[peter_l_downs]

Sensationalized article title. The text reads

    The president suggested that with the high interest in digital technology among
    young people it makes sense to teach skills like programming and graphic design
    in high school so that students can go on to pursue a career, with or without a
    four-year college degree.

which seems like a reasonable position to take. Doesn't say "mandatory" or "required" anywhere.

EDIT: I'm wrong. The very first line of the article:

    President Obama says he wouldn't mind seeing a curriculum requirement for
    American high school students to learn a programming language.

Still, mentioning it offhand in a google hangout seems very different than introducing it into legislation.

[corin_]

> Still, mentioning it offhand in a google hangout seems very different than introducing it into legislation.

Absolutely, and there's a big difference between "endorses" as in a quick mention and "endorses" as in pushing for it with all his political power - however, just because it's him mentioning it rather than him trying to make it happen it doesn't change the fact that he did endorse it, as the title claims, and that for him to do that is still very relevant.

[protomyth]

If it isn't introduced in legislation, then a politician doesn't actually care. This is a basic truth in politics.

I wouldn't expect this to happen given the general trend away from anything resembling vocational training and the lack of skills to teach the class.

[saraid216]

Because the executive branch is totally responsible for introducing things into legislation. Basic truth. Yes. Right.

[protomyth]

Yes, the executive branch does submit legislation to the Congress. In fact, the current administration missed a required submission deadline for the budget which is just a big bundle of legislation.

Please learn how the US government works before the next election.

[saraid216]

Are you seriously proposing that Obama submits a budget with a line item, "Add programming classes to every high school"?

[protomyth]

Yep, that is how many programs get funded. It is a line item in the budget. If it is not a line item, then it doesn't get funded. Programs are funded in the budget, then an RFP goes out, then final regulations, then implementation. So yes, without the line item, no program.

[nblaisdell]

As I recall from watching it he didn't even bring up the idea himself, he just agreed with someone else and said the idea made sense to him.

To get actual legislation going there needs to be public pressure. Not being an expert I don't know the best way of going about this, but I would think doing it at a local level would be more successful than trying to do it at a federal level. Then if it works well it would spread.