The Posse Foundation: A Liberal Fantasy Land
Imagine a world where meritocracy is tossed aside like yesterday's news, and instead, college admissions are based on group dynamics and social engineering. Welcome to the Posse Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 in New York City by Deborah Bial. The foundation's mission is to identify public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. The Posse Foundation partners with colleges and universities to provide full-tuition scholarships to these students, who are then sent to college in "posses" of 10. The idea is that these groups will support each other and help increase graduation rates. But let's be real, this is just another liberal attempt to undermine the traditional values of hard work and individual achievement.
First off, let's talk about the absurdity of the "posse" concept. The idea that students need to be sent to college in groups to succeed is patronizing at best. It suggests that these students are incapable of thriving on their own, which is an insult to their intelligence and capabilities. The foundation claims that this method helps students adjust to college life and provides a support system, but isn't that what college is supposed to teach? Independence, self-reliance, and the ability to adapt to new environments are crucial life skills. By coddling these students, the Posse Foundation is doing them a disservice.
Next, let's address the issue of meritocracy. The Posse Foundation prides itself on selecting students who might be overlooked by traditional college admissions processes. But what does that really mean? It means that students who may not have the highest test scores or grades are given a free pass to prestigious institutions. This undermines the very foundation of higher education, which should be based on merit and achievement. By prioritizing group dynamics over individual accomplishments, the Posse Foundation is sending a message that hard work and dedication are not as important as fitting into a predetermined mold.
Furthermore, the Posse Foundation's focus on diversity and inclusion is just another example of liberal overreach. While diversity is important, it should not come at the expense of quality education. By prioritizing diversity over merit, the foundation is lowering the bar for college admissions and devaluing the degrees earned by these students. This is not only unfair to the students who worked hard to earn their place in college, but it also diminishes the reputation of the institutions that participate in the program.
The Posse Foundation also claims to increase graduation rates among its scholars, but at what cost? By providing full-tuition scholarships and additional support, the foundation is essentially buying graduation rates. This creates an uneven playing field where students who are not part of the program are left to fend for themselves. It also raises the question of whether these students would have graduated without the foundation's intervention. If the answer is no, then the program is simply inflating graduation statistics without addressing the root causes of low graduation rates.
Finally, let's talk about the impact on taxpayers. The Posse Foundation is a nonprofit organization, which means it relies on donations and grants to fund its programs. This includes taxpayer money in the form of government grants. By supporting a program that undermines meritocracy and promotes social engineering, taxpayers are essentially funding an experiment in liberal ideology. This is not only a waste of resources but also an affront to the values that this country was built on.
In summary, the Posse Foundation is a misguided attempt to level the playing field in higher education. By prioritizing group dynamics over individual achievement, the foundation is undermining the principles of meritocracy and self-reliance. Its focus on diversity and inclusion comes at the expense of quality education, and its reliance on taxpayer money is an insult to hardworking Americans. It's time to put an end to this liberal fantasy land and return to the values that made this country great.