Fan Mail
Hi, Craig!
I don't know if you remember me. I don't know
if this e-address is still valid. I just keep thinking about my
experiences with MARE and hoping it's as vital or moreso than it was when
I participated back in 95? Has it been that long?
Anyway, I live in Hawaii on the Big
Island (moved here 7 years ago). I am a farmer of mangos, avocados,
pineapple, macadamia nuts, and other odd things. Have a grafted
mango tree nursery also. But, I miss education...the science part
and the kids....not the other ridiculous facets though.
Let me know if you would consider a plan to come here with
MARE. As with all schools, we need MARE here.
Aloha,
Marla
Hi, Marla,
I love mangos!
It's great
to hear from you. Of course, I remember
you! MARE is doing just fine, and continues
to grow. There is a lot going on right now. We have created
a new Center for Ocean Sciences Education
Excellence in partnership
with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California Sea Grant
and Monterey Peninsula College; we're teaching a college course
to get more undergraduate
and graduate science students involved in K-12 teaching; we've
had a major new partnership with Humboldt County schools;
and we've developed
a bunch
of new on-line resources.
In addition, there is renewed interest
nationally in the ocean and specifically in ocean science education.
Perhaps you heard a few months ago about the
release of the Report from the
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy? It
makes many, many radical recommendations for revising how
we manage ocean resources, including dramatically increasing
the amount of ocean sciences
education available across the country.
Interestingly,
we had four teachers from two schools in Hawaii attend
our Summer Institute this past
summer. They are both planning to launch the program
this school year. They will be our first schools in Hawaii, but
we certainly hope there will be many more.
MARE
gets started in many different ways, through a school
district administrator
(curriculum coordinator, science coordinator, professional
development coordinator, associate superintendent, etc.),
a principal or often through a couple of teachers and/or
parents at
the school that just want to do
it. We don't do much marketing--most of our schools come from word
of mouth and many are funded by grants that either we write or the school
writes. So, there is no formula. The trick is to find someone
that thinks it's a good idea and then support them in making
it happen.
Please stay in touch.
Thanks.
Craig
|
|
|
