Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!ukc!its63b!hwcs!zen!vic
From: vic@zen.UUCP (Victor Gavin)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: First Languages (yet again)
Message-ID: <1154@zen.UUCP>
Date: 7 Feb 88 18:11:44 GMT
References: <4022@ames.arpa> <2400002@otter.HP.COM> <932@its63b.ed.ac.uk> <2781@omepd> <619@cresswell.quintus.UUCP>
Reply-To: vic@zen.UUCP (Victor Gavin)
Organization: Zengrange Limited, Leeds, England
Lines: 24


I personally feel that the teaching of a non-procedural language in the first
year of a computing science course is an excellent idea.

One of the main problems that I have noticed in classes is all the snotty
nosed kids who have ``learned'' to program at home on their BASIC computers,
*all by themselves*.

Unfortunately their methods and practices usually stink.

This means that before you can teach them Good Habits, you have to unlearn
them of their existing Bad Habits.

By forcing them to use a language which doesn't allow them access to their old
habits you make it easier to show them what you are talking about. Then when
you start to show them how to program in procedural languages they may be a bit
easier to handle.

		vic
--
Victor Gavin						Zengrange Limited
vic@zen.co.uk						Greenfield Road
..!mcvax!ukc!zen.co.uk!vic				Leeds LS9 8DB
+44 532 489048						England