I disagree. When I look at people shouting at their laptop or mobile phone because "this shit doesn't do what I want", I wish they were exposed at least to a little bit of programming. It changes the way you think. You think in a more logical way, you become better at solving problems. So next time when this shit doesn't do what they want, they might think of a way to work around it. Life is more pleasant when you don't fight the technology but try to understand it instead. If you learn how to drive a car, you should learn how the engine works. Makes you a better driver.

That is a very good point.

However, programming, while a valuable skill in and of itself, sacrificing more fundamental academics in order to make room for it isn't the way to go.