-> CB> What's your point?  As I said - no one *needs* to write programs
-> today - CB> the operating commands are not so totally integrated with
-> the CB> programming language, as in the early TRS machines, that one
-> needs to CB> have some basic understanding of computer "programming",
-> nor is software CB> in short supply and difficult to come by.  We do
-> not need to teach CB> programming in order to teach the basic
-> operation of the machine, as we CB> once did - and programming makes
-> up but a small percentage of computer CB> usage today.
-> What total bunk.......  Of course there are significant reasons to
-> teach programming.  Who writes the programs you are using?  Your
-> argument is the underlying reason computer science is lost in the
-> schools.
Hi Steve,
As moderator, let me welcome you to the EDUCATOR echo. I fear that you
are coming in on the tail end of a discussion, and have missed
substantial comments that Charles has made, so you may be
misinterpreting his post.
-> I once had a discussion with a high school principal in the teaching
-> of computers and why the state does not have a certification in
-> computing.  His response was that "any one can teach computers".
-> Having a BS in Computer Science, I was totally floored.  His
-> ignorance was strictly based on the idea that computers are only to
-> be used for the secretarial applications such as wordprocessing,
-> spread sheets and to some small extent data base managment.
It is deplorable that someone so ignorant of the overall picture of high
school curriculum could be in charge of an entire school.
-> Why is it that so many people fail to see the phenomenal benefits of
-> programming.  With such a simple set up, one can explore an intense
-> discipline of logic, orderly thinking, refined argument and
-> creativity.
Many people have no experience with programming, so they probably don't
realize that all this is involved.
I can assure you (although I'm sure that Charles will answer for
himself) that he realizes that these are many of the benefits of
programming. He is only questioning whether it is necessary to make it
part of the required curriculum for ALL jr. high (middle school)
students, or maybe offer more as an elective for those who are
interested.
While I can see benefits to having all students take that type of
course, Chuck has actually taught such courses and seen a fair amount of
frustration on the part of students, so he has good reason to suggest
that it not be required.
Sheila
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