CB> Why do you believe it is so important for high school teachers of,
CB> say,  social studies to learn to program computers?
RP>I don't. You see, we really don't understand what the other is trying
RP>to say. All I'm saying is that certainly at the high school level,
RP>and possibly earlier, programming should be offered as an elective
RP>just as commonly and _enthusiastically_ as auto mechanics, or drafting.
This is already the case where I work; I can't speak to what
is happening in the rest of the country however....
RP>And don't listen to the bull crap about how no one will need to write 
RP>programs in ten years.
I don't remember anyone saying this, and you have 
successfully made the point that there is more of a demand
than many of us realized....
RP>Instead, consider for example, who will work in a traditional garage
RP>as an auto mechanic in ten years. Not too many, I'm willing to bet.
I'm not sure that I agree with you on this.... So long
as there are vehicles, there are going to have to be
mechanics and autoservice folks.  Same is true of plumbers,
electricians, etc...
RP>What really burns me is the guys who scoff at programming, and instead
RP>throw Print Shop at the kids and tell them to play with that while
RP>they sneak down to the staff room for a smoke.
Who, to your knowledge, actually does this?  I can't imagine
any teacher leaving the room, kids unattended (Matt's 
recollections to the contrary).  Or are you simply assuming 
this happens somewhere?  If the latter, it is certainly 
unfair to state it as if it were fact.  No one here is
attacking programming as a vocation, or A-vocation as the
case may be, why do you find it necessary to take a shot
at some hypothetical teacher somewhere who may not even
exist?!
I haven't even seen anyone take serious issue with what
you've written here; why are you so angry?
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