[cookiecaper]

Note that this contention is over one course in the entire CS curriculum. I think there is quite a lot to be gained by continuing to teach SICP somewhere early on, even if the degree programs begin to take on a more earthy, practical approach to compsci. There is no reason "Dive Into Python" can't be taught in something like "Modern Software Engineering 101" and SICP taught in "Fundamental of Software Design" or something to that effect. I think there's place for both, and I fully agree with the author that SICP (or a modern equivalent, if one is ever published) is an important formative text in the mind of the novice programmer. SICP is usually one of the most serious interactions a working "software engineer" will have with functional programming until his beard grays a bit more and he takes a deeper interest in the craft over the day-to-day "engineering". A very valuable experience imo.