Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've always been really good at math and science and I'm having a hard time deciding which H.S. subject I want to teach. It's a toss up between math and comp sci. Comp sci is tempting b/c students like computers, so they'll be focused. What do you think? Do teachers who teach H.S. Comp classes have less stress and discipline problems? When I was in H.S., I don't recall my classmates giving the teacher problems b/c everyone was interested in computers.
How hard/easy is it to get a Comp Sci Teaching job?
Very few schools will have a dedicated Comp Sci teacher if by that you mean computer design/programming. Most classes using computers will be in an appliication like Business Ed.
All I know is when I sub for computer classes, I never have any problems with the students. They come in, get their work out, and start working on their programs, typing, etc.
You also have to take into account scheduling. A class has kids sign up, say 30, and there are 35 seats. There are kids who have holes in their schedules. That's when the Counselors start dropping those kids into any class that has empty seats. Those kids, many times, are the ones that are the PITAs in an elective.
The teacher at our school that teaches computer science teaches three programming classes (C++, Basic and AP Comp Sci, i.e. Java) plus College Algebra. My son has said that the programming classes are indeed problem free because kids CHOOSE to take them and they are all interested. There are less then a dozen kids in the AP Comp. Sci class. The prerequisites for taking the AP class is having had a B is C++ and Basic. There are enough other choices that only the kids that want to learn programming take it.
This is absolutely true. The kids love computers and rarely create problems in a computer lab that is functioning well.
I remember about ten years ago when LA Unified did not have "nanny" controls to keep the kids from perusing "inappropriate" sites. I would take them to the lab and within a fraction of a second I would have two or three guys looking at their favorite PORN site. I'd have to write these guys up, and send them out.
I asked the assistant principal about this problem and she replied with some sort of gibber-jabber about the first amendment. This kind of attitude underscores a fundamental problem with the way we deal with high school kids. THEY ARE NOT ADULTS!!! They should not be treated as though they are adults with adult judgments.
Fortunately, the district installed nanny controls shortly after the year that this mess was occurring regularly. Now, there's a constant battle over new and multifarious "proxy servers" which allow the kids to access My Space in the lab when the teacher isn't looking.
This is absolutely true. The kids love computers and rarely create problems in a computer lab that is functioning well.
I remember about ten years ago when LA Unified did not have "nanny" controls to keep the kids from perusing "inappropriate" sites. I would take them to the lab and within a fraction of a second I would have two or three guys looking at their favorite PORN site. I'd have to write these guys up, and send them out.
I asked the assistant principal about this problem and she replied with some sort of gibber-jabber about the first amendment. This kind of attitude underscores a fundamental problem with the way we deal with high school kids. THEY ARE NOT ADULTS!!! They should not be treated as though they are adults with adult judgments.
Fortunately, the district installed nanny controls shortly after the year that this mess was occurring regularly. Now, there's a constant battle over new and multifarious "proxy servers" which allow the kids to access My Space in the lab when the teacher isn't looking.
Hah, reminds me of being in middle school around that time. Of course, my high school went a bit overboard with those sort of protections by not allowing you to access your personal email on school computers (thus you couldn't email yourself some research you did for a project).
I teach computer science and repair courses. I don't deal with too many, out of the norm classroom type problems. I have dealt with a lot of cyber-bullying and hacking type issues. Unfortunately, my administration sweeps these things under the rug, but that is a school issue as I have had admins at other schools take it very seriously.
My high school offered required Math courses & "elective" Computer Science courses.
On the whole, I would say the kids who chose to take Computer Science courses were a bit more focused & dedicated to the subject. Students who have no choice but to sit through Algebra II may cause some problems if they're simply not interested.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Of course, my high school went a bit overboard with those sort of protections by not allowing you to access your personal email on school computers (thus you couldn't email yourself some research you did for a project).
