Dr. Morris Meister (1895 - 1975) was a science educator and administrator who was the founder and first principal of the Bronx High School of Science as well as the first president of

Bronx Community College The Bronx Community College of the City University of New York (BCC) is a public community college in the Bronx, New York City. It is part of the City University of New York system. History The college was established in 1957 through the eff ...

. He is noteworthy for his support and application of laboratory-based methods in science education as well as interdisciplinary study.

Early life and education

Morris Meister was born on October 20, 1895, in Gonietz, Poland to Harris Meister and Jennie (Kolovsky) Meister. The Meister family moved to Manhattan's

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Traditionally an im ...

when Morris was 7 years old. He attended the

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a public university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, Cit ...

, where he became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His doctoral thesis at the Teachers College of Columbia University in 1921, ''The Educational Value of Certain After-school Materials and Activities in Science'', focused on the role of science related toys in science education. Meister married Florence Suzi Glickstein, a music teacher, in 1921. They had two children, Anna Meister Burton, a psychoanalyst, and Alton Meister, a noted biochemist.

Career

Morris Meister worked as a science teacher in a number of schools in New York City including

Stuyvesant High School Stuyvesant High School (pronounced ), commonly referred to among its students as Stuy (pronounced ), is a State school, public university-preparatory school, college-preparatory, Specialized high schools in New York City, specialized high school ...

(1916), The Speyer School (1916-1918), Horace Mann School (1917-1922). He was instrumental in the creation of science fairs while working as a committee head of the American Institute of the City of New York in the 1932s. He served as the second president of the National Science Teachers Association. Meiseter wrote a series of science textbooks called ''Science for a Better World''. Meister was the founding principal of the Bronx High School of Science from 1938 to 1958. He was the founding president of the

from 1959 to 1966. After retirement he worked as the director of planning at the New York Hall of Science, in Corona, Queens. .

Legacy

Meister Auditorium, the Auditorium of the Bronx High School of Science, is named after Dr. Meister. His portrait is displayed at its doors. Meister Hall, a building on the campus of Bronx Community College, is named after Dr. Meister.

References

External links

A Tribute to Founder Dr. Morris Meister (Bronx Science)BCC: History of the College
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meister, Morris American school principals Year of death missing The Bronx High School of Science Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Bronx Community College faculty Teachers College, Columbia University alumni City College of New York alumni New York Hall of Science Presidents of Bronx Community College