Ethnically Speaking, August 30
by Larry Meeks
Dear Larry: I am so angry I don't know what to do, so I am writing you to let off some steam.
My sorority, which is primarily black, gives scholarships to some children of our sisterhood. The children have to achieve grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher in high school. My child's GPA is 2.95.
My child is not a naturally gifted student, but he makes up for his deficiency by being willing to work extremely hard to achieve. Because I am a college graduate and know the value of edu ...
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4 Comments | Post Comment
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Posted by: Boni
Comment: #1
Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:11 AM
The soroity should look into a sliding scale kinda thing. For example, $1000- 1st, prize for 3.00; $ 800 for 2.95; $ 600 for 2.5, etc. So get in there and change those rules...... get the votes...
The idea is to get and keep as many children motivated as possible. We are talking about different abilities. We are also talking about different capabilities.. Do we reward only the best and say hell to rest... Also, I've found that different children do their best in different things. Therefore, an award should be given to music, i.e. another in math, English French, Cooking, raising plants, decorating, accounting. etc, Anything else would not be fair! So get in there, sister and change the law...
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Posted by: BB
Comment: #2
Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:48 PM
The sorority is correct. Why change the standards? They are set up to give an incentive to students to work harder and also to reward the students who are capable of benefiting from the scholarship. A student who needs so much help from his mother may not be able to make the grades that will permit him to keep the scholarship. I am assuming the scholarship is for college or for a difficult secondary school.
If it for college, this student should consider going to a college near home and taking a very light load of courses that will not overwhelm him. That is, avoid freshman English composition if that is a weak point for him. Get some experience in handling college classes. If he can handle the load, he can continue by working part time or going full time after he saves the money from a summer job. There are certain grants available for students who are already in college. You can get an excellent education this way as I can tell you from experience.
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Posted by: Ariana
Comment: #3
Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:49 AM
I wonder if the LW thinks that other kids, who do get a 3.0, don't have to work for it as hard as her child. 3.0 is "B"-average. If the child cannot muster a B on average in his/her coursework, then college is going to be hell for him, scholarship or not. I have to disagree with Boni (an earler poster). If a sliding scale is offered, then where is the cut off? Should the sorority offer something to all C-average students? D-average? I assume the amount of money is not unlimited. If you offer something to everybody, the scholarship becomes meaningless because it (a) does not reward the best and (b) the highest amount goes down, so it doesn't help much in paying the tuition.
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Posted by: Jon
Comment: #4
Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:51 PM
I agree with the last two posts. I realize it's frustrating for the LW to see her son struggle to get a 3.0, and I genuinely feel for both of them. But instead of asking her sorority to change the rules just for her son, why not try and develop his other talents to see if he can qualify for a different scholarship? Besides, let's say for argument's sake her son worked even harder and did earn that 3.0. How would she feel if he was passed over for someone else with a lower GPA because it would "encourage" them? Sorry Boni, but the way her sorority is handling it now is completely fair.
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