Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Sunday September 24 2017, @11:02AM   Printer-friendly
from the Programming-Jobs dept.

Commentary from The Guardian

The rationale for this rapid curricular renovation is economic. Teaching kids how to code will help them land good jobs, the argument goes. In an era of flat and falling incomes, programming provides a new path to the middle class – a skill so widely demanded that anyone who acquires it can command a livable, even lucrative, wage.

This narrative pervades policymaking at every level, from school boards to the government. Yet it rests on a fundamentally flawed premise. Contrary to public perception, the economy doesn't actually need that many more programmers. As a result, teaching millions of kids to code won't make them all middle-class. Rather, it will proletarianize the profession by flooding the market and forcing wages down – and that's precisely the point.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by lx on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:35PM (3 children)

    by lx (1915) on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:35PM (#572293)

    Governments, school boards. In large parts of the world schooling is being subsidised. Those providing the money get to set the curriculum and want to see a direct return of investment. Having kids thrive and becoming informed well adjusted adults is seen as too vague a goal by those in power.

    The result is another generation of alienated burn-outs which is a social as well as an economic problem, but by that time those responsible are retired and it's somebody else's problem.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:50PM (2 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Sunday September 24 2017, @12:50PM (#572300) Journal

    Governments, school boards. In large parts of the world schooling is being subsidised.

    Did you mean "socialized through taxes"?
    If so, who is the actual "investor"?

    Having kids thrive and becoming informed well adjusted adults is seen as too vague a goal by those in power.

    Ah, "those in power". Now, this explains the confusion.
    Thanks.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 24 2017, @05:51PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 24 2017, @05:51PM (#572389)

      Did you mean "socialized through taxes"?
      If so, who is the actual "investor"?

      I am, as are many others who know that an educated population is better for everyone.

      • (Score: 3, Touché) by khallow on Monday September 25 2017, @06:30AM

        by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday September 25 2017, @06:30AM (#572562) Journal

        I am, as are many others who know that an educated population is better for everyone.

        We are taught that.