RecycleJack Marine's blog

I grew up in West Mount Airy, attending Oak Lane Day School and the Akiba Hebrew Academy. I attended Boston University and then Philadelphia Textile. I worked for 20 years in the Apparel Industry, then I went back to Cabrini College to get my Pennsylvania Certification and Masters in Education(1999).  I worked for six straight summers teaching nature at local camps, and I also taught Organic Gardening to neighborhood children in Bala Cynwyd, where I live. I am an avid organic gardener and recycling freak! This year I received Lower Merion Township’s first-ever Go For the Green award for a homeowner.

I went fishing west of Pottstown in Oley, Pa at a beautiful place near a stream, farmhouses, and small mountains- It was breathakingly beautiful. I caught a giant sunfish, and my friend caught four small trout. We threw all five fish back. I also caught several moths and one caterpillar to feed to my gecko. Although this place is 48 miles from my neighborhood, I still feel like it's part of the place where I live. After all, I wouldn't drive out of my comfort zone to go fishing for a few hours.. 

Yesterday I had to spend most of my day at my school building. It is located in The Kirkbride Center, which is the focus of my presentation on Friday. This building complex was once The Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane! As I sat on one of the classrooms, I looked at the high ceilings, the wide open hallways and wide floor spaces. During lunch I spoke with a 76 year old resident of West Philadelphia who recalled the Mill Creek sewer which I included in my presentation.

I am fascinated when I speak with citizens over 70 who recall different times and different environments as compared to the same locations before severe changes to the landscapes due to progress and related effects.

I just spoke to our school's curriculum consultant. She asked me t o print out what the Philadelphia School District has created for their elementary teachers, to follow when teaching science. Am I going to have to mirror the elementary school around the block from our charter school?I think it's the core curriculum or the science frameworks. But if I have to follow their frameworks on a weekly basis, then I don't think I can continue teaching using or set of FOSS kits. This will also limit the amount of inquiry learning I can implement.

http://www.recycleworks.org/kids/decomposers.html

I have been fascinated by the process of decomposition for several years. Last week, deceased Tammy Faye Baker, appearing on Larrry King Live, said that they reason she wanted to be creamated*(this should be cremated) was because she didn't want the bugs to eat her! I decided several years ago, and have instructed my funeral director that I want to be buried in a pine box- so the bugs will eat me!

I am trying to find out which animals are native to the City of Philadelphia. From my own experience I know that the ground species are gray squirrels, raccoons, opossums, field rats, field mice, deer, rabbits, garter snakes, groundhogs, and chipmunks.

Online I found that the PA Game Commission has held seminars this summer to discuss animals native to this area. I know the game commission officer who led the workshop, so I plan to contact him for details.