[brutusborn]

I disagree, computers are just a tool. Learning basic programming in primary school helps build a foundation for more sophisticated knowledge in high school. It can also help contextualise mathematics.

The problem is abuse of the tool, as you describe. In my primary school, we were taught how to use Microsoft Office by using a workbook the computer teacher licensed to the school. We had some of the best computer resources amongst local schools at the time, yet learnt almost nothing about computers. It took me until university to write a line of code.

[asdff]

This was the big shortcoming of computers in my education too. The kids famously knew more than the adults, but all we really knew how to do over them was use a two button mouse correctly and to browse a gui menu system. There was no one around to actually introduce you to how it all worked. I hope schools are better about that today, but its hard when the sort of expertise you need to quickly iterate off of generational knowledge is able to pull quadruple or more a teachers salary and works someplace willing to pay that much instead.

[brutusborn]

Where I live the only kids who program are those who are lucky enough to have a teacher interested in robots. They are taught to program robots as a fun activity rather than a part of the curriculum.

I understand your sentiment about the opportunity costs for those with computing knowledge, but it wouldn’t be too hard to require teachers to do a basic computing unit at university. In the same way the best mathematicians are not usually school teachers, yet “regular” teachers seem to perform sufficiently.