Should Everybody Learn To Code?

theodp writes "In July, the Association for Computing Machinery announced it was partnering with Code.org, with ACM contributing funding and its Director of Public Policy to Code.org in a push to 'ensure that every K-12 student in the US has the opportunity to study computer science.' Interestingly, joining others questioning the conventional Presidential wisdom that everybody-must-get-code is the Communications of the ACM, which asks in its February issue, Should Everybody Learn to Code? By the way, Code.org is bringing its Hour of Code show to the UK in March. The new National Curriculum for England that is to be taught in all primary and secondary schools beginning in September includes a new emphasis on Computer Science curricula, said to have been sparked by a speech given by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt in 2011."

Depends on what you define as "learned"

[GrumpySteen]

Kids need to be exposed to a wide range of subjects (including programming) that they may later choose to pursue. They don't need to be taught to be experts in every subject, but they do need the basic understanding that will allow them to start learning on their own and to know whether it's something that would interest them or not. That basic understanding will help them make good choices about what classes they take, what they major in, etc.

Re:Perhaps not everybody, but many more

[Tom]

I once saw someone renaming over three thousand files by hand in order to change a date format

They don't need to code. They need an IT department that doesn't have its head in its ass and is supplied with enough resources to be able to afford solving user problems like that.

Sadly, most companies run with a "lean" (read: understaffed) IT. Meaning they don't have time for anything but the essentials. But since most people in accounting, etc. don't make that much less than an IT worker, for a task like this which takes 15 minutes of time for the IT guy but could save a couple hours of work for the account (or whatever) dude, the interest of the company would clearly be that he picks up the phone, calls IT, explains his need and some IT guy does the shell magic for him quick.

Teaching everyone how to code, even basic skills, however, would cost a lot more than it's worth. Just hire two more IT guys. It's cheaper.

Re:Should Everybody Learn Calculus?

[daem0n1x]

Simple answer: NO

Now, my own question: Should all stupid ideas taken out of someone's ass be published and re-published as often as this one???

Re:clickbait

[Belial6]

I am lucky enough to homeschool. I do it primarily for the reason you would like to homeschool. In theory, public education should be able to offer a better education than homeschooling. Unfortunately, our public education system is so broken on every level, from parent to president. Most kids leave high school with what I would consider about a 7th grade education. Even colleges are spitting out graduates with only an 8th or 9th grade education.