[Edu-sig] [edupython] Python in Education Advocacy Article

[Michael Tobis]

I think we actually need to compete, not to shrug and hope the best
platform wins. The fact that Python has the momentum it does with its
rather laid back attitude toward evangelism is a testament to its
strength as a platform and a community. I don't think that excuses us
from trying much harder to make a strong case for it, though.

On 4/1/07, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think Python thrives best in a diverse ecosystem of languages.  After all,
> if it's to serve as a "glue language", there need to be languages to glue to
> besides Python.

An interesting argument. However, I've long since stopped thinking of
Python as glue, and beginners surely aren't interested in learning
multiple languages.

> You mention PHP, but don't forget about Plone.  We've gone far beyond
> the cgi days, where primitive Python works well, to more ideas about
> stuffing ZODBs with Objects that have all these view-related aspects --
> strong model-view-controller designworks.

Nevertheless, kids who take up programming outside of school tend to
be doing PHP, Flash or Javascripts, don't they? What would Dijkstra
say to that? )

"It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students
that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they
are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration." -attributed to E.
Dijkstra

(I'm not sure he'd have much good to say about Zope/Plone either, but
that's neither here nor there. The administrative hurdles to setting
up a Plone site exclude most casual beginners.

There is surely, roughly speaking, some best way to teach programming,
and it deserves a lingua franca. We all learned the same fundamental
mathematical notation, even though many others are not only possible
but in common use by specialists. Should the same not be true of
algorithmic notation (i.e. programs)?

Either Python, (i.e., reasonably close to an optimum) will prevail or
some damned QWERTY nonsense (not designed for nonspecialists) will
prevail for another generation. Probably Java. Which leaves the
impression that CP!4E. Which I hope we all agree is unfortunate.

> Lists, dictionaries, top level functions and objects,
> a concise model of the OO paradigm...  __rib__ syntax.

A honking great idea, to coin a phrase. Let's have more of those, please.

mt