The preparation of physics teachers for secondary schools: the role of university physics departments

The author suggests several ways in which physics departments could improve the quality of physics teachers produced. They are all related to the understanding of physical principles rather than the parrot-like reproduction of physical facts. He suggests that the student should be encouraged to question the validity of statements in elementary physics in the light of more advanced work and in the same vein to answer elementary questions which require thorough analysis, such as the famous 'Fermi questions'. His final suggestion is that apparatus should be studied and the student encouraged to develop it to its full potential.