Instead of deciding between Python or Lisp for a programming intro course...What about an intro course that uses *BOTH*? Good idea?

[zipher]

On Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 3:43:25 PM UTC-5, Chris Seberino wrote:
> Instead of learning only Scheme or only Python for a one semester intro
> course, what about learning BOTH?  Maybe that could somehow
> get the benefits of both?
> 
> I'm thinking that for the VERY beginning, Scheme is the fastest language
> to get beginners up and running writing code due to the extremely minimal simple syntax.
> 
> I'm thinking half way into the semester, instead of moving into intermediate Scheme, perhaps that is a good time to switch to Python?
> 
> Would a little strong intro to 2 nice languages in one semester be
> same/good/worse/better than just 1?

No.  LISP-like languages are very different beasts, requiring different mind-sets.  It's like going from geometry to arithmetic.

Or trying to teach OS/2 (which had great abstract ideas) and switching to Linux without covering the architecture and engineering underneath them.

mark