Education

Physics First

February 01, 1996 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A group of top scientists, policymakers, and teachers has embraced a plan to reverse the traditional sequence in which high school sciences are taught so that all students take physics in their freshman year, followed by chemistry, then biology.

Leon Lederman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, has put forward the idea in various articles and commentaries. But for the first time, a group of science education leaders has met to discuss whether the plan is feasible.

Although most high schools teach biology first, then chemistry, with physics typically reserved for only an advanced group of juniors, Lederman believes that all students would benefit from a better grounding in the principles of physics.

The new group, American Renaissance in Science Education, or ARISE, met this past fall in Naperville, Ill. Among those who attended were Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences; Gerald Wheeler, the new executive director of the National Science Teachers Association; Rodger Bybee, executive director of the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education at the National Research Council; and more than a dozen science teachers.

“The reverse order makes sense, pedagogically and logically,’' Lederman said in an interview. “I mean, how can you start with biology when modern biology is molecular-based? How can you teach chemistry without kids knowing what an atom is?’'

Lederman and his colleagues agreed that such a major structural change in science education would face many barriers and predicted that it would take at least three years to implement. “Obviously you are going to need new teaching materials and the teachers today are not necessarily prepared to teach this kind of course,’' said Marjorie Bardeen, manager of the education office at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill.

But in the Naperville school district, a curriculum committee has already recommended that its board adopt the new approach. “We’re really excited about it, and we are ready to go,’' said Bill West, science and technology coordinator for the district.

Free copies of a document describing the goals of the new plan are available from the education office at the Fermi Lab. Call: (708) 840-3092.

--Meg Sommerfeld

A version of this article appeared in the February 01, 1996 edition of Teacher Magazine as Physics First

Events

Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2025 Survey Results: The Outlook for Recruitment and Retention
See exclusive findings from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of K-12 job seekers and district HR professionals on recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction. 
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
How District Leaders Align Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction for Student Success
Join K-12 leaders as they share strategies for aligning curriculum, assessment, and instruction to support all learners.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: January 15, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 10, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977.
President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977.
Suzanne Vlamis/AP
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Dec. 19, 2024
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
TIghtly cropped photograph showing a cafeteria worker helping elementary students select food in lunch line. Food shown include pizza, apples, and broccoli.
iStock/Getty
Education The Education Word of 2024 Is ...
Educators, policymakers, and parents all zeroed in on students' tech use in 2024, which prompted this year's winner.
5 min read
Image of a cellphone ban, disruption, and symbol of AI.
Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva