Actually, because Perl doesn't need to declare variables or manage the memory and simply because it's syntax is so forgiving, I would actually advise AGAINST using Perl to learn programming. Sure, it will be easier to learn to program by using Perl, but you will also learn some sloppy programming techniques that will start to haunt you once you're trying to develop in some other language.
That is completely wrong.... Perl is only as forgiving as you want it to be, turn warnings and several other settings on, and perl bitches at you more than a C++ compiler after trying to compile your first program.

You only learn bad coding practices if you want to, and honestly speaking if you learn from any "good" perl book, they usually enforce good coding standards, and styles.... So that statement has about much validity as the statement that C is to kernel as java is to cross-platform coding. (If you don't understand it, ask and I will explain it.)

Also, most system programming, is maintaining stuff, keeping up with log files, and a crap-load of other stupid things... System programming does not usually refer to kernel lvl coding... That's usually why it is caled kernel lvl coding.