Scripting Languages in 2008

Most computer science classes teach either Java or a variant of C, both industrial-strength languages used by full-time programmers. Scripting languages like javascript, python, perl and ruby, are a class of languages that may be easier to learn, easier to use, and many be useful for small, everyday tasks of non-professional programmers. From CIO, here's an article on the state of scripting langauges in 2008. Some educators think that students can learn a scripting language as an introductory language; they can graduate to a full-fledged computer science language if they wish to continue.