One in 10 public high school students in Chicago wears a military uniform to school and takes classes -- including how to shoot a gun properly -- from retired veterans.
That number is expected to rise as junior military reserve programs expand across the country now that a congressional cap of 3,500 units has been lifted from the nearly century-old scheme.
Proponents talk about discipline and pride. Opponents talk about the "militarization" of children or some similar complaint. Neither side talks about student performance.
I did enjoy this section of the quoted article:
"Here there's discipline, but there's freedom as well. Everybody just respects each other and we get respect from the teachers."
Standing with her hands clasped firmly behind her back, Coleman wrinkles her nose at the thought of enlisting and explains that she wants to be a mathematician. She enrolled in the Marine academy because she thought it would help her get into college.
Yes, they're really brainwashing that young lady. Riiiiiight.
Well, of course the critics of ROTC programs and military schools are absolutely correct. Why, imagine the consequences for society if children were taught to be punctual, polite, disciplined, intellectually and physically capable and focused, capable ot taking competent direction and of giving it, and, worst of all, imagine the horror of a generation of children who became--gasp!--patriotic and thankful for the extraordinary opportunities America provides. They might even be willing, God forbid, to do what is necessary to see that future generations have those same opportunities.
ReplyDeleteThe mind boggles.
Mike is exactly correct ...
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have gone to one of these high schools ... sophomore year i even tried to move to carlsbad for the Army-Navy Academy but it cost 12,000 a year :(
Brook
I have always wondered about the motivation of people who want to establish military type high schools for black students.
ReplyDeleteWhy do blacks need to learn about marching (the equivalent of dancing), Calling jodies (the equivalent of singing), and shining shoes in order to learn at the high school level.
No one ever proposes a military high school for Asian students. They propose science and technology high schools with entrance exams.
Maybe the enter city needs to academic schools based on entrance exams instead of more step and fetch it high schools.
I would've loved going to a military academy. Nothing will, or could have influenced me to join the military out of high school, or even out of undergraduate, but even still.
ReplyDeleteHere we go with the "step n fetch it" again.
ReplyDeleteNo one has created military schools for "black kids". They've created military schools in areas where an emphasis on discipline, respect, pride, and achievement appear to be needed. If that happens to be where the black students are, then so be it.
Oakland Military Institute draws from Oakland, which has a large black population. It also has a large Asian population. Have you checked out the last names of the OMI student body lately?
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ReplyDeleteanonymous, it's time for you to visit Maddie again.
ReplyDeleteI will not post your anti-American, anti-military snark here. If you say something that seems like it might have some modicum of intellectual value, I may consider posting it. Until then, I'm not going to provide you a venue for spewing hatred, venom, bile, and stupidity. Start your own blog for that, or go visit the KosKids (if you're not already a registered user).
To my other readers: I have no doubt I'll get more comments from anonymous, directed at me personally, because he knows I won't post them. When he's liberal enough to come out of the closet and discuss like a man, using intellect and logic instead of innuendo and snark and name-calling, I'll consider posting his comments. Until then, he's on time-out.
You're expecting a liberal to use logic? Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteWhile military schools aren't necessarily a one-way surefire ticket to college, these institutions still help their students to be equipped for further education.
ReplyDelete