Special Education In High School
Continuing on the theme of excellence in education, I would like to briefly reflect on teaching computer science in Ontario high schools. I have to point out that I don't what exactly the state of the subject in our province is, not least because I actually never took CS in high school (though I must admit that part of the reason for this is that fellow students told me the class wasn't very good at our school).
But it does seem to me that it could be a problem. My mom is a teacher. She is currently doing special education for grades seven and eight in the Catholic school board (which, in Ontario, is one of two publicly funded boards). Based on her, I know that you can expect a very secure job, regular wage increases thanks to union negotiations or years of experience, and an excellent pension.
This sounds great, but the downsides are that the system is not a meritocracy whatsoever, and you start at a relatively low wage (once you finally get a full-time position - it sounds like most young teachers do a lot of supply or contract teaching at first). It also appears to be almost impossible to be fired, and there are no reward for excellence, both of which seem to lead to a non-trivial amount of mediocrity. These cons put together are enough to make me avoid working at that level. The politics surrounding secondary education in Ontario also make me angry, though I can't say this wouldn't be true at university as well.
Sure, if you really love what you do, then the downsides won't matter. But what I really love to do is teach young people computer science, and I can do that at the university level with a much higher salary, what seem to be better opportunities to be recognized for teaching excellence, and an opportunity to affect elementary and secondary students through outreach efforts. Why would I not stick to university teaching?
The reason I bring this all up is not to suggest that nobody should want to teach in high schools, but it does make me ask how many excellent teachers feel the same way I do. Are high schools getting the teachers they need to introduce computer science to the next generation? If not, is this one of the reasons that many non-traditional students end up taking computer science in college? Because they never had a good teacher to get them interested in high school? Is it time to consider looking at what could make teaching computer science in high school more attractive so more teachers consider doing it?
The Department of Science and Technology awarded 23 outstanding high school students with a Special Science Scholarships Grant (SSSG) to help them with their college education, in science courses.
“This is the first time DOST will grant this special science scholarships. This is a way to encourage these students to stay here and pursue a science career,” said DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro.
The scholarships were granted to students who recently won medals – gold, silver or bronze – at different mathematics and science competitions.
Currently, DOST only recognizes three international competitions, which are: the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), and the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO).
The awardees include: Carmela Antoinette Lao of Saint Jude Catholic College who won at the IMO held in Germany last year; Lance Co Ting Keh of PSHS-Diliman campus who won the Rookie All Star and Highest Rookie Seed awards at the FRC held in Hawaii last year and he also won a silver medal at the IESO held in Taipei last September 2009.
The other awardees are: Rookie All Star and Highest Rookie Seed awardees of the FRC held in Hawaii last March 2009 include Catherine Marie Angangco, Arjelle Agupitan, Charles Christopher Bataclan, and Joseph Paolo Bonifacio all from PSHS-Diliman Campus; bronze medalists at the IESO held in Taipei, Taiwan last September 2009 include Ralph Ugalino pf PSHS-Diliman and Gio Elegado of PSHS-Bicol Campus.
The remaining awardees also won Rookie All Star and Highest Rookie Seed awards in the same FRC held in Hawaii. These include: Carlo David Cristobal. Brandon Cueto, Roger Remo Dandoy, Martha Isabel Dealino, Marxhen Endico, Job Immanuel Encarnacion, Cara Therese Evangelista, Koshneir Jimenez, Joshua Reginald Malapit, Henry Medina, Jr.; Ma. Socorro Kristina Medina, Timothy John Mora, Joel John Paz, Anton Philippe Tanquintic, and Charles Kevin Verdad all from PSHS-Diliman.
DOST Science Education Institute (SEI) director Dr. Ester Ogena said that the scholarship is one of the ways DOST is doing in luring students to hone their talents in the Philippines and give recognition to the potentials of science and mathematics competition achievers to success in careers in science and technology.
DOST encourages its scholars to stay in the country and share their knowledge. They have the freedom to choose where to study yet many still express the intention to take further studies abroad.
Related posts:
- 14 Filipinos awarded Australian scholarships
- Australia offering scholarships to RP students
- Philippine Science win Robotics Awards in Hawaii
- 9 students carry RP flag in Intel Fair
- Pinoy math ace tops Australian competition
