Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!west From: west@utcsrgv.UUCP (Thomas L. West) Newsgroups: net.college,net.cse Subject: Re: Should Computer Science be taught at the High School level? Message-ID: <617@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Sat, 29-Dec-84 02:32:56 EST Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.617 Posted: Sat Dec 29 02:32:56 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 29-Dec-84 03:43:39 EST References: <241@mss.UUCP> <439@gitpyr.UUCP> <3918@ucbvax.ARPA> <445@gitpyr.UUCP> Reply-To: west@utcsrgv.UUCP (Thomas L. West) Distribution: net Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto Lines: 24 Summary: <> I think a computer literacy course is called for. While I doubt that it need be a full course, there should be some familiarisation with computers for ALL students. It is unlikely that we are going to be able to predict which students are going to be using/programming computers in a few years hence, but we can be sure that those students suffering from computerphobia are going to have a strong strike against them. Hence to avoid this phobia infecting a new generation and debilitating them, I think that a mandatory course (or part of a course) should be introduced to at least give them the idea that computers don't bite. The number of adults (especially women) who exhibit techno-phobia is simply amazing. These people are barring themselves from a myriad of positions that are growing all the time (as well as stopping a possible increase in their productivity.) This phobia will be around until everybody uses computers or computer literacy is widespread. In order to keep doors open for these people (and make computerisation of life easier) we need to educate the phobia out as soon as possible. In order to get the best benefit from the program, probably the classes should be segregated so that the young women in the class aren't intimidated by the possibly more enthusiastic young men. Tom West { allegra cornell decvax ihnp4 linus utzoo }!utcsrgv!west