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Science, technology, engineering, and math..or STEM education…got a big push at the Capitol this week. As Matt Galka tells us, as technology students took over Tallahassee, lawmakers on the inside pushed for legislation beefing up computer instruction in schools.

Politicians can be a little robotic…but it was a good thing this week at the Capitol. STEM day allowed student Peter Leonard to show off his science, technology, engineering and math skills.  Leonard wants to take the skillse he’s learned in the Florida Lego League and turn them into a job.

“People say ‘oh I’m never going to use that’ but we’re getting to the point where math is needed more than ever,” said Leonard.

Many of the projects were made outside the classroom.

State Senators passed a bill this week allowing schools to offer computer coding as a foreign language.  High School senior Dustin Carwile said it definitely belongs in classrooms.

“Not everyone enjoys Spanish or French just like anything else. Not everyone enjoys football or agriculture, not everyone enjoys it, so that would be a way to get more of a variety of students where and into things they like and enjoy and are passionate about,” said Carwile.

Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said she’s not picking a side on the bill…but she sees the value – especially with STEM job demand growing.

Critics of the legislation said it takes away from learning other cultures…and worried that some Florida schools can’t properly incorporate it with limited technology access.