The ease with which Zander - or really, anyone in politics - speaks of money is extremely foreign to Elinor. There was a point their own father might've been the type of person to just throw money at a problem until it went away, but it had been a long time since that era of their childhood. City-wide spending was another ballpark entirely of course, and Elinor found themself a little stunned to imagine having any control over the budgets like this, even if Zander was only posing a hypothetical.
"I think you misunderstand, I'm not referring to the city's finances, it's the financial constraints that something like college tuition puts on families. Unfortunately, that's more of a personal problem for a lot of them, and each case is different," While the school could certainly use more money too, the matter Elinor was arguing was more of a social issue with helping young people believe in their own city.
Honestly, Elinor didn't think they would even get this far They're surprised Zander hasn't cut them off yet. This is good though, it's exactly what they prepared for.
"So, if the economic issues of our student's families can't be helped in the short term, I can imagine a few options helping the students we have in our senior classes going forward. For one thing, a scholarship fund is something that's hasn't been a possibility in decades and would certainly provide some financial relief. But if that's too big of an ask, I would love to think of options for reinstating hard skill classes, like home repairs or garage work. We don't even have the career skills curriculum, or frankly, the time to teach things like resume building and interview skills."
That the issue posed is that the gravest struggle the students of Godscobh and their families are facing is that of a lack of means with which to afford their higher education is a realization that had not occurred to him immediately but one that, now that it has, appears to him to be as easily resolved as the matter of the funding, or the lack thereof, of local schools — but the solution to this is one that he wishes to hear coming from them, not from himself.
Despite his request that they be frank with him, in his eyes, it almost seems that they are still reluctant to speak in his presence. That they believe that simply because he holds all of the power and authority that he does, he will dismiss them out of hand — and they are not entirely wrong to be reticent because he might have, had they not made a compelling enough case as to why he should continue to listen to what they have to say.
A scholarship fund. Now that can be easily arranged by a man of his means, but what did they have in mind, exactly?
A more generous sum for the few in the form of a merit grant for only those select students who prove themselves gifted enough to earn the town’s support? A lesser sum for the many, in the form of a stipend for each and every student who graduates from the local high schools, so long as they commit themselves to the continued pursuit of their education or professionalization, in whatever form that takes for them? Something else entirely?
“I would like to hear more about your scholarship idea. Reiterating, once more, that this is under the assumption that money is no object of concern as to this plan of yours, how would you see that implemented? What safeguards would you put in place to ensure that the most students become successful and these funds are not misappropriated or misused?”
@spendfcrever
