[saulhoward]

> That's like saying mechanics classes should be required

I think mechanics class should totally be required. I'm often amazed that we force children to study subjects like geography or physics, that are important but only if you're interested in them and not terribly practical anyway.

I think all children should have to learn basic life skills to enable them to control their physical and social environment ('hack' in the context of this article). Subjects such as driving, mechanics, basic electronics, law, small business, tax, nutrition, rhetoric, negotiation, plumbing etc. etc. And those just off the top of my head.

All 'academic' subjects should merely be introduced and then left up to the student to choose to pursue. What on earth is the point of filling children's heads full of history (for example) if they aren't interested? They forget every word of it a year after their final exam anyway.

[edanm]

Your points are definitely interesting. But I still think I'd teach a lot of what you wrote above before I'd even think to teach them programming. Plus, empirically, people have a harder time learning to program than e.g. learning to drive.