In the abstract, yes, teach programming in school. It's an application of logic, and that's useful in a lot of ways.
The problem, of course, is that they're not making days longer, so if you add this to the curriculum, what are you taking out? When computer labs started being put in in the 80s and 90s, it was often band rooms that were being taken out.
And then we need a curriculum that's useful not only for those going into technical fields, and that's not just programmers — my previous job was all about helping people in life science work with computing — but for people who don't plan to enter those fields.
This is all very true. It's a hard balance to strike, but I think these topics need to be higher up the chain than they have been.
Perhaps incorporating logic into maths, and algorithms as a cross-curricular topic is the best way to do this.
On your last point, I think that's why you need more options for diversification in secondary education (12 years +), so you can learn the skills and ideas most important to you, whether you're technical, academic, creative or anything else.
I think I'm maybe 80% with you. I don't think that high-school students have an accurate view of what they'll do with their life – I know I didn't – and I don't think that high schools have the resources to diversify that much.
But I like it as a goal.
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
We're a place where coders share, stay up-to-date and grow their careers.
In the abstract, yes, teach programming in school. It's an application of logic, and that's useful in a lot of ways.
The problem, of course, is that they're not making days longer, so if you add this to the curriculum, what are you taking out? When computer labs started being put in in the 80s and 90s, it was often band rooms that were being taken out.
And then we need a curriculum that's useful not only for those going into technical fields, and that's not just programmers — my previous job was all about helping people in life science work with computing — but for people who don't plan to enter those fields.
This is all very true. It's a hard balance to strike, but I think these topics need to be higher up the chain than they have been.
Perhaps incorporating logic into maths, and algorithms as a cross-curricular topic is the best way to do this.
On your last point, I think that's why you need more options for diversification in secondary education (12 years +), so you can learn the skills and ideas most important to you, whether you're technical, academic, creative or anything else.
I think I'm maybe 80% with you. I don't think that high-school students have an accurate view of what they'll do with their life – I know I didn't – and I don't think that high schools have the resources to diversify that much.
But I like it as a goal.