Dear Principal/Faculty:

ANNOUNCING AN ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION FOR CURRENT STUDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHO WILL BE COLLEGE-BOUND IN 2010.

The Henry George School of Social Science was established in 1932 under a charter granted by the University of the State of New York.

Since 1932, tens of thousands of students have taken courses in economics and social philosophy at the Henry George School, gaining insights into the nature of society and practical solutions for our seemingly intractable social problems. Classes, offered in English, French and Spanish, attract students from all occupations, all levels of academic achievement and all areas of the city. The school is located on 30th Street, between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue; two short blocks from the Lexington Avenue, IRT stop at 28th Street.

Many students at the Henry George School have already studied economics and found many questions unanswered. The latest economic crisis confirms these shortcomings.

We refer to our courses as "political economy", rather than the current "economics", to stress our search for basic principles, true in all places and times, upon which a clear understanding of economic behavior can be built. This solid foundation is necessary for understanding any science. This work is vitally important because political economy affects every person, every day - it is the science of how people make a living.

The basic questions that Henry George sought to answer are still with us: Why in spite of all the inventions, innovations and marvelous increases in productivity, do wages lag? Why are so many people who are willing and able to work, unable to exchange their labor for the products of other people's labor? Henry George approached the problem with clear logic and he advanced a practical solution.

The Henry George School started as part of a movement that sought to establish fundamental economic justice and sustainable prosperity for all. The School was inspired by Henry George's classic work, Progress and Poverty "An inquiry into the cause of industrial depressions and the increase of want with the increase of wealth" which was a runaway bestseller and one of the most widely read books on political economy.

The Essay Competition

The School is announcing an essay competition. The prizes will be a First Prize of $7,500 and a Second Prize of $2,500. The details are contained in the enclosed announcement. Any 2010 college-bound high school students attending high school in New York City are eligible to enter the competition. Work must be of high quality and substantial in both content and execution. Considering the generous amount of the prize, we are sure you would expect no less.

The main source document for the essay will be the book Progress and Poverty by Henry George. The book is available in hard copy from the school or on-line. There are two versions of the book. The original edition, and an abridged edition published in 2007 and either version may be used.

We would be grateful if you could post the announcement and notify your teachers.

We believe that not only the winners of this competition but also those who participate will benefit from this essay experience and your school will enjoy the attention it deserves when your talented students participate in this competition.

We plan a schedule of events and ceremonies announcing the winner of the contest. Please contact me by phone or e-mail if you have questions about the contest or the School.

Sincerely Yours,
Cay Hehner, Ph.D.
Director of Education

TEL: 212-889-8020
  chehner.hengeoschool@att.net