Teaching of physics in the high school

Abstract

There is much unrest as to physics instruction in the high schools, as evidenced by the many and varied discussions of methods of teaching that subject. No phase of the question has been overlooked, laboratory methods, time spent in physics, year offered, amount given, use of text, method of approach, etc. There is pretty general agreement as to one point, that high school physics has depreciated in interest. Dr. Woodhull states that the decline of physics study in the high schools of this country is the most pronounced of anything in the curriculum. He attributes the fact to the advent of mathematical instead of descriptive physics. However that may be, physics study has become less popular - despite the fact that much time, ability, and costly apparatus have been used to foster the subject in the high schools.