Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!serval!yoda.eecs.wsu.edu!pcooper From: pcooper@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu (Phil Cooper - CS495) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: Re: Provocative statement Summary: Now HERE's a provocative statement! Message-ID: <1991May2.074129.22155@serval.net.wsu.edu> Date: 2 May 91 07:41:29 GMT References: <9776@castle.ed.ac.uk> <36650007@hpopd.pwd.hp.com> Sender: news@serval.net.wsu.edu (USENET News System) Organization: Washington State University Lines: 30 In article windley@ted.cs.uidaho.edu (Phillip J. Windley) writes: > >Most graduating CS majors wouldn't even be able to analyze a sort routine >and give a cogent argument that it works (note that I didn't say formal >proof). Phillip, were it not for your excellent taste in first names, and the fact that you teach a mere 7 miles from my home, I would be tempted to flame you for this comment. I can certainly recognize a functional sort routine when I see one, and I expect most of my fellow graduating CS majors could as well. If your students can't, then you should take a long look at your curriculum and (more importantly IMO) faculty. I hope you don't go around dropping these little snide remarks around your own students as casually as you do in this group. Instilling confidence in your students is very important. Comments like the one quoted above do nothing positive. Besides, Even if what you say is true (and I don't beleive it is), whose fault is it? it is YOUR job to TEACH students how to do this type of analysis. If they can't, then it is a failing of the University of Idaho's Computer Science dept., rather than of the students. 'nuff said. Phillip R. Cooper -- /********************************************************************\ * Real Life: Phillip R. Cooper * * Email: pcooper@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu * * Disclaimer: Disclaimer?? I don't need no stinkin' disclaimer!!! *