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\F1\CAugust 3, 1981



Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber

Dear Sir:

\J
Hal Abelson  at MIT recommended  your book
\F3The World Challenge\F1 to me. Indeed, technology
and its applications are a challenge to the world. Unfortunately,
I am fearful that the United States will not or cannot respond to that
challenge in a constructive manner. I have spent many years trying
to  influence the educational system to the intellectual as well as 
technical opportunities dormant in the "new technology".
I have tried to start at the other end of the spectrum from LOGO,
bringing the notions of mathematical theory down through colleges to
high schools, using LOGO-like and Artificial Intelligence applications
as motivations.

My latest, and perhaps last, efforts occurred at Santa Clara University
this spring in an undergraduate special topics course (outline enclosed).
That course was supposed to blossom into a  faculty
workshop and university-wide computer
literacy program; supposedly the administration supported the effort.
What in fact happened was all together different:
the power structure postponed the literacy program, and
I was terminated. 

The real issue  is the demise of the program. I feel it represents
a solid step towards a literacy program with \F3substance\F1.
For example, I feel that "literacy" through BASIC is superficial at best,
offering a limited growth path for one's intellect. LOGO, LISP, and
 Smalltalk can at least offer the potential to
enhance  mathematical curiousity, to  illuminate computer science techniques,
and open vistas on exciting applications --graphics and artificial intelligence
for example. Thus I was a bit sadened to see you offer the Santa Barbara
computing camp's program in BASIC and Pascal as tth view of the future.
I would suggest, and indeed organize, such a camp utilizing
the more substantial languages mentioned earlier; given the San Francisco
talent and climate, such a program could have substantial impact.

How to sustain the program? American manufacturers, publishers, and
educational technologists have  turned a deaf ear to support. Government
organs like the NSF have been pillaged by the new administration.
My hope is to perhaps attract  foreign support. It occurred to me
that perhaps you might know of potential support for this program
and related ventures.

If you would like further information, my address is below; please
contanct me. Thnak you for your attention.
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Yours sincerely,


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

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