Re: "Physics First" or "Physics for All"? (was "Physics First")

[Larry Woolf <larry.woolf@GAT.COM>]

This issue was also discussed in a letter to Physics Today (March 2002
issue, page 11) by Henry Blumenfeld and a response by Leon Lederman.

These letters were in response to Lederman's article on Physics First in the
September 2001 issue of Physics Today, page 11
<http://www.physicstoday.org/pt/vol-54/iss-9/p11.html>

Blumenfeld commented that, instead of physics first or physics last,
Europeans teach all sciences simultaneously.
Lederman responded that since the atom is the key to explaining chemistry,
physics should be taught before chemistry.

Yet it seems that atomic theory is not the core or recurring theme of
typical high school physics instructional materials.  Compare the
discussions of atomic theory (have there been any?) on this list with the
myriad discussions about electricity, magnetism, optics, mechanics, forces,
etc.

Larry Woolf; General Atomics; 3550 General Atomics Court, San Diego, CA
92121; Phone:858-455-4475; FAX:858-455-4268; http://www.sci-ed-ga.org

-----Original Message-----
From:  Richard Hake
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 10:07 PM
Subject: "Physics First" or "Physics for All"? (was "Physics First")