Re: Hubris of physicists

["Lanzafame, Frank" <flanzafame@monroecc.edu>]

> How many of you are at schools with more physicists on faculty than
> biologists?  (Do you have half as many?)  I have heard that 90% of high
> school students take biology, 50% chemistry, and 20% physics. (Does
> someone have a source for these numbers) Is this a result of our
> hubris or failure to respond to a market, or have we just lost the
> political battle of which should be taken first?  I do believe that
> physics is the fundamental science, why shouldn't it be taught first?

> From: "James W. Wheeler" <jwheeler@eagle.lhup.edu>

For one thing, there is the issue of some mathematics pre-requisites.

When I went to high school in the late 50's, physics was taught in the third 
year and chemistry in the fourth year.

Frankly speaking (and I to try to be Frank), I would like to be able to assume 
some physics background when teaching Freshman Chemistry, but ...

Ciao,



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  :-)                                                         :-) 
  :-)   Frank M. Lanzafame           Department of Chemistry  :-) 
  :-)   Monroe Community College     1000 East Henrietta Rd.  :-) 
  :-)   Rochester, NY   14623        (716)  292-2396          :-) 
  :-)   Internet:  flanzafame@monroecc.edu                    :-) 
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