Pascal is underrated as a language.
It might be said that Modula II improved on it.
As a teaching tool it is astoundingly effective with one limitation.
The set of Pascal compilers out there is not nearly as rich or
portable as Python, Java or JavaScript...
I do not have ^pointers to references but it reduces many
teaching assistant tasks and if the program compiles it tends
do do what the author intended.
Today too many think the value of a language is the massive piles
of library cruft that goes with it. That alone makes Python a winner
because most stuff has been done and the big task is not learning
the language but finding what you need in the pile of changing
library routines.
It is verbose... but for the top down designer a classic screen or
two (24linesx80char) can capture most functions.
It is not well placed as an OS coding language but worthy
systems have been coded in it.
It has a lot of features. Tex & Metafont were coded in a subset
of Pascal. By reducing the language correctness was improved.
Some day I will have to ask DK if he would select a different programming
language if he knew then what we have today.
Students... first year yes.
Working in my shop not so sure.