I don't think that was the problem, but it was a problem. I still contend the inability of the instructors to do their job was the problem. If the TAs had been prepared to teach scheme, and not come out of a year with a background in pseudocode (based on Pascal for CS 1311/1321/1511/too many other numbers) and Java (CS 1312/1322/1512/too many more numbers), but instead had a background in functional programming and scheme in particular, they might have been able to help their students out. That transition period from the pseudocode based intro to computing to the scheme/SICP based course should have been more gradual. Which leaves the ultimate failure on the part of the faculty who decided on an abrupt transition for their students, and ultimately failed the students in the process.