The purpose of this blog is to sweeten the deal at the Shabbat table. Please print and share.
We were still chuckling from last week's merry pre-Purim post when this week's college admissions-gate was announced.
We were still chuckling from last week's merry pre-Purim post when this week's college admissions-gate was announced.
I happened to have been with people who personally know some of the individuals who were arrested.
So you can imagine how this story came like a bombshell.
Questions come to mind, lots of questions for your table.
Should the ones still in college be expelled?
Should the ones who completed college have their degrees revoked?
Should the students be prosecuted?
That'll larn 'em!
Regardless of the law, what is the moral distinction between bribing a coach to push for your daughter's admission and bribing a property manager to let your cat-owning daughter rent an apartment where pets are not allowed?
How about between bribing a coach covertly and bribing the school overtly by donating a building?
How about between bribing a coach covertly and bribing a congressman overtly by donating to his campaign?
Deepthroat said, "Follow the money."
I've always said, if you want to know what someone truly values, take a look at their credit card statement.
These people we obviously value that "elite" piece of paper.
Question for your table: Why?
But let's make this more personal. Where is the red line between ethical and unethical help for a child?
Is it okay to write an essay for a child (or a friend for that matter)? What about editing it? Proofreading? Does it make a difference if the essay is for college versus for a current class?
What about a child's bar or bar mitzvah speech? How much parental input is ethical?
I'm not suggesting that these gray-area questions have no answer; on the contrary, I believe that they should and do have clear red lines. I'm putting them out there for discussion in order to find those red lines.
Shabbat Shalom
and
Happy Purim
"I can't give you brains, but I'll give you a diploma!"
(Bonus question!!! Who said it?)
So you can imagine how this story came like a bombshell.
Questions come to mind, lots of questions for your table.
Should the ones still in college be expelled?
Should the ones who completed college have their degrees revoked?
Should the students be prosecuted?
That'll larn 'em!
Regardless of the law, what is the moral distinction between bribing a coach to push for your daughter's admission and bribing a property manager to let your cat-owning daughter rent an apartment where pets are not allowed?
How about between bribing a coach covertly and bribing the school overtly by donating a building?
How about between bribing a coach covertly and bribing a congressman overtly by donating to his campaign?
Deepthroat said, "Follow the money."
I've always said, if you want to know what someone truly values, take a look at their credit card statement.
Question for your table: Why?
But let's make this more personal. Where is the red line between ethical and unethical help for a child?
Is it okay to write an essay for a child (or a friend for that matter)? What about editing it? Proofreading? Does it make a difference if the essay is for college versus for a current class?
What about a child's bar or bar mitzvah speech? How much parental input is ethical?
I'm not suggesting that these gray-area questions have no answer; on the contrary, I believe that they should and do have clear red lines. I'm putting them out there for discussion in order to find those red lines.
Shabbat Shalom
and
Happy Purim
"I can't give you brains, but I'll give you a diploma!"
(Bonus question!!! Who said it?)
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