Page 53: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q2 2016)

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The K-12 schools have stepped up and produced motivated and educated students. Post-second- ary institutions and employers need to do the same and bring these young people into the mix.

– Dr. Art Sulzer, Founder of the

Philadelphia-based Maritime

Academy Charter School ondary Education Coalition (MPSEC) was formed. Led by a with the schools that could bene? t from their help. The effort chairman and advisory board that works in concert to promote is starting to yield fruit, but the job is anything but done.

and assist maritime/marine science K-12 education around the country, the coalition is comprised of maritime associations, Progress and Issues: No time to take the private and federal maritime industry employers, institutions foot off the gas … of higher education, maritime museums, tall ships and K-12 Steady progress has been documented. Maritime students maritime/marine science schools. have risen to the challenge; many of these inner city schools

The organization’s primary goal is to offer all students in post-graduation rates in the 90th percentile, as compared other

America’s urban cities the unique opportunity to explore the urban schools which languish at graduation rates below 60%. nation’s rich maritime heritage through maritime education Beyond this, students at the maritime/marine schools have and to follow a path to high school graduation and a career also have also developed their academic pro? ciency to state in the maritime /marine community. Membership is free and requirements. Nevertheless, the socio- economic issues of in- open to all who want to promote maritime education. ner city youth do not fade just because a student has risen to the top of their class. The issue of funding further education,

Maritime Curriculum (at last) as well as providing a smoother path to the next step – educa-

Sponsored by SOCP, the coalition has developed curriculum tion and then gainful employment – remains largely unsolved.

entitled, “Introduction to Maritime and Marine Science Edu- With a true maritime curriculum in place, inner city students cation and Careers,” a 170-hour course. Suitable for grades – and beyond – will now begin to advance to the point of that 8-12, the curriculum was developed by maritime high school ? rst entry level position or, in other situations, the college ex- teachers, comes in 19 modules and more importantly, follows perience offered by the traditional maritime academies. But, the scope and sequence format that the schools already em- the connection between K-12 experiences – now reaching ma- ploy. Its modules cover all facets of the industry a? oat and turity – has to be met by industry commitment to bring the job ashore, as well as the education pathways to reach them. It is to fruition.

now available to purchase through the SOCP at www.socp.us. Firms such as K-Sea, Moran and McAllister have already

Supporting all of that are numerous organizations that spon- stepped up to the plate. Others who want to get involved need sor various hands-on student programs such as “Sea Perch” only ? nd a K-12 maritime school and connect with them by by the Of? ce of Naval Research, “Building to Teach” by the offering internships, scholarships, mentoring and employ-

Carpenters Union, and maritime youth programs such as the ment. Post-secondary institutions – both academic and techni-

Sea Scouts, Sea Cadets. Professional organizations such as cal – need to follow suit and ensure that these students, once

SNAME, NAMEPA, WISTA, and the Organization of Black enrolled in their programs, have the support and ? nancial

Maritime Graduates are available for mentoring and school resources to complete the program. The future of the North career presentations. The coalition aims with its new web site, American maritime industry just might hang in the balance. hosted by SUNY Maritime College, to connect all of these www.mpsecoalition.org www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 53| | 50-63 Q2 MP2016.indd 53 5/19/2016 11:46:48 AM