others. But all teachers deserve respect and honor. We honor teachers by paying attention in class, by asking good questions, by having a positive attitude, and trying our best to learn, even when it’s hard.

Think where you’d be without teachers, and what you’ve learned in the past. And imagine all the great learning in your future—middle school, high school, college, and graduate school—and the talented teachers who’ll guide you.

Thank God for your teachers. Honor them . . . and, like Christa McAuliffe, reach for the stars.

“Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to those who gave me instruction?” (Proverbs 5:13).

To Do

Even though you may not be in school right now, make a list of your current teachers. Be sure to include your Sunday-school teacher, music teacher, coach, and others. This week, thank each one for doing a great job.

Also on this day . . .

1886—The island volcano of Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted. It was heard over 3,000 miles away and was one of the biggest natural disasters ever.

1908—Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36^th President of the United States, was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).