A Helping Hand, or Indentured Servitude?

U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat from Maryland, reminds readers of the Washington Post in a letter to the editor that he wrote legislation last year aimed at giving young nonprofit employees a break on their college loans:

Last fall, Congress enacted the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which makes college more affordable. Within this law is a measure that brings special relief to those who enter the nonprofit world. This provision, also known as the Education for Public Service Act, will allow graduates with direct federal loans and consolidated federal loans to obtain immediate reductions in their monthly payments as well as loan forgiveness after 10 years in public service.

Linking loan forgiveness to a decade in the nonprofit sector will not only help build careers, it will create future leaders in the field.

Um, 10 years? Good luck selling a 22-year-old on the notion that she’s required to do 10 days of something, let alone 10 years, in order to reap its benefits. | 501(c)