Look for These Subjects to Spread at High Schools in 2015

Across the country, interest in mindfulness, ethnic studies and computer science as high school subjects has been bubbling up, but these courses have yet to become available to many teens.

While these subjects are on the verge of hitting the mainstream in 2015, they are not without their critics. Some have raised concerns over the content of these classes and the motives behind them entering public high school classrooms.

Check out their educational goals, because a nearby high school might start offering one in the new year.

Ethnic studies: While ethnic studies courses -- which aim to enhance cultural understanding by addressing the perspectives of marginalized ethnic and racial groups -- have long been available in higher education, their availability in high schools has been more limited.

But that is changing. Students in Los Angeles public schools will be required to take ethnic studies classes in order to graduate, the Los Angeles Times reported this month. In San Francisco, all high schools will offer ethnic studies classes this fall, according to a report this month from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ethnic studies classes in high school have sometimes been controversial -- in 2011, an Arizona state law banned certain ethnic studies courses in public schools. But research has shown positive academic and social outcomes can result from quality ethnic studies classes, according to a 2011 National Education Association research review on the subject.

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Mindfulness: Being mindful basically means to be aware of one's thoughts, feelings, movements and surroundings, according to the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California--Berkeley, which focuses on the science of well-being.

Mindfulness is often practiced through mediation -- though it does not have to be -- and research has indicated that it can lower behavior problems and aggression among students, reduce stress and fight depression, the center's website states.

These benefits have led to a growing number of schools using mindfulness practices. In Oregon, one school recently established the first for-credit mindfulness class at a public high school in the state, OregonLive.com reported this fall.

"Sometimes I have trouble breathing, I have panic attacks," Cassia McIntyre, a junior at Wilson High School in Portland, which implemented the mindfulness class this year, told the Associated Press. "This class helps me bring more attention to my breath and overcome that. I'm less stressed-out and able to better cope with stress."

But mindfulness in schools is not without its critics -- some have protested its place in public schools due to the secularized practice's roots in eastern religion, the AP reported.

Computer science: Although individuals with computer programming skills have long been in demand, high schools have not traditionally been an active part of the solution.

Finding the resources to create computer science courses has been a challenge for schools, but new commitments from the Obama administration and continued support from the tech community are helping to change the status quo.

More than 60 school districts have committed to offering computer science courses, the White House announced this month, and new donations will help train thousands of teachers to teach computer science in the coming years. Additionally, a new Advanced Placement computer science course is being developed that will focus on the real-world applications and creative aspects of computing.

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Plus, the number of states that have passed policies to count computer science toward high school math and science graduation requirements -- which may help increase student enrollment in the courses -- has grown to 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Along with ethnic studies and mindfulness, the movement to increase computer science education in schools has been met with criticism. Opponents are concerned about the influence of corporations in public schools, since many of these initiatives have been fueled by the tech industry, among other concerns, Politico reported earlier this month.

High school educators who want to incorporate computer science into their curriculum can visit Code.org, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase computer science participation, which offers free computer science curriculums.

Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com.

Alexandra Pannoni is an education staff writer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com.