Prejudicial articles on Higher Ed reform

Dan Barrett from “Inside Higher Ed” labeled common-sense reforms “controversial” in the opening line of a story on Rick O’Donnell’s latest report on findings. The line was indicative of treatment in the mainstream media designed to prejudice the reader against the reforms, with no serious accountability or cost-saving alternative measures offered. To hear Barrett tell it, there is nothing wrong with higher ed.

The reforms are being pushed by Governor Perry and others because tuition has gone up almost four-fold since 1986 with no corresponding improvement in services. Higher Ed seems content to keep raising the price of an education with no accountability. Most of the media has assisted Higher Ed in repelling attempts at accountability.

Barrett’s piece was prejudicial towards the reforms, which is the standard liberal stance. From a liberal perspective, our higher ed is a great help to their cause, so it makes sense they’d repel accountability. It that sense, Texas journalism has treated Texas Higher Ed as a friend in need.

But ideology aside, costs have become crushing and the product delivered isn’t good enough. Barrett would seemingly rather serve Higher Ed, and his place in it, than look for solutions for Texans.

Barrett article