Lala and DeMinimis Malice Bi-Weekly Reader Foundation
February 2005
Concerned that American public education now contains, in his apt phrase, "too many chiefs and not enough Indians," Malice Foundation chief grants officer Richard Lame announced a new funding priority: "the theory and practice of followership" in K-12 education. "All sorts of funders are supporting so-called 'leadership' initiatives," Lame remarked. "But we think a foundation should focus on the realities of public education, on reaching educators where they are, so we're going to shift our grant making toward studies in followership." Malice (slogan: "Deflating Hearts and Removing Spines") expects to pour at least $57 million over the next five years into "Following for the Future," which will include an annual "Lemming of the Year" award for the most conventional educator in America. Said Lame, "It's about time we recognized the teachers and principals who bravely do what they're told, nod gratefully at their ed school professors, and leave school grounds the minute their contract allows." While the Malice Foundation's initiative elicited quick praise from the American Association of School Administrators and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, doubts were voiced by at least one other prominent education philanthropist. Los Angeles tycoon Weely Narrow scoffed that the Malice Foundation initiative is "like throwing bad money after good. People need to learn that America needs education leaders, meaning, educators who follow me." You can find grant guidelines here.
- John VanderB??ot