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From: citrin@ucbvax.ARPA (Wayne Citrin)
Newsgroups: net.college,net.cse
Subject: Re: Should Computer Science be taught at the High School level?
Message-ID: <3918@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 21-Dec-84 11:50:52 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.3918
Posted: Fri Dec 21 11:50:52 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Dec-84 00:06:23 EST
References: <241@mss.UUCP> <439@gitpyr.UUCP>
Reply-To: citrin@ucbvax.UUCP (Wayne citrin)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
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Xref: watmath net.college:570 net.cse:279
Summary: 

I'm in agreement with those who think that computer science shouldn't be
required in high school or college.  I'd like to take that one step further
and disagree with those who feel that "computer literacy" should be required.
No one disagrees that regular "literacy" (you know, the ability to read and
write) should be required, since it's the key to all other study.  The problem
is with the term "computer literacy," which by its very nature makes people
think that it's as important as literacy.  I feel that what's called "computer
literacy" is a useful skill on a par with knowing how to drive a car ("auto-
mobile literacy"?).  That is, it's a good skill to know, but no one requires
that it be taught in school, and many people get by very well without having
that skill (believe it or not).  However, like driver ed, "computer ed"
should be available to those who want to learn it.  In high school, it should
be taught strictly as programming, either in the business department or
in industrial arts, for people who do not plan to go on to college.  In 
college, a more general "computer literacy" course may be offered, but
certainly not required.

Wayne Citrin
(ucbvax!citrin)