Just Arthmetic: Sounds Simple, Not Always

HUTCHINSON WANTS TO CHANGE STATE CURRICULUM

The latest news from the Governor’s race for 2014 comes from Republican Asa Hutchinson’s camp.

In a proposal, floated by press conference, Hutchinson proposes a “bold plan for Arkansas to becoming a national leader in technology education and jobs.”

Just days after bragging about his campaign raising a little more than $445,000 in the holiday quarter of the year October- to- December, Hutchinson floated a computer science curriculum to be offered in “every” high school in Arkansas.

“A chicken in every pot,” remember that old political slogan?

Sounds awfully similar, but sadly, that didn’t work either.

Not trying to be too critical, but candidate Hutchinson must not realize that not all Arkansas high schools, even today, have adequate higher level math or science classes. And more districts, than not, have no computer science classes at all.

In a seven- page news release, resplendent with footnotes and quotes from others in educational thinktanks and press stories, Hutchinson says that less than one in 10 schools in Arkansas offer the computer science curriculum.

Out of the 300 high schools in the state that figures out to only about 30 public high schools that offer any type of course in computer sciences at all.

I suspect even fewer of the private or charter schools offer a computer science curriculum.

That leaves 270 high schools in the 273 districts that do not have an inkling or a viable means to do what candidate Hutchinson is proposing.

In his press release the candidate proudly points out that computer science jobs ( hopefully with a college degree attached, pay between $15-$20 an hour or more.)

The biggest hurdle to overcome, is a change in the state law, to shift these computer science classes to count towards a core graduation requirement.

Changing the curriculum in our schools, even by a legislative mandate, will be like watching a glacier move.

A glacier does move, albeit slowly and in a speed all its own.

Already, on day- two of this endeavor, Hutchinson’s GOP opponent in Central Arkansas, businessman Curtis Coleman came out calling the plan — another government mandate on local school districts.

Coleman, an ultra- conservative, is correct in his assumption.

In the press release, Hutchinson reaches out to the State Educational system to embrace these new programs helping the state to grow. There is an unspoken thread that is basically critical of the state’s educational system for not keeping up, hinted at in Hutchinson’s documents. But here is the kicker. From the candidate’s own press release, “What Is The Cost?”

“Success in computer science education does not require a massive infusion of tax dollars.”

From Hutchinson’s own mouth comes more words. “The first step of policy changes will not cost the state a single penny; a simple change in the law to give math or science credit for computer science courses will open up a new window of opportunity without the expenditure of tax dollars.” Wait a minute. Changing the state law to amend the curriculum of the state’s schools to take away a math requirement (such as geometry or algebra or even basic fundamental math) and supplement a computer science course in code writing or programming will not cost the taxpayers a single penny? Think again. If most every high school has just one computer lab for all its students, used almost every period of the school day, what will happen when the curriculum rules are changed eliminating a math or science class to add a computer science class?

Hummmmm. Better think on that for a while.