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The article discusses the question of whether the U.S. education system is in a state of crisis or not. A report by the U.S. National Academy titled “Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5” is cited as arguing that the U.S. economy is at risk because of poor STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Contrary arguments are also described.

A reprint of the article "The Danger of Requiring Computer Science in K-12 Schools," which appeared as a blog post on "Communications" magazine's website at http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm, is presented. Topics discussed include the ramifications of making computer science (CS) a required subject for U.S. schoolchildren, insufficient number of CS teachers, and concerns about a higher CS standard's impact on special education students. Requiring CS courses in higher education is also cited.