[NTLUG:Discuss] Corel donates Linux to DISD

[al]

"J. Reeves Hall" wrote:
> 
> Steve Baker wrote:
> >
> > Allen Flick wrote:
> > >
> > > Kathleen Weaver wrote:
> > >
> > > > >??Visual Basic??
> > > > >I thought you were teaching programming Kathleen?
> > > > >:)
> > > > >just kidding
> > > >
> > > > It's a nice little language to introduce high school kids to programming.
> > >
> > > Why not try a nice little scripting language?  Tcl/Tk would be my
> > > choice.  Straightforward, C like syntax, and *free*.
> >
> > Python gets my vote because it's more C++-like.
> 
> This argument has come up before.
> 
> Pardon my bluntness, but Visual Basic sucks for teaching kids to
> program. It's designed to allow programmers to rapidly create Windows
> applications, with little attention to speed, efficiency, or careful
> programming habits. It accomplishes its intended purpose, but that does
> not involve being a good teaching language. In addition, Visual Basic is
> not cheap, and it is proprietary. School districts are rarely flush with
> cash, so Visual Basic is an exceptionally poor choice unless Microsoft
> chooses to donate it. Everyone has their own idea of what exactly
> constitutes a good teaching language; my vote is in for Scheme (which
> I'll be happy to debate off-list).
> 
> On the other hand, I believe Kathleen made it clear the last time that
> it wasn't her decision to use VB.
> 
aw come on Reeves
VB offshoots are great tools for students wanting to make email bugs
:)