Gov. Gary Herbert criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon for sending his children to private school, saying "How can someone who has never had firsthand experience with public education understand how it really works?" ("Should Utah's guv send his kids to public school?" Tribune, Aug. 30.) Herbert's comment implies that because Corroon sends his children to a private school he has no business campaigning about how to improve Utah's dismal public education system.

Using this same logic of firsthand experience, then, any teetotalers on the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission should be removed because they have no firsthand knowledge of alcohol and should not be controlling the state's liquor monopoly.

Similarly, since Herbert did not graduate from college, and therefore has no firsthand knowledge about graduating, how on earth can he propose legislation regarding higher education?

Herbert owes Corroon an apology for his immature comments.

Teri Harrison

Salt Lake City