Counter Appeal to MTSD Science Department Reevaluation

As a student who took physics honors last year, I would like to openly say that it has by favorite class so far in high school. I was in Mr. Buszka's class, and the critical thinking and analytical skills he emphasized are extremely helpful. By allowing Physics First, students have the opportunity to develop these skills early so they can apply them in the rest of high school. Additionally, a common observation was that those who struggled in Physics First still loved Mr. Buszka as a teacher. It is not the teachers who are at fault, it is the students. The teachers are doing everything in their reach to ensure a healthy, enriching, and most importantly, interesting work environment for the students.

Teachers who strive for genuine and robust understanding in their students often stand alone, until the data rolls in. Glad to see the community is standing beside them.

Most of the complaints about the Physics First curriculum are actually thinly veiled attacks at the physics teachers, particularly those teaching physics honors, by parents who are shocked that their kids are not doing well in an honors course. Which I think is frankly unjust and in poor taste. As a current sophomore who took Mr. Buszka's honors course, I think I have a degree of authority in saying that the majority of the kids I saw struggling in physics honors should not have been in the class in the first place. The word "honors" being taken too lightly is the real issue here, not the program: kids are coming into the class inadequately prepared from middle school and expecting to get by with minimum effort- which, as a kid with firsthand experience, I can say was quite easy to do in eighth grade. But physics is not a middle school course; it is a high school course, and should be regarded as such. If you are not prepared for it, or if you do not work hard, you will not do well. It's a simple concept that no one seems to be willing to understand; rather, they point fingers at others when what they should really be doing is evaluating whether they should have signed up for the course in the first place. So what do I propose, in lieu of dismantling Physics First? Have more stringent prerequisites for physics honors. I would suggest not allowing anyone into the class that has not taken geometry honors in eighth grade, and that students should have a 90 or above in the class, as well as in eighth grade science. Physics honors remains one of my favorite courses to this day. It taught me to think critically and learn independence at a time when I needed it most, and I will never forget the satisfaction of seeing my grades at the end of the year and realizing that my success was entirely my own, that it was earned and not given to me. Getting rid of Physics First is not the answer. Re-evaluating the requirements for physics honors is. (Also, there are so

Under an education system run by the free market in a completely capitalist society, we would not have these types of issues. Just goes to show that our government is weak to spineless "ineffectuals" who whine about how their free education is too hard. Easy D.

I don't support the dumbing down of public education. Kids these days are too soft.

Physics first is the right way to go. I took physics honors concurrently with geometry, and it is possible to succeed if you have the drive and put the work in. I completely agree that pre-req's should be held to a higher standard; however, this is Montgomery and it boils down to what the parents want, they get (unfortunately in cases like these).

we are number one

https://vimeo.com/114906207 http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib5/NJ01000127/Centricity/Domain/905/PhysicsPresentation_BOE_2014-12-16.pdf These are the links to the MHS Science Presentations focusing on how "physics first" is the optimal curriculum.

http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib5/NJ01000127/Centricity/Domain/126/WhyPhysicsBrochure_R4.pdf

http://imgur.com/PhaC432 If you put this on your website, don't come crying that the math is too hard

Just think: If we go to bio first, I won't be able to get recommended into an honors course off of my superior knowledge of advanced three-dimensional geometrical figures like a cube and how many faces it has! In all seriousness, to the kids who are whining about Physics Honors being too difficult, I ask this question. Why did you take that class? I agree, this is a glaring fault in the recommendation process for science. Students who know how to divide two-digit numbers by one-digit numbers are deemed "competent" and they think they are able to do more difficult courses like Physics Honors. Instead, why not make the requirements like the English and History departments, where you need to reach a certain grade in a certain class to be considered competent. This is the time period when there is such an abundance of information on the internet. Even if a rising 9th-grader leaves 8th grade with no knowledge of vectors or the more difficult mathematical concepts, there are online courses, video lessons, and so many places to learn about these topics prior to entering 9th-grade. If students don't have ability nor take initiative to learn on their own, why do they expect to succeed in an Honors course? Lastly, the 8th-grade science curriculum includes concepts about Physics and Chemistry. Why throw all of that away and learn Bio for a year before going back to those two difficult courses? By then, many people would've long forgotten concepts that they learned from middle school. Yes, Physics first is not easy. We can see that as some "extremely talented students" who are taking Algebra 1 part 2 are failing Honors classes. Altering the program will not change anything: These same "talented" students will opt to choose AP Physics or Physics C in their Junior year as well and have the same results. What will we do then? Move Physics to senior year? Or whine to the government on how Physics is too difficult for high school students to comprehend, so they will remo

To do anywhere near well in that class (and to really learn a lot from it and retain it) you have to be either willing to teach yourself calc or be in something like calc AB, BC, or C. even C kids sometimes see to hit issues, because there is much more to it than math. You could know all the math, but wrapping one's head around the mechanics alone is not something that is going to happen without regular or honors physics, you will likely be unable to apply the math. I think what you are looking for is the now dead AP physics B.

I support the current program based on the performance and progress of my son Sebastian junior at the MHS

I agree with it.

I feel a lot of the criticism of the science department is both un-grounded, and directed at the wrong people. Physics first is not the problem, it is the students, and their parents pushing kids into an honors class when they would be much better off in CP. There has been a lot of blame landing on a single teacher as well and that is saddening as that teacher is doing the best job. The solution to this is indeed to further introduce physics and the all important thinking behind it in 7th and 8th grade. Of the people who complain of this system, I find them falling into two categories: 1, they are not fit for, or not putting in a high enough level of effort to learn Physics at honors levels (it is no coincidence that much complaining comes from the parents and students of Physics Honors. (this is an Honors class, and while it might seem normal for Montgomery kids to load up on APs and honors, some classes are more worthy of these tags than others)) or 2, they have a less desirable teachers who cannot teach physics up to the standards set by other teachers. (there are a few, but that is NOT a physics first problem) However the blame seems to wrongly land on the teachers who are most known for their support of physics first due to their great competence in teaching the iSTEM subjects. Why should the best teachers be reproached for their hard work and dedication to a superior learning experience? Summing things up, while there might be some blame to go around, it is misdirected and the attack on physics first reads more as a scapegoat attempt to change a system which is not a problem, Physics first might seem radical, but it is the tip of the iceberg of many other successful albeit unorthodox teaching strategies. Montgomery does not and hopefully never will strive for mediocrity or normal levels of teaching and learning. We have amazing opportunity that is sadly often overlooked and removing physics first would be a great step agains

Would like to have chemistry in freshman, but keeping current curriculum is better than having bio first

I definitely would not have taken AP Physics my senior year if I did not take Physics Honors as a freshman, and I definitely would not be aiming to pursue a career in STEM if I was not exposed to physics early in my life.

I have a son who is a sophomore. Wasn't easy to start physics first. But without any tutor or extra help, he was able to figure how best to learn the subject. In fact it boosted his confidence. I talk to parents, students and academicians and they all feel that taking Physics first is a definite advantage for Montgomery kids. Provides them with summer opportunities that other kids don't get. Would like Montgomery to keep Physics first.

Physics is the queen of all science. It would be a shame to teach biology before chemistry and chemistry before physics. How would I possibly understand how enzyme inhibition works without knowledge of chemical kinetics? How would I know what the word kinetics means without classical mechanics? Keep physics where it is and continue to challenge new generations of students.

Do not allow moronic parents who don't know anything about science instruction call the shots. Physics first makes the most sense in STEM education.