Quotes are taken from a message written by Steve to Charles on 08/10/96...
SA> CB> I find it interesting that you choose to attack me personally ("you 
have
SA>CB> faltered," "your problem,") rather than to offer evidence that 
teaching 
SA>CB> 6th grade kids to program will result in more and better programmers 
as 
SA>CB> they become adults. 
SA>
SA>As long as you believe that the only outcome here is "programmers" then 
you 
SA>are totally missing the point.  Programing turn out better 
SA>skills in organization, critical thinking, problem solving, 
SA>and logic.  Do you believe that learning typing is only 
SA>going to turn out secretaries the can only make coffee and 
SA>send out letters or that learning Math is only for future 
SA>Math teachers?
Your point is well taken - my response did not encompass all of the 
advantages you had espoused in favor of programming.  Nonetheless, my 
objections to forcing programming on everyone remain unchallenged by 
either anecdote or scientific study, to wit...
1. There are many ways to incorporate organization, critical thinking, 
etc. into skills far more useful to the average student than programming.
2.  Many people, if they believed they would have to learn to program in 
order to use computers, would be so turned off they would never venture 
near the hardware.  I have taught the computer phobic, both child and 
adult, and am fully convinced that this is true.
Chuck
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* America's favorite whine: "It's not my fault!"
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