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Re: [Phys-l] Physics First Revisited



Se my siganture line for a possible evaluartion of your opening sentence.
Regards,
Jack


On Sat, 31 Jan 2009, Paul Lulai wrote:

I've been teaching hs physics for 13 years. I've heard people talk
about a teacher with a graduate degree being rejected because of the
cost. This does happen on occasion. Do not generalize this to all of
public education. This past summer we had many applicants for two
positions- biology and chemistry. We hired the one chemistry person
with a masters in bio-Chem and the one bio person that was a
practicing vet. Our middle school does the same whenever they can. My
conversations with teachers in other area districts indicate they do
as well.

I believe hiring pratices at schools are a reflection of local values.

The choices administrators make are determined by the dirction thy get
from their superintendent and school board. Elect school board members
that understand a better educated staff produces a better educated
student body.



Sent from my iPod

Paul Lulai
St. Anthony Village Senior High
Http://prettygoodphysics.wikispaces.com
US First RoboHuskie Team 2574


On Jan 29, 2009, at 8:56 AM, "Arts, Robert W." <rarts@pc.edu> wrote:

Unfortunately, administrators are less interested in student
performance in science versus their bottom line. Case in point (a
personal one) my wife was employed at a local elementary/middle
school several years ago. She lost her position due to budget cuts
which caused the school to go from two science teachers to one,
class sizes of 24 to 36 and class periods of 90 minutes to 50
minutes. Recently, the position opened back up (as their funding
was resorted) and she reapplied for her old job that she so
enjoyed. The administration did not even call her in for an
interview for the position...seemed strange. A week or so later,
she happened to run into one of the principals from that school and
was informed that she was over now educated for the position. In
between the time that she lost the job she'd gone back to school for
a masters in science teaching....so she now has an undergraduate
degree in biology, an undergraduate degree in education, teaching
certification for high school biology, teaching certification for
middle school science, and a masters in science teaching. However,
seeing as she would have to be paid more for her masters' degree
than a newbie teacher, she lost the opportunity to once again teach
public school. It seems as if priorities are a little mixed up in
the public education arena these days. I was under the impression
that a "highly qualified" educator was the desire and the mandate of
districts; however, that does not appear to be the case in our
area. Hopefully something gives soon that allows them to see the
error of their ways and once again promotes the best practices in
hiring so our next generation of students gets the best that we have
to offer.



Regards, Robert.


______________________________
Dr. Robert W. Arts
Professor of Education & Physics
Pikeville College
147 Sycamore Street
Pikeville, KY 41501
Office: (606) 218-5476
Email: rarts@pc.edu
URL: http://campus.pc.edu/~rarts

________________________________

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of
Edmiston, Mike
Sent: Thu 1/29/2009 9:38 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Physics First Revisited



R. McDermott said his daughter is not finding it easy to become
employed
as a K-6 science teacher. Current administrators and teachers at
those
levels seem to be stuck on strong math and English but not science.

Exactly. That's what I'm talking about. Our physical science
battle is
not at the ninth-grade level. The battle is already lost by then.
This
is going to be a difficult thing to change. The math and English
programs already have all the momentum, and they will fight any
intrusion of science if time spent on science comes at the expense of
time spent on math and English.

This is indeed a chicken and egg problem because this attitude will
not
change unless we get teachers and administrators into the schools who
see science on par with math and English. Yet how do we hatch these
science-conscious teachers and administrators in the first place, and
then how do we get them into the schools, when the eggs are being laid
by a non-science-conscious educational system?

Those of us at the college level can try to assure our
science-teacher-preparation programs retain strong content knowledge
and
strong lab experience (if we currently have it), or that we implement
strong content knowledge and strong lab experience (if we currently
don't have it). This is a difficult battle. Your are up against
education departments that don't want the intrusion, and you are up
against an administration that does not want to see enrollments drop
because the curriculum is perceived as too demanding.

Those of you at the high-school level can notice students who really
do
like science, and may want teach, to pursue a career in elementary
teaching or middle-school teaching with specialization in science.
You
may find this difficult because you might be more proud to see your
good
science students go on to careers in medicine or research etc. Don't
succumb to that. Becoming a well prepared and dedicated teacher is
one
of the loftiest goals a person can pursue.

Also, take any opportunity you can to encourage your school system to
hire teachers who really do have a good preparation in science, and
really do seem to like science... especially physical science and not
just biology.

Also, take any opportunity you can to help existing elementary and
middle-school teachers realize they need to teach physical science,
they
need to teach it well, and yes they can do it and you will help them.



Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l


_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l


--
"Trust me. I have a lot of experience at this."
General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley