Start the "no, it should be insert my preferred language here debate".
Yes, it should be Javascript, and probably starting with some basic jQuery stuff.
Yes, Javascript syntax sucks, but if you
1. Set up a basic text document correctly
2. Load jQuery
3. Right some really basic html/jQuery
4. Open it in ANY browser
It works. Boom. That's it. Every browser in entire world, every single time.
My personal suggestion would be to stick to front-end coding for web pages (HTML/CSS/JS/jQuery) and then for server side teach Python, because the syntax is easier to think about but actually deploying it is reasonably interesting and teaches some important concepts. But to get kids excited, it's gotta be about the front end. Why do you think so many kids these days got their start editing their Myspace pages?
Yes, it should be Javascript, and probably starting with some basic jQuery stuff.
Yes, Javascript syntax sucks, but if you
1. Set up a basic text document correctly 2. Load jQuery 3. Right some really basic html/jQuery 4. Open it in ANY browser
It works. Boom. That's it. Every browser in entire world, every single time.
My personal suggestion would be to stick to front-end coding for web pages (HTML/CSS/JS/jQuery) and then for server side teach Python, because the syntax is easier to think about but actually deploying it is reasonably interesting and teaches some important concepts. But to get kids excited, it's gotta be about the front end. Why do you think so many kids these days got their start editing their Myspace pages?