Should Middle Schools have programming elective?

[dataset]

I doubt I would be able to use anything besides Frontpage judging from the source code on it.

Ya.. A lot of (not all) Visual editors usually make source code unreadable.

My computer teacher refers to the monitor as the CPU I tried to correct her once and I ended up in the office for back-talking her.

Man, that's sad. What was her problem for getting so mad? You were just informing her so that she would know.. Hope you didn't get in too much trouble.

 

[notjustjay]

Man, that's sad. What was her problem for getting so mad? You were just informing her so that she would know.. Hope you didn't get in too much trouble.

In my university engineering days I would sometimes correct my prof on the subject of computer history. All I got was shot down in class (he was good with those little zingers, and took opportunities when he saw them). I looked it up afterward because I knew I was right, and forwarded him the link. He actually apologized to me in front of the class the next day, which was cool. He ended up being one of my favourite profs.

On the subject of middle schoolers not having the concepts in place for programming -- like I said, it's not for everyone. But they certainly can have the aptitude. I saw a lot of smart kids at the computer camp I worked with (including one 10-year-old who knew more about Linux than I did). And when I was in grade 7, I programmed a simple etch-a-sketch drawing program and then a corresponding slide show program on the Apple ][ to help me draw and display graphs for a science fair project. (I just didn't have access to anything like PowerPoint at the time).

This was back in the days of computer-enthusiast magazines that would publish program listings that you would sit down and type in (including machine code listings... 0E 11 A1 FF FF 00 B1 45 23 etc etc....). Definitely geeky.

I also remember programming my own simple vector animations on the Apple ][ to illustrate histamine blocking for a grade 8 science project.

Sadly, my strong computer skills came at the expense of any kind of a social life. Some would argue the same is still true today.