RE: Is it worth teaching our kids how to Code...?
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To answer the title: No.
is maths a language...?
My mathematics teacher said so (he also never allowed us to shorten the word mathematic); most mathematic education in school really is about how to express concepts and stuff in formula.
But it's not all about jobs!
I believe in humanistic schooling and yes: School should not focus on job-skills. Those change. Programming languages change.
The way they taught us things was within a historical perspective/context.
First we learned about Thales of Milet, then Phytagoras and so on.
They taught us how it works, but also how we arrived there and from where.
So, if in the future there was a new invention or discovery, it could not throw me off balance.
If you just teach like: This is how things are - and then things change - You have taught the wrong thing.
That's why school should always happen on a chalkboard and pen + paper.
I never needed a calculator or computer for school. Until the last 2 years, where they also introduced computers. That was early enough.
The people who gravitate towards this stuff, would so anyways.
I taught myself programming to quite a high level. Thanks to my humanistic teachers, who gave me all the tools, it was pretty easy.
Btw: I think I also achieved quite a high level in English.
Physics and math were my favorite subjects, but my best grades were in German - And I hated English, and now it's my hobby - funny how that works, eh?
I even learned Latin, but never spoke a word of it. Yet, Latin classes furthered my education like nothing else did.
Imo school should not teach you any job skills, at all.
Sitting still, focusing on a thing - That helps with any task; discipline. Beyond that: School should be done from the humanistic angle, focus on a fine character and general understanding.
I am actually scared of focused education.
Imagine you teach someone only code, but no history, no geography, no art, no music.
You might create a monster.
John Locke is my hero.
I disagree with one thing.
Please switch me to a whiteboard instead of a chalkboard. While I do enjoy using a chalkboard when the chalk is good, I had to buy my own because the school only provided cheap chalk that was a pain to use and produced a lot of dust. Sorry, I'm ranting about chalk.....
I believe focused education has its place, but it should be reserved for the later years of high school, such as in vocational programs, and college. Creating well-rounded students offers them numerous benefits as they transition into adulthood.
As long as we agree that LED screens aren't necessary, but could be counter-productive, you can have a whiteboard. 🙂
I avoided using the term 'high school' - because the whole system is a bit different here in Germany. I went to a Gymnasium. That's 12-13 years of school. Then you choose a specialization and go to University. (Or don't)
The concept 'college' does not even exist here.
Whoops. I didn’t realize you were in Germany! LED screens are the bane of my existence in the classroom, especially since I work with young students (ages 4-6). Unfortunately, my school district requires them for various tasks.
My two kids at home hardly ever use them. All I’ve noticed from these LED screens are more tantrums, more fighting between them, and almost no interaction with them.
Children age 4-6 on screens is the opposite of schooling.
Hand-eye coordination - writing cursive for example - is important for the brain's development. Neuroscience pretty recently proved that it helps with memorizing vocabulary*. Isn't that amazing?
*my source for this
Quite the compliment. 😁
My accent would give it away, if we spoke, though.
I completely agree. In many places, the school systems are broken and don't prioritize the best interests of students.
I'm sure your English, even with an accent, is much better than my second language! Actually, I don’t even know if that’s your second language... It could be your third or fourth, lol!
It's quite grim, so many kids in the UK you see with their own large screens, portable ones just zoned out!
Agree RE whiteboards, much cleaner!
I generally agree, letting kids have a choice within reason with what they want to specialise in and then using their interests as a way to teach....
Curriculums should be broad too - language, maths, music, plenty of physical activity and outdoors stuff, also emotional resilience.
Agree 100% and teaching kids how to think critically and figure stuff out for themselves.
I do think coding can be a useful tool - showing kids how maths (basically) can help them build things.