User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Dix Gary's avatar

A question I believe relevant is how does Harvard justify a $50 billion endowment. Helping students with under $60k household income is a pittance. They probably pay their investment advisors a couple hundred million. Redistribute the wealth, or is that just nonsensical talk?

Expand full comment
Lori's avatar

I agree. I thought it was adorable how he kept hanging his hat on that. A bit like letting someone dying, of dehydration, finish the snow cone you don’t want to finish. How heroic.

Expand full comment
Patricia J.'s avatar

And their tax exempt status means that we taxpayers helped them make that endowment. They could well use some of that money to sponsor K-12 feeder schools. Sure, teachers' unions would fight it, but so what. Or sponsor sports clubs in inner cities. Lots of things could be done. So why don't they? I guess the way it is now is just easier.

Expand full comment
Time and Tide's avatar

Exactly. Or support early-childhood education - If they were actually serious about recruiting disadvantaged kids to their college.

Expand full comment
Larry's avatar

Harvard needs to pay their fair share of taxes.

Expand full comment
JoAnne's avatar

What about after school enrichment programs? A diversity of programs that nourish children’s interest and self esteem along with allowing other methods of teaching math or reading to support academic success. After school, because of the “witching hours” between 3 -6 where children are often unsupervised. Russian math classes, Kumon style English programs, or other paid tutoring programs available to the middle and upper class can provide equal opportunities and hopefully provide the data to suggest improvement in the curriculum rather than the dumbing down. (Prod the dragons of education’s political forces with effective facts.)

Expand full comment
Patricia J.'s avatar

Great ideas. They have the money and knowledge to do it.

Expand full comment