As time has passed, the way people live their daily lives has changed dramatically. Before the 2000s most people studied to work jobs in fields such as education, business, law, and sales. As technology has improved and expanded dramatically, a new and fascinating career opportunity emerged that could be taught from a very young age: the field of computer sciences. Dictionary.com defines computer science as “the study of the internal features on a computer-like device, and the operations that program it.”

Computer science is not only enjoyable, but the necessary knowledge ties into other extremely important subjects as well. These subjects include math, science, language, and of course, technology. As technology becomes more prevalent in our lives, more and more students want to take computer science.

“I would love to take a class in computer sciences because one day, I may have to know how to operate a computer and write code. Lots of jobs involve computer sciences so being able to do it is a very important skill,” said freshman David Silverstein.

David is unsure if he wants to pursue this career, but he thinks trying it is necessary. He looks forward to putting his computer skills to the test in the upcoming years. He is not the only one and it seems there has been a buzz of excitement about computer science going around Port Washington recently.

Despite all of the excitement, computer database Communications of the ACM reported that “Texas, the second-most populous U.S. state, had only 3.76% of its students complete a computer science course in 2017-2018.” You might be wondering: how on
Earth could this be possible? Well, unfortunately, many high schools just do not have the money to employ teachers and purchase equipment and materials or a comprehensive computer science curriculum. This is frightening as it is reported that in several years, many millions of jobs in computer sciences will be needed, but only 3% of college students are graduating with the degree. This means that the technology industry will not be able to fill jobs, causing a decrease in innovation.

There are a few challenges of offering computer science courses such as big investments in the curriculum, staff, and expensive equipment. However, the pros are just way too big to ignore. For example, “New graduates with bachelor’s degrees in computer science were offered an average starting salary of $63,017,” according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Spring 2011 Salary Survey. This annual pay exceeds the national median by several thousand dollars.

Next, studying computer sciences encourages out-of-the-box thinking and promotes innovation. Another reason students should study computer science is that it is a fast-growing industry, and most big businesses need someone who has expertise in the field.

Many businesses are willing to spend large sums of money to ensure that the technological aspects of their companies are sound. Lastly, many people who study computer sciences end up enjoying the class and become passionate about the subject.

Overall, high schools should offer more computer science courses to expose students to the field and help them decide if they would like to pursue it further in college and their careers. While it may require substantial resources, schools must find money in their budgets to support a computer science curriculum.