Languages like Scratch really shine in the 9-12 year old range where the goal is to get them playing with the core concepts of languages and inspire them to pur

Languages like Scratch really shine in the 9-12 year old range where the goal is to get them playing with the core concepts of languages and inspire them to pursue computer science further on their own time. The end goal isn't to make them ready to work in the industry, and it definitely isn't to teach them typing and syntax skills, as those things become what "programming" is to them. Some people really only think of computer science as black magic, but Scratch helps them see the problem solving and joy of creation; the other parts can come once they have the drive to continue. I don't think Scratch has much of a place in a high school classroom as a "beginner" language, and it won't help an already impassioned programmer who has his or her heart set out to pursue it, like the author. Production languages work better for that. I started learning C as a kid and I was hooked, Scratch wasn't for me (and also wasn't around at the time). But now I teach kids in a volunteer program and they have trouble paying attention for long periods of time, they have trouble typing, and most of them haven't chosen programming as their career. They will either see the light or move onto other things. Fast-tracking them to the important concepts hopefully better informs that decision.