Community College Fees

The Times reported (Sept. 3) the hardship that will be caused by a tuition charge of $10 per unit at state community colleges. Perhaps some perspective can be achieved by realizing that prices have increased approximately four times since California’s golden age of education, 1959. Imposing a tuition of $120 for 12 semester units can be expected to have about the same hardship as a $36 tuition in the golden age.

This is indeed unfortunate, but hardly the tragedy as suggested in your article. It is even more difficult to feel a sense of tragedy when it is realized that 39% of the community college students did not complete the class they were enrolled in. This is the real tragedy.

AUGUSTUS SHACKELFORD

Torrance