Pointed Objections to Article on Hughes’ Project 776

I am writing with regard to “The Long, Tortured Tale of Hughes’ Project 776” (Dec. 10) on Hughes Aircraft Co.’s dealings in Egypt. My letter will not attempt to address all of the many allegations in the article, but rather to make three points.

First, the article implies that former Hughes Chairman Albert Wheelon was “ousted” because he “pressed the issue” of Egypt before the GM board. As I informed your reporter during his preparation of this story, Mr. Wheelon’s departure from Hughes involved matters having nothing to do with affairs in Egypt.

Second, the article refers to an arbitration in Switzerland between Hughes and Egypt. The article fails to mention that this arbitration was settled amicably by Hughes and the Egyptian Ministry of Defense, and that Hughes and the Egyptian ministry are on good business terms.

Finally, the article contains unfair implications concerning the late Donald Atwood, particularly easy to do now that Mr. Atwood’s death obviously precludes him from stating the true facts. Mr. Atwood was a man whose record of service to this country and reputation for integrity were unrivaled throughout his over 30 years with GM, and his subsequent tenure as deputy secretary of Defense.

IRA M. MILLSTEIN

Independent Counsel to the Board

of Directors of Hughes Electronics

However, after 20 years (or more) of educational software in the classroom, we see no improvement--if not a decline--in academic performance. The answer appears to be better teaching and more parent involvement rather than multihypermedia “educational” software.

JACOB MILLER

Technology Coordinator

Val Verde Unified School District

Riverside County

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If Hiltzik is correct, his piece belonged on page A1. Right now parents and grandparents are all happily loading up on educational software for the little ones with the thought that they are doing something good. Now with that secret out, it’s back to the store to return the scam stuff in exchange for dolls, trains, blocks and books--books that can educate children of all ages.

JOHN D. ANDREWS

Palos Verdes Peninsula

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We would like to thank Hiltzik for his unintentional but resounding testament to the importance of teachers in the modern classroom.

As the chairman of the board of TREE (Technology for Results in Elementary Education), I was impressed by his keen observations about how insular software can be without the kind of problem-solving, project-based context for learning that is created by a good teacher.

Whether it is technology companies like AT&T; or Apple, or automated companies such as Wells Fargo or DreamWorks, no one experienced with the transformation of his or her industries by technology would claim that the software did it alone. Education is the last industry to stand on the brink of such a transformation, and its reluctance to embrace these changes has led to confusion in the minds of many parents.

But more and more teachers are being reinspired about the teaching profession as they see the capabilities technology can open for them. And most children today do not retreat to a reading corner like Hiltzik’s son. Instead, their perceptions and expectations have been heightened by media for years, so educational technology meets them where they are. By engaging them successfully, it creates the motivation for seeking more experience, including books, conversations.

MORLEY WINOGRAD

Chairman, TREE

Los Angeles