Let me take a few minutes to introduce myself. My name is
Mel Morris
.
I have been teaching high school science since 1962. I recieved my bachelors
degree in Biology and Education from the State University of New York at
Stony Brook. I taught for four years in a junior high school. While I was
teaching I recieved my Master's of Science in Marine Biology from C.W.Post
College . I quit my job as a science teacher and went to the University
of Florida on an NSF academic year grant for teachers who were going to
teach Earth Science. I recieved a Master's degree in Education and then
stayed for an additional two years to get my Doctorate in Science Education.
I returned to New York and worked as a department chairperson in a high
school . I taught earth science. After two years I left to join the faculty
of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. I worked in the Department
of Education supervising student teachers and teaching some methods courses.
After two years I left the department because I had the opportunity to start
a new high school. This was a great experience. There were eight teachers
and we spent the summer planning the program and ordering equipment. We
opened the school in a wing of the new middle school. During the two years
we were in the middle school we helped to design and plan the new high school
building. We were able to tell the architects what we wanted and they listened
to us.
The school was well funded as a result of a nuclear power plant that was
being built in the district. This abundance of riches lasted for a period
of about twenty years. During this time we were the envy of local districts.
We had an excellent faculy, outstanding programs and any equipment that
we wanted. As an example, I taught Marine Science and we had our own 35
foot Chris Craft.
After twenty years , the power plant, which had never opened ,was declared
dead by the Govenor and our source of funding was beginning to dry up. We
are now four or five years into this process with disasterous results. Faculty
have been let go, equipment is not being replaced and the community is anti
teacher as the prospect of their property taxes going up looms large. Since
our funding for conferences and new curriculum materials has just about
vanished the internet becomes an extremely valuable resource.
I hope that I will be able to share some valuable information with teachers
from throughout the world and in retrun gather some information that will
enable me improve my teaching and provide some neat learning experiences
for my students.
For some of the sites I have found interesting scroll down.
MARINE SCIENCE
: For a great resource on
sharks
try this item.
ASTRONOMY:
Are you interested in
comets
"?
For a neat Australian site try this one.
GEOLOGY: Here's a great site if you're interested in
earthquakes.
