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WA Gov. Sides With Microsoft: Philanthropy-Funded K-12 CS Education Now the Law
theodp writes: During public hearings on WA State's House Bill 1813, which took aim at boys' historical over-representation in K-12 computer classes, the Office of the WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction voiced concerns that by relying on the generosity of corporations, wealthy individuals, and nonprofits to fund STEM, computer science, and technology programs, learning opportunities would be limited to a small group of students, creating disparity of opportunity. "If this is a real priority," pleaded Chris Vance, "fund it fully" (HB 1813, like the White House K-12 CS plan, counts on philanthropy to make up for tax shortfalls). But legislators in the WA House and Senate — apparently more swayed by the pro-HB 1813 testimony of representatives from Microsoft and Microsoft-backed TEALS and Code.org — overwhelmingly passed the bill, sending it to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature. Not to worry. On Wednesday, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Inslee, who was perhaps influenced by the we-need-to-pass-HB-1813 blogging of Microsoft General Counsel and Code.org Board member Brad Smith, who coincidentally is not only responsible for Microsoft's philanthropic work, but was also co-chair of Gov.-elect Inslee's transition team. The WA state legislative victory comes less than 24 hours after the San Francisco School Board voted to require CS instruction beginning with preschool.
Big industry won't be able to claim a shortage of CS workers to justify more H1B visas for long. But by that time, the market will be so over-saturated with software developers, and salaries will plummet - then they won't need H1B visas, because American software devs will be more affordable than foreign workers on H1B visas.
Females simply don't seem to like software development work much.
Female developers tend to move away from development into project management, as soon as they can.
Sure call my sexist, misogynist, whatever. I've been a developer for over 25 years, and am just reporting what I have seen.
At least this won't take too much in the way of tax dollars.
That will mean "Philanthropy" controlled.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
So CS classes are critical for our future, while at the same time H1B's are replacing Americans (Disney) and the latest leak of TISA shows they may be simplifying the ability to bring in foreign workers.
in its Schedule, Parties shall allow entry and temporary stay of [contractual service
suppliers and independent professionals 3 ] for a minimum of [X%] of the following
sectors/sub-sectors:
Final wording subject to further discussion, including on the cross-reference to categories in the AU
submission on the temporary entry categories.
4-FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY-
LIMITED
TISA/DEC.2014/negotiating text/MNP
as of 13 February, 2015
Without Prejudice
Computer and related services:
9. Consultancy services related to the installation of computer hardware (CPC 841)
10. Software implementation services (CPC 842)
11. Data processing services (CPC 843)
12. Data base services (CPC 844)
13. Other (CPC 845+849)
Research and Development services:
14. R&D services on natural sciences (CPC 851)
15. R&D services on social sciences and humanities (CPC 852)
16. Interdisciplinary R&D services (CPC 853)
Huh?
"If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
So? If they're going to use anything, they might as well pick the one that's being paid for by someone else. And from what I remember, Apple used to support a lot of schools back in the day (even though ours used PCjrs).
It sounds like sorry boys...and likely non-minorities...you just won't get these opportunities because of your sex and possibly even your race.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
No, it's only one boy, the one on the poster.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
"During public hearings on WA State's House Bill 1813, which took aim at boy's historical over-representation in K-12 computer classes, the Office of the WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction voiced concerns..."
My problem with the whole "there aren't enough girls in CS" thing is that everyone assumes that males are specifically targeted and tracked into computer-related academic/research/career paths. That's not the case. By and large, it's social outcasts who take up computers as a hobby are tracked into computer-related academic/research/career paths and those social outcasts are more commonly male.
And they will continue to be male. And social outcasts.
So, at best, these kinds of initiatives will just track more female social outcasts into computer-oriented subjects/careers. Want more "normal people" in computer-oriented careers? Fat chance, buddy.
I dont have any issues with additional CS or code education in schools, but we need to reconsider how we go about this. educators should take aim at systemic inequality in the classroom and foster a more collaborative experience for everyone. What we typically get from Microsoft and company is half-assed attempts to make computer science pink, cuddly, and dollhouse-shaped. as fo the whole 'The U.S. is facing a shortage of CS graduates.' drumbeat, it is disingenous in its wording. What Microsoft bemoans is the lack of CS graduates as disposably plentiful and affordable as fry-o-lator cooks at McDonalds. Weve spent so much time asking why everyone doesnt code, that we never stopped to ask if everyone could or even should code.
Good people go to bed earlier.
Yea, this is a great thing to teach our kids ... do things you can't afford to do, and force someone else to pay for it or beg for money to do so.
WTF happened to running a balanced budget and setting a good example to our kids about living within their means, why the fuck are we teaching them in elementary school that you can depend on someone else to give you hand outs to survive.
Its no wonder the rest of the world likes to take our jobs, we're raising a bunch of dependent babies.
GIRLS DON'T FUCKING LIKE COMPUTER SCIENCE, GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
Its not because all men in it are assholes, its BECAUSE THEY DON'T FUCKING LIKE IT. They are wired differently than men, this is a KNOWN AND ACCEPTED FACT to anyone who doesn't have political correctness shoved so far up their ass they can taste it.
Women do somethings better than men, and like some things men don't like, and dislike some things that men like ... conversely, Men do some things better than women, like things women don't like and dislike some things that men like.
YES THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, but those are tiny number and you don't change everything because someone who doesn't even DO CS work thinks there should be more women in CS work.
Men and women ARE NOT EQUAL. STOP TRYING TO PRETEND THEY ARE.
If you think men and women are 100% equal, then you haven't paid attention to even basic anatomy.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, I'm saying they aren't the same and its fucking stupid to keep shoving shit down the throats of one of the sexes just to appease some douche who things he's crusading for the good of all women.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
If Software developers made $250-500k a year, I guarantee there would be no shortage of CS graduates.
During public hearings on WA State's House Bill 1813, which took aim at boy's historical over-representation in K-12 computer classes
That should be boys', not boy's.
Well, either that, or it's a capitalization error. ("Boy's"?) Perhaps TFS is really a complaint about the overuse of Boy George's music in K-12 computer classes.
With Timothy editing the summary, you never can be sure what he's talking about....
... Big Business gets to sell stuff, girls get opportunities, schools avoid the stigma of discrimination and get some funding, Big Business says, "This proves how badly we nee H!-B visas in the meantime," ....
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
If you were surrounded by people who assumed you were a money-grubbing sleazeball with no interest in the job, and who made comments like this about you, wouldn't you want to leave?
Why? That doesn't seem to have gotten rid of upper management yet...
This again. You have to be Superman or Superwoman or be married to Superwoman or Superman (all bases covered!) or be a lesser hero married to another lesser hero to make enough money to support a family and Government and Industry are *worried* about gender distribution in a particular field of industry.
Either we live in Kafka Land or the real interests aren't being disclosed. Both may be true. Or maybe the real problems are truly intractable and this what our betters come up with to keep busy.
How about this. End public schools. Give a voucher for every child and let the parents decide where to spend it. Don't oversee anything. If parents want to send their children to donald duck academy then more power to them.Government shall accredit any 'school' on which the child is on site for what are now normal school hours. That will give you the opportunity to send your kid to math academy or whatever else you think is valuable. It would also encourage schools nobody ever thought of before. Industry could actually play a vital role (Disney cartoonist academy?) Haven't thought this out, really, but what is clear is none of the issues will be bettered without major change, and I deeply wish for once in memory to see even one major change in the direction of personal sovereignty.
Funny, I don't see an effort to get more female roofers, plumbers, electricians, garbage workers, or any other male dominated professions. What makes this one so special? If women don't like a profession, then they don't go into it. Stop trying to force gender equality when it's not wanted nor necessary.
Seriously? If you lived in Seattle, you'd know there are statutes requiring that every government-funded project employ, at a minimum, some specific percentage of minority- and women-owned businesses when hiring contractors, roofers, plumbers, electricians, etc.
Washington State is a (poorly run) nanny state. I work at UW. This past month, in order to qualify for a $125 "wellness incentive" on my health insurance next year, I had to fill out a "well-being assessment" that, among other things, asked me multiple questions regarding whether I felt "empowered" at work. Based on my answers, one of the suggested activities I could do for credit (in addition to the more reasonable "eat five fruits and vegetables" and "walk at least 35,000 steps a week") was "meet with a mentor". Yeah, you guys can't even agree on a budget but you can spend money developing an overly-simplistic computerized system to pretend you're actually caring for your employees...
#DeleteChrome
No, apple gave education a 30% discount (better in some cases) on hardware. They didn't suggest curriculum or standards, nobody came out to your school to say this kid needs such and so, it was just a huge no strings attached gift of hardware. (my experience circa the mid 80's at Bellevue Community College, buying for the student paper)
I posted something like this yesterday about the San Francisco CS education mandate. Getting people familiar with computers is good, labeling it as "CS education" is disingenuous. Millenials and "digital natives" aren't CS experts because they can use their iPhones and post on Facebook, nor are they CS experts because they can write a document in Office. If those same people can actually understand how the iPhone does what it does, or have some clue about how an operating system works, then that's different. Being a proficient user of a pre-packaged, easy to use platform is not the same as understanding how that platform works. I'm sure that the CS education they're referring to will be mainly focused on the "user" side of things.
That being said, I wonder how many true CS people will be needed in the future. There will always be a need for hardcore OS development, kernel hacking, embedded systems work and so on. I'm not so sure about the legions of corporate application developers, web coders, etc. Even if the goal of the program is to reduce salaries in the long term, and increase H-1B visas in the short term, it seems to me like the market might do that anyway, as platforms consolidate and applications become easier for non-CS people to code up.
Gotta have more coding slaves to feed the assholes of America.
When did Slashdot turn so misogynist?
Evidence 1: The parent of this post.
Evidence 2: The moderators got it to a 5 rating.
Yes, there's a shortage of programmers. That's why Microsoft laid off 18,000 last year and will layoff another 500 this year.
Not to mention OS orientation.
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
Most of the time philanthropy is a good thing, money goes to where it is needed. Since the 90's some of it is about tax payer funding through tax deductions and break granted to wealthy doners who use their philanthropy to influence and many case outright control an industry or market.
Washington State is a (poorly run) nanny state. I work at UW. This past month, in order to qualify for a $125 "wellness incentive" on my health insurance next year, I had to fill out a "well-being assessment" that, among other things, asked me multiple questions regarding whether I felt "empowered" at work. Based on my answers, one of the suggested activities I could do for credit (in addition to the more reasonable "eat five fruits and vegetables" and "walk at least 35,000 steps a week") was "meet with a mentor". Yeah, you guys can't even agree on a budget but you can spend money developing an overly-simplistic computerized system to pretend you're actually caring for your employees...
I wouldn't blame the nanny state for wellness incentives. That started out from the HR departments of the big corporations, as a way to cut health costs. I remember reading about that in BusinessWeek in the 1980s. More recently, I've seen studies of wellness incentives in the New England Journal of Medicine. They vary between being totally useless and having a small effect. Science doesn't know enough about diet to tell you that eating specific foods will improve your health (and cut your employer's health care costs).
(Do you want to have fun? Ask your employer to show you the publications in the peer-reviewed literature to support those "suggestions.")
Of course BusinessWeek didn't want to recommend the non-corporate ways to cut health care costs. http://www.openmedicine.ca/art...
A corporation rams through legislation back by a corporate run "non-profit" and that's your take? Wow....
Thank You!
"But legislators in the WA House and Senate — apparently more swayed by the pro-HB 1813 testimony of representatives from Microsoft and Microsoft-backed TEALS and Code.org — overwhelmingly passed the bill, sending it to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature.
Not to worry. On Wednesday, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Inslee, who was perhaps influenced by the we-need-to-pass-HB-1813 blogging of Microsoft General Counsel and Code.org Board member Brad Smith, who coincidentally is not only responsible for Microsoft's philanthropic work, but was also co-chair of Gov.-elect Inslee's transition team.
The WA state legislative victory comes less than 24 hours after the San Francisco School Board voted to require CS instruction beginning with preschool."
Do you get the point now. The point about more women in CS is irrelevant. It's about corporations buying our educational system and passing legislation *they* want regardless if the public needs. This is what you need to focus on not this coding in high school b.s.
Maybe so, but when I was in college (early 90s) I recall considering getting one of those Apple Computer Loans for students, for around $3000. And that was the discounted price. So I'm not sure I would call that a "gift", when Amigas and PCs were definitely cheaper. Of course, I didn't get the loan. I just bought a dumb termial ($35) and a Bocamodem ($200) to connect to the VAX on campus.
40% of chemistry PhDs were women.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/...
Soviet Russia Had a Better Record of Training Women in STEM Than America Does Today
Perhaps it's time for the United States to take a page from the Soviet book just this one time
By Rose Eveleth
smithsonian.com
December 12, 2013
Between 1962 and 1964, 40 percent of the chemistry PhD's awarded in Soviet Russia went to women. At that same time in the United States, that number was a measly five percent. In 2006, that number was still lower than the Soviets' from the '60s—just 35 percent, according to the American Institute of Physics Research Center. In 2012, still only 37 percent of chemistry PhDs in America went to women.
Take this letter from a girl from Ukraine to Yuri Gagarin:
I have wanted to ask you for a long time already: ‘is it possible for a simple village girl to fly to the cosmos?’ But I never decided to do it. Now that the first Soviet woman has flown into space, I finally decided to write you a letter.I know [to become a cosmonaut] one needs training and more training, one needs courage and strength of character. And although I haven’t yet trained ‘properly’, I am still confident of my strength. It seems to me that with the kind of preparation that you gave Valia Tereshkova, I would also be able to fly to the cosmos.
Women tend to gravitate towards meaningful projects. Women are also implicitly discriminated against by the traditional "boys only club" mentality that predominates the technology and science cultures.
Provide meaningful projects in gender-neutral environments and women may very well gravitate towards them. So will plenty of other people of any gender.
Why was this modded down? It's what research has shown. I know that when I did CS undergrad, the department had discovered that women were *much* more likely than men to take Computer Science for *practical reasons*, so that it could help them as they pursued careers in Chemistry or Bio or other fields. Men were much more likely to be interested in Computer Science for its own sake.
They also found that women were *much* more likely to go on and take more computer science courses if at least one of their intro profs was a woman. I wouldn't quite call it a "boys only club" mentality because that hearkens back to the days of explicit discrimination against women rather than systemic gender biased flaws in a program which make it less accessible or interesting to women.
That didn't happen before, either. MS already funded a good amount of equipment purchases for K12 schools in WA (running Windows, of course). Not to mention, people want computers that just work. Every minute spent dealing with tech issues is a minute less spent on learning.
Why? Not H1B's although that is amusing to consider how it will screw local hopefuls beyond their wildest dreams. But rather, the natural progression is to university CS and related programs. And here's the catch. They demand Calculus + Physics, and only give token (if any) consideration to what you did in CS in grade school. Not even AP and/or IB CS is all that well respected, if it is respected at all.
Until the Universities care, it's all a vast waste of time, effort and money.
Where have you been? This is a dog-bites-man story.
Ultimately it's a big waste of money and time. Computer classes are pointless for kids who aren't interested, and kids who are interested won't have any trouble getting access to a computer - you can hardly avoid them anymore. Cliff Stoll was on target when he addressed the topic in Silicon Snake Oil.