From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: fc89c,97188312486d4578 X-Google-Attributes: gidfc89c,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,97188312486d4578 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 1014db,6154de2e240de72a X-Google-Attributes: gid1014db,public X-Google-Thread: 109fba,baaf5f793d03d420 X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public From: andrewg@microlise.co.uk (Andrew Gierth) Subject: Re: Should I learn C or Pascal? Date: 1996/07/19 Message-ID: #1/1 X-Deja-AN: 169663651 x-nntp-posting-host: microl.demon.co.uk references: followup-to: comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.ada 08: 06:42 -0400 organization: Microlise Engineering Ltd. newsgroups: comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.unix.programmer,comp.lang.ada Date: 1996-07-19T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: [This thread should never have been injected into comp.unix.programmer. Would respondents *please* take that into account. Followups set.] brashear@ns1.sw-eng.falls-church.va.us wrote: >In article <4sjmtk$e95@herald.concentric.net>, >Mark McKinney wrote: >> >>This raises a big concern I have always had about how programming is taugh >>in general. Problem solving techniques, style, methodologies etc. should >>be taught or learned prior to a programming language. The "this is how you >>do it and then this is how yu do it well" approach seems highly >>ineffective. >>-Mark >> >> > >This reminds me of the high school English teacher who said "Teach them >grammar in elementary school, and I'll teach them how to write (compose)." > >How do you learn grammar without writing (composing)? How do you learn >problem solving techniques, style, methodologies, etc. without actually >solving problems, creating programs according to certain styles, using >a programming language to apply a methodology? Might as well try to teach >a child the mathematical discipline of knot theory before teaching her how >to tie her shoes! > >Phil B