Not too long ago it was "no one learn to code! it's all going to be outsourced to India!"
Now, "I'm starting a non-profit to spread the gift of coding to children. Coding is our future".
Give me a f-ing break.
I can't think of a faster, more accessible, more entertaining way to grow these skills.
In high school, I taught myself how to program and formally took the math classes offered. I remember many days in class thinking, "oh, this is just like programming with another syntax." There is a lot of overlap there. In terms of critical thinking and breaking down problems, a coding course would just be a reiteration of the existing math classes in an applied setting.
Of course, coding is a good way to stimulate thinking, or at least it is for me. But they must go hand in hand...
This is all besides the point, though. What is wrong with "code fever," as you put it? With that kind of connotation, you seem to be implying that there is some kind of net loss if everyone learns something about programming. Beyond being mad about a fad (which is itself an overreaction, I might add), it doesn't make much sense to me. Care to explain?