"Stephen R. Figgins" <fig@monitor.net> on 01/05/2001 07:05:52 PM
You have more of a specific objection to this project. You consider it opportunistic and bad science.
Keyword - "opportunistic"
I actually didn't get the impression that it was meant to be science at all
I'm disarmed again. I can't argue against Alice as science because its not supposed to be science. I can't argue against it as relevent to education because its not supposed to be relevant to education. I can't argue against it as relevant to teaching programming because of course that was never its intent. And the unavoidable truth is that my issue is with owner@edu-sig - who keeps citing its significance while being unwilling to engage on the topic. Did I make up the fact he cited the Alice "studies" as a key factor in a decision whether to case insensitize Python, nearly turning the world on its head. Did I make up the fact that his Linux Journal article on CP4E never mentioned Python, but was all about some abstract conception of human/computer interface. We are not being honest if we don't see the Alice in it. So either I'm blowing smoke at straw horses in which case I'm happy to shut-up, or I'm taking a stand on something that is of clear significance to the business of Python/CP4E - in which case I am happy to continue the discussion.