Physics in the public high schools
DOI: 10.1063/1.3061943
The enrollment in physics in public high schools of the United States has decreased steadily during the past six decades. In 1895, about 23% of all high school pupils were enrolled in physics. Over 95% of those graduating in that year had taken a course in physics. In 1952, about 4.3% of high school pupils were enrolled in physics and approximately 21% of the graduates of that year had studied physics. Thus, high school physics has declined in the same period that saw physics rise to new importance in our national life.
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References
1. Offerings and Enrollments in High School Subjects, Chapter 5, Biennial Survey of Education, 1948–50, Federal Security Agency, Washington, 1951.
2. A Report on School and Science Enrollments in Identical Schools during the Fall of 1947 and the Fall of 1952, P. G. Johnson, Office of Education, mimeographed report 1952
3. The Teaching of Science in Public High Schools. Bulletin 1950, No. 9 Office of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, 1950.
4. Final Report to the Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers, School Sci. and Math. 54, 119 (1954).https://doi.org/SSMAAC
5. P. D. Hurd, School Sci. and Math., 53, 439 (1953).https://doi.org/SSMAAC
6. Critical Years Ahead in Science Teaching, Report of the Conference on Nation‐wide Problems of Science Teaching in the Secondary Schools, Harvard University Printing Office, 1953. Copies may be obtained without charge from Mr. Elbert C. Weaver, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.
7. P. G. Johnson, Am. J. Phys. 15, 480 (1947).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
More about the Authors
W. C. Kelly. University of Pittsburgh.
