I think a lot of this is just some weird expectations. You cannot _use_ a database without knowing sql. ORMs work great, but you have to know sql to use them properly. What if you want to load a relationship with a join? What if you want only to load certain columns?
I would consider part of the profession to be knowing sql. This whole "orms are bad / long live the orm" split attitude is ridiculous. ORMs are fine. Some orms are bad, just like some code is bad, and some frameworks are poorly thought out. I have worked with developers in the past, who I _desparately_ wish were forced to use a good ORM like ActiveRecord, so that they could understand just how far you can get with a solid and good pattern. I've also worked with developers in the past who used an ORM like a 15kg sledgehammer, and had absolutely no idea what was going on.
I would consider part of the profession to be knowing sql. This whole "orms are bad / long live the orm" split attitude is ridiculous. ORMs are fine. Some orms are bad, just like some code is bad, and some frameworks are poorly thought out. I have worked with developers in the past, who I _desparately_ wish were forced to use a good ORM like ActiveRecord, so that they could understand just how far you can get with a solid and good pattern. I've also worked with developers in the past who used an ORM like a 15kg sledgehammer, and had absolutely no idea what was going on.