This semester, I was forced to learn LaTeX for my Real Analysis class. The professor wanted all homework assignments to be typed in LaTeX in order to produce "high-quality" work. At first I was annoyed because I had no choice but to learn a new coding language in a short time frame.
However, I found that LaTeX was not all that difficult for me to learn. I have actually come to appreciate how intuitive the commands are. I would say it took me about 2 months to become comfortable with LaTeX (using it on and off). Before this semester I was not really into coding and I'm definitely not an expert at using LaTeX, but I at least know the basics pretty well. I still have to google what command to use every now and then. Lately I've been transferring all of my handwritten tutoring notes to LaTeX so that they are easier to read. Not to mention I can always go back and edit my notes whenever I want, which is not so easy to do when the notes are handwritten.
I've read this post that discusses how LaTeX is handled at the college level. I've been wondering if high school students should be taught LaTeX (particularly the students who want to have a career in any math-related field). It could be an important skill for them to have because from my understanding, most, if not all, mathematicians seem to know LaTeX as if it is a prerequisite for their field.
I suspect that learning LaTeX is not like learning a more, for lack of a better word, intensive programming language such as Java or Python (please convince me of otherwise if I'm being neglectful). Therefore I suspect that if LaTeX is currently taught in schools, it is not taught for a full semester. Again, I could be wrong.
It could be beneficial for students to learn LaTeX for when they have to write a math research paper or type up a homework assignment on proofs later on. My idea is that the earlier they are exposed to LaTeX, they can master it sooner rather than just knowing the basics.
Of course, there are downsides as well. I wonder if the students would find it worth their time to learn LaTeX. Some might find it boring because it's similar to Google Docs or Microsoft Word in terms of purpose. There are also tons of free resources online, so one could argue that it is better for the students to learn it on their own.
Overall, I'm curious if LaTeX is taught to high school students at all. If not, should they learn it?