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