ACM Urges Obama to Include CS as Core Part of STEM Education

[Alfred Thompson]

The ACM, the professional society for the computer professionals, issued a
paper and a press release
(http://www.acm.org/press-room/news-releases/obama-education) urging
President-Elect Obama to include computer science as a core part of STEM
education in the US. I was going to quote some of the key recommendations but
in typical computer professional style there are too few wasted words in the
press release and it started to look like I would quote the whole press
release. But I will highlight one quote by ACM CEO John R. White.

"The new Administration can play an important role in strengthening middle
school education, where action can really make a difference, to introduce
these students to computer science. They can also expand efforts to increase
the number of females and underrepresented minorities in this field and
expand professional development opportunities for high school computer
science teachers."

There is lots more in the proposal including fixing the mess that is
computer science teacher certification in this county.

With every interest group in America and many from around the world sending
the transition team recommendations this one may get lost. That would be very
sad in my opinion. I really think we are at a key point in education where CS
could really take its rightful role with some help from the Federal
government, professional societies like ACM and industry partners like, well
you know who I mean. And not just companies who make computer hardware or
software either!