Make judicious use of tuition for best results

I thank the writers for their responses, “Tuition fever could worsen plight of disadvantaged kids” (July 15) and “Tuition taking a toll on our children” (July 13) to my letter, “Tuition can spur students to better grades” (July 12).

I agree with them. There is a Chinese saying about the two types of people who seek help: One needs a gift of coal during winter, and the other wants to add flowers to a beautiful brocade.

Not all who get tuition need it badly. Whether in need or not, many do forfeit their playful childhood by having too much tuition.

Eating is a necessity, yet many ruin their health by overeating. Money is a useful servant, but it is unfortunately the master of many who sacrifice too much for it. Even the best medicine can have side effects when overused.

The same can be said about education in general, and tuition in particular. The rich can afford many good things the poor cannot: More expensive tutors, more up-to-date computers, safer cars, more effective medical treatments, more sophisticated lawyers, et cetera.

There has always been a gap between the haves and have-nots. The asymmetric distribution of benefits in life seems unfair but inevitable.

Plato said, “The wrong use of a thing is far worse than the non-use.” A useful thing, that is. There is also a Latin quote, “Abusus non tollit usum” (Abuse is not an argument against proper use).

Just as doctors must prescribe medication carefully, parents must use tuition properly.