Mass Maritime Academy (MMA) developed hands-on program on Molasses Flood for high school students
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) developed an innovative and exciting hands-on program related to the Great Boston Molasses and used my book, Dark Tide, for high school students participating in the program. MMA cadets aboard the USS Nantucket, which was docked in Boston Harbor in 1919, were first on the rescue scene when the molasses tank collapsed.
I was honored to visit MMA and meet with 46 high school students who participated in the pilot program — and what a great time! Students from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Maryland, California, Florida, Germany, and Puerto Rico filled me in on how they examined the flood through the lens of various MMA programs of study: Emergency Management; Marine Safety, Science, and Environmental Protection; Marine Engineering; Marine Transportation; Facilities Engineering; and International Maritime Business. The students were highly engaged and asked great questions. Photos here show some of the work they performed, as well as the group picture with me and the “graduation ceremonies” following successful completion of the program. I can’t say enough about MMA’s efforts to make this a success. You can read an excellent newspaper story on the program here. MMA examined the disaster through the lens of six of the seven Academy majors, including: the Marine Safety, Science, and Environmental Protection Department; the Emergency Management Department; the Marine Engineering Department and Facilities Engineering Department; the Marine Transportation Department; and the International Maritime Business Department. High-achieving high school students participating in MMA’s Sea, Science, and Leadership Program (SSLP) July 31-August 3 were the first to experience this amazing program.
I’m shown with MMA President Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald (United States Maritime Service); at the MMA sign with Nancy Franks, program coordinator extraordinaire; “piloting” a molasses steamer through choppy waters in the MMA Ship’s Bridge Simulator; and working with white gloves to examine the scrapbook that contains original reports from 1919 compiled by the commanding officer of the Nantucket. There’s also a view of the school’s Emergency Operations Training Center, where students will learn to develop tactical and strategic decision-making skills utilizing simulated emergency scenarios.
Incidentally, the scrapbook is a rich primary source that I didn’t know existed until my visit! It goes to show that even when you’ve done exhaustive research on a topic, there is always more to be found. I think you’ll enjoy my blog entry that talks a little more about the scrapbook “find,” the constant revelations that history unveils, and the rescue efforts by the cadets on the day of the disaster. Thanks again to Mass. Maritime Academy – a great institution of higher learning with a long tradition of service and excellence since its founding in 1891! MMA’s decision to focus on the molasses flood and to use Dark Tide as a resource allows me to continue my focus on bringing history and good writing to students across the board.
