Sunday, March 14, 2021

Bill Crawford: Biloxi Legislators Push Innovative Learning in Schools

Incessant innovation is the key to economic growth suggested Martin Wolf in The Financial Times. “Historical experience confirms that growth is a race to the top,” he wrote. “It means exploiting new opportunities that generate enduring advantages in high-productivity sectors and so high wages.”

Could this have meaning for Mississippi? And what role, if any, should government play?

Yes. And government does have a role Wolf said, drawing from “Windows of Opportunity” by David Sainsbury.

“There are four possible strategies towards innovation: leave it to the market; support the supply of relevant factors of production (science and skilled people); support key industries and technologies; and pick specific firms/technologies/products.” According to Sainsbury Wolf said, “that governments should do the second and third, but not the last.”

Hmmm.

They may not have read Wolf’s essay or Sainsbury’s book, but two Biloxi legislators have bought into the notions that Mississippi needs science and skilled people to spur innovative economic growth and that government has a role in providing that.

Sen. Scott Delano and Rep. Kevin Felsher introduced bills to require “the study of computers, algorithmic processes, coding and logical thinking, including computer principles, their hardware and software designs, their implementation and their impact on society” in all K-12 schools. The House and Senate both passed similar versions of the Mississippi Computer Science And Cyber Education Equality Act. Felsher said he expected the House to concur with a Senate technical amendment which would assure final passage. The bill would then go to the Governor for final approval.

The bill says that from school year 2022-23 through 2024-25 all elementary schools must phase in offering at least one hour of computer science instruction weekly; all middle schools must phase in offering instruction in the “foundations of computer science” which includes computational thinking, problem-solving, programming, cyber security, data science, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and other computer science and cyber-related content; and all high schools must phase in offering at least one class in computer science.

“We want every student to have the same opportunities to pursue computer science regardless of where they live or what school they attend,” Felsher said.

With most innovation today involving cyber technology and computers, the two legislators are on to something. If innovation is key to future economic growth, Mississippi needs both innovators who can develop businesses and a workforce able to support innovation based business and industry. K-12 schools can play a vital role in developing both. Government could and should make that happen.

Introducing young minds to the marvels of computer science, teaching them fundamentals, and developing early skills are great goals. Having the teachers, textbooks, and materials to make this happen are something else. A $1 million commitment from the C Spire Foundation to help school districts with teacher training and implementation helps. Legislative funding will also be needed.

Good work guys, but keep pushing.

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” – Mark 2:22.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson

 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The top students and the top schools are already deeply involved in this kind of curriculum. Those schools and students that have problems with the fundamentals will still need to focus on those basic subjects. Those slower schools and students will need to find extra time just to keep up. It's tough but it's true.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to see our curriculum being written by C-Spire.

Anonymous said...

In order to compete, our kids must be technologically proficient. But, in order to survive, America also must give each generation a fundamental knowledge of history, government, and civics. By neglecting the latter over the course of (at least) the past 30 years, and by allowing many who don’t honor America’s history and values to co-opt the educational system, our nation tragically now is reaping the whirlwind. Science is essential, but so are history and civics. Is it too late for us as a nation to wake up to this truth?


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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