By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Physics First program could become “Physics Last” at Montgomery High School, if a group of parents have their way., All Montgomery High School freshmen must take physics, but a petition being circulated by parents is calling on school officials to re-evaluate the high school science program – including abolishing the Physics First program., The petition, which has been signed by more than 300 parents, states that the Physics First program “creates an undue amount of stress, negativity and decreased confidence for our children.”, The petition also claims that school district officials have not provided information to the public regarding the success of the Physics First program or how it has benefited the students since its implementation many years ago., Physics is not a required course for freshmen in either the Princeton or West Windsor-Plainsboro public school districts. It is an option for freshmen in the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district. Princeton High School students must wait until they are sophomores to take it., However, Montgomery Township school district officials said the rationale for requiring physics for freshmen is that it is a “foundational” science. It builds into chemistry, which leads into biology, said Jason Sullivan, the science supervisor at Montgomery High School., The freshman physics course is offered on three levels – general, college prep and honors, Sullivan said. The freshman course is a conceptual, algebra-based course, but the honors course addresses a few items where basic trigonometry is involved, he said., While some high schools offer biology to freshmen, Sullivan said, there have been “significant shifts” in biology since many parents took it in high school. The biology course offered to Montgomery High School juniors is best described as biochemistry, which considers genetics, evolution and the chemistry of life to a much greater extent, he said., Nevertheless, with petition in hand, more than a dozen parents and students attended the Montgomery Township Board of Education’s March 16 meeting to make the case for revising the high school science curriculum., Ben Haftel, whose son is a freshman, said the physics course has discouraged his son from science. If the goal is to create enthusiastic learners, it is doing the opposite, he said, adding that there are many reasons why high schools do not offer physics to freshmen., “It is time to stop looking at the problem and to find a solution,” Haftel said., But it was not just parents who expressed frustration with the Physics First program., Freshman Alexandra Lister told the school board that she knew physics would be challenging, but there was no choice. The result is she feels stressed and confused., “I am a high achiever and I am self-driven. I don’t deserve the burden of physics,” Alexandra said. She cannot focus on other courses because she is worried about the physics course, she said., The parents’ and students’ comments were not lost on the school board members., School board president Richard Cavalli praised the students who spoke, calling them “the pride of Montgomery.” They showed courage and offered arguments in support of their position, he said., Cavalli also acknowledged the results of the school district’s recent strategic planning survey, which showed that only about one-third of Montgomery High School students would rate the science program as good or excellent., It is not possible to say that the Physics First program issue will be resolved in time for 2017-18 school year, Cavalli said, but he assured parents and students that school district officials will look at the science program., “Show up again, show up often and hold us accountable. We are here as the voice of the community,” Cavalli said.
