By Howard Goldstein
This is the philosophy of Mepham High School physics teacher Bill Leacock, New York finalist for the Presidential Award For Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, one of the state's highest education honors. Candidates are recommended by school officials, and state judges analyze a videotaped lesson and consider past activities and leadership.
Hands-on experiments, interactive projects and a sense of humor -- coupled with a true love and knowledge of science -- have enabled Leacock to revitalize what was a dying physics program when he came to Mepham in 1991.
"There were only two physics sections at Mepham my first year," recalled Leacock. "By the second year, we had five full classes."
Leacock also started the school's Advanced Placement physics program. Physics is one of those notorious subjects not often perceived as fun by high-school students. It is therefore an uncommon talent to bring so many students into the classroom -- and then fill up a college-level AP class.
"Physics is the study of how the world works," said Leacock. "It's incredibly cool, but you need to have fun when you come into the classroom. If you drone on about equations, it's death. But if you like the kids and can get them to be involved, the subject will grab them. Especially when you combine learning with smashing things and electricity."
Hands-on experiments include a light exercise that uses a fog machine, inertia experiments in which students ride on carts, and student-videotaped wave-action movies.
Leacock's infectious enthusiasm for the science has paid off. Last year's AP class finished with nine 5s, seven 4s and seven 3s, with 5 being the best a student can score on the exam. None of Leacock's AP students has scored a 2, the lowest grade, in four years. Scoring a 3 or above usually earns a student college credit after high-school graduation.
Leacock was born in Merrick. His parents were introduced by the daughter of his current school's namesake, one W.C. Mepham. He worked as an engineer at Este-Lauder, but decided to go into teaching. He then attended Hofstra University.
"I'm never sorry I left," he said. "My worst day teaching is still better than being in business. I love it. I have 17 years till retirement, and I'd rather spend it teaching. I may not even retire after those 17 years."
Under Leacock, Mepham physics was transformed from a class to be avoided to a popular course, even among those not traditionally science-minded.
"I had no background in physics. I wanted a challenge and I've loved every minute of it," said Eric Lee, a Mepham physics AP student.
Alex Bhargava had always loved physics, but said that Leacock was a big part of his decision to continue into AP. "Regular physics was hard, but I like Leacock as a teacher," he said.
If physics is taught correctly, Leacock believes, its effects last longer than the 45 minutes of classroom time. Said AP student David Goa, "I love learning why things work the way they do. After your mind has been expanded this way, you never look at anything the same way again. You go to an amusement park and you think about the laws of physics that make the rides work!"
Unfortunately, Albany's grading system of the physics Regents has become much more stringent, resulting in fewer passing grades, community anger and an expected lower physics enrollment.
"This decision for more stringent grading is a bad idea," Leacock said. "All it will do is dissuade people from taking physics.
"I believe physics is very important," he continued. "Knowledge is power, and physics overlaps with many disciplines. Students who take physics will do better all around. So much industry and development today is physics-based ... Physicists can learn to deal with the politics, but the politicians will never get physics, so trained people will have an advantage. Also, people who have no physics background in high school will get shelled if they have to take a physics course in college."
"The [Presidential] Award is well deserved," said Leacock's student teacher, Kevin Tonn. "I've learned more in a few months in class with this man than all my years in college."
