Yes, I share your concern: how to program well -though a teachable topic- is hardly taught. The situation is similar to that in mathematics, where the explicit curriculum is confined to mathematical results; how to do mathematics is something the student must absorb by osmosis, so to speak. One reason for preferring symbol-manipulating, calculating arguments is that their design is much better teachable than the design of verbal/pictorial arguments. Large-scale introduction of courses on such calculational methodology, however, would encounter unsurmoutable political problems.

The effective exploitation of his powers of abstraction must be regarded as one of the most vital activities of a competent programmer.

Experience does by no means automatically leads to wisdom and understanding.

Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.

... as a slow-witted human being I have a very small head and I had better learn to live with it and to respect my limitations and give them full credit, rather than to try to ignore them, for the latter vain effort will be punished by failure.

The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.

Simplicity and elegance are unpopular because they require hard work and discipline to achieve and education to be appreciated.