Ad campaign ignores need to focus on basic reading, math skills first
If several Silicon Valley bigwigs, an NBA player and a recording artist — whose main claim to fame is being a founding member of band that shares its name with a legume — decided to get together and make a public service announcement, what cause would they take up? Ensuring all that computer programming is offered in our nation’s schools, of course!
In a country that often struggles to provide a basic education, there’s actually an organization dedicated to making computer programming classes, or coding, an option for America’s school children — the very same children who fail to compete on a global scale in practically everything but self-confidence. But have no fear, America. In a recent ad by Code.org, you’ll see the current “movers and shakers” of the technology industry, such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, wax robotically about the importance of teaching coding in our nation’s schools. They even tapped Chris Bosh, a Miami Heats All-Star, and will.i.am, an original member of the Black Eyed Peas, to offer their insights in the ad.
The ad is based on the idea that coding not only helps people learn how to think but that it’s the foundation for a successful future. No matter what career path you take, they say, computers will continue to be a dominant force, so it’s critical our youth learn coding while they’re still young. And the best part of it all, it’s not that hard. “It doesn’t take a genius to read; it doesn’t take a genius to code,” they tell us.
Their “Who’s Who”-esque laundry list of supporters share these sentiments; just scroll down Code.org’s homepage to see the opinions of many so-called leaders and trendsetters in America, coincidentally, most of whom are in the technology industry. Other prominent individuals include former President Bill Clinton, Ashton Kutcher and Snoop Dogg.
While a handful of supporters actually understand and deal with education, it’s important to note that Code.org is a lobbying group, dedicated to supporting its own narrow self-interests, not necessarily our nation’s. From the top down, it’s an organization run by the same Silicon Valley insiders who also run companies whose futures depend on a flood of cheap and competitive labor to compete globally.
And yes, at first glance empowering students with the knowledge to code seems like a great idea that would be win-win situation. But the sad fact of the matter is, in certain parts of America, it seems it does take a genius to read, write or really possess any of the other rudimentary skills needed in a civilized democratic society.
While it’s laudable to a certain extent that an organization like Code.org wants to bring computer programming to the masses through schools, it’s clear America has much bigger problems to worry about right now.
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