>I agree with you completely on the need for that program, as long as it is not restricted to only specific races or ethnic groups but by income level.

First, it's a private program, so if they wanted to restrict it (for example, if a church were doing it for the children of their members), that would be okay. In fact, however, it helps kids of all races and religions. Just checked their site. The rules are that you have to be enrolled in a Philly public high school, eligible for free lunch, and have all A's and B's i majors (though one C can be balance by an A).

My point, of course, was that kids coming from disadvantage may need help that kids coming from better situations don't. Hard work and desire sometimes isn't enough; money or other help may be needed.

Tamar

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>>>Mostly, yes. Not entirely though. I just don't think free handouts are the answer. All they typically lead to are more free handouts. I'm all for government $ going directly into programs for childcare and free higher education. But then I think every single person in this country should get a free college education (free in the sense that combined tax dollars pay for it).
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>>I don't think I ever called for "free handouts." I said that we're not at the point yet where we can just ignore that the discrimination happened; we still need to correct for it in various ways, mostly by making opportunities available and making sure that people are in a position to take advantage of those opportunities.
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>>For example, there's a great organization here in Philly called White-Williams Scholars. They've been around for a long time. They give small grants ($25-$50 a month, I think) to high school students who get good grades, and offer some programs for them. The idea is that the money can be the difference between being able to get to school or not (most public HS kids here use public transit to get school; I don't think the district buses any HS students) and having school supplies or not.
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>>The programs they offer give college counseling and other stuff like that. By helping these kids afford to stay in school and get to school, then helping them get to college, the group is providing an opportunity. You could call it a handout, since the kids are given money, but they have to maintain a certain GPA to qualify.
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>>Tamar