>>> I don't think teaching computer programming in public schools is silly
No, and neither do I. I, however, think that having the federal government to prescribe what to teach in schools through legislation is silly. Especially if it is done the way everything else is done in public education system, which breeds unintended consequences and is not exactly rigged for pupil's benefit.
>> One approach to teaching a new subject might be to forget about the bottom 25%
You must have never heard anything about US public education system if you think something like that would ever be palatable. Does "No child left behind" ring a bell? But the honorable congressmen know what rings the bell:
Along with redefining computer programming as a critical foreign language, the 416d65726963612043616e20436f646520 Act would create a competitive matching grant program for schools, particularly those in low-income areas, to create new ways to teach computer science and engineering, in tandem with universities and non-profits.
"Particularly those in low-income areas" are those that are bottom 25%. And dumping federal money on them and saying "now teach kids to be best programmers ever!" is doubtful to produce the results you would wish to see.
No, and neither do I. I, however, think that having the federal government to prescribe what to teach in schools through legislation is silly. Especially if it is done the way everything else is done in public education system, which breeds unintended consequences and is not exactly rigged for pupil's benefit.
>> One approach to teaching a new subject might be to forget about the bottom 25%
You must have never heard anything about US public education system if you think something like that would ever be palatable. Does "No child left behind" ring a bell? But the honorable congressmen know what rings the bell:
Along with redefining computer programming as a critical foreign language, the 416d65726963612043616e20436f646520 Act would create a competitive matching grant program for schools, particularly those in low-income areas, to create new ways to teach computer science and engineering, in tandem with universities and non-profits.
"Particularly those in low-income areas" are those that are bottom 25%. And dumping federal money on them and saying "now teach kids to be best programmers ever!" is doubtful to produce the results you would wish to see.