🚀 go-pugleaf

David,

        You asked if anyone had been able to deal with trig versus non
trig needs of students.

        Yes.  I have dealt with this question for the last 7 years.

        It has been my experience that students have difficulties with
trig because there is nothing in daily life to which it relates.  At
least not in the experiences of the average physics student.

        My current teaching assignment is at George Westinghouse High
School in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh PA.

        GWHS is located in an inner city neighborhood.  The student body
is 100% African American.  It is the only high school in the Pittsburgh
Public Schools that is not intergrated.

        Ten years ago,  physics was taught to only 8 to 10 students that
"deserved to take physics".  This was done every second school year.
Since there were approximately 1200 students in the building at that
time, this meant that less than 1% of the student body took physics in
any two year period.  These kids deserved to take physics because they
could handle the trig.

        Seven years ago I was recruited from another Pittsburgh High
School to teach at George Westinghouse High School.  Most of my students
are the first persons in their families to graduate from High School. We
Use Hewitt's Conceptual Physics.  This is tied in with an Amusement Park
Physics Test that I wrote for Kennywood Amusement Park in Pgh., PA.

        By conmcentrating on the concepts in the FIRST year course, the
number of physics students has jumped to 100+ every year in a student
body of approx. 800 students.  The SECOND year course concentrates on
introducing the trig and heavy algebra.  Our school now has two physics
teachers to carry the teaching load.  As soon as trig is laid on the
first yrear students in anything more than a passing mention to the fact
that trig can help with some of the topics, the kids drop the course like
they were burned.

        For my school, the success story seems to be a Conceptual Physics
course in the First year for all students.  The second year is a first
year college course in physics with all the math and trig that is
required at that level.

        Its getting late and I  am not sure that I am making any sense.
Let me know if you would like any clarification.

Ed Henke
George Westinghouse HS
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh, PA