K-12 salaries not cause of higher tuition costs

In response to Tom Mortenson's March 18 column, “Reverse tactic of shifting costs to students”: I agree with the general points: Funding for higher education needs to be reinstated, costs for in-state students should be reduced and certain policies have contributed to Iowa graduates leaving the state.

Mortenson suggests that money moved to support higher teacher salaries in K-12 caused the trend of shifting costs to college students. This analysis is too narrow. Broader perspectives in issues affecting Iowa's students, and their ability to pay for college, are outlined in books, i.e. “Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto” by Osha Gray Davidson and “Hollowing Out The Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America” by Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas.

I realize that his simple cause-and-effect explanation may be used to promote a reversal of allocated funds, but the issues Mortenson addresses are more complex.

Stephanie Sueppel

Iowa City