[foamflower]

> If you want to know just how hard programming is, try teaching it to someone.

> The lack of barriers to entry actually makes it harder. There are "law schools" and "med schools" to teach you all the knowledge required to become a lawyer or a doctor. There is no "programming school", every programmer is self-taught. A computer science degree hardly scratches the surface.

+1024

I have said quite a few times that the best CS program is one where you learn how to learn without being spoon fed. In fact, I know a couple great programmers who were _not_ CS (one studied econ; the other, physics), and they similarly learned how to learn without being spoon fed.

[jdmichal]

Yep. I've talked before that we are doing a huge disservice by not focusing on the sequential logic of programming, which is the first barrier to overcome. Also, we reinforce memorization over problem solving in maths throughout school. Hearing students say, "When are we ever going to use this?", was not uncommon when I was in school 15+ years ago. And as far as I can tell, the push for standardized curriculum and testing has only made this worse.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15164948#15168430

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12589473#12592521

[vkou]

I've been teaching my partner bits and pieces of programming. Sequential logic, and control flow were some one of the easier topics.

[andrei_says_]

I call this the essential learning skill and am totally bummed that our public education not only does not cultivate it but actively deters it.

[austenallred]

I run a Computer Science academy, and that’s quite literally our goal.