To code or to work with computers (for example doing system administration or testing) is a work skill, and children and teenagers are much, much better at lear

To code or to work with computers (for example doing system administration or testing) is a work skill, and children and teenagers are much, much better at learning them than the essential theoretical subjects at school. So, instead of turning programming in yet another rigorous and testable school subject, I think kids should be encouraged to make things regardless how bad they seem to be. Maybe not using BASIC, but some web design, but also how to fix common computing issues. Ideally they should be able to do an entry level IT job. Historically teenagers and bigger children worked as apprentices or helped in the fields. In some communities, this is still essential to their survivor, but people who can afford for their kids not to work discount the boost to self-worth and the practicality of doing some work.