OT: Programming as a profession-the "practice" model

[Petrides, M.D. Marian]

At the risk of opening a can of worms, I offer the following as a  
synopsis of the  sentiments underlying the posts about the "Learn  
Programming in One Day" ad. The common thread seems to me to be that  
programming, like any other profession, is not so much taught as  
practiced.  Just as medical or law schools teach the rudiments of the  
profession, the real learning takes place in the day-to-day practice.   
Without lifelong learning, no lawyer, doctor, or programmer will come  
close to achieving his/her full potential.

Someone once told me in my first year of medical school that "medicine  
is a personal philosophy, tempered by science and experience, and put  
into practice."  It seems to me that the statement applies equally to  
programming.  My 2 cents.

M