I read an
interesting article the other day and I decided to give the issue more
consideration. The article addresses Florida’s State Bill 104, which proposes
that high school computer coding classes should become acceptable to meet
foreign language requirements. Other states are considering similar legislation
as part of a broader effort to improve computer science education for K-12
students (Nevadomski Berdan,
2014). Supporters say that high schools should prepare students for the
job market. Opponents argue that this legislation is minimizing the importance
of language arts (Clark, 2017).
Senator Jeff
Brandes proposed SB 104 and it has passed through Florida’s senate. Based on my
research, Senator Brandes does not have a strong record for supporting
educational agendas and has not served as an educator. The Florida Chamber of
Commerce and Disney are the biggest supporters of this legislation and have
multiple lobbyists to ensure that SB 104 is approved (Clark, 2017).
Opponents of
this legislation claim that there are several benefits from studying a foreign
language. Studies show that students who learn a
foreign language have higher academic achievements. Other studies indicate that
students who learn a foreign language have sharper mental skills when they get
older (Kibler & Philipose, n.d.).
Alberto Carvalho, is a credible opponent to this
legislation. He is the superintendent of the Maimi-Dade school district and he
is highly regarded as an educator and as a superintendent. He was named as the
2014 National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators
(AASA). As a side note, I came across his name three times this week while I
was researching of topics such as potential Secretary of Education candidates and the Future of
Education Technology Conference (http://www.fetc.org/). Carvalho provides a logical objection
to this legislation and says that computer coding and foreign languages aren’t
substitutes for one another. The choice for students should not be between
coding or a foreign language. Students should have opportunities to study both
subjects (Clark, 2017). In my opinion, legislators and lobbyists should focus
on providing more opportunities to students rather than trying to consolidate
existing studies to meet graduation requirements. If this legislation passes
in Florida, students may face more challenges getting accepted into out of state
colleges that require students to have two-three years of foreign language
studies in high school.
References:
Clark, K., (2017,
February 5). Computer coding as a foreign language? Florida lawmakers again
push the idea. Miami Herald. Retrieved
from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article130772249.html
Nevadomski Berdan, S., (2014, April 22). Computer
Science Is Not a Foreign Language. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-nevadomski-berdan/computer-science-is-not-a_b_4823691.html
Kibler, A &
Philipose, S. (n.d.). What the Research Shows. American Council on the Teaching
of Foreign Languages. Retrieved from https://www.actfl.org/advocacy/what-the-research-shows#academic_achievement
Carvalho, A. Retrieved February 07, 2017 from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_M._Carvalho
Fred,
ReplyDeleteWow! Interesting issues surrounding Bill 104. I do believe students need more computer experience to make them more marketable outside of the classroom, but I do not believe that taking away foreign languages is the best way to go about it. Students need to experience a foreign language because it helps stretch their brains and it also helps them understand a culture other than their own. I agree with you, students that are required to take a coding class instead of a foreign class may struggle with the requirements of college acceptance. One way we can remedy this issue is to have computer coding as an option instead of an art class. Give students a choice and an opportunity to formulate their own decisions. Again, I do not believe learning a foreign language should be replaced by a coding class. Especially is a state as transient as Florida.
Hi Simone! I tried to present both sides of the issue but I couldn’t find a reasonable argument that supports SB 104. It seems that the supporters of the bill feel that students who take computer coding courses are going to eventually become programmers and they do not need to study other academic areas. I would argue that more students probably commit to studying computer science in college rather than while they are in high school.
DeleteI think that studying a foreign language gives you a broad perspective of the world and diversifies your learning. I also disagree with this bill for a second reason. What if another legislature wants to allow students who take coding courses to replace them for math courses? I think that the politicians should ensure that students get a well-rounded education and not try to scale back the requirements. -Fred