I don't agree as well. For loop is engrained in our brains so deeply that I think next generation of programmers should not be taught it. It took me quite some time to stop using it, even though I write C++ and it is a lot more difficult to write in functional style. Sometimes I'm just forced to use it. Most of the mainstream languages already support constructs from functional paradigm: C++11, C#, even Java got lambda functions. So, I will say no, don't teach for loops. Teach functional programming.