My Is Project Scratch from Myer Middle School, River Falls, WI and I am an avid user of Scratch, an educational tool designed to teach students about coding. It is how I learn and grow, an opportunity to exercise my creativity and problem solving in a fun and interactive way. My friends, and presumably other students at our school, also enjoy using Scratch during our FREE time.

Recently, we have been barred from accessing the Scratch website on the school computers . This sudden blockade is impacting our learning curve and hindering our ability to practice coding skills we might heavily rely on in our future careers. According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than all occupations. Aptitudes like the ones we cultivate with Scratch will be crucial. Another study by Harvard University shows that scratch can grow students problem solving and critical thinking skills

Our school, by blocking access to Scratch, is not only depriving us of an educational resource, but potentially hampering our future prospects in a digitally driven world. We urge the school administration to consider these implications and to promptly unblock Scratch at Myer Middle School so we can continue to develop our coding skills and embrace the digital future. Please sign this petition to support our plea.