A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming.
There is no such thing as a free variable.
FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed - it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer.
It goes against the grain of modern education to teach children to program. What fun is there in making plans, acquiring discipline in organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail and learning to be self-critical?
It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.
One man's constant is another man's variable.