Date   : Sun, 02 Apr 2006 17:42:54 +0200
From   : "Mark Usher" <mu.list@...>
Subject: Re: Basic & BBC Basic

> > If an employer sees BBC BASIC on a CV it won't cut any ice, 
> if he sees 
> > HTML, VBA then he will be aware immediately that the person has a 
> > knowledge of MS Office and the internet. Exactly the sort of things 
> > they are looking for.
> 
> Can you explain how it can be morally acceptable to teach 
> kids about proprietary languages? I can't see it myself.

Well we are teaching people about programming, the techniques etc., and WHY
you would want to programme in the first place. Youngsters need to be able
to see some results, and usually quickly to stop the boredom factor setting
in. Remember, it is a class of children, and many may not have the slightest
interest, especially technically - or even ability to comprehend. 

They need to be able to see it being useful and connect with it. The easiest
way to do that is to show how it can help them to do something with less
effort or show them ways to produce something from it.

VBA is a proprietary language but it is only as far as that it is a
derivative / implementation of BASIC - as is BBC BASIC. HTML is not
proprietary. The worst things that schools do is to teach people things that
have little relevance and that are of no use later in life. 

I can't see anything immoral about it. We are talking education for life
here, not moral values. I see more of a problem with sending school leavers
out into the real world with no experience of what they will face. Give them
some of the basics that they will need later on, with tools they would be
expected to be given by employers. Not many people from a class will go into
IT. Those that will have probably been programming at home already on
Windows / Mac / Linux.


-Mark