Computers are the future. This is a fact that has always been true no matter how you look at the future. Whether fictional or realistic, visions of the future rely heavily on computers and artificial intelligence to show how the world will be different and that much more efficient. These images of the future are becoming closer and closer to reality as computers and technology advance at exponential rates, making people skilled in these more and more important to the economy and country as a whole. While other countries have recognized this and are placing more emphasis on math and science than before, the US has been slow to catch up. Now schools are recognizing the importance of educating students in computer sciences and they’re offering classes.
The fact is that the United States of America is already falling behind in subjects like math and science and faces the danger of finding itself completely out of the running when it comes to producing students who are skilled and educated in the fields of science, technology, computing, engineering, and math. This has finally been realized and after a few failed attempts to jumpstart this sort of educational bent, states are seeing some success as students begin to recognize the importance as well. Computer science is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and the need to high quality candidates is becoming more and more important. Since 2013, AP (Advance Placement) computer science courses have grown 25% and it doesn’t seem like things are going to stop there. With new courses aimed at getting girls and minorities to join being introduced over the next year, this spike in popularity should only increase.
Led by an increased emphasis on S.T.E.M. (Science, technology, engineering, and math) classes, public school districts are also introducing and placing an importance on computer science classes. These classes teach students the basic of programming and how to code, allowing them to pursue the field with more ease and success when they get to college. A few years ago, what few computer science classes that were offered frequently would be dropped by school administrators due to low enrollment numbers, ruining the chances for students who were actually interested in the subject from taking classes on it. Now, with students already talking about how their computer science courses helped them in college, hopefully these offerings will become the norm across the country.
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