“No.”
I do wish people knew more about their computers’ essential software. But knowing how to code and knowing how to make a computer do things you want it to do are very different skills. First let’s teach people how to use Google to answer their questions. Let’s teach them to be comfortable exploring software that lets them put up a basic website. That software and the necessary concepts change over time, so it’s not just a matter of learning one particular tool.
We live in a world dominated by electricity and mechanization. Nearly 100% of Americans rely on electrical power and motorized transport in a daily basis. But no one is clamoring for mechanical or electrical engineering to be considered an essential literacy. We all use computers today in the same way we all use electricity and cars: the interface for computers is just terrible by comparison.
As a side note: I remember my first hacks thin in high school — through it wasn’t really called that, my friends and I stayed up writing a simulator for an airport terminal layout. It didn’t quite work, but I think we won some award so I guess it was impressive enough! I also re,ember falling asleep around 7am and feeling pretty lame about it.
Some things never change.