Another businessman has followed in the footsteps of Eugene Lang, who started the I Have a Dream Foundation in New York City that helps pay for the college expenses of disadvantaged children in Harlem.
Patrick Taylor, an oilman in New Orleans, last month told a group of nearly 300 teen-agers that he would pay all college expenses for any who finished school with a B average.
Most of the students he was speaking to at Livingston Middle School in New Orleans were 8th graders who have failed at least twice.
Mr. Taylor, a multimillionaire and chairman of the board of Taylor Energy, said when asked to speak to the group that he thought a speech on the merits of education would not do much good.
“It occurred to me that listening to me would be a frustrating experience for them,’' Mr. Taylor said. “You can’t put something so far away from them and say ‘You can do it, too.’''
Mr. Taylor added that in order to maintain a B average, “you can’t do drugs, you can’t run and play every time you want to, and you can’t be involved in crime.’'
He plans to limit his offer to Lousiana universities and colleges.
Partnerships in Education Journal is launching a national awards program to recognize excellence in partnerships.
The awards program is open to any school, corporation, organization, or association operating an elementary, secondary, or corporate partnership program in this school year.
The competition will be broken down into several categories, including career education, dropout prevention, drug education, literacy, mentor programs, student public service, and teacher recognition.
Entry forms for the awards competition can be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Awards, Partnerships in Education Journal, 1132 Gershwin Drive, Largo, Fla., 536-5454. Entries must be postmarked by May 9.
The National Association for Industry-Education Cooperation also is sponsoring its 24th annual awards competition to recognize outstanding industry-education cooperation in two categories--sponsorship and utilization.
The educational sponsorship award honors a business, trade, or professional organization for creative and effective cooperation with public schools, including postsecondary institutions.
The utilization award recognizes the skill and success of a public-school educator in using industry’s resources.
The deadline for entering the competition is Aug. 31. Those interested may write Walter Purdy, Edison Electric Institute, 1111 19th St., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20036.
