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From: snidely@nosun.UUCP (David Schneider)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: CS education
Message-ID: <479@intelisc.nosun.UUCP>
Date: 15 Dec 89 17:42:21 GMT
References: <7334@hubcap.clemson.edu> <7335@hubcap.clemson.edu> <5899@ubc-cs.UUCP> <16391@duke.cs.duke.edu>
Reply-To: snidely@intelisc.UUCP (David Schneider)
Organization: intel Scientific Computers, Beaverton OR
Lines: 40

In article <16391@duke.cs.duke.edu> crm@romeo.UUCP (Charlie Martin) writes:
>
>Given the skills Bill talks about, he and I would almost agree: given
>that people know how to read the literature effectively, they can find
>out anything else they need to know....
>
>Unfortunately, a lot of that (it seems to me) is stuff that people ought
>to come to college with.  I'm not claiming I did; I don't know how many
>people do....
>Charlie Martin (crm@cs.duke.edu,mcnc!duke!crm) 
>

Ummm, when I got out of high school, I thought I was pretty good at
using the library.  But like most skills, this one improves with practice.
Someone asked (in this context), "is public education failing,
that we have to teach basic skills in college?"

Yes and no.  Remember that public schooling through secondary grades
(high school) has to deal with a wide variety of students.  Some
pick up skills quickly, and some very slowly.  Most students
consider themselves incarcerated, and aren't willing to make it
easy for teachers to teach.

Our colleges aren't elitist enough to have just the quick learners
that show great willingness
(I doubt any college ever has --
those that try still get the rich kids who attend for the prestige).
Even with the cream of the crop,
few have had enough practice at basic skills that more practice
is unnecessary (I confess, I had to look up how many 'c's are in
necessary).  The very breadth of topics covered in primary and
secondary grades makes it hard to get enough practice.

So remember, colleges can't avoid going over the same stuff again,
because students don't get it all right the first time around.
Or the second, or....

						from the soapbox of
						Dave Schneider
						Friday, Dec 15