Marissa Lotz

English 101: Rhetoric

Mr. Newman
01 December 2014
Talk Code to Me
Usual elementary curriculum teaches the basic need to know subjects, which ranges from
punctuation to long division. It is where kids learn how to be sociable, and just have fun before
they have to grow up. So imagine when schools want to start teaching kindergarteners through
fifth graders computer coding. Half of high school students dont even know how to code
themselves. With todays infiltration of technology into careers and daily life, children need to
know how to use it, but learning how to live without technology would be more effective.
Learning how technology works is different than teaching how to create it, so to speak. There are
other skills needed in life that are very important and more realistic for little kids to learn, like
the basic education and social needs. Although computer coding is a unique skill to have, young
children should be focusing on other learning and social skills.
Kids are meant to be kids. They are meant to play around and have fun, not be hunched
over a computer screen coding in some kiddy language to supposedly develop computer literacy
as stated by John C. Dvorak, a columnist for PC Magazine, which is exactly what would happen
if kids learn computer coding. Considering teaching computer coding would lead to more zombie
like kids, thoughtless beings just going through the motions. All kinds of problems could escalate
with all kids just sitting on their computers. Seeing as how obesity is already a serious problem
in the United States today, should we really considered putting all kids in front of a computer
screen. Inactive kids are not the only problems that could occur, there would be under developed

social skills, and a lack of creative mindsets in the world. Art as we know it now could change
completely on us and take on a whole new meaning. The creativity that kids have in them would
slowly dwindle down to almost nothing, and the few that would not lose any would become
outcasts. And lets face it, who came up with the coding idea? It definitely was not kids, most
likely it was the computer industry and the game of that business is to sell more and more
computers, and what better place than a school full of warm bodies to be their next victims
(Dvorak). The strings attached to schools and how they are able to afford computers are not
worth the kids education. Children should not have to be forced to learn computer coding when
it is on a level for higher education.
While I and many others may feel strong about not teaching kids computer coding, there
are still people out there that consider computer coding to be an excellent skill for kids to learn.
One person who agrees with teaching coding is Hadi Partovi, the founder and chief executive
officer of code.org, who argues that elementary schools teach long division or how weather
works because these are relevant and many see computer coding as something that is also just
as relevant, if not more so than other skills, which is a good point seeing as how practically
everyone in the world owns a phone, laptop or something that is associated with technology.
Which makes it seem like it is everywhere, and is practically taking over so why not teach them
how the Internet works or how to program a computer, it is all relevant in todays society
(Partovi). Computer coding opens doors, Jose Luis Vilson a math teacher, writer and activist in
a New York City public school argues. It is seen as a way to advance in the future faster than
many and an easy career to find a job since there are many jobs booming with coding purposes.
Any computer brand industry would be hiring, Apple, HP, Lenovo, all places that would need
people specialized in coding computers or websites. Computer coding could be the thing that

helps students between finding a minimum wage job and nailing down a lucrative one in
technology, and all students with a job would prefer a higher paying one (Vilson).
Still, even though teaching computer coding could seem like something to consider, it
still seems that kids could live without being taught it. There may be jobs out there that are likely
to want computer coding knowledge, but what about the creative jobs, like an artist, or musician.
If schools were to take away art, music, and other creative classes and replace them with
computer coding, we would not have as many creative minds as we do today. Art museums
would never have new pieces to add and only have the same old pieces that people would
become bored of. Music would stay the same and rarely change like it has been changing for
decades. Stacie Nevadomski Berdan, the author of Raising Global Children, argues that there
is no research that indicates that coding will enhance creativity, logical thinking or lead to the
enhanced job prospects that its advocates predict, so in the end teaching underdeveloped kids
computer coding does not have the benefits that the opposing side thinks it does. So even though
teaching computer coding is supposed to be helping kids with their future, there is no actual
proof that it will improve anything for the kids and their future.
Although I agree that computer coding should not be taught in elementary schools, there
are still others that disagree as I wrote about. There are two outcomes that could happen if
schools do or do not start teaching computer coding. If schools were to start teaching coding kids
would start to fall in a trance of staring and working on computers. Which might end up helping
them with their careers later in life. But then there is also the possibilities that while they fall into
that trance schools will slowly start to end all the music and art classes they have. Students will
not realize the abilities hidden within them, the artists and musicians would come to an end and
elementary school will look more like robot school. While if schools decide to hold off on

teaching computer coding for more developed students, kids would be able to have fun and
become the right kind of sociable citizen. They would go to art class and see the talent they have
at it, or go to music class and hear the talent that some have. It would lead them to the career
they always wanted. And those who wanted to learn computer coding would at an appropriate
time.

Works Cited
Berdan, Stacie. Coding Cant and Shouldnt Replace Foreign Language Requirements. New
York Times: Room for Debate. New York Times Company, 12 May 2014. Web. 13 Nov.
2014.
Dvorak, John. Teaching Code to Kids is a Scam. New York Times Room for Debate. New York
Times Company, 12 May 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Partovi, Hadi. Teach Coding as Early as Possible. New York Times: Room for Debate, New
York Times Company, 12 May 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014
Vilson, Jose. Coding Opens Doors. New York Times: Room for Debate, New York Times
Company, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.