Re: Is relational theory irrelevant?

"Christopher Browne" <cbbrowne_at_acm.org> wrote in message <news:bpdip2$1no980$1_at_ID-125932.news.uni-berlin.de>...

> The problem comes when they fail to teach about important
> abstractions.

But then developers might be able to recognize a plague-ridden dog when they see one, instead of reliably clamoring to migrate anything and everything to the revolutionary new paradigm, and where would this industry be /then/, eh?

> To my mind, the _true_ problem is that universities have gotten away
> from "universal" sorts of knowledge, and have instead decided that
> they have to become glorified 'business schools,' and instead of
> teaching about abstractions, get TOO concretely into the details of
> Java and C++.

Remember, the graduates will need to find jobs sooner or later. You absolutely have to keep the freshouts content with life in the cubicle farm, so they can pay back their student loans on time.

> When students imagine that the features of Java and C++ are the whole
> of "Computer Science," THAT is the 'criminal damage' to the minds of
> youth.

Well, of course they don't. The whole of "Computer Science" is comprised of Java and XML this week. Haven't you been paying attention? Sheesh!

--
Joe Foster <mailto:jlfoster%40znet.com>     On the cans? <http://www.xenu.net/>
WARNING: I cannot be held responsible for the above        They're   coming  to
because  my cats have  apparently  learned to type.        take me away, ha ha!