It is clear from Randy Webb’s letter, that public schools are failing to provide students an exposure to sarcasm.

Some traditionalists will disagree. “It’s the job of the parents! In MY day, sarcasm was taught in the home or a kid was cruelly initiated to it on the streets. We don’t need no guvmint-imposed sarcasm instruction!”

But the world is changing. Parents today don’t have enough time to devote to teaching their kids the basics of the wink, the sidelong glance, or the elbow jab. Now the schools must step in.

I suggest that all incoming freshmen be required to take a sarcasm detection exam. In the event that the student does not “test out,” a remedial sarcasm course should be taken. The syllabus can include such lessons as: Sounds Outlandish? Don’t Get Panties In A Wad — Could Be A Joke.

“Yeah, Right!” — The Phrase That Negates.

Exaggerated Intonation And Other Signs That You’ve Been Hooked And Reeled In Again.

If Iowa State takes the lead on this, maybe, JUST MAYBE, others can be spared this sort of public embarrassment in the future.

Rich Scharf

Alumnus

Columbia, SC