Edwards has pulled the plug on his pilot scholarship program in North Carolina:
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards is pulling the plug on a scholarship program he started at an Eastern North Carolina high school — a program he once promised would be a model for the nation under an Edwards presidency.
The program provided the cost of tuition, fees and books at a public college for one year. In exchange, students had to work at least 10 hours a week while in college, take college preparatory courses in high school and stay out of trouble.
In May of 2007, Edwards announced his “College for Everyone”
At Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, North Carolina, Senator John Edwards today announced his plan to make college more affordable for millions of students. Edwards’ College Opportunity Agenda includes a national “College for Everyone” initiative, which would pay for one year of public-college tuition, fees, and books for any student who is willing to work hard and stay out of trouble.
There was no mention of the scholarship program being a three-year trial period when this was announced to the public.
I know he doesn’t have a great fan base here, but I give credit for trying something out as many politicains are keen to sit back and do nothing.
NY-David
Did I perchance read where John Edwards said to stay out of trouble? Was he talking to himself or the students??
I am for all students to get a college education, and the state taxes should pay for them. Don’t mind that tax. I think all Congress and Senate should have to be out of pocket for their own expenses 100% Gas, living expenses, you name it. They are no better than any of us. Plus there should be a blanket cut in pay – including the President. That would help the budget. All church pastors should have to pay tax, after all they just work on Wednesday night and Sunday morning for the most part. Now granted some do more, funerals and weddings but get extra pay for that. When the church sells property, a capitol gains tax should be paid.
NYDavid, You mean like HRC? Like Pelosi? Like Corzine? Like the Rep from Microsoft who stiffed her consultants? Like any given Kennedy?
Looks to me as though Edwards started this for political posturing, then his concern went away when any potential political advantage evaporated.
Actually, he started it after his failed vp attempt in ’04 (darn it all…). It could have died due to his attention on other matters, like his wife’s recurrence of cancer or his presidential run. It also could have died because it was flawed and wasn’t going to work anyway. Its why we have Heinz 57 instead of Heinz 23.
NY-David
I agree with you Robert. Here in West Michigan, we have the Kalamazoo Promise. in 2005, a teacher got the financial backing from some very wealthy residents/foundations and launched the program. It is a 13 year pilot program whereby the kids in the Kalamazoo Public School system are promised either a free or heavily funded college education in one of the public universities in the state. FYI, The payment is set up based on the amount of grades you completed in the school system. The latest you can enter the system is in the 9th grade. You must graduate from the Kalamazoo Public Schools, and be accepted into a state college. The money doesn’t go to a student, it goes straight to the schools in order to assure that the money is not squandered. No you can not expect to have Harvard paid for by the program. It serves the student and the state universities.
College For Everyone: What is 3 years? It was never brought out in the press releases and it is hardly enough time to show whether the program is a success or not.
P.S.- There are now other cities in the state that are doing this same program. It appears to be working, but it has only been 3 years. If Edwards program didn’t work, it is because it was not run properly, period!
Like I said, he ran it and it didn’t work. He must have done something wrong. My only point is that he tried something when he had no political reason to do so. A local Jr High school got turned around to become a lot better. It didn’t happen because local parents and politician sat around with their collective thumb up their butt, but did something.
NY-David
I disagree that he had no political reason to do this, but he did do it and that was for the better of the community. I do think it was mismanaged, his program only offered one year, one school, as opposed to the Kalamazoo project that was the full education for the entire public school system within Kalamazoo MI.