Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!turpin From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) Newsgroups: comp.edu Subject: Re: programming for math credit - rational Summary: I would worry about this English teacher! Message-ID: <15404@cs.utexas.edu> Date: 4 Dec 90 03:33:30 GMT References: Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas Lines: 34 ----- In article freewill@nstar.UUCP (Bill Williston) writes: > The english dept. head was not against the idea of word > processing, etc for english credit. ... Get her or him fired! Don't misunderstand me. Unlike a preeminent but reactionary computer scientist I could name, I do not think word processors are a detriment to composition and writing skills. They are a great convenience. But that is all they are. High schools should require all students who are academically capable to take four years of rhetoric, writing, and literature. In this, most fail abysmally. If students want to take practical courses as *electives* in typing, using a word processor, or how to drive a car (another great convenience), that is fine. But such courses should stand not in stead of English. > ... The math dept. head was immediately and adamantly against > computer programming for math credit. Very few high school programming courses teach any mathematics. The one of which you write may be the exception, but I doubt it. Most likely, your math department head is wiser than your English department head, and better understands where high schools are failing, and that word processing classes and most programming classes do not contribute to the solution. At the university level, I would prefer an entering freshman to have strong writing skills and high school math at least through trigonometry, rather than less English and math, but knowledge of how to "word process" or write Pascal programs. I think this is best whether the freshman majors in English or computer science. Russell Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com