The syntax of a programming language is actually simpler than algebra. Algebra is not particularly intuitive. And, indeed, that's part of the problem. You real

The syntax of a programming language is actually simpler than algebra. Algebra is not particularly intuitive. And, indeed, that's part of the problem. You really can't claim to be teaching anything of value if all you teach is programming-language syntax. One has to teach people to write some kind of actual program. And that's like teaching prose writing, except that schools and teachers have spent literally thousands of years learning to teach prose writing whereas programming was invented in living memory.