President's Message
Fall 2008

It is an honor to be able to serve as president of FLAAPT for the next two years. I am pleased to have the chance to serve, and I expect the years to be filled with educational and fun experiences. As I begin my term, I have considered several goals regarding the organization as well as goals for myself as a member of the organization. As president my wish is to keep working to achieve the goals set forth by previous officers while adding my own ideas where and when they are appropriate.

Our profession continues to fight for the chance to educate our society about the issues and importance of physics. “ Energy” seems to be ubiquitous in the minds and airwaves around the country. The solutions to our energy needs will come from Americans who are educated about the laws of the physical world. And yet, in our own state, funding of public school education from preschool to post graduate school does not seem to be a priority. We must not accept a “lottery” approach to funding vital physics research at any level of education. At our meeting years ago, Frank Lock presented statistics about science education in Florida . It was a great presentation, but filled with grim facts. Little has changed since then. We must continue to push for better preparation for all Florida 's students in all aspects of science education, and physics in particular.

We live in a very precarious moment in the history of the country. We are in the midst of a military war, an energy crisis, and a financial abyss. There is nothing more important that our country can do for its people than to provide for their education. Science education, physics education in particular, is the key to military superiority, alternative sources of and efficient use of energy, and the retooling of our workforce to meet the demands of industrial growth in a era of unimagined technologies. How we prepare our youth to meet these challenges will determine the future of our country. Our organization is founded on the principle that we will work to give physics education in this state and this country a five star rating.

We have many talented and dedicated physics teachers in FLAAPT, but there are many in this state that do not even know of our existence. I challenge you to look for others in your own county or school who would like to join us in our push to improve physics education in Florida and across the United States . I look forward to interacting with all of you at meetings. I firmly believe that membership in professional organizations is beneficial to anyone who strives to be the best that they can be. This is especially true for physics teachers in small institutions if they do not have others with whom to share ideas about physics and physics education. This is why I look forward to the upcoming meeting, and many future meetings. It's a place for me to grow professionally as well as personally.

Please join me at the next meeting. In the meantime, if there is anything that I can do to help you, or if you have an idea that might help me in this endeavor to improve physics education in our state, feel free to contact me at the address below.

Jane Nelson
Santa Fe College
6871 SW 89 th Way
Gainesville , FL 32608
Phone: 352 395 6646
e-mail: nelsonjh@ix.netcom.com

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