Reed College, in Need, Closes a Door to Needy Students - NYTimes.com: "By JONATHAN D. GLATER
Published: June 9, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. — The admissions team at Reed College, known for its free-spirited students, learned in March that the prospective freshman class it had so carefully composed after weeks of reviewing essays, scores and recommendations was unworkable."
Reed is not just any college. It is one of the premier liberal arts schools in the USA ... truly a national treasure. Now, it is segregated by income class!
The idea that this is somehow OK because Reed is "private" caps a slippery slope. Most of the USA top schools are private and many "public" schools are privatizing parts of their programs. How can this be the land of opportunity when even the most gifted of kids are turned way because of the accident of parental birth?
The entire idea of "private" as applied to premier schools like Reed is dubious. None of these schools could maintain their excellence without federal funds. Moreover, as tax free institutions, they comprise untaxed businesses.
Part of the problem is the unique American idea of egalitarianism across lines of ability. We spend a huge amount of money sending average and below average students to average and below average colleges. We spend a huge amount of money on scholarships for star athletes.
I suggest the time has come for scholarships for top students.
1 comment:
There aren't very many places that can afford need-blind admission any longer. I'm surprised Reed has held out this long.
Post a Comment