I'm not going to defend parfe but I will point out that just because you may not have been offered three different ways of learning a subject doesn't mean the s

I'm not going to defend parfe but I will point out that just because you may not have been offered three different ways of learning a subject doesn't mean the school was only offering one and only one way of teaching it. The original article is saying based on a simple test you can throw half of the students directly into a 'learn to program' class and the other group into something else (I wish they had explored that a bit more). At no point is the student offered a choice. From their perspective the school only has one track. Now, your school may indeed have been terrible... but I think the point that parfe was trying to make (ineloquently) is: don't presume that your one experience makes you an expert in the system. You probably weren't even aware of things going on behind your back in your own school, much less all of the other schools in the 'education system'. This is one of those things like graphic design.. Everyone has an opinion; some people have training. Those who work in the field might come resent those who have opinions without knowing about the training.