Pascal Costanza  <pc@p-cos.net> wrote:
+---------------
| One of the problems I see with computer science courses at universities 
| is that it is typically taught as if it were a branch of mathematics or 
| natural sciences, which it is clearly not.
+---------------

Well, Edsger W. Dijkstra clearly thought it *is*!! From
"How do we tell truths that might hurt?" (EWD498, June 1975):

    Programming is one of the most difficult branches of
    applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better
    remain pure mathematicians.

A few more relevant zingers:

    About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a
    pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it
    with ten blunt axes instead.

and:

    Besides a mathematical inclination, an exceptionally good
    mastery of one's native tongue is the most vital asset of
    a competent programmer.


-Rob

p.s. The full text:

    http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/ewd04xx/EWD498.PDF
    http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~evans/cs655/readings/ewd498.html


-----
Rob Warnock			<rpw3@rpw3.org>
627 26th Avenue			<URL:http://rpw3.org/>
San Mateo, CA 94403		(650)572-2607