A College-Worthy Essay

by edgery, Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 12:42:24 PM EST

Many of us know about the work John and Elizabeth Edwards have done on behalf of young people -- from the computer lab set up in their son Wade's name to the College for Everyone program in Greene County NC to help high school students from this rural and impoverished area go on to college.

[cross-posted at JRE blog]

Helping to inspire high school students to reach for college is a big part of what the College for Everyone program is all about. This program says, work hard and commit to success and we will make it happen. For kids in Greene County, this is making a strong positive difference--where before many didn't even dream of going beyond high school, now they dream and can realize that dream.

Teenagers in poor urban and rural areas alike, however, share more than the lack of a dream or the chance to make it a reality. For many, they may never have been given the information or the individual encouragement necessary to be prepared to succeed in their dreams.

This is where College Summit, a partner with the College For Everyone program, comes in.  For what good does the promise of tuition/fees/books for the first year do, if a student never gets accepted in the first place.

There's a multimedia slide show titled Counting Words, Courting College online at The New York Times that I find particularly inspiring. [The accompanying article, Making a Hard-Life Story Open a Door to College, was published on July 26, 2007. Photo by Michael Temchine for The New York Times.]

The voices you will hear are of the students attending a 4-day College Summit workshop at Howard University in Washington, DC. These are not policy abstractions but real live kids. Listen to the wonder in their voices as they experience encouragement and gentle pushing to achieve, some for the first time in a school setting or ever.

Listen to these voices. Every child should have that sense of possibility, that moment of discovering that they are someone special with much to offer.

Over the next year, there will be plenty of times when we might get so caught up in the primary and then general election race, that we focus more on the win than the why. If you find that happening, go back and listen to these voices.  And remember the one candidate in this race who really gets it -- John Edwards.

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VirginiaforEdwards.org, turning Virginia Blue in 2007 and beyond!  Tomorrow Begins Today!




Tags: John Edwards, poverty, college (all tags)

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Umm...not everyone should go to college (none / 0)

Like it or not the world needs janitors and cashiers and school lunch ladies and construction workers.  And there aren't really majors that cover those fields.

College should be available to all who strive for it, and people need to be inspired for sure, but that doesn't mean that the above point isn't true.


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 04:18:32 PM EST

Am I reading this right? (none / 0)

Are you volunteering? I'm sure there are plenty of janitors, cashiers, lunch ladies and construction workers who'll be thrilled to accept your offer to trade places with them while they have a turn.


"If [John Edwards] seems too good to be true, well, so be it; instead, you can pick a candidate who's bad enough to be plausible." - Daily Kos user Drew
by Junior Bug on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:14:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Am I reading this right? (none / 0)

I'm not volunteering (I'm going to college this coming year)--but your sarcastic comment does nothing to answer the simple problem, which is that many of these jobs are necessary, and don't go along with a college education.

Question:  what would you do to fill them while sending everyone off to college?


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:30:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Am I reading this right? (none / 0)

Who said anything about "sending everyone off to college"?  There is no plan that has been proposed to force people to go the college. The idea is to lower the barriers of tuition and debt in order that people who are qualified to go college, and want to go, can afford to go.  Edwards plan specifically refers to people who are qualified.

But I think your worry actually amounts to this: what happens if every young person in America becomes highly motivated to go college?  Every kid is hitting the books.  And college is made affordable to all kids.  If this happens, then with everyone going to college - becoming teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, computer programmers, and so on - no one will be left to sweep the floors or clean the toilets.  America will become a highly educated nation, yet at the same time, a dustier, smellier nation.

In my opinion, that's really not something you should spend much time fretting over.


Keep it short. DemocraticShortList.com
by Rob in Vermont on Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 02:30:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What does 'like it or not' mean? (none / 0)

College should be available to all who strive for it
... it sounds as if you agree with College for Everyone. So why is the comment phrased as if you are disagreeing with something?


*John Edwards* ... and the JE08 Supporters Blog
by BruceMcF on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:17:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The problem with your viewpoint is (none / 0)

the word "should"

No one is suggesting everyone "should" go to college but everyone has the right to dream of and reach for a better life.

It is highly presumptuous of you or anyone else to suggest that because there are jobs that do not require a college education, certain children because of their parents' station in life or education or income should be denied the same opportunities you enjoy.

College for Everyone and College Summit are about helping those with the least have the same opportunities as those with the most -- namely, the encouragement and support to set and reach their goals.  For some, that goal may be a technical school, for others an AA degree from the local community college.  But for others, being the first in their family to obtain a college education at one of the state universities is not something they thought they deserved much less had a chance at.  These programs help ensure that not only do they understand they deserve these opportunities as much as anyone, but that there are people who believe in them and will help them attain their goals.


by edgery on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 01:30:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Some might sarcastically reply, (none / 0)

"Thank you for your concern" since you either didn't bother to read the diary, are too dense to understand the concept of opportunity vs. mandate, or are a major diary highjacker.

I may have been raised with a Southern upbringing but I've outgrown it and I'm not that nice.

Go away, little troll, and find another bridge to hide under.


by edgery on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 01:39:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (3.00 / 2)

"Every child should have that sense of possibility, that moment of discovering that they are someone special with much to offer."

Who could disagree with that? I think that Edwards is doing the right thing and I salute his efforts.


Two licks are better than one
by Tommy Twolicks on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 04:34:24 PM EST

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

I don't really disagree with that in principle...but if that is the case how do we get people to be janitors and lunch ladies, etc?

Once we have an army of robot slaves everyone should go to college.  Until then, it's simply unrealistic.


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 04:56:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

again- ifyou believe that- then you should do the jobs you mention. sacrifice is aw onderful thing so long as it is someone else's sacrfice and those dark people doing it.


by bruh21 on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:28:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

my point is that it isn't possible to educate everyone while maintaining certain jobs.  If you think it is, lay out a plan


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:31:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (3.00 / 1)

The point of the Edwards program is to make it possible for students to go to college if they want to, not if they can afford to.


Two licks are better than one
by Tommy Twolicks on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:46:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

I know that, my point was that not EVERYONE should go to college.  Everyone who works hard in school and wants to should be able to, I just disagree with the idea that everyone in the country should go.


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:52:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

Everyone who wants to go to college should have the opportunity.


Hillary/Obama08
by annefrank on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:57:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Your point appears to be that until (none / 0)

all the menial jobs are filled, children from the lower income or social brackets should not be given the chance to rise up through educational opportunities.

Aside from being utterly elitist and nauseating, your viewpoint is duly noted and rejected.


by edgery on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 01:33:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

your point seems kind of stupid- that because we need janitors as the above poster explains that some how relates to whether someone wants to go to college or not. if you feel this is so important- you should practice what you preach rather than requiring that sacrifice by others.


by bruh21 on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:50:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A College-Worthy Essay (none / 0)

It's not about what they WANT.  Everyone who first works hard in school and second wants to go to college should be able to go to at least an in-state school.  However, I don't think that EVERYONE (like many on this site believe) should go to college.


by Terryus on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:54:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

WOW you are an elitist aren't you (none / 0)

So what you are saying is that NOT EVERYONE should be given the opportunity because we need janitors!!

That's frickin despicable.

NOWHERE does Edwards even HINT that everyone should go to college. He wants to make it possible for everyone WHO WANTS to go to BE ABLE to go.

Get off the arrogance there buddy.


by Chaoslillith on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:07:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Please tell us exactly said that every single (none / 0)

person in the country SHOULD go to college.

You are going to have a very difficult time in Freshman English if you can't tell the difference between these two statements:

- Everyone should go to college.
- Everyone should have the encouragement and support to go to college if they are capable and want to work hard.


by edgery on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 01:36:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

But College for Everyone is ... (none / 0)

... not a plan to make a college education mandatory, its a plan to make sure that college education is available to everyone who wants to go, can get admitted, maintain academic progress, and is willing to work part time to make it happen.


*John Edwards* ... and the JE08 Supporters Blog
by BruceMcF on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:21:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

See comment above entitled (none / 0)

"Some might sarcastically reply,"


by edgery on Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 01:40:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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