<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<font face="Lucida Grande">I wanted to share the message that I sent
to Senator Gail Bates about her bill (SB664, which would let
programming replace a foreign language class) and the other CS
education initiatives being proposed.<br>
<br>
Pat, I will let you know if I hear anything back.<br>
<br>
Marie<br>
</font>
<div class="moz-forward-container"><br>
<br>
-------- Forwarded Message --------
<table class="moz-email-headers-table" border="0" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap">Subject:
</th>
<td>Computing education in Maryland</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap">Date: </th>
<td>Thu, 8 Feb 2018 14:51:13 -0800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap">From: </th>
<td>Marie desJardins <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mariedj@umbc.edu"><mariedj@umbc.edu></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gail.bates@senate.state.md.us">gail.bates@senate.state.md.us</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap">CC: </th>
<td>Marie desJardins <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mariedj@umbc.edu"><mariedj@umbc.edu></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<font face="Lucida Grande">Dear Senator Bates,<br>
<br>
As a District 9 resident, a Howard County public school
graduate, and a lifelong Maryland native -- as well as a
passionate supporter of computer science education -- I wanted
to share some thoughts about computing education and
specifically SB664, as well as several other bills before the
legislature this session (HB300, SB350, and HB281).<br>
<br>
As I'm sure you're aware, computational thinking and computer
science are rapidly becoming core skills for the work force of
the 21st century. Since 2011, I've been leading a grassroots
statewide effort to build awareness and commitment to K-12
computer science education. Most recently, our network of
dedicated supporters have identified 15-year goals for CS
education, established the Maryland Center for Computing
Education at USM, and trained hundreds of teachers to teach
computer science -- especially AP CS Principles (including my
own "CS Matters" version of the AP course). I firmly believe
that students should be learning computational skills beginning
in their earliest school years, and continuing through high
school -- and that *all* students (rural and urban, male and
female, and students from all races and socioeconomic
backgrounds) deserve equal opportunity to pursue a career in
computing (or just to develop computing skills that will serve
them well in any career).<br>
<br>
I've worked closely with the Governor's office and Aruna Miller
and her staff to develop the three bills that address teacher
preparation and standards (HB300, SB350, and HB281). I think
they all contain essential elements for improving the quality
and availability of CS instruction in our public schools, and I
fervently hope they are all passed and reconciled (and that
these initiatives are not used to take away resources from other
important education and workforce development activities).<br>
<br>
In a similar vein, I truly believe we can find ways to
incorporate more computational thinking and CS instruction into
our K-12 schools without losing the other elements of a strong
educational system -- including the other STEM disciplines, the
arts and humanities, and English and foreign language
instruction. I am very concerned that your bill, SB664, will
cause fewer students to take foreign languages, which would be a
very unfortunate and unintended side effect of the push for more
CS education. Although we use the term "language" when we talk
about "programming languages," the nature and purpose of formal
programming languages cannot (and should not) replace students'
knowledge of natural languages and global culture. <br>
<br>
The French I learned at Wilde Lake High School has benefited me
greatly over the years, allowing me to travel and study in
France, understand my historical roots in French Canada, learn a
smattering of Spanish and Italian, develop a deeper
understanding of literature and language, and gain a broader
perspective about cultural commonalities and disciplines around
the globe. If I had studied programming *instead* of French, my
world view would be less broad and, I believe, my ability to
work with people from all cultures would not be as strong.<br>
<br>
Proposing to replace foreign languages with programming also
pits "STEM/computing advocates" against "arts and humanities
advocates" rather than empowering us to work together, which I
believe in the long run will be far more fruitful and beneficial
to our society.<br>
<br>
Computer science classes can already be used to satisfy the
state technology education requirement, or replace a 4th math
credit, so students have multiple ways to "count" these
classes. At this point, I believe that we should be focusing on
making CS classes available in all high schools, and on
integrating computational thinking and computer science
techniques into STEM and non-STEM classes throughout the K-12
curriculum (just as we have integrated reading, writing, and
math principles into other coursework).<br>
<br>
Here are a few articles that address the relationship between
coding and foreign languages that I hope will help to clarify
the point:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2016-10-13/spanish-french-python-some-say-computer-coding-is-a-foreign-language"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2016-10-13/spanish-french-python-some-say-computer-coding-is-a-foreign-language</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2017/11/27/should-computer-science-fulfill-foreign-language-admissions"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2017/11/27/should-computer-science-fulfill-foreign-language-admissions</a><br>
<br>
I would be delighted for the opportunity to speak more with you
and/or your staff about computer science education, its
relationship to other academic disciplines and instructional
areas, and the future of computing in the Maryland economy.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me at any time if I can be
of any help.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Marie desJardins<br>
<br>
<i>The views I have expressed above are my views as a private
citizen and computer science professional, and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the University of Maryland,
Baltimore County, or the University System of Maryland.</i><br>
<br>
</font>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Dr. Marie desJardins <br>
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs <br>
College of Engineering and Information Technology <br>
University of Maryland, Baltimore County <br>
1000 Hilltop Circle <br>
Baltimore MD 21250 <br>
<br>
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:mariedj@umbc.edu" moz-do-not-send="true">mariedj@umbc.edu</a>
<br>
Voice: 410-455-3967 <br>
Fax: 410-455-3559</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>