Doctoral Degrees at Cal State

California State University Chancellor W. Anne Reynolds appears to be imagining a shortage where none exists. There is in fact an abundance of teachers and engineers.

They are, however, not employed by the Cal State system. These qualified people are working in private business, where salaries more nearly reflect today’s cost of living, and there is some appreciation shown for professional skills.

If the chancellor is really interested in “meeting a need,” I would suggest she implement a program that replaces indulgence with a discipline, and produces students who are capable not only of reading, but also thinking.

This can be easily accomplished by a twofold approach:

1--Thin out the overstaffed, overpaid and inefficient administrative ranks.

2--Actually review faculty performance, to eliminate entrenched academics who hide their apathy behind the screen of tenure.

This would greatly increase the efficiency of the system, make more funds available for classroom use, and allow room for people with current real-world experience to teach.

For a college system that annually produces thousands of degreed illiterates to propose a Ph.D. program is to add insult to injury. Until some issues of a much more basic nature are addressed, the only meaning that can be attached to such a proposal is “Pop-head Degree.”

STEPHEN MOORE

Los Angeles