Ivanka Trump To Take Coding Class With 5-Year-Old Daughter (hollywoodlife.com)

theodp writes: Speaking about women in STEM at a Women's History Month event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, new [unpaid] federal employee Ivanka Trump revealed she'll be taking a computer coding class with her 5-year-old daughter. "On a very personal level, as a mom I'm trying to do my part as well," Ivanka told the crowd. "My daughter Arabella and I are enrolling in a coding class this summer." Parroting supermodel Karlie Kloss (the girlfriend of Ivanka's brother-in-law), the first daughter added, "We're excited to learn this incredibly important new language together. Coding truly is the language of the future."

Comments

Re:They really don't understand.

[UncleRage]

I get the underlying disgust, man.

I work in public education with adults (very well paid, upper tier district administrators) that say this kind of shit. I'm also fed up with the whole "hour of code" based lego blocking of tiles on a screen once a year and saying it means something (yes, it'd be a great on ramp if STEM began in K-2 and the student was using a touch screen interface... but we'd still have to discuss why STEM should start with programming vs. a solid foundation in traditional math, science and literacy).

And to have the whole summary neck deep in the first lady and some model that dates her brother-in-law...? Wha?!?

So, yeah. I get it. But the thing to remember is that a 5 year old is the one that made the comment about coding being a "language". 5 year old's get a pass, because they're wee ones, not idiots. They often turn into idiots, unfortunately -- but at 5, they're not.

Except Billy. That kid is as dumb as box of rocks.

What do you get with a TV-celeb as prez?

[Opportunist]

A mix of Spin City, West Wing and Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Quite seriously, a publicity stunt is a publicity stunt, but this is not even pitiful.

Re:What do you get with a TV-celeb as prez?

[Baron_Yam]

Is there something wrong with exposing children to the concept of coding?

I know I was coding by the time I was 9, and that eventually turned into a decent career for me.

I don't expect the kid to be a developer after this 'camp', and obviously the mom's just going as support for her child... but I still don't see how this is a bad thing, or a bad example to set.

Re:What do you get with a TV-celeb as prez?

[Holi]

Last time someone promoted a healthy diet and exercise in the White House a sizable portion of the population went mad with rage.

Re:What do you get with a TV-celeb as prez?

[Straif]

Through M. Obama's healthy eating initiatives federal school lunch guidelines were modified making lunches almost inedible. Schools across the country were complaining that new guidelines actually led to hungrier kids, increased waste (as a lot of the meals were simply thrown out) all while having the added benefit of costing them a lot more.

Re: Lesson 1

[DutchUncle]

... Warren Buffet says income tax needs to be increased ...

No, Warren Buffet has said that it is illogical that he (making a lot of money) pays a lower tax rate than his secretary (making much less money), and has suggested that the EFFECTIVE TAX RATE on high income needs to be increased. On himself.

Re: Lesson 1

[ScentCone]

We have a plan for two people. Our state approved, ACA-mandated plan has a deductible of $13,100 - just for two people. Add children to that, and you're quickly much higher. That is NOT catastrophic insurance (on paper, anyway) - it's the Obamacare law that requires (say, in our case) people in their 50's to pay for full maternity insurance, drug treatment and mental health coverage whether we need or want it. There is zero chance of us having a baby now or in the future. Why are we required to buy coverage for that? Because the Democrats decided to charge a tax, and that's how they disguised it.

Our rates have gone up over 50% per year every year since the ACA went into effect. Up 70% for 2017, and government says they expect next year (2018) to see another increase of close to 90% again. That's how they get around the "out of pocket" limits - by hugely increasing the monthly premiums, which are VERY MUCH out of pocket, but which don't get you a dime of actual health care. And no, "preventative care" is not covered. You get things like simple blood tests one a year (for which you pay part of the visit, and the lab costs), but of course no treatment of any kind - preventative or otherwise - is ever included in that. The ONLY thing that would be completely covered without requiring the deductible, is child birth. How's that for hilarious.