Re: Computer Science Certification

Date: 11-28-2006
From: jwhitehurst
To: Carol Parker
Re: Computer Science Certification

Mrs. Parker,

I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to respond, but when I hear such apathetic responses to the work on certification it scares me. I know for a fact that the response you got has been uttered for the past 5 years and I have yet to see headway on the issue. (see attached responses). It's not only computer science, but Chinese and Sign Language as well. For some reason, DPI seems to think that the necessity just isn't there. Well, I have a couple of comments for them that you may be able to help me relay.

1. The endorsement for computer science does not allow a teacher to teach computer science courses unless they are fully certified in some other subject (thus the dilemma in having to be certified in mathematics). It was only before "NCLB" that a teacher was able to obtain a Math certification and then the endorsement with a computer science degree. Even without a math major or the coursework for math, human resources "fit" the teacher to math. Today, that can't happen.

2. With an endorsement you cannot teach computer science if it is in the Tech Ed department. They have their own rules, and don't allow it. But because the computer science department and certification don't exist, the Tech Ed department is the only place Advanced Placement Computer Science can be taught if the school can't afford to lose a math teacher position.

3. Some schools in Wake County put computer science classes in Tech Ed, others in Math, and still others in a Technology department. Without the certification, teachers can be required to have one of three licenses, none specifically geared to computer science thus negating the potential for transfer (I believe this is discrimination).
[Side note: I can't transfer to just any school: they have to offer computers in the math department for where my license is now. NOT FAIR]

4. What really are the steps being taken? I've talked to the UNC system, and they aren't aware of it. I've talked to businesses. They aren't aware of it. I don't think anything is being done, and I think we need to find out. DPI can't sit on this issue any longer without being responsible to us teachers.

5. AND LASTLY (this is the blow of it all): NC State University offers the following degree: Math Education (MED): Computer Science Specialization . Here is a link to the program, http://www.ncsu.edu/reg_records/curricula/education/13med.html . But yet the schools with computer science in the business department won't let a teacher teach computer science with this degree.
Thanks for listening. I thought that you may want to get in touch with "Computer Science Teachers Association" and check out the research they are doing on certification issues. http://csta.acm.org/Research/sub/CSTAResearch-2.html