Hi Dick,
Usually programming education in Bulgaria begins a little bit earlier. My young 10 years son this year goes for the first one on programming classes. I was wondered that teacher begin their education directly with C++. I remember 4 years ago when my older son began - they study first Pascal.
May be children accelerated faster and now they beginning directly with C++.
My older son get task from www.usaco.org and solve them alone at home. Only in Saturday visit advance courses in mathematical college.
Previous summer I show him database relation, may me this summer we will study VFP deeply