Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site hou2b.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!hou2b!dwc From: dwc@hou2b.UUCP (D.CHEN) Newsgroups: net.college Subject: computer science and carpentry in high school Message-ID: <398@hou2b.UUCP> Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 03:21:50 EST Article-I.D.: hou2b.398 Posted: Mon Dec 31 03:21:50 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 1-Jan-85 00:38:24 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 31 i've been reading the recent articles on this topic of computer science in high schools and i can't believe all of the intellectual snobbery that going on. i even see one article suggesting segregation! its unbelievable how some people look for any excuse to voice their prejudices. i've also seen the term techno-phobia used in articles on this topic. how about a new term: techno-centric. that could be an adjective to refer to technically oriented people believing that non-technically oriented people are significantly worse off than them. the philanthropic techno-centric people will want to reach out and give a portion of their wonderful knowledge to people who otherwise wouldn't give a sh*t. i'm just glad some carpenters didn't feel the need to define woodworking as a basic skill and force it into the high school curriculum. however, i also think that its nice that my high school did have woodworking shop for people who were interested in it. and i think thats my point. its ridiculous to force people to learn something they won't absolutely need. but it is nice to offer something that people would be interested in. and i don't think most people will ever need to know a programming language. more importantly, i don't think that most people will ever need to think in terms of the sequential algorithms that are needed for most present day computers. anyway, how many people's fear of math was cured by a course in calculus or analytic geometry or algebra? danny chen ihnp4!hou2b!dwc