Date   : Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:56:57 +0100
From   : Andy Armstrong <andy@...>
Subject: Re: Basic & BBC Basic

On 2 Apr 2006, at 12:40, Fragula wrote:
> No. I really and genuinely think the Model B, and BASIC is what should
> be in our primary schools, followed by BBC B with the lid off and  
> simple
> logic probes out, and assembler, then later Linux (sixth form onward),
> is what we should be teaching for I.T.

Why? Linux, yes. Being objective they should probably be aware of  
Windows too - although I share your disgust that schools treat MS  
Windows as if it /is/ computing.

While I'd love to turn kids on to a low level understanding of how  
computers work is a room full of Model Bs really the way to achieve  
this? If you want to go that way why not kit them out with PIC based  
prototyping systems?

> A "de branded" but open-standards (Open Office?) Word Processing,
> Spreadsheet, Database etc. could be *used* in other parts of the
> curriculum more appropriate. This should be written in law.

There's no database in OO.

> My suspicion is that "I.T.", and the old Computer Literacy Project" is
> something that was potentially liberating to the masses.  
> Multinationals
> and governments on the other hand would wish to use technology as a
> means of control and subjeaction of the same masses, and would not  
> wish
> those masses to actually know how the stuff works, but merely to  
> buy it,
> read their SPAM and porn, and be greatful to The Corporations that  
> rule
> here (and in most of the "Free World" for allowing them to be able to
> take out the finance to pay for a new machine every 18 months.

I think it's more the case that education in general is increasingly  
skills focussed. IT isn't the only area in which kids are taught to  
be consumers and users rather than creators. The main reason why  
Windows PCs are ubiquitous in schools is that they're ubiquitous in  
life.

> So for the last 10-15 years or so, it seems to me that the whole
> computer literacy thing is being desperately back-pedalled on, and
> replaced with a sort of consumerist "education" that is more suitable
> for sheep destined for the corporate slaughterhouse.

Oh it's much worse than that - kids are being taught skills (not just  
in IT) that are quite likely to be redundant by the time they seek work.

-- 
Andy Armstrong, hexten.net