Wow, there seems to be a remarkable degree of consensus about
this formerly-controversial topic. Or perhaps other views will
be appearing later.
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Here's a modest suggestion: If you're going to try the physics-first
idea, don't let anyone call the course "high school physics". Instead
call it "Pre-Physics" or something like that.
Actually IMHO the name "Pre-Physics" works on two levels: It is "Pre"
in the sense that it comes before real HS physics, and it is "Pre" in
the sense of preparatory, in preparation for HS biology and chemistry.
Calling it Pre-Physics reduces the otherwise-large likelihood that
students, parents, etc. might think the course takes the place of
conventional HS physics. (By way of analogy, nobody thinks the
Pre-Calculus course takes the place of real calculus.)