UMD professor pushes for better Computer Science education in high schools

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:40:36 -0400
computer-science, news

In a recent essay in the Baltimore Sun, James M. Purtilo, a professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland, College Park, outlines the myriad ways that Maryland is failing to support Computer Science education at the High School level.

First, Purtilo cites the state's failure to require Computer Science as a graduation requirement–or even allow it to fulfill the required "Science" or "Technology Education" credits. Second, Maryland refuses to define CS curriculum. And, third, there is little regulation surrounding who can teach CS courses, which means that under-qualified teachers end up teaching a wide range of material.

(You can read the full essay here.)

These three problems are seriously contributing to a decline in enrollment in Computer Science classes in high schools, argues Purtilo. Which is a problem, he says, that will only get worse.

What do you think? Are high schools doing their best to encourage students to study Computer Science? Or, are curriculum and regulation changes necessary?