[Edu-sig] Teaching Python at a Junior College Level

[Dean Nevins]

I am a CS teacher who teaches a general service course (both majors and
non-majors) and in it we have a programming component. Currently, we are
teaching BASIC to the students but I _really_ don't like the bad habits that
this language promotes and I like the ease of explaining programming
concepts in Python to both CS majors and NON-CS majors.

However, my problem is not the language but in trying to get a broader
acceptance of Python as a language equivalent to BASIC in people's minds. We
know that Python is better ('natch :-) but people responsible for
transferring the credit to another school often will ask for BASIC
specifically. Any ideas how to fix this problem?

This problem is much more important than you might realize. If schools won't
accept classes that have Python in them, then it doesn't matter how much
better Python is than BASIC, the classes cannot be taught. Either that or
you end up with boutique classes with nobody in them.

Dean

P.S. I'm in California if that matters.