Some implications of the recommendations of the “Tough Choices or Tough Times” report issued by Gov. Sonny Perdue’s committee to examine the future of education in Georgia were discussed in an article, “Georgia is still studying merger,” (Rome News-Tribune, May 31).

The recommendations are for implementation 10 to 15 years from now. The primary focus is on K-12 public education. Students will not move on to higher education until they are ready. “Ready” to move on is defined as not needing remediation after completion of grade 10.

Many Georgia high school graduates require remediation when they attend college. Adoption of this recommendation could mean your child might not be able to attend college. To learn about these visit the web site http://gaosa.org/toughtimes.aspx

Concerning absorption of two-year University System of Georgia (USG) institutions by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). This committee had no specific two-year college representation but was heavily represented by technical colleges.

The recommendation presents potentially huge problems for students who need to attend a two-year school for financial, family, or remediation issues before attending a four-year institution. Such a merger could weaken academic standards and make it more difficult for local students to transfer to the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, West Georgia or other USG four-year institutions.

Curriculum is necessarily rigorous in the institutions of the USG; the knowledge base of such a curriculum must cover not only skills but scientific research, critical thinking, and exploration of different ideas. If students are not exposed to a liberal arts curriculum, access to higher education would be negatively impacted.

Such a merger occurred in Kentucky many years ago. Current research indicates that enrollment in baccalaureate programs has declined since then.

Currently Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS is the accrediting body for higher education in the South) requires college credit-level courses be taught by faculty with a masters degree or higher.

Of 125 full-time faculty at Georgia Highlands College, 31 had earned doctorates in their teaching field, several were in the process of earning a doctorate, the rest had a masters or education-specialist degree. This represents a highly educated and highly trained faculty committed to preparing students for completion of four-year degrees. Working in our global marketplace requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills as well as a global perspective.

This level of education would be endangered if the two-year liberal arts institutions are taken out of the USG and absorbed by the TCSG.

The two-year institutions already have articulation agreements with the technical colleges. If the technical colleges want more of their courses to be accepted by the USG, they need to hire the requisite faculty to teach general education courses. But the mission of the technical colleges is to prepare students for the immediate workforce through specific skill development. The technical colleges do a wonderful job with this mission. Taking on a transfer mission could dilute their current mission. Why mess with a system that has worked exceptionally well?

There are some underserved areas in the state regarding access to a liberal arts institution. Let the technical colleges already in those areas add a new academic transfer program at their institution but keep existing two-year and technical colleges separate. One proposed solution is to add more general education courses at the technical colleges, then have students transfer to a two-year institution, then a four-year institution. The transfer process can be tedious; to ask students to transfer two times might be asking too much.

One other fact that the residents of Rome and Floyd County need to understand is that if this proposed merger occurs, there will be no USG institution in our area.

I am one of many local residents who benefited from the existence of a two-year college. I am also on the faculty of Georgia Highlands College. Many of my colleagues share my concerns. If you are also concerned, please do not hesitate to let our local government officials, as well as state officials, know.

CATHERINE E. KING, Rome