It turns out that quite a bit of physics is SUPPOSED to be taught in
preschool, elementary school, and middle school. Usually it's called
"physical science," but most of the topics are physics. I've examined
several K-6 curricula, and they contain most of the concepts that are
included in a typical university physics course for non-science majors. In
fact, the treatment in the 4th-6th grade elementary school textbooks is
often *at the same level of understanding* as the treatment of the same
topics in the non-majors college course!
So "Why isn't physics taught in grade school?" isn't the right question. The
correct question is, "Why isn't physics taught EFFECTIVELY in grade school?"
Because physics IS taught, but it doesn't "stick."
Vickie Frohne
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Hake [mailto:rrhake@EARTHLINK.NET]
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 10:41 AM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Would Physics First Increase the Number of Physics Majors?
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
. . . . . If physics is not more difficult than other
disciplines, why does everyone think that it is? To answer
indirectly, let me turn again to English. Six-year-olds write English
and (to pick a skilled physicist writer) Jeremy Bernstein writes
English. What separates them? A long, gradual incline of increased
ability, understanding, and practice. Some few people, illiterates,
do not start up the hill. Most people climb some distance. A few
climb as far as Bernstein. FOR PHYSICS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE
FASHIONED A CLIFF. THERE IS NO GRADUAL RAMP, ONLY A NEAR-VERTICAL
ASCENT TO ITS HIGH PLATEAU When the cliff is encountered for the
first time by. . . (14- or) . . . 16- or 17-year olds, it is small
wonder that only a few have courage (and the skill) to climb it.
There is no good reason for this difference of intellectual
topography. First-graders could be taught some physics . . . (Hammer
1999, Snyder 2001). . . , second-graders a little more, and
third-graders still more (Love 2001) . . . [and Middle School'ers
still more (Hubisz 2001 a,b)]. . . Then for the. . .(ninth-). . . ,
eleventh- or twelfth grader, a physics course would be a manageable
step. Some might choose to take it, some not, but few would be barred
by lack of 'talent' or background." (My CAPS.)
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
****************************************************************************
It is prohibited for anyone to disclose, copy or distribute the contents of
this message. Benedictine University does not review, edit or censor email
sent out through it system. The University however does maintain and
policies regarding the acceptable use of its technology resources. All
messages express solely of the sender, which are not to attributed to
Benedictine University, and may not be copied or distributed without this
disclaimer.
****************************************************************************