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Couple decades ago CS was dominated by people who wanted high income. Each class would 1-2 people in it that were genuinely interested in computers. Early web

Couple decades ago CS was dominated by people who wanted high income. Each class would 1-2 people in it that were genuinely interested in computers. Early web startup cultures were heavy on college drop outs who had passed the professors in “useful” skills.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago
Because the 'S' in CS is for 'science'. The degree is a study of the fundamental underpinnings of computer use. Not a tech-ed employment-training class. Sounds like folks who love the field but hate the job, should teach!
- HarryHirsch 6y ago
  Sounds like folks who love the field but hate the job, should teach! The trouble is that the students will see the instructor as the barrier between them abd a paying career.
- treeman79 6y ago
  This is both true and false. I loved solving problems with computers in high school. Didn’t give a crap about theory unless it helped me solve harder problems. So more engineer then scientist. Choice for college path. Computer Management or Computer Science. Once of those was about buying software and managing people. Other was learning fundamentals so I could build cool stuff.
  - the_only_law 6y ago
    The problem is I dont really feel like an engineer or a scientist. I'm definitely not a good engineer partly because I don't care enough, but I'm neither smart nor educated enough to be a scientist. I'd personally describe myself as more of a hacker, but thats not particularly useful for much.
    - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
      To teach, you only have to be one lesson ahead of the students. And there's lots of teaching to be done, before the hard science kicks in. So plenty of room for everybody!
      - toast0 6y ago
        To teach professionally, you also need to get whatever credentials the institution requires. I don't think my community college cared too much about formal credentials other than warm body and background check, but my four-year school seemed to prefer a PhD or a masters with industry experience. My kid's school district recently put out a call for substitute teachers which requires a bachelors degree (any field), a background check, and a whole lot of patience (not specifically listed).
- rjsw 6y ago
  On my CS course, the best professors were those who could also do the practical side. Two of them had created all the tools used by the students, including a minicomputer operating system.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

Because the 'S' in CS is for 'science'. The degree is a study of the fundamental underpinnings of computer use. Not a tech-ed employment-training class. Sounds like folks who love the field but hate the job, should teach!

HarryHirsch 6y ago
Sounds like folks who love the field but hate the job, should teach! The trouble is that the students will see the instructor as the barrier between them abd a paying career.
treeman79 6y ago
This is both true and false. I loved solving problems with computers in high school. Didn’t give a crap about theory unless it helped me solve harder problems. So more engineer then scientist. Choice for college path. Computer Management or Computer Science. Once of those was about buying software and managing people. Other was learning fundamentals so I could build cool stuff.
- the_only_law 6y ago
  The problem is I dont really feel like an engineer or a scientist. I'm definitely not a good engineer partly because I don't care enough, but I'm neither smart nor educated enough to be a scientist. I'd personally describe myself as more of a hacker, but thats not particularly useful for much.
  - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
    To teach, you only have to be one lesson ahead of the students. And there's lots of teaching to be done, before the hard science kicks in. So plenty of room for everybody!
    - toast0 6y ago
      To teach professionally, you also need to get whatever credentials the institution requires. I don't think my community college cared too much about formal credentials other than warm body and background check, but my four-year school seemed to prefer a PhD or a masters with industry experience. My kid's school district recently put out a call for substitute teachers which requires a bachelors degree (any field), a background check, and a whole lot of patience (not specifically listed).
rjsw 6y ago
On my CS course, the best professors were those who could also do the practical side. Two of them had created all the tools used by the students, including a minicomputer operating system.