| > If the kid wants to learn programming, there are much better avenues then going to sit in an office. For example, they can make a game mod / Roblox game, etc. Sure. But it's clearly not about learning programming... it's about work experience, and therefore, in part, about possible future career choices. Nobody thinks sending their kid on a week of work experience is going to teach them much about programming. That's not the motivation here at all. > For example, they can make a game mod / Roblox game, etc. — How do you know the kid isn't already tinkering with that kind of thing already? > Do you really think the average kid spends their time writing code? No, not at all. I never said the 'average kid' writes code at 14. But some kids of that age certainly do. I did. And who says this is an 'average kid' anyhow — they might not be at all, clearly they're somewhat of a nerd/geek kid, particularly if they're interested in spending their work experience week with a software development team / a software developer / tech company. And even if they are the 'average kid', anyone can learn to code — arguably one has somewhat of an advantage if one starts at an early age. > Career opportunities for a 14 year old, sheesh. Here in the UK, it's pretty normal for school-age kids to do a week of work experience whilst at secondary school. It's usually organised by the school. Not everyone does it, but the option is there. After all, kids leave school — and, if they don't choose to go to college, can go into work — at 16. It's not about the kid going into work at 14. Far from it. > the part I'm considering insane is the parents With respect: I think our conversation here says more about your own beliefs, than it does about the parents, or the kid, or the purpose of work experience. — You can read more about what work experience is actually about (it's not about learning programming) and how it works, at least in the UK (where I am — but it'll be similar in other countries too), here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/work-experience-your-ch... |