[Info-vax] Rust as a HS language, was: Re: Quiet?

[chris]

On 04/07/22 13:31, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2022-04-06, Arne Vajhøj<arne at vajhoej.dk>  wrote:
>> On 4/6/2022 6:51 PM, VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
>>> Rust as a high school language?  I believe schools should be concentrating on
>>> reading, writing and mathematics with special emphasis on the mathematics.  I
>>> can not believe that colleges need to offer remedial mathematics such as basic
>>> algebra to their incoming freshmen.  Writing should be a close second.  Writing
>>> as if "texting" friends is not composition.
>>
>> Not sure how this topic got into this thread, but whatever.
>>
>
> It got into this thread because Simon wrote "HS" instead of "HA" in
> the title. Sorry. :-)
>
>> The idea about teaching programming in secondary or primary school
>> come up frequently.
>>
>> Mostly from people that don't know programming.
>>
>> I don't think it make any sense. The available time will be
>> so small and the level taught so low that it will not be
>> useful. It does not provide the IT industry with something
>> they can use. And it does not provide any valuable skills to
>> the students.
>>
>
> Back when I was in secondary school (early 1980s) programming classes
> _were_ along the subjects offered. Basic was the language in use but
> I also came across this new language called Fortran and started doing
> the assignments in that language as well as in Basic just for fun. :-)
>
> And you are wrong Arne in an important way. You don't get any direct
> skills that you can use in industry but it exposes students to what
> is involved in writing programs and the mindset required.
>
> It became obvious to me very quickly that this was something I _really_
> liked and made me consider it as my possible future (which obviously
> turned into reality).
>
> Simon.
>


Yes, the mindset is key. Should be run in parallel with critical
thinking classes, to encourage the right mental processes...

Chris