jaybird3rd

When I studied CS, the focus was more on methodology than the tools (languages) used, though to be prepared for real life outside of an academic career I suppose learning the tools is just as important.

^ Yes. We use the languages as tools for exploring Computer Science. I often remind the students that "the C++ class" and "the Java class" are really called "Computer Programming I" and "Computer Programming II", respectively; the languages used are secondary.

In the first Uni course I took, we were told preferrably we should have as little programming experience as possible, so they could teach us the right way to approach the subject without removing all previous misconceptions. Their weapon of choice for teaching the basics of programming was ... Scheme.