Computer Science in Middle School

A recent NY Time article suggested that more needs to be done to "lure" young people into high tech jobs.

New Programs Aim to Lure Young Into Digital Jobs
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/technology/21nerds.html

I found it interesting but was somewhat skeptical, and forgot about it until I saw it referenced in a Venture Capitalist's blog:

Getting Computer Science Into Middle School
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2009/12/getting-computer-science-into-middle-school.html

I wrote software for almost 10 years and many people during the dot com boom years asked me about writing code - was it really as fun, fascinating and "cool" as it was often portrayed in the press?

My typical response was, "Did you like doing your math homework?"

Most were shocked by this question, and all stated (emphatically) no... to which I responded, "I do find writing software interesting, but I also liked doing my math homework."

My point is, I guess, that I don't think swarms of kids will find a middle school programming class interesting nor life changing.

A small set of "math nerds" will benefit from a programming class in 7th grade. In fact my math teacher in middle school did find a way for the most advanced students to get some experience writing programs in BASIC - and this in the mid 70s!

But, to answer a question posed in the blog: "We continue to teach our kids French but we don't teach them Ruby On Rails. Which do you think will help them more in the coming years?"

In twenty years the French will still be speaking French, the literature written in the language will endure and tourists (e.g. our kids) will still be flocking to Paris... but who will still be using Ruby on Rails?