College Speech

It was good to see your story, “Colleges, Like, Focus on Speech” (March 22), highlight the need for more articulate speech in college students. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the problems cited were especially acute in schools that lack academic programs in public speaking. Fortunately, students at most California colleges and universities have the opportunity to spend a full academic term in speech communication courses that focus exclusively on learning how to present and analyze oral messages.

“Speaking across the curriculum” is a good approach, but it is no substitute for systematic course work in public address, argumentation, debate and group discussion offered by professors of communication who are trained to teach these subjects.

RONALD B. ADLER

Department of Communication

Santa Barbara City College