CP4E was Re: Deitel and Deitel Book...

[Roman Suzi]

On Thu, 7 Mar 2002, Ramkumar Kashyap wrote:

>My original intent for starting the thread was because I truly believe
>in CP4E.

In USSR in mid-1980s schools had similar (mis?)conception. It was said:
'Programming is second literacy!". And Computer Science was added to all
curricula at secondary schools. And teachers were to learn it. (In fact,
it was easier, because specialists came to schools from industry).

Now we have very different situation in Russia.  CS ("Informatics")
teaches children theoretical concepts + using computers (and Internet, if
possible). Programming is being taught only at some elite schools where
teachers themselves are able to program or pretend the are. Children are
distracted by colorful windows and interactive games from deeper joys of
creative programming work... Even 10-11 form schoolchildren clearly prefer
IDEs over "blockbox" of command prompt (unless they feel more dignity in
the later). No wonder!

CP is not 4E in Russia. Some high officials even dare to argue "Ohm's law"
is not needed in schools' curricula...

And those points of view are extreme.

CP is almost purely creative. That is why it has no logic (let alone
intuitive). And as everywhere creator need to know only building blocks
(bricks), almost everything else is up to his mind. Choice is
a foundation of creativity, IMHO.

So, CP4E goal will be fulfilled when building blocks will
be as clear, as bricks, and still as powerful as Python ;-)

It will not surprise me if hundred years from now auctions will sell
Emacs source at $1000000 and Van Rossum's works will be in the same
price as Van Gogh.

>In my freshman year, we were a total of 38 students in the EE
>major. When I graduated four years later, there were 12 of us, no women.
> I don't believe that programming concepts are more difficult/harder to
>understand and grasp than any engineering curriculum or for that matter
>physics/mathematics.

Hmmm... True mathematics/physics are harder than programming, of course.

>Somebody in this thread raised the point that the logic involved in
>programming in not intuitive.  I agree with that. The point I want to
>make is that there are programs like Hooked-on-Phonics, and other
>remedial language programs that are quite effective in raising the
>literacy levels among adults.

Sincerely yours, Roman Suzi
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