Should the first Programming/Algorithms class be taught in pseudo-code?
No, it shouldn't.  It's an appealing idea, but when kids are just starting in programming, one of the few straws they have to grasp at is that it is, on some level, very concrete.  I type:

std::cout &lt;&lt; "Hello World!";


... and out prints "Hello World!".  Without the ability to run and troubleshoot code, I'm afraid that everything will become abstract, and most students will simply flounder.

You can choose a language with easier syntax, such as Python, or a visual language like Scratch, but the kids really need something to actually run and manipulate if they are to make early progress.