Free College for Philomath Kids May Not Last for Much Longer [Backlash against Tree-Huggers]

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Friday. August 23, 2002 | ROBERT TOMSHO

[TroutStalker]

PHILOMATH, Ore. -- Since the early 1960s, a foundation created by a wealthy couple named Rex and Ethel Clemens has fulfilled an extraordinary promise: college scholarships for any Philomath High School graduate who resides in this faded logging town.

The promise has broadened the horizons of Philomath's sons and daughters, helping to lift the local college-attendance rate, from next to nothing to about 69%. Over the years, the foundation has paid $15.5 million in tuition. Right now, 520 students are on its rolls.

[norton]

Unintended consequences....

No good deed ever goes unpunished...

No matter what the current trustees may do, the good intentions of the original donors will be sullied by those who lose access to the benefits they took for granted.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Good. Why capitalists continue to subsidize the mis-education of their children by the enemies of freedom is an enduring mystery. Nice to see someone fight back.

[Drango]

Ping for an article most excellent!

[TroutStalker]

FYI.

[carmody]

Great article. Thanks for posting it!

[TroutStalker]

Who says there isn't any good news on the front page anymore?

[billorites]

My children will never attend a public school.

[Sunshine Sister]

I agree with you. Great article and it's great to see someone standing up for what's right. I will be praying for those people to keep on showing the community what backbone is.

[Paul Atreides]

High-school secretary Doreen Hamilton, mother of two and wife of a former logger, says the scholarships were one reason she moved back here 15 years ago. Now, she is thinking about leaving. "He has taken this really, really wonderful gift, and he has turned it into blood money," says Ms. Hamilton, who has stopped speaking to relatives of hers who back Mr. Lowther.

Note that she gets on her moral high-horse, yet she is the one who moved back for a handout and has stopped speaking to relatives because they voiced their opinions.

A lot of young people in Philomath are bewildered by the turmoil. Because she sports multiple body-piercings and has dyed her hair black, Ginny Rettig, the valedictorian of the class, feels that Mr. Lowther has targeted students like her.

Once upon a time, being valedictorian meant something. Given what I have read about this school, I really have to question how difficult it would be to become the valedictorian.

[MissAmericanPie]

I applaud the man for having the good sense not to contribute to the continuation of the socialist agenda.

[TroutStalker]

"Backbone". What a refreshing word to hear.

[lizma]

GO STEVE!!!!!!!!

You're not the only one fed up with the "I exist; therefore I deserve" crowd.

In a dispute over school-management issues, three Pittsburgh foundations recently withheld $3 million that the city's school district had been using for literacy programs and curriculum changes. And last year a group of universities and colleges had to ride to the rescue after several dozen Washington, D.C., students discovered that the foundation that promised sixth graders scholarships if they stayed in school no longer exists.

Wonder why?

[Constitution Day]

FYI - great article!

[TroutStalker]

Don't you just love listening to blood sucking ticks like Doreen scream when the host they've been leaching off for years finally dies?

[TomSmedley]

Good. Why capitalists continue to subsidize the mis-education of their children by the enemies of freedom is an enduring mystery. Nice to see someone fight back.

A Christian billionaire once asked our generation's greatest Calvinist theologian about how he could make the most difference with his money. The theologian suggested that he establish and endow 100 Christian high schools around the country that would be characterized by academic excellence as well as Christian integrity.

Sadly, the money man got suckered into bankrolling a series of "evanglize the US overnight" schemes -- and ended up with nothing to show for his efforts.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The dispute spotlights a peril for the growing number of public schools who win funding from foundations and other private sources: The funders sometimes throw their weight around.

"The funders sometimes throw their weight around."

Translation: It's for the federal government throw its weight around when it funds schools, but it's not okay when private individuals/groups do it.

[Paul Atreides]

It's funny that these tree-huggers hate the logging industry, but didn't turn up their noses at their money. Also, how, just how, did I know there was some sort of homosexual indoctrination and political correctness invovled?

Maybe if they got back to teaching the kids something useful, they would still be getting their handouts.

[Paul Atreides]

The author's line about the funders got under my skin. After all, it is private money, and no one forced these people into going to that school. In fact, one admitted that she moved back for the freebies.