City schools rearrange order of high school science

Now, due to a new pilot program offered in Tennessee, next year's DHS freshmen will be some of the first in the state to take part in a hands-on physics course. The new course is expected to offer the basics to build on in several advanced science classes including chemistry and biology, as well as raise overall GPA and ACT scores.

"We had Gary Nixon, chairman of the State Board of Education, come to Dyersburg and talk to the Chamber. He also met with the leadership team at the high school," said Dyersburg City Schools Superintendent Lloyd Ramer. "He asked us if we wanted to be one of five schools to participate in piloting their (Conceptual Physics) program. Most of what that involves is curriculum and staff development for teachers."

Ramer said that although the school was not able to send teachers for training in time to participate as one of the first five high schools to pilot the program, the DHS administration and teachers were so impressed that they agreed to go ahead and implement the class for incoming freshman and complete their training next summer.

"We thought it was such a good idea that we are starting it a year early," said Ramer. "What we've done now is change the curriculum so that (next year's) freshmen will take the class. Next summer, we will send a math and science teacher to complete the training."

"Originally, we wanted to offer biology to all freshmen because biology is a Gateway subject required for graduation," said DHS Curriculum Coordinator Kim Worley. "We thought by offering biology in the freshman year, it would be something that students could get out of the way as a graduation requirement."

Worley said that the presentation from the State Department of Education inspired DHS officials to reorganize the order science is taught on the high school level.

"(State officials) analyzed the new high school science framework," said Worley. "Biology I has 25 expectations -- 15 of them are chemistry prerequisite skills and seven of them are physics. But, they haven't taken chemistry or physics, yet. That's pretty scary. So, why are we teaching biology first?"

Worley said that introducing physics early in the high school curriculum encourages an increase in students who choose careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"It made more sense to teach physics first," said Worley. "There are a lot of arguments for (changing the order, including) increased interest in S.T.E.M. careers, where we are already so weak in Tennessee. That's our goal. We really want to increase the rigor in our math and science programs because the careers that these students are going to prepare for are going to be in those areas."

Arguments for teaching physics first in the line of high school sciences include:

* physics is the foundation for all sciences

* physics concepts are the easiest to observe through experiments because phenomenon directly relate to the students' world

* physics empowers predictions and inquiry-based teaching

* algebra is still fresh in the student's mind

* physics give the student the opportunity to apply their mathematics skills to real-world situations

* studies show that most students who begin with physics complete the science sequence

* studies show that performance on state assessments improve with early physics classes

* enrollment in senior physics courses increases

* Advanced Placement Biology can be the first biology course taken if physics and chemistry have been completed

* the physics-chemistry-biology path is felt to offer more rigorous coursework for students

The Conceptual Physics class is an algebra-based physics course. It will not take the place of the senior-level calculus-based physics newly mandated in the restructuring of the state's high school academic requirements.

"We want to make sure that people understand that this does not take the place of the senior-level physics," said Worley. "It's just a supplement for it. We are really excited about it. We will also offer an Honors Conceptual Physics course and hope to offer more AP courses next year."

"The bottom line is that all freshmen entering DHS will take this hands-on physics class," said Ramer. "It meets and matches the standards implemented by the state. What we are doing is implementing this curriculum one year early just in case we have any bugs in the system we have to work out."