Don't Tell Kids They Have to Be Good At Math or Science to Be a Programmer

This really resonated with me. All growing up I got variations of this message. "You can't be a computer programmer if you aren't good at math." "Nobody will hire you as a programmer if you can't touch-type." Basically, career advice based on stereotypes, from parents who are proud of the fact they "don't do computers".

Thankfully, I was smart enough not to listen. I just worry that there might be kids out there who do listen and think they're not good enough.

I agree that you don't have to learn anything about mathematics to become a programmer - that's how I started.

I will say that having learned relatively advanced math since my start has proven to open interesting new doors and paths of thought to me.

You don't have to learn it, but it does make a difference/change your perspective if you do.

Touch typing comes along naturally as you code and is a skill best suited to letter writing than code forging.

Totally agree with this sentiment.

The best thing about teaching kids some basic programming is that it shows them that they have the power to shape the world, rather than just experience it.

Whether or not they go on to do anything code-related in their "real life", I think getting that experience at an early age is extremely empowering.

Agree, though, as someone who always loved the math, I do think the logical thinking required of math translates quite nicely to coding. I can't really say the same about science - and science is such a broad field.

On the other hand, learning to program provides another route into learning math. Instead of getting bogged down in all the math notation, learn to code, and then you can approach math from a different direction and will find it easier to understand the real math hiding under the cryptic notations.