We're miscommunicating I think. I think we may actually be in agreement. I'm not saying "learn a specific scripting language", I am saying they should be taught basic computer science, which includes the concepts of OOP. The alice.org programs are an example of teaching computer science without requiring people to become high level programmers. My OPINION, maybe wrong, is that CS should be integrated into elementary/high school curricula, just like math, chemistry and political science. It is becoming that much a part of society. Arguably, computer knowledge will be used at least, if not more, more frequently by average adults than chemistry, biology, trigonometry...