I agree that people should learn the value of modeling and know how to do it. But in order to model, people will need tools. Natural language, even when very

I agree that people should learn the value of modeling and know how to do it. But in order to model, people will need tools. Natural language, even when very carefully phrased, is insufficiently clear or precise. And predicate logic isn't sufficiently numerical to support quantitation, which should be central to most models. Some kind of formal notation is required, both to specify and as well as exercise the model -- vary its parameters and evaluate results. I see no alternative to using some sort of programming language here. Personally I'd prefer it be a lot simpler and purposeful than Python. (Perhaps Z or UML?) But there's a lot of value in being able to manipulate everyday data as programmers do, now that data is omnipresent in everyone's personal and professional lives. Possessing basic skills with which to fix your car or repair a shirt has sufficient value that I can't see why anyone might prefer not to know how to program. It's just a matter if matching the right cognitive impedence in choosing the tool.