[Edu-sig] python for kids...

[Michael Tobis]

I agree that the concept of a "variable" is deeply unpythonic in most contexts.

It is one thing for those of us who have learned our skills on
inferior platforms to retrain our thinking. It is another thing
entirely to foist our own confusions on those learning.

The best introduction to Python objects for experienced programmers is
this: http://effbot.org/zone/python-objects.htm ; it doesn't use the
word "variable". Obviously yuou can't present this to a child right
away, but it's not a good idea to stray from the concepts as presented
there.

It is not necessary to explain OOP to beginners in the way it was
explained to those of us whop have to forget procedural thinking. The
concepts of OOP will reveal themselves naturally as Python experience
grows. This is the great advantage of Python as a didactic platform.

Just avoid the word "variable"; use the words "object" and "name". I
am sure you understand the distinction since it is crucial to even
modest Python skill.

I recommend treating this matter correctly from the beginning rather
than trying to correct an unnecessary confusion after the fact.

mt