Merced City Schools gives thumbs up to esports program. Here’s what your kids want to know
Staying after school is about to get a lot more fun for Merced youth.
The Merced City School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved an $82,000 contract with company STEM Forged to establish an after-school esports program.
The program is said to be one of the first of its kind in any public school district in Merced County. STEM Forged is a computer science, video game design/development and esports company geared toward teaching students, according to its website.
For the uninitiated, esports are competitive video games — but this isn’t your parents’ Atari 2600 game console.
Esports are a global phenomenon, attracting teams of all ages to compete in tournaments, playing games like Fortnite and League of Legends where winners can win thousands of dollars — and sometimes even college scholarships and bigger prizes.
Many have projected the future market growth for the industry to be in the billions of dollars.
Given the mainstream popularity of esports, district leaders have been pushing for an esports program in middle schools. Parents and students can expect a gradual rollout, with a full-fledged program expected by 2024.
“I thought it was a great idea,” said board member Shane Smith. “As a parent, I just wanted to be more assured that our kids’ digital privacy was going to be maintained. I’m delighted to support this contract.”
The program will instruct students in computer programming, coding, game development and an overview of the esports industry. Plus it will also include information about which college majors students should pursue to enter careers in the industry.
The skills they learn will bolster strategic thinking, planning, good sportsmanship and teamwork, the district said. Students will eventually compete with other schools statewide in esports competitions.
“We have worked for years with the intent of finding the best way to bring STEM education to children,” wrote STEM Forged Founder and CEO Grant Hathaway to the MCSD board in a letter.
We’ve done everything from rockets to web design. The thing that consistently brought students to their ‘AHA’ moment was the use of game design.”
Hathaway added, “STEM Forged allows your students to get real-world technical and soft skills through the most sought-after medium for their age group.”
According to a quote the company sent to the school district, STEM Forged will also provide instructors, a curriculum, tech support, one-on-one lessons and professional-level software.
The package the district approved Tuesday includes licensing and administrative functions, instruction and operations and the organization and supervision of additional events.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 2:37 PM.