Since Virginia began awarding scholarships in 2005 to residents who were denied an education by the state's policy of Massive Resistance to court-ordered public school desegregation, more than 70 people have received state aid to further their education.
A handful of those granted scholarships by the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program are white, and the state wants to make sure that all eligible Virginians know the scholarships are available, said Brenda H. Edwards, who manages the program for the state's Legislative Services Division.
"The law simply states if you meet the criteria, the scholarship is awarded without regard to race or gender," she said.
Edwards estimates that the number of white recipients is fewer than 10. She doesn't have an exact tally of the number of Caucasians given scholarships because applicants are not asked their race.
"That's not high on the committee's list — to determine the race of the applicant. They understand Virginia's history — believe me they do," she said. "But yet when it comes down to looking at the application, they scrutinize the application vis-à-vis the state law."
The scholarships are designed for students whose educations were interrupted during the period in the 1950s and'60s and are awarded to residents of Virginia who were students in public schools of Arlington County, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Prince Edward County or Warren County when their schools closed. Applicants must meet certain criteria, such as relocating during school closings or being ineligible to attend a private academy.
I think it is wonderful that they don't ask for your race on this application. It is the way it should be.
ReplyDeleteI think race and gender should be deleted from the SAT and ACT tests as well.
ReplyDeleteI can see how it makes sense
ReplyDeletewomens brains are far better wired for abstract physics and complex math and they are not all cocky maverick stupid about it