How did the launching of the Soviet Sputnik affect the public’s perception of ed

Question: How did the launching of the Soviet Sputnik affect the public’s perception of education in this country!?
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I can't tell you how shocked we were that the USSR "beat" the US into space!. Eisenhower and our other leaders had assured us (and we assured each other) that capitalism was the superior way of life, and here the commies put a satellite in orbit!

But there was a far, far more ominous side of the Sputnik launch: if they could put an object into orbit, then they could bring it down anywhere!. They could put a hydrogen bomb in orbit, and bring it down on Chicago, New York, or Washington!.

Prior to this event, a bomb could be delivered a relatively short range via rocket (V-2 missle) or else it had to be carried by airplane!. Airplanes could be shot down!. A bomb falling from orbit though, would land and explode with no warning at all! This was terrifying!

This terror motivated an effort to close the "education gap" between the US and USSR!. If their scientists were smart, then ours had better be smarter! It was during this era that we first heard, "You don't have to be a rocket scientist!.!.!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

It was believed that we were behind in this country!. The Russians were able to but something in space and we were not able to!. So we pushed schools to push for Science and Math!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For one thing, schools stopped some of their silly practices like putting dunce hats on kids and making them sit in the corner, and got serious about teaching sciences and math!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

People felt that not enough attention had been paid to science and engineering!.Www@QuestionHome@Com