Re: R: Scientific method was physical pendulums/ an opportunity

[Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

I am just out of a ceremonial inauguration of our 8th college (now
university) president. She just reminded us that a century ago only
4% of the US population went to colleges, half a century ago it
was 20%, and now it is 70%. That is the source of our "troubles",
and an inspiration for challenges. As long as they want it, she said,
we should be happy, and try to improve the system.

Joel Rauber wrote:

> > Hi Paolo-
> >         You ask:
> > ********************************************************
> > Forgive me, but I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean that
> > students coming from high school are unable to use algebra
> >  and solve m a = m g and the like symbolically? ....
>
> The sad fact is that many of our students in introductory physics, more so
> the 1-semester physics for poets class than the calculus based course, (the
> algebra based course lying in the middle) can't do the symbolic algebra.  I
> remember a talk from Cliff Swartz, where he was talking about this sad fact
> and mentioned that is one of the reasons the Navy taught three forms of
> ohms law
>
> a) V = I R
>
> b) I = V / R
>
> c) R = V / I
>
> It is a sad and depressing fact. BTW I also notice the same phenomena Jack
> mentions below.
>
> Joel Rauber