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Do you really need college to learn to play music?
Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually any area of music; history, theory, and musical instrument instruction -- you name it and somewhere music courses specialize in it. Though generally found through colleges, universities or high...
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Is Affirmative Action In Jeopardy On College Campuses?
Affirmative action and other set-asides for minorities and women
have come under increasing fire in recent years. These programs,
first started decades ago, were once a given in higher education
for everything from admission to financial aid. Today, women and
minority students cannot count on the same level assistance from
affirmative action that their parents may have received.
The backlash against affirmative action comes largely from the
group that feels damaged by these programs--white males. As the
standard of living for African Americans in the United States
has risen, whites claim that the "leg up" provided by set-aside
programs constitutes an unfair advantage. Similarly, white males
point out that since women now make up the majority of college
students, they can hardly claim discrimination. The critics of
affirmative action promote a merit-based system, in which
admission and scholarships are awarded to the most worthy, with
race or gender not considered at all.
The exclusively merit-based system, however, has itself come
under attack. Supporters of affirmative action claim that there
is no fair way to determine merit. Tests, like the SAT, have
always produced a mark disparity in results between blacks and
whites. Other factors used to rank college applicants, such as
grade point averages and advanced placement classes, vary widely
from one school to another. In fact, many minority leaders claim
that there is no completely objective way to measure ability.
They believe that a person's background or the obstacles he/she
may have overcome are just as important as grades and
standardized tests. According to affirmative action supporters,
the merit system fails to produce an element vital to higher
education--diversity. This, they say, is necessary for a
well-rounded college experience, as well as for societal
stability.
Despite the rhetoric and passions on both sides, the
Starting College While Still In School
At Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Mass., students can start college when they are still in high school. In contrast to many early-college programs, students live at this school and truly go to college.
Background Of Past CIA Chiefs Examined
President-elect Barack Obama has named former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta as his choice for CIA director. Tim Weiner, author of <em>Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA</em>, talks about past CIA directors and their experience when they took office.
future of
affirmative action is likely to be determined by the courts, not
by the activists. Recent state court rulings have upheld policy
changes in key states such as Texas, Florida, and California,
that now restrict how schools can use race and gender as factors
in determining admission. Although the Supreme Court has not yet
issued a definitive ruling, two things are now apparent. First,
race cannot be the sole factor in determining admission. Second,
when race is one of the factors, the school must demonstrate a
compelling interest for the government to allow it. Exactly what
constitutes a "compelling" interest remains to be seen.
In order to maintain diversity on their campuses, universities
have developed innovative ways of achieving the same goals
without violating the new restrictions. Often called a
"holistic" method, some schools now consider a variety of
factors besides grades and test scores. For example, students
who had a difficult home life or had to work during their high
school years in order to help support their family may get
special consideration. Furthermore, corporations and various
private foundations have increased their funding for minority
scholarships in order to make up for any drop in federal or
state-sponsored aid.
It is unlikely that affirmative action will be completely
eliminated. Too many schools are committed to maintaining a
diverse student body. College administrators will find one way
or another to achieve balance in their admissions. However, if
the current trends continue, women and minorities will need to
seek out new sources of college financial aid, and develop new
strategies for gaining entrance to the nation's top
universities.
About the author:
Chris Davis. Please visit http://www.educationwebresources.com
for the latest information on finding scholarships, college
grants, and other useful resources for students and teachers.
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