If reading computer coding is as foreign to you as a page written entirely in hieroglyphics, you're missing out on an important skill, say technology experts, including those at the White House.
Randy Paris, confidential assistant at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote on The White House Blog that the ability to write computer software, known as coding, is an important skill that moves people from being consumers of technology to creators of it.
"Everyone - scientists, fashion designers, doctors, journalists, lawyers, musicians, students - can benefit from a greater understanding of how to use computing," he wrote. "Computer literacy is important for success in today's digital economy, yet many American schools still view computer science education as an exotic elective."
Paris goes on to say that only a handful of states allow computer science courses to count as math or science credits toward high school graduation requirements. AP Computer Science is taught in just 10 percent of U.S. high schools, Paris wrote, whereas the United Kingdom recently added computer science to its curriculum, teaching it to all students from 5 to 17. China teaches all students one year of computer science, Paris wrote
Alabama does not require students to learn coding before they graduate, said Malissa Valdes-Hubert, spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Education. However, dozens of information technology-related courses are offered to high school students, as both electives and career technical education courses, which do count toward a diploma.
A career preparedness class is required, but students have a choice of classes for that. One of the classes is Computer Applications.
The state Board of Education on Thursday will consider adding two new courses -- Computer Science and AP Computer Science -- that will count as math credit, Valdes-Hubert said, which will place Alabama within the few states that offer students that opportunity.
This week is Computer Science Education Week, an annual campaign highlighting the importance of learning computer science. This year, Code.org is driving activities in more than 150 countries and sponsoring an "Hour of Code" campaign that encourages students to devote an hour this week to getting a taste of computer programming.
President Obama even posted a video highlighting the importance of computer science in America, in which he said learning those skills isn't just important for students' future, it's important for the country's future.
"We need young Americans like you to master the tools and technology that will change the way we do just about everything," he said in his video. "Don't just buy a new video game, make one. Don't just download the latest app, help design it. Don't just play on your phone, program it."
Computers, the president said, are the future.
"No one is born a computer scientist, but with a little hard work and some math and science, just about anyone can become one."
But not everyone agrees that American students should focus on computer coding.
Matthew Yglesias, Slate magazine's business and economics correspondent, wrote that while the ability to read coding is great, it would be better if everyone could just read, period.
"I think the best way to think about this is as comparable to whether everyone should master Oliver Queen's salmon ladder routine. Which is to say, it'd be pretty awesome if we could all do that, but it's hardly the low-hanging fruit of physical fitness challenges," he wrote. "According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, something like 14 percent of the adult population rates as 'below basic' in their English-language prose literacy. Which is to say they can't read."