Here’s what we know: Despite all the “rosy scenario” talk going on in Carson City these days, revenue from the tobacco settlement which is used to fund the Gov. Guinn Millennium Scholarships is dwindling…and will continue to dwindle as more people quit smoking and fewer people take it up. And under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should general revenue tax dollars ever be used to prop up this entitlement. That wasn’t the deal.
So changes must be made.
Mine is to “means test” the scholarship. Rich kids whose mom and dad can afford to send Johnny to four years of Beer Guzzling 101 should do so. Government assistance should be limited to helping those who can’t help themselves.
Another suggestion, by state Sen. Bob Beers, would be to raise the academic standards required to qualify. Actually, just a switch from subjective grading (famously vulnerable to grade inflation) to objective testing would probably suffice.
And then there’s a new proposal from Sen. Randolph Townsend that the scholarships be meted out only to those students who are majoring in fields of greatest community need, such as teachers, health care professionals, scientists, engineers, and computer technicians. Which makes all the sense in the world. Who could argue with that?
University professor and state Sen. Dina Titus, of course. “Are you going to tell me…you see no merit in the liberal arts?” she demanded in a hearing on Monday.
I didn’t know that being a liberal was “art.” I just thought it was a misguided philosophy.
In any event, Ms. Titus, no. Of course there’s merit in the liberal arts. I think. But that’s not the question.
The question is, if the pot of money for Guinn scholarships is smaller, then we need to set priorities on how that money will be spent. And while there *might* be some kind of merit in a liberal arts education (help me out here, will ya?), there’s nowhere near as much merit in it as becoming a teacher or a scientist or a doctor. If a student wants to major in liberal arts, fine. But he or she can do it on their own dime. That’s all Sen. Townsend is saying.
After all, life in the real world, as opposed to academia, is about choices…and setting priorities.
Posted on April 3rd, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
Ok, I’m in and agree with you, Chuck.