At Herron students take a physics class first (either standard physics or integrated physics and chemistry), This is not a typical beginning class at most high schools. After taking physics most students take chemistry followed by biology with several options for senior year science including AP physics.

Why do Herron students take physics first? When asked this Herron physics teacher Ms.McGinn says, “because this is an algebra based physics class it reinforces the math you have learned or are learning.” Since Freshman are either taking or have taken algebra, physics helps students develop their mathematical and scientific skills throughout the year. Another reason Ms. McGinn says physics comes first is because “physics is the foundation for future science classes.”

Does physics help prepare students in future science classes and if so, in what ways? Herron Honors chemistry student Cordelia Hair says, “yes, physics has helped me be successful in chemistry because a lot of the core concepts we learn in physics carry over into chemistry.” When asked about what aspects of physics are used in future science classes Ms.McGinn says, “Although experiments are different, the scientific process is the same” Which means that similar methods are used throughout all four years of high school. She also says, “You use unit conversions all the time in chemistry,” (students are introduced to these unit conversions in physics).

How has the workload changed in your science classes between this year and last? In regard to the workload between this year and last Cordelia says, “The workload has grown since last year, but mainly in the amount of time it takes to understand the concepts. The actual amount of work is very similar. The material itself is just more complex now.” What expectations change in future science classes? Ms.McGinn says, “No guided notes is one of the main things, they have to figure out from the slides what to write down.”

Do you think Herron should continue starting with physics or would another science class be better? To this Cordelia states, “I think even though it’s pretty unusual, our system of taking physics first is working well and it’s a pretty good way to learn the basic building blocks of the world we live in before getting into the crazy details about what those building blocks are made out of.”

Is there anything you have enjoyed or disliked about physics? Cordelia says, “My physics teacher, Mr.Leibowitz, was super cool and really made sure everyone knew what was going on in his class. As far as bad things, it was a lot of math, which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it was all really simple math, so it wasn’t too bad.”

AP physics, How is it different from physics and do students remember it from freshman year. Ms.McGinn says one main difference in AP physics is that “They [students] have to figure out how to combine equations.” She also states that “They [Students] do remember it [Physics concepts from their freshman year].”

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