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How about rather than asking everyone learn to code, we encourage everyone (skilled or not) to maybe pick up a trade or other skill with marketable options. No

How about rather than asking everyone learn to code, we encourage everyone (skilled or not) to maybe pick up a trade or other skill with marketable options. Not everyone has the skill set to code, just like some don't have the dexterity to metal work. Maybe we should be encouraging continual education and learning something new. There is way more to civilization than "coding".

efuquen 13y ago
I feel like that's like saying not everyone has the skill set to learn Math, Science, English, or History. And to a sense it is true, there are many Engineers that have terrible grammar, vocabulary, and can't write worth a damn. And then there are plenty of excellent writers, artists, graphic designers have terrible Math skills or know nothing about Science. And then History, let's not get started how many people don't know some extremely basic facts about American history, let alone history from other places around the world. Yet these are all foundational classes up through secondary school. Why are we bothering to teach people things that they will ultimately be bad at? Because we've established that these subjects are so important, that they underly many fundamental things, and that they are important to being a good citizen. Indeed there is more to civilization then "coding" (or computer science, technical literacy, etc.), just like there is more to civilization then any of the numerous subjects I listed above. The point is it's up to us as a society to decide which of these subjects are important to emphasize, which has the most value, and which will help people the most in living productive and good lives. You might not think computer literacy (which has been lumped under the label "coding"), and not just in the learning how to type sense, is that important; but I respectfully disagree. Computers are everywhere and they're not going away anytime soon; far too few people know how they work on the most basic level, I think it's important as a society we address that.

efuquen 13y ago

I feel like that's like saying not everyone has the skill set to learn Math, Science, English, or History. And to a sense it is true, there are many Engineers that have terrible grammar, vocabulary, and can't write worth a damn. And then there are plenty of excellent writers, artists, graphic designers have terrible Math skills or know nothing about Science. And then History, let's not get started how many people don't know some extremely basic facts about American history, let alone history from other places around the world. Yet these are all foundational classes up through secondary school. Why are we bothering to teach people things that they will ultimately be bad at? Because we've established that these subjects are so important, that they underly many fundamental things, and that they are important to being a good citizen. Indeed there is more to civilization then "coding" (or computer science, technical literacy, etc.), just like there is more to civilization then any of the numerous subjects I listed above. The point is it's up to us as a society to decide which of these subjects are important to emphasize, which has the most value, and which will help people the most in living productive and good lives. You might not think computer literacy (which has been lumped under the label "coding"), and not just in the learning how to type sense, is that important; but I respectfully disagree. Computers are everywhere and they're not going away anytime soon; far too few people know how they work on the most basic level, I think it's important as a society we address that.