Generally appealing...but not really.

An article by the Austin American Statesman's Editorial Board on October 3rd finds "Perry's tuition proposals generally appealing." The editorial describes the governor's ideas for boosting higher education, and reflects on some of the difficulty students face when paying for college. Overall, the tone of the article is a moderate one. The author illustrates the facts of Perry's proposals, and acknowledges that many of them are good ideas. With regards to Perry's intent to freeze tuition rates for four years, the article states "it wouldn't lower tuition rates...but it would make the cost of college more predictable." This editorial is definitely credible, as it quotes directly from Governor Perry and also references the specifics of the proposed legislature.

 

After what seems like a simple description of possible changes in higher education, the author then starkly states that Perry's "call for a $10,000 degree, it remains, almost two years after he proposed it, more gimmick than realistic goal." This claim seems to come from out of the blue, but the author then goes on to argue the point with strong evicence. The article cites previous research done by the Statesman, which examined the value of such a degree, as well as the effects of past legislature on the current issues. The details and specifics add credibility to the piece, making it more than just an opinion. The article bleakly wraps up by concluding "...but it's foolish to wish for something that will not be. Not with this governor or the incoming Legislature." This is in reference to the sad fact that Texas universities have no restrictions on capping their per-credit-hour price tag.

 

The intended audience could be anyone who is interested in higher education, but this editorial seems especially targeted toward students and their parents, giving them facts about obstacles they might face when applying for college. As a young person facing some of these exact challanges, it certainly got my attention. The point the author argues, namely, that Rick Perry has effectively done next to nothing with our state's education system, is one I happen to agree with. That being said, I think the article would do a good job arguing the case to anyone, due to its heavy use of numbers, facts and basic logic. The article ends on a point I strongly agree with, that "a college education is about more than career training-- an aspect that seems forgotten in discussions of tuition and grauation rates."