Phosphorus

If you've been waiting for the "T" in my STEM title, here's the first post. After a harrowing drive (crazy downpour/thunderstorm, getting lost in downtown Detroit, etc.), I finally got to the testing center to take my certification exam to teach in Michigan. Though I cannot discuss the details of the exam (signed waivers and a lawyer sister who would not appreciate me if I did such), I can comment on how frightening it is that an eighth grader of average intelligence could pass this exam. I was given approximately 5 hours to complete an exam with under 100 questions on basic math and reading and write a 300-600 word essay. Maybe because I've only been away from academia for about a month and a half did this seem easy, but I finished in under 3 hours. I took sooooo much time on the writing because it's not my strongest, but I finished the math section in literally 15 minutes.

If the educational world is currently worried about ineffective teachers, maybe they should reevaluate how easy it is to become a teacher. In many public schools, certification and a masters degree is not even required to be hired...they can be obtained along the way. It's scary to think about, but before I begin a soapbox tirade, I'll stop because I'm sure there will be plenty more posts about this.

Needless to say, I passed. Go me.


Historical Reference: There are different forms of pure phosphorus which range in stability. The most stable red phosphorus is found on match heads while the most unstable is white phosphorus. White phosphorus is responsible for burning people driven outside during the great firestorms of WWII after magnesium incendiary bombs leveled buildings.

Fun Fact: Like nitrogen, phosphorus is commonly found in fertilizers. While it was once the limiting factor for the growth of crops (and life on earth), industrial production of phosphorus containing fertilizers have turned water into the limiting factor for life on earth.