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Comment by jamess | Hacker News Reader

Have you tried the simplest possible means, merely asking them? Ask students who want the scholarship to apply, and discourage those who already have the means to pay from applying. Then simply award the scholarship to the most able from the group of applicants. Am I being naive in believing that this trivial solution works reasonably well in most other such situations?

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They will all say yes. It's free money in a poor country, who would say no?

Are you sure that's not a bias you're bringing to the situation? I fail to see how it being a "poor country" comes in to the matter at all. You could say the same about any country, that people aren't going to turn down "free money" but in reality they do, on a daily basis. Do you have any evidence to suggest that this is the case, or is that just a knee jerk reaction?

Yes, I have a lot of experience, and it most certainly won't work. Not only that, it's children between 6 and 12. They are not going to make rational decisions.

As I understand it, your position is:

1. they will not turn down free money

2. not turning down free money would be rational

3. they are not going to make rational decisions

Surely all three of these cannot be true? Or do I misunderstand you?

Okay, don't try to confuse me with logic :) Fact is - asking the students does not work. It has been tried, it does not work, they just take everything they can get.

This is an amazing statement. It is sad that those who want something can't get it, while at the same time those who are offered many chances take those chances for granted.

My comment is meant to be a blow to the children of the United States. I went through the U.S. public education system. I could never figure out why so many people chose not to take advantage of the education the state was required to offer.

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