I should be happy but feel like I’ve failed
The NY Times just posted an article - the mayor announced a 10 year deadline by which time all NYC public school students will be taking CS.
I should be happy.
I'm not.
I feel thoroughly defeated.
As many of you know, I've struggled for years to try to bring CS education to more kids and to train more teachers. You also probably know that over the years, I've become pretty good at this.
Why am I feeling so down about this.
Because despite my best efforts I'm no closer to my goal than day one.
Stuy is no closer to recognizing CS. I'm still a just math teacher and the DOE has given the job of running CS education to person after person none whom had any real CS experience and few who have had any real teaching experience.
I see plans based on dropping in curricula and quick fixes.
I see programs run by people still wet behind the ears with respect to CS Education.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only sane person in the room, or maybe I'm the loony. I'm not sure.
Probably because I don't play well with others.
So I feel defeated.
Defeated because I know I have something to offer that the kids of NYC deserve.
Defeated because I know they're not going to get it.
I'm already looking to leave Stuy and public education.
Maybe this is just another sign that it's time.