Girls, Get Your Code On — and Hack Your Way to a Possible Career

Attention, parents who fear their daughters will earn college degrees and go on to permanent careers as baristas — there are plenty of well-paying jobs available.

They just aren't in a field that's attracting many young women.

Mary Clarke-Miller, a former computer animator who now teaches career and technical subjects at Encinal High School, aims to change that with the Girls Who Code Club.

Although the new (and free) after-school program will be based at EHS, it's open to any Alameda girl in grades 6-12. Sign-up details are below.

"We're not graduating enough computer scientists to fill the available positions, so employers are looking offshore," Clarke-Miller says.

One reason: many U.S. high schools aren't teaching computer science. And even at those which do, the classes often don't fill up — in part because they usually aren't designated as honors or AP (advanced placement) courses, so college-bound students skip them in favor of subjects they think will look more impressive on university applications.

Another reason: girls still aren't learning the computer skills that lead to to jobs.

"Computer science is an incredibly promising major, especially for a young woman," Catherine Rampell wrote in an article published in the New York Times Magazine last month.

"That and engineering are among the college degrees that can offer the highest incomes and the most flexibility — attributes widely cited for drawing many women into formerly male-dominated fields like medicine.

"Yet just 0.4 percent of all female college freshmen say they intend to major in computer science ... Today, just a quarter of all Americans in computer-related occupations are women."

Clarke-Miller, who says she learned to write code at age 13, hopes the Girls Who Code Club will provide a supportive atmosphere where young Alameda women can learn computer skills and explore a future in technology.

The club will use a program designed by the national Girls Who Code organization, a nonprofit founded lat year to "educate, inspire, and equip young women with the skills and resources to pursue academic and career opportunities in computing fields."

The EHS-based club's first session is this Thursday, Nov. 14, but Clarke-Miller says it will accept girls who sign up before the second meeting.

Email Clarke-Miller at mclarkemiller@alameda.k12.ca.us and she will send you information on the club and enrollment forms. There is no charge for the club, which will meet through the spring.

Clarke-Miller said the EHS after-school program also has free computer technology and robotics classes that are open to both boys and girls. She's happy to provide information on those program as well.

More Information

"Girls Who Code starts a Club at Encinal High School" (Alameda Patch announcement)

Girls Who Code (website for the national organization)

"I Am Woman, Watch Me Hack" (by Catherine Rampell, New York Times Magazine, Oct. 22, 2013)

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