Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19980909083435.27474912@shadow.net>
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 08:34:35
To: John Meyer <john_meyer AT geocities DOT com>
From: Ralph Proctor <ralphgpr AT shadow DOT net>
Subject: Re: Teaching a child to program in C
Cc: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.16.19980908163951.32ef2926@mail.geocities.com>
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At 04:39 PM 9/8/98, you wrote:

>Okay, first off, I would definitely start out in BASIC for a while.  I
>don't care how bright the child is, even I needed BASIC when I started to
>program. BASIC will start the child out in the right direction.

John, I am so happy to hear you say that! I, too, think starting out in
BASIC is best. But so much has been said to the effect that one is "ruined"
by BASIC--I never believed this. But I do see that getting into Pascal or C
(there's no reason why C cannot be first) as soon as possible later on is
important. But in the beginning for a young child, how can you beat BASIC?
There is something to be said for LOGO, however.

Ralph