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Reading, writing, 'rithmetic are about the only really useful things taught in schools. The rest is important for "education", broadening the mind, and practici
by hyp0 13y ago
Reading, writing, 'rithmetic are about the only really useful things taught in schools. The rest is important for "education", broadening the mind, and practicing learning.
Learning a second language is not only important for "broadening the mind", but it also helps you to see your native tongue objectively - with more than one instance, you gain an concrete inkling of what is general, what is specific.
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Arguably, a programming language can do this directly, or at least lay some foundations. Like natural language (and arithmetic expressions), it has a grammar.
I think there is a deeper purpose of high school education (which seems to be completely unrealized): becoming acquainted with the human heritage of how to know things. That is, maths as a way of proving truth, not just of practical use. Programming has a role, in show how we can make things work - like mechanics and forms of government. Of course, this is philosophy, and not for everyone. But I think everyone is entitled to a taste, so they can make up their own mind.
All that said, actual programming is probably pretty useless. A law student I knew took CS 101 and sincerely believed that the discipline was about knowing all the control codes. Sadly, that is a huge part of what we do - programming requires a whole of nonsense, of arbitrary escaping rules, inconsistent tool and ridiculously arcane procedures for getting anything done - and if you get a little bit wrong, the whole thing fails! - and it's impossible to tell what went wrong unless you already understand it. [source: tutored first year CS students]
The programming tool that ordinary people cope with best, that has minimal nonsense, and also has enormous practical benefit is not thought of as programming at all - the spreadsheet.