SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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 Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| arioch36 wrote: |
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| but I would mention that my general (indirect) experience has been that the early stages of American degrees in Maths, Physics are far lower in difficulty than first year of degrees in Britain. |
Not really pertinent. But it varied directly based on what the local school wants and what the state demands. Some states have two different high school degrees, one for college bound students pursuing math-based degrees, one for students who have no interest in this. Many high schools offer three tiers; math without the math (basically), "normal" difficulty pre-calc, calc (equivalent to a non=engineering school's first term of calc) and honours programs for high school students who have a shot at the MIT's and other good enginering schools. My high school physics and calc were identical to my second uni ( a non-engineering school) first 8 weeks
America, the federal government does not play any role in the certification to teach. The highest universities have the fewest requirements (often, Phd, and publications, teaching as a T.A.) At my uni, some of the schools (School of Social Science, etc) would require to take 8 hours of lecture to be in the "teaching track" to teach full time at the University. No state or federal mandated requirements.
To teach at the public high school has strict, specific requirements that the state determines. My state, you could teach with just a BS if you were making satisfactory progress in your teaching M.A. and had two years to complete it (this exception because back 7 years ago not enough public school teachers) A university professor would not be qualfied to teach at a high school. I could teach at my uni. I could teach as a substitute at the high school. I could not be a union cardcarrying full time high school teacher
A M.A. in Education, many are not teacher related, but administration related. Again each state has different regulations. If you are certified(I never heard the term licensed) in one state you could not automatically teach in another state. You have to apply to have your certification accepted. Totally up to the state. I would have to send my resume to California STate Board of Higher Ed, and ask pretty please. |
Exactly, I might add this was a physics class to be taught at the middle-school level that was algebra based not the calculus based Engineering version which is not often taught at the high school level
College-Prep physics is pre-calculus based and often taught at the high school level, However, Physics for Engineering Majors is 100% Calculus based and much more difficult. Only those going into some type of engineering fields would be required to take it. This was the one I took along with the pre-calc physics within the college prep track.
To be a high school physics teacher, you must have so many science and physics related courses along with the proper education credits. Those I have, the next step would be to take state examinations and Praxis examinations for the level you will be teaching at. Passing the exam and state requirements gives you teaching certification in that field (Here it is physics) THIS I NEVER DID, I never took the physics Praxis exams, they do not look that difficult, and I'm sure I could pass them (maybe with review) easily.
Now, University level Physics requires a PhD to teach them. Only a few master's degree TA's (Teaching Assistants) would be used and mostly as lab supervisors. They would all be doctoral physics students.
As you can see the Middle-school physics is algebra/trig based
High school (college prep) is alg/trig/anal geo/pre-cal based
University physics for NON-Majors is alg/trig/anal geo/Cal I,II based
University physics for majors is everything including hard core theory and cannot be taken until the Calculus I-V, and other courses are completed (or at the same time)
Usually this type of physics is divided into
I= Mechanics (Newton ect)
II- Electricity/electrostatics/sound/light
III- Nuclear Quantum level
IV-V = Advanced topics in physics.
Therefore, to set the record straight concerning the "American Education System." I took the following physics for my EE/ME BS degree
Middle school -intro physics I and II - (as indicated above)
High School- College prep Physics I and II (pre-cal based)
University- Physics for Engineering majors I,II, III Calculus based
As you can see for a NON-Physics major but as an Engineering major I had a total of 7 physics courses. If I was a physics major I would have had much more additional physics related classes IV-V at the university level.
Why many think the US education system stinks is because often the school examples they are reporting are ones that cannot even offer a basic algebra-trig-pre-cal-calc class to prepare the students for physics. These schools are often located in the poor districts when money and facilities are limited. This was not the case for my high school.
Sorry, to go OT and long , but I wanted to set the record straight for those that are not familiar with the US system and can only get the slanted-negative information often found in the media.
It isn't that bad... the key here.. if you live in a middle-class or higher school district. Not all the schools are a total mess. (Not all of us Americans are dummies- lol     ) |
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