Paul W. Barada
For the Republican
June 22, 2009 11:12 am
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How many of you know what the 21st Century Scholars Program is? Begun in 1990, it is this state’s way “of raising the educational aspirations of low and moderate income families. The program aims to ensure that all Indiana families can afford a college education for their children.” Here’s how it works. Those students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades who take part in the program have to live up to a pledge to be good citizens – which means not using drugs, alcohol, or committing a crime – maintaining a “C” average and, essentially, agreeing to stay out of trouble throughout high school. If they do that, they are guaranteed the cost of four full years of undergraduate college tuition at any participating college or university in Indiana.
In 1995 the first class of 21st Century Scholars headed for college and the program continues to this day. Free tuition for four years. That’s huge!
What sorts of colleges and universities are participating? Just a sampling includes Anderson, Ball State, Butler, Earlham, Franklin, Hanover, Indiana, Indiana State, IUPUI, Purdue, IVY Tech, and numerous other colleges, universities, and vocational schools throughout the state.
What are the goals of the program? “To help more students continue their education, to help reduce the high school drop-out rate, to prepare students for the workforce, to decrease the use of drugs and alcohol among middle and high school students, and to improve individual economic productivity and the quality of life for all Indiana residents.” What we’re essentially talking about is a free ride to college for children from low and moderate income families in exchange for nothing more than maintaining a “C” average during high school and staying out of trouble. That’s not asking much to be have four years of college tuition fully paid by the State of Indiana.
In previous columns I’ve maintained that lack of money has never been an excuse for not going to college for any kid who makes decent grades and has the desire to continue his or her education. The 21st Century Scholars Program is proof of that contention, so any parents who claim they can’t afford to send their son or daughter to college either isn’t aware of this program, or is simply to lazy to encourage their child to sign up for it.
Now, here comes the heartbreaker for Rush County. At the end of this academic year there were 55 sixth-graders who were eligible to sign up for the 21st Century Scholars Program. The only thing that was required of those 55 students was signing up for it. Oh, and one other thing, their parents also had to sign the application. Of that total of 55 students who, merely by signing up, would be on track for free tuition to nearly every college and university in this state, guess how many will be taking part? Six. Yep, you read it right! Only six eligible students signed up for what is essentially a free college education! Can you believe that? Six out of 55! What is the matter with the parents of these children? The chance of a lifetime is being handed to them and all that’s required is signing their names, and they wouldn’t do it.
Not too many years ago I served as part of a study group to begin looking at the question of what to do about the county schools problem. A professor from Indiana State led the group, and in anticipation of examining the problem did considerable research on education in Rush County. Guess what his conclusions were? (This shouldn’t be too tough to figure out.) His conclusion, for which we now have proof, is that the majority of Rush County residents don’t put a very high value on education. In other words, by and large, we don’t think getting an education is all that important. A secondary reason that came from the professor’s analysis was that a significant number of parents don’t like the idea of their children becoming smarter than they are. Is it possible to imagine anything more selfish in the world? Can you even conceive of a responsible parent not wanting a son or daughter going to college because that would make the child better educated than the parent? To the extent that some parents really feel that way – it’s horrible! But at a more fundamental level, the conclusion that the people of Rush County don’t put a very high value on education is proved by the fact that only six of 55 eligible children in the sixth grade signed up for the 21st Century Scholars Program.
Ignorance about the existence of the program isn’t much of an excuse, either. Here’s the Web site http://www.in.gov/ssaci/2345.htm. It contains all the information required for any eligible student to apply to become a 21st Century Scholar. Or a parent can contact the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana, 150 West Market Street, Suite 500, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, or by calling 317/232-2350, or by calling the toll free number 1/888/528-4719. Another course of action is to contact Benjamin Rush Middle School or Rushville Consolidated High School for more information. Now, unless parents are either too lazy to inquire about the 21st Century Scholars Program or they really are afraid that a child might become better educated than they are, there’s no excuse for 49 more children not signing up for the program.
Winning the battle to save our county elementary schools led many to believe that education had become more important to the parents of Rush County students. This latest revelation, however, clearly refutes that belief. It’s disheartening, disappointing and, frankly, disgraceful.
That’s —30— for this week.
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