LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Montgomery student details importance of physics

To the editor:, I am a junior attending Montgomery High School and would like to voice a concern regarding a contentious debate over the quality of the high school’s science department., A petition started by Jacquelyn Barth has gained traction in recent weeks, condemning the Montgomery science department as well as the Physics First Program, which mandates taking physics as a first-year student. The petition asserts that the program “creates an undue amount of stress, negativity, and decreased confidence.” The elimination of the Physics First program would put the jobs of physics teachers, including the beloved Craig Buzka, in jeopardy., As a member of the Montgomery community and a student, such action is detrimental toward the quality of science education that the high school provides. I speak for a large group of the student community; another student-led petition, started as a counter appeal, has overtaken the first petition in signatures (422 signatures). The Physics First program must remain implemented because it (1) provides a direct pathway to calculus and (2) is an important segue in the transition between the academic rigor between middle school and high school., The importance of physics in the understanding of calculus cannot be understated. The complex concepts of derivation and integration are best understood in the context of kinematics: a topic extensively covered in freshman physics. By sequencing physics as a course exclusive to 11th- or 12th-graders, that crucial base is lost. Doing so is a kick in the gut for many students who plan on taking calculus sophomore and junior years. Physics helps with other courses in science too — chemistry and biology often build upon skills picked up in freshman science. To eliminate Physics First is to handicap our students’ readiness in math and science., Physics is often cited as the freshman year killer. It doesn’t deserve that title. Yes, some students will struggle and despite studying upon hours, will perform poorly in the class. But simultaneously, other students will pass the class with flying colors. For parents, this process is jarring and their beloved Susie, once Mom’s child prodigy, no longer maintains the grades she had in middle school. It is a sad reality of life. Some students will outperform others, but parents will, unfortunately, blame it on the teachers., There is nothing to suggest that the class nor science department are inadequate in preparing students in physics. Statistics explored by the township Board of Education found Montgomery students consistently score better than state, national, and global schools. On the AP Physics: Mechanics test (out of 5), our school boasts an average of 4.27, compared to a state average 3.71, national average of 3.50, and global average of 3.56. On the AP Physics: Electricity and Magnetism (out of 5), our school scores an average of 3.70, compared to a state average of 3.53, national average of 3.35, and a global average of 3.44. Montgomery students are certainly capable of succeeding in the subject, and establishing a strong foundation for freshman students through the Physics First program helps in doing so., Peter Ni, Belle Mead