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\F1\COct 25, 1980

Authur Luehrmann
Director of Computer Research
Lawrence Hall of Science
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720


Dear Dr. Luehrmann:

\JAttached is a paper that you helped crystalize.
It began as my presentation at the SIGSMALL conference in Palo Alto. We were
to be part of the "Languages Panel"; I was disappointed  that you were not 
able to attend.  The talk expanded more when I saw the BYTE
ad for the "Computer-Using
Educators" Conference in San Jose.  The organizer said I could distribute
the paper as a "freebie"
for the participants. I was amused to discover later 
that you would be attending this
conference and I would at least be able to  \F2give\F1 you a copy.
However,  after typing from the crack-of-dawn,
I could not find a copy
center that could deliver in time; disappointed again, but back for more revisions. 

The paper now has become part of a general plan to improve education in computing.
Currently I am teaching a graduate course at Santa Clara University in
LISP, Mathematical Theory of Computing, Scheme, programming style, ...; this
course will become an undergraduate offering in the spring
--The Art of Computer Science--, augmented with an
interactive programming lab --a local net of Z-80's running my TLC-LISP
in a Xerox-like window system. The ultimate target for this endeavor is the High
Schools since, as my paper explains, I feel that the current approaches are
painting an inaccurate picture --particularly for those interested in Mathematics
and Computer Science. Next summer I expect to  to present the course to a
summer institute for mathematics teachers as an alternative to BASIC.

Your BYTE article on computer literacy gave me a wry smile or two. Almost three
years ago I tried to interest McGraw-Hill in a text/computer project to develop
a  course like the one I'm doing this spring at Santa Clara; they were interested 
in the text, but not the machine aspects. I rejected  the offer because I felt that it 
was important
that computing texts and programming techniques be integrated. A year ago
my conversations with
BYTE Books led to the same response. 
Last week I tried the other side of the fence --a 
large
computer manufacturer, who claims to be highly interested in education;  they
wanted my LISP expertise, but not the educational  aspects. The upshot of this
is that,
unless I can find alternative 
funding, the Santa Clara course will require that I take out a personal loan
to buy equipment and support the curriculum effort. This will
blunt the project --fewer machines, less polished software and  texts-- but
will not stop it.  I happen to be a stubborn  #&"%@$, but sometimes I wonder
... . Please read the "Bankruptcy" paper; perhaps, if you find sympathy with
my approach, you could suggest some far-sighted funding agencies that would
help sustain this project.
\.
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Yours sincerely,


John R. Allen
18215 Bayview Dr.
Los Gatos Ca, 95030
(408) 353-3857

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