Georgia's Merit-Based Scholarship Fund Draws Criticism (Some prefer race based funding)

FoxNews ^ | June 30, 2002 | Tom Corvin

[Michael2001]

ATLANTA

[Michael2001]

"One of the concerns is that perhaps it gives people from higher-income, more highly educated families a greater opportunity for success to be rewarded. And generally, those households are more likely to be white than black," said David B. Mustard of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

I don't see a problem with allocating more funds for children whose parents earn less, but no one should get more money just because they happen to be black.

[College Repub]

If it's merit based (and state distributed) then why should someone whose family earns more be exempt?

[evolved_rage]

fewer blacks are being accepted into the state's top universities compared to days when race, not grades played a dominant role in the decision process.

I guess black Georgia graduates are now AS qualified as white graduates, rather than questionably qualified under affirmative action.

[joesnuffy]

How dark do you have to be...like do you get more for being a shade darker than the next guy?

[Dave S]

If it's merit based (and state distributed) then why should someone whose family earns more be exempt?

What has your upper middle class rich white kid done to deserve the tax money from lower income Americans to "merit" sending your kid to school. Of course,the aim of the scholarship program is to aid those having a more difficult time affording college. If thats not its purpose, what right does the state have to anyone's money to pay for college. Getting B's in high school is not an achievement of sufficient gravity to warrant payment for the sake of payment. I agree with you that basing the awards on race is and was wrong.

[doodad]

It's funded by the lottery, the wonderful stupidity tax. Otherwise not tax dollars. Adults are eligible as well.

[College Repub]

Fine. Then call it "need" based. I have no problem with certain forms of need based aid. But merit-based aid should be awarded without regard to need or race. Or they should not call it merit then. There are other things besides grades (such as SAT, essays, accomplishments, etc) taken into account with these sorts of awards usualy.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[Michael2001]

If it's merit based (and state distributed) then why should someone whose family earns more be exempt?

If there's only a certain amount to go around, it should go to the people who need it most. I'm generally against transfer payments of all kinds, but in the case of education I make an exception.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks! I read this article earlier.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks! I read this article earlier.

[mhking]

Critics of the program say that because of the increased competition for available freshmen slots, fewer blacks are being accepted into the state's top universities compared to days when race, not grades played a dominant role in the decision process.

Quota blacks who have become accustomed to handouts as opposed to having to work and earn their way along. Talk about pathetic.

[Godel]

"One of the concerns is that perhaps it gives people from higher-income, more highly educated families a greater opportunity for success to be rewarded. And generally, those households are more likely to be white than black," said David B. Mustard of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

Why are people so eager to penalize people for being white? I thought we were supposed to be color-blind, why then are whites constantly single out for discrimination and blamed for what can only be described as disproportionately good performance.

[Dave S]

Fine. Then call it "need" based. I have no problem with certain forms of need based aid. But merit-based aid should be awarded without regard to need or race. Or they should not call it merit then. There are other things besides grades (such as SAT, essays, accomplishments, etc) taken into account with these sorts of awards usualy.

True, my only point is its not true merit or the only people getting them would be child prodigies. Have a good week.

[irv]

Of course,the aim of the scholarship program is to aid those having a more difficult time affording college

Wrong. The aim appears to be to get everyone to think of college as accessible and thereby promote academic excellence (ie: studying and hard work). This clearly benefits the poor who, previously, saw no point in studying hard and working for something they believed unattainable.

As for what right the government has to give out money for this purpose ... I don't know what the Georgia Constitution says about investing in the well-being of the citizens. Do you? Please advise.

[BubbaJunebug]

bump

[BubbaJunebug]

The Georgia Hope Scholarship is totally funded by the wonderful people who play the lottey. I want to thank those Dukes and Duchesses of the Doublewides for funding my daughters education, as long as she maintains her B average in college, In a round-about way I get the benefit of recouping some of my misspent tax dollars that go to support many of the people who play the lottery.

Thanks also goes to those of you folk from up north who drive through Georgia on interstates 75, 85,and 95....just keep on buyin'..."an' hep edukate our chllren"

[stainlessbanner]

Great post BCD - I can't imagine anyone complaining about this. It's really simple, get a B, go to college!

fewer blacks are being accepted into the state's top universities compared to days when race, not grades played a dominant role in the decision process.

They are shoving race in our faces again. Funny how race is applied when it benefits them only. Perhaps they would recall a time when race-based admissions kept the blacks out of school, rather than IN school.

Florida has a similar program and I'm all for it!