Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uokvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uokvax!jab
From: jab@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Should Computer Science be taught at
Message-ID: <12500008@uokvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Dec-84 00:58:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uokvax.12500008
Posted: Wed Dec 26 00:58:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Dec-84 01:54:42 EST
References: <241@mss.UUCP>
Lines: 26
Nf-ID: #R:mss:-24100:uokvax:12500008:000:1246
Nf-From: uokvax!jab    Dec 18 23:58:00 1984

/***** uokvax:net.college / uwvax!brian /  2:27 am  Dec 17, 1984 */
Logic is certainly the most important word here.  The ability to arrive
at a conclusion given some inputs.
/* ---------- */

This discussion started, I believe, with the question "in what areas
should ALL incoming college Freshmen have a background?" One person responded
that "a good knowledge of English (which implies at least one other
language)" and also that "discrete math" (or somesuch) was important.
Brian cited "logic" (above).

I agree that the ability to think clearly and to express one's thoughts
on paper is most important. I can't agree that tormenting a student with
logic symbols (the upside-down "A" meaning "for every" and the backwards
"E" for "there exists" and so on) and silly rules of logic are the way to
his mind. (I recall a particular class entitled "Discrete Math" with horror;
a class I took the next semester from the Math department, which was an
"Intro to Proofs," made much more sense. (Imagine: proofs written in English!))

I wonder if a vocal music major should know how to use a "spreadsheet" when
he starts school. Perhaps so, not because he'll need it in school, but because
of the depth a degree SHOULD imply.

	Jeff Bowles
	Lisle, IL