[ChiliDogSwirl]

If your high school programming class was using Alice or Scratch, that's probably the real issue. My kids picked up Scratch at around 9 or 10, and loved it. My oldest got the bug and went on to learn Python, Java, and Lua; he's a HS Junior and contemplating going into CS. The younger ones are less inclined to programming proper but still like making things in Scratch. But if I were presented with Scratch or Alice as a teenager I'd feel a bit patronised.

If you were already a passionate programmer when you took these classes, it's not surprising you felt disappointed; but that doesn't mean these aren't effective tools to introduce the uninitiated to programming concepts.

[photojosh]

I have an eight year old (3rd grade) who loves playing around in Scratch, it seems entirely appropriate for him at this stage. In a year or two I'll likely get him to do Swift Playgrounds, it was just a bit too hard for him right now.