[dragonwriter]

> The union will also delay the teaching of geometry to grade 9, which IMHO will make teaching physics and algebra really hard.

In the usual secondary sequence, Geometry is between Algebra I and Algebra II; doing it in 9th grade, even with a full year precalc after Algebra II, gets you to Calculus I in 12th. with a combined Algebra II/Trig and no separate precalc, which has long been thr common accelerated course, it gets you to Calculus II.

Physics in high school is typically non-calculus based and works well alongside precalc or calc I or even Algebra II; there’s no difficulty having it in 11th/12th with geometry in 9th.

It may create problems keeping mathematically advanced students engaged, it doesn’t create problems teaching algebra or physics.

[scarmig]

AP Physics is calculus based.

Some other points:

1) SFUSD actually delayed Algebra 1 until 9th grade, not just Geometry.

2) This choice was a bit silly, but beginning algebra concepts are still being taught in middle school. The title of the course is less relevant than the actual content, and this was less of a radical change than the course title makes it sound.

3) The actual issue is that SFUSD eliminated algebra tracking, and for ideological reasons thinks that students who are ready to study calculus in 8th grade must be put into the same classes as students who are struggling with basic arithmetic. Every student has special needs, and it's a disservice to all of them to pretend that a single unified curriculum and classroom is equally suitable to all students.

[souprock]

There are 4 different physics tests currently offered for AP.

Calculus based: AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Physics C E&M

No calculus: AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2

Of course you would need the one with calculus to get credit that works for any STEM major. Without calculus, you aren't likely to get more than a generic science credit.

[hintymad]

When I was taking high-school physics, we started without calculus, but we definitely needed geometry. Otherwise, one wouldn't be able to work on free body diagram, circular motion, optics, and etc, as all of them involves trigonometry and some basic geometry.