Study underscores plight of high school physics

The generally low level of scientific literacy of the U.S. work force and citizenry has been a matter of concern and discussion by both the educational and the scientific establishments in the country, among them the chemical community. A new contribution relevant to that discussion comes from the American Institute of Physics, which has issued a report entitled "Physics in the High Schools: Findings from the 1986-87 Nationwide Survey of Secondary School Teachers of Physics." The study was conducted by AIP in collaboration with the American Association of Physics Teachers, one of its member societies. It provides detailed information on schools, and on the training, experiences, and attitudes of the nearly 20,000 high school-level physics teachers. Among the survey's findings: • In the spring of 1987, 623,000 students were enrolled in high school physics in the U.S. • Although 96% of all high school students attend schools where physics is available, only about 20% of ...