The problem, then, isn't that we shouldn't use complex frameworks like Rails, but rather we shouldn't teach with frameworks like Rails. In order to teach Ruby-b

The problem, then, isn't that we shouldn't use complex frameworks like Rails, but rather we shouldn't teach with frameworks like Rails. In order to teach Ruby-based web development to the n00bs, use Sinatra. This forces them to address the Ruby language right away, learn http verbs, learn unit testing (well, if I'm teaching them anyway), learn templates, and learn to organize code from a single file up to a simple structure like a gem. Once they grok a simple Sinatra app, they can move on to Rails, understanding that it's doing a lot of magic, but at least having a grasp of how the magic works.