Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed3.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.050 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.91; '*S*': 0.01; 'causing': 0.04; 'subject:Python': 0.06; 'plenty': 0.07; 'subject:language': 0.09; 'cc:addr:python-list': 0.11; 'python': 0.11; 'subject:programming': 0.16; 'do,': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'cc:addr:python.org': 0.22; 'either.': 0.24; 'cc:2**0': 0.24; 'subject:/': 0.26; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.27; "doesn't": 0.30; 'dec': 0.30; 'especially': 0.30; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.30; 'stuff': 0.32; 'knowledge': 0.35; 'done.': 0.35; 'received:google.com': 0.35; 'level': 0.37; 'minimum': 0.38; 'pm,': 0.38; 'bad': 0.39; 'how': 0.40; 'problems.': 0.60; 'world': 0.66; 'sound': 0.68; "today's": 0.70; '2:02': 0.84; 'bare': 0.84; 'ethan': 0.84; 'furman': 0.84; '2013': 0.98 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc:content-type; bh=XdYeCBr2qWc4M7Xkj5CK9xehGACQ/6wQfHs0YNbtoZQ=; b=LdFJQ3kZSkCVgYNDUU84yqUc4iWIfWXvZgkw+/ICU+XPrfUrVPsNEexgGeLsgHARwF Jk0/W0O02E9BywMllvonhAvtLksGuQ2K9mz6RsEuehzXYE3nUBMljbiiwm0fdgupBmBC 3wc9aomIrybFQSvlmcgUiVQA9vhXLHbGmIi9NZINUz29T5gaR8v0QWfw9bau4hLtw7pj dtSoPrdv8iw6HuqqV1XbrjKeF+QxbCnDs6DxqvRpF25eaLvd6BivKkSUrCnkX2bg/Nw0 VhUAkTG18ucYbUSAewIluZUW0NUpXx5tLVHsD5fl0s9Rgw/prF7dZY0ij2aFmMUYksNv e6zw== X-Received: by 10.49.127.101 with SMTP id nf5mr229109qeb.61.1386750890280; Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:34:50 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: <52A78F6F.3060507@stoneleaf.us> References: <201312090824.25211.gheskett@wdtv.com> <52A78F6F.3060507@stoneleaf.us> From: Devin Jeanpierre Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:34:10 -0800 Subject: Re: Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language To: Ethan Furman Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Cc: "comp.lang.python" X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 12 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1386750898 news.xs4all.nl 2936 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:54222 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:61533 On Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 2:02 PM, Ethan Furman wrote: > Doesn't sound like they do, as that's causing plenty of problems. In > today's world that level of knowledge isn't always necessary, especially if > your degree is not in CS. One of the (many) nice things about Python is one > doesn't need to know that stuff to Get Things Done. You don't need to know how to use the brakes to drive to Wal-Mart, either. "Get Things Done" is not the one and only goal. It ignores productivity, correctness, ethics... It isn't a bad thing to learn things that are unnecessary to get the bare minimum accomplished. -- Devin