But in 2025, the glow has dimmed. "Learn to code" now sounds a little like "learn shorthand." Teenagers still want jobs in tech, but they no longer see a single path to get there. AI seems poised to snatch up coding jobs, and there aren't a plethora of AP classes in vibe coding. Their teachers are scrambling to keep up.
A week later, 50 papers come in. And, like clockwork, about 10 look similar. (It is usually about 10% of them). I put them up on the big screen. I don't say a word. I just let the silence work. (I watch the blood drain out of some of their faces.) The class sees it instantly. Same structure. Same voice. Same hollow depth.