Comments on: The newest attack on the Promise Scholarship http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship Commentary by Vic Sprouse Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:59:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Austin C. Moore http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18632 Austin C. Moore Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:24:15 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18632 So let me get this rightm Vic? We bankroll the college education of the middle class who can actually achieve the ACT/SAT scores necessary. Remember the median household income of Promise recipients is approximately $71,000. These students are afraid of student loans. This is the reality of the working poor desiring an education. Once these students graduate with a degree in recrational arts and fashion merchandising they will take the tax payer dollars invested in their education out of state. This is economic development? We are paying for an education of West Virginians so they can become productive taxpayers in other states and compete with WV industry? I guess the only way the working poor have a chance at an education is through enlistment. Now that's commitment. This state always references the HOPE Scholarship in Georgia, but even it has a needs-based requirement which is rarely mentioned. So let me get this rightm Vic? We bankroll the college education of the middle class who can actually achieve the ACT/SAT scores necessary. Remember the median household income of Promise recipients is approximately $71,000. These students are afraid of student loans. This is the reality of the working poor desiring an education. Once these students graduate with a degree in recrational arts and fashion merchandising they will take the tax payer dollars invested in their education out of state. This is economic development? We are paying for an education of West Virginians so they can become productive taxpayers in other states and compete with WV industry?

I guess the only way the working poor have a chance at an education is through enlistment. Now that’s commitment.

This state always references the HOPE Scholarship in Georgia, but even it has a needs-based requirement which is rarely mentioned.

]]> By: Mikey http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18546 Mikey Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:05:00 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18546 Also, how about means testing Legislators as to how much of that $ 20,000 salary they really need. So, the hacks that are in the Legislature for the money and benefits will get the full $ 20K and the remaining 90 % that are rich ambulance chasing trial lawyers won't burden us peon taxpayers anymore with salary payments they don;t need. Makes too much sense don't it ? Also, how about means testing Legislators as to how much of that $ 20,000 salary they really need.

So, the hacks that are in the Legislature for the money and benefits will get the full $ 20K and the remaining 90 % that are rich ambulance chasing trial lawyers won’t burden us peon taxpayers anymore with salary payments they don;t need.

Makes too much sense don’t it ?

]]> By: Mikey http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18540 Mikey Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:47:22 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18540 Means test recipients. Somebody use some common sense PLEASE ! Means test recipients.

Somebody use some common sense PLEASE !

]]> By: L http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18538 L Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:29:04 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18538 This is just another example of Quinn's law, that liberalism invariably leads to the exact opposite of its intended result. How about we taxpayers (oops, I meant, the government) stop paying for things that aren't our concern. The Promise Scholarship is just another form of welfare and, like all of those welfare programs before it, will fail. This is just another example of Quinn’s law, that liberalism invariably leads to the exact opposite of its intended result. How about we taxpayers (oops, I meant, the government) stop paying for things that aren’t our concern. The Promise Scholarship is just another form of welfare and, like all of those welfare programs before it, will fail.

]]> By: Russ Snyder http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18535 Russ Snyder Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:39:31 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18535 I agree with Ray. It is not the job of the state to pay for college educations for anyone. I disagree with Doug regarding a means test (means tests are the Democrats way of income redistribution). When you think about it, these scholarships were the carrot that the legislature used to get us to accept all of these "Hot Spots". We are financing the advanced education of our children by using gambling profits which are primarily generated by people in the lower income brackets who cannot afford it. This is a really bad idea. The kids will appreciate their education more and work harder at it if they have to pay their own way. The Promise Scholarship is a gift, and as such it helps nurture the attitude that "The world owes me a living". I agree with Ray. It is not the job of the state to pay for college educations for anyone. I disagree with Doug regarding a means test (means tests are the Democrats way of income redistribution).

When you think about it, these scholarships were the carrot that the legislature used to get us to accept all of these “Hot Spots”. We are financing the advanced education of our children by using gambling profits which are primarily generated by people in the lower income brackets who cannot afford it. This is a really bad idea.

The kids will appreciate their education more and work harder at it if they have to pay their own way. The Promise Scholarship is a gift, and as such it helps nurture the attitude that “The world owes me a living”.

]]> By: Eileen Dumire http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18521 Eileen Dumire Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:08:51 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18521 A number of students have to go to summer school to take courses over in order to keep the grade point average they need to keep the Promise Scholarship. A number of students have to go to summer school to take courses over in order to keep the grade point average they need to keep the Promise Scholarship.

]]> By: Senator Vic Sprouse http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18519 Senator Vic Sprouse Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:45:37 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18519 To do this right the colleges/universities need to be set up with a Co-op program like Drexel University has in Philadelphia. Program takes 5 years but 2 of these 5 years are working in industry and the jobs are paid. Doubt if WV has the industrial base to do this. I side with Oliverio. Regards. To do this right the colleges/universities need to be set up with a Co-op program like Drexel University has in Philadelphia. Program takes 5 years but 2 of these 5 years are working in industry
and the jobs are paid. Doubt if WV has the industrial base to do this. I side with Oliverio. Regards.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18516 Gordon Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:36:31 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18516 Doug is correct!!! If the jobs in the future require 2 year degrees why support the 4 year degrees? The governor needs to look at the internship new teachers are required to do(student teaching). After the students complete this and before they graduate they are offered jobs with a signing bonus to relocate to another state. West Virginia schools offer them a chance to maybe become a sub, work for a couple years, then get hired, if lucky. Our elected officals need to look at the big picture and move into the 21st century. Doug is correct!!! If the jobs in the future require 2 year degrees why support the 4 year degrees? The governor needs to look at the internship new teachers are required to do(student teaching). After the students complete this and before they graduate they are offered jobs with a signing bonus to relocate to another state. West Virginia schools offer them a chance to maybe become a sub, work for a couple years, then get hired, if lucky. Our elected officals need to look at the big picture and move into the 21st century.

]]> By: Ray http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18513 Ray Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:51:21 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18513 I'd like to see it eliminated completely. I’d like to see it eliminated completely.

]]> By: Doug http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18509 Doug Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:11:06 +0000 http://www.changewv.com/2008/the-newest-attack-on-the-promise-scholarship#comment-18509 Consideration must be given as to the purpose of the Promise Scholarship program in the first place. Vision Shared, the paid for consultant plan for WV's future says that for most of the jobs in our future (10-30 yrs out) one only needs a H.S. diploma and/or 2 yrs post High School education. If this is true, and I believe it is, why are we investing so many $ in this program which goes mostly to those who can afford to pay for college. Quit looking for reasons to limit kids futures. If you want to make changes to Promise Scholarship then make it more needs based and limit the program. We can't and don't want to restrict our kids futures. Besides many would stay if there were jobs. So help create an environment where employers (not just lawyers) will come to and expand in WV. Consideration must be given as to the purpose of the Promise Scholarship program in the first place. Vision Shared, the paid for consultant plan for WV’s future says that for most of the jobs in our future (10-30 yrs out) one only needs a H.S. diploma and/or 2 yrs post High School education. If this is true, and I believe it is, why are we investing so many $ in this program which goes mostly to those who can afford to pay for college. Quit looking for reasons to limit kids futures. If you want to make changes to Promise Scholarship then make it more needs based and limit the program. We can’t and don’t want to restrict our kids futures. Besides many would stay if there were jobs. So help create an environment where employers (not just lawyers) will come to and expand in WV.

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