[Edu-sig] python in high school

[Rob Zaar]

I am new to python ( and generally new to these intricacies and thus take
all these comments as a stab at trying to say something without having the
time to back them all up, yet, I think there is still a need to say them).

I would like to use python as the programming language for the programming
subjects we run. Ideally, it would be an easy task if Boa constructor were
up to scratch (which I hope it will be soon, but not soon enough for our
college) since having a graphical IDE is important. Price is important. I
have come to python through plone (zope/cmf). We have a toss up between VB
6.0 and me pushing for python. The decision needs to be made soon for next
year. We were using J++ (don't ask). Low price will push it past the 'all
the other programming teachers like VB' hurdle, as long as it had an IDE
that had drag and drop components. I think this would also be good for
python in the long term in terms of increasing python use.

Overall, there will be a general window of opportunity open while VB 6.0
schools hold off going to VB .NET. Once schools have good VB .NET resources
available the majority of Victorian schools will probably jump the hurdle to
VB .NET eventually.

Your thoughts?

Robert Zaar
Head of Religious Education
St John's Regional College
DANDENONG
Ph: 9791 3366

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