Chemistry, The Central Science? The History of the High School Science Sequence

The historical development of the traditional U.S. high school biology–chemistry–physics sequence is detailed from the early 19th century to the present time. The recommendations of several important historical committees, especially the Committee of Ten, are described along with the sequencing practices adopted by the schools, to show how chemistry came to be the “Central Scienceâ€, that is the science taught in the middle of the high school sequence. It is shown that the present high school science sequence is more a product of historical accident than of educational design. The impact of this sequencing on high school chemistry enrollment is analyzed and discussed.