Everyone is entitled to their opinions and in reference to the column “Footing the bill for college” [Recorder, July 22], I respectfully disagree with its points. I do not have a college degree and never had any student loans, but was successful in buying my home and providing for my family without any.

I took the route of an apprenticeship when I worked at GM and through their program which took four years, I became a journeyman electrician and worked for GM for 35 years before retiring. All it required was my effort and time working 40 hours a week and then going to school a few times each week to fulfill the requirements of the program.

For those who want to learn technical skills that will provide for high-paying careers, there are trade schools that offer programs and are much less expensive compared to colleges. I also would like to add that both my daughter and her husband went through college and got degrees without any student loans, but worked part time and also earned scholarships.

I do believe that higher education costs are way out of line from what it should be, and also what many of the scholars are teaching has no business being taught. I also believe that the loans should only be used for tuition costs and not for spending on material things not required for college.

So in the end, you can get a higher education without going into debt to do it.

Ron Harmon

Lewisburg, Tennessee

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