Raves, Rants & Roses

RESPONSE: What a beautiful coincidence. The editor prints my tirade about the 40 years SAT/ACT folly, to be followed by UT Tyler bragging about the cost of keeping up appearances. The article points out for me, the folly of the other myth: "College costs are justified."

The cost of UT Tyler's new "student center" is a staggering amount, even in 2008 dollars. From the college's own description, the $17 million will provide elaborate food facilities and lounges, but not one classroom.

Higher education, by definition, exists to provide post-high school instruction in preparation for a career/profession for students. There is not one identified classroom in the combined 105,00 square feet of space.

A respected pioneer in American education remarked a log in the wilderness with a student on one end and a teacher on the other serves as a classroom. Is UT Tyler's log out back or is it on the taxpayer's backs?

Jerry Carson
Tyler