Huntington Teacher Makes Case
for Science
Judy Pazienza is passionate when making the case for the study of science by Huntington High School students. The science teacher lays out her argument in a way that is hard to disagree with.
“For the scientist, or aspiring scientist, the question as to why study science doesn’t need to be answered,” Ms. Pazienza said. “If you’re one of the people who ‘get’ science, then no explanation is required. However, for those who are not pursuing a career in the sciences, or in technology, it can frequently feel as if science courses of any type are a waste of your time.
Not So!”
Ms. Pazienza said “the argument in favor of scientific literacy is that science, physics in particular, teaches you how to think. This might seem like a strange statement. The study of all subjects teaches you to think. But, because physics deals with the most basic concepts, these methods can be applied to all subjects, including the business world and just coping with everyday life.”
Once the Huntington teacher picks up steam on the topic, it’s hard to slow her down. “You can look at a rainbow and say ‘Wow, pretty colors,’ or you can marvel at the amazing interactions between photons and electrons that come together in that particular way when light from the sun strikes water droplets in the sky, and you perceive a multicolored arc suspended in the air,” Ms. Pazienza said. “Now that’s awe!”
There are even some surprising benefits to science study. “Studying physics gives you the opportunity of playing with a lot of really cool toys,” Ms. Pazienza said. What toys? If you’re a Huntington High School student you should enroll in the course to find out.