The Board should consider math prerequisites for a proper physics curriculum. Rushing physics before the students are ready does a disservice to their education.
M
Mark Edelstein
9 years ago
The head of the MHS science department is great at providing lip service and no action - valid complaints continue to fall on deaf ears.
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Patricia Edelstein
9 years ago
Science has been the only department that has continued to fall down with regards to our kids at MHS.
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Ellen Nusbaum
9 years ago
Having had 2 students go through the science curriculum at MHS, the bottom line is that it did not serve either of my children and in fact absolutely discouraged them from pursuing science as a career. Both loved science until 9th grade. One child was a high performing dyslexic child lower math skills. While MHS claims the math component of physics, as taught at MHS, is minimal, this is simply not true, especially given the fact that there is a 4 math level range of students. My other child is high achieving and loved science until MHS, however the format of physics in terms of the modeling, does not actually teach anything, but rather relies on self discovery which is not traditional, conducive to many nor taught as a learning style. The rest of the science classes were equally uninspiring. I've never heard of high school biology classes not offering great any dissection except at theach AP level.
Montgomery needs to STOP catering to the top 5% and focus on benefiting the majority of the population. MHS should be ashamed of the science department...
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Eric Bleickardt
9 years ago
The grades that many students receive on multiple tests throughout the year reflect an inadequate understanding of the science course being taught. This is despite after school help sessions with the teachers and additional help of tudors for many students. Despite the students efforts, learning of the scientific concepts remains unsatisfactory. This petition reflects a community opinion that coursework in the sciences requires improvements by the school and educators to ensure our students learn these vital topics.
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Matthew Galvin
9 years ago
We have now had two children go through the Physics First program. We urge the MTSD to make it a higher level program so that children who take the Honors Program or higher are capable of doing well on the SAT Subject Test.
J
Jacquelyn Barth
· petition starter
9 years ago
My daughter is a current freshman, who is strong in LA and not as strong in science. She wants to be a teacher of special needs children. Physics has not been a good experience for her. She has experienced extreme anxiety over the Physics curriculum for many different reasons: nebulous subject matter, confusing assignments, lack of grades on Parent Resources and teaching style. I feel strongly that Physics should not be requirement for freshmen. It should be offered optionally in the junior year to those students who have an interest in STEAM careers and/or an aptitude in science. Not every student is a "science kid". Not every student will gain something from taking Physics. Montgomery is forcing all the square pegs into round holes and it is detrimental to the square pegs. I also have a 6th grader.
The Board should consider math prerequisites for a proper physics curriculum. Rushing physics before the students are ready does a disservice to their education.
The head of the MHS science department is great at providing lip service and no action - valid complaints continue to fall on deaf ears.
Science has been the only department that has continued to fall down with regards to our kids at MHS.
Having had 2 students go through the science curriculum at MHS, the bottom line is that it did not serve either of my children and in fact absolutely discouraged them from pursuing science as a career. Both loved science until 9th grade. One child was a high performing dyslexic child lower math skills. While MHS claims the math component of physics, as taught at MHS, is minimal, this is simply not true, especially given the fact that there is a 4 math level range of students. My other child is high achieving and loved science until MHS, however the format of physics in terms of the modeling, does not actually teach anything, but rather relies on self discovery which is not traditional, conducive to many nor taught as a learning style. The rest of the science classes were equally uninspiring. I've never heard of high school biology classes not offering great any dissection except at theach AP level. Montgomery needs to STOP catering to the top 5% and focus on benefiting the majority of the population. MHS should be ashamed of the science department...
The grades that many students receive on multiple tests throughout the year reflect an inadequate understanding of the science course being taught. This is despite after school help sessions with the teachers and additional help of tudors for many students. Despite the students efforts, learning of the scientific concepts remains unsatisfactory. This petition reflects a community opinion that coursework in the sciences requires improvements by the school and educators to ensure our students learn these vital topics.
We have now had two children go through the Physics First program. We urge the MTSD to make it a higher level program so that children who take the Honors Program or higher are capable of doing well on the SAT Subject Test.
My daughter is a current freshman, who is strong in LA and not as strong in science. She wants to be a teacher of special needs children. Physics has not been a good experience for her. She has experienced extreme anxiety over the Physics curriculum for many different reasons: nebulous subject matter, confusing assignments, lack of grades on Parent Resources and teaching style. I feel strongly that Physics should not be requirement for freshmen. It should be offered optionally in the junior year to those students who have an interest in STEAM careers and/or an aptitude in science. Not every student is a "science kid". Not every student will gain something from taking Physics. Montgomery is forcing all the square pegs into round holes and it is detrimental to the square pegs. I also have a 6th grader.