> People often argue that children don't need to know how to program just as they don't need to be a car mechanic to drive a car. The analogy is useless because a car is a one-use machine (it moves), whereas a computer's very essence is its programmability, its ability to be a universal machine.
Surely a better analogy then would be that kids don't need to learn how to build things out of metal (Unless they particularly want to).
Welding and metalwork is for some people. Just as programming is for some people and not others.
Personally, I don't think we have fallen behind at all. Kids are still learning to program, just as they used to. Being taught in schools is (I guess) a nice to have, but not necessary.
It's easy for programmers to think that programming is the only thing that matters and it's crucial everyone learn it. But it's really not. All that matters is that people who wish to learn it, can.
Surely a better analogy then would be that kids don't need to learn how to build things out of metal (Unless they particularly want to).
Welding and metalwork is for some people. Just as programming is for some people and not others.
Personally, I don't think we have fallen behind at all. Kids are still learning to program, just as they used to. Being taught in schools is (I guess) a nice to have, but not necessary.
It's easy for programmers to think that programming is the only thing that matters and it's crucial everyone learn it. But it's really not. All that matters is that people who wish to learn it, can.