The Education Wonks
Just what we don't need for school aged children, a school were singing (calling Jodies), dancing (precision marching, and shining shoes is more important that academy classes.
I wonder how many public high schools (or junior highs or elementary schools) received this much glowing press this year?
We have Project Challenge out here in Arizona. It is based on the military school model, and there is a "subtle" push toward getting their graduates into the armed forces. It's a fairly successful program. I've seen a few former students go through it. For those that succeed, it is a positive transformation.
The army-style discipline isn't the most important part of the program, although it is important for them to internalize rules, discipline, etc.
What makes Project Challenge work is that it is a residential program. If more programs would adopt this aspect of education (removing the students from their current environment) more would be successful.
The kids can quit at any time, too, which adds to their success. Only thestrong survive, only the motivated stay.
Still, it is a great program.
I think that this is a great idea. We need more discipline. When I have kids one day and they start misbehaving, it's off to military school they go.
Lack of discipline doesn't help anyone. It just ends up in the decline of society.
As a former member of the military, I understand what it means to be given discipline. I also realized that during my time in the service that it wasn't to be my career - knowing what not to do was almost as valuable as learning what I did want to do.
In a time where young men and women think that being on Jerry Springer is a rite of passage into adulthood, perhaps a little respect for kids isn't such a bad idea. Respect others and they will respect you. And maybe even stay in shape along the way...
superdestroyer, here we go again.
Where is it said that calling cadence, shining shoes, and marching will be more important than academics?
Why can't these things augment the academics by instilling a sense of discipline and pride?
Darren,
Since you have been in the Army you have to realize that marching, calling cadence, and appearance in uniform has a different meaning for blacks than for whites. Taking a bunch of rich, white punks and instilling some discipline is one thing. Yet, establishing a school where students will have the shoes checked everyday, where students who cannot sing Jodies will be looked down upon, and where "leadership" will be rewarded is just an invitation to reproduce the dismal academic performance of the Historically black universities.
If uniforms and discipline are such great ideas then why don't they use them at Andover or Sidwell Friends?
I assume they don't use uniforms or discipline at Andover or Sidwell Friends because they think they're above such things. When the President's daughter attends your school....
Your comment about "meaning different things to blacks than to whites" is the most non-subtle racism I've seen in awhile. I wasn't some rich white punk. Far from it, in fact. And yet I love calling a good cadence, still try to look nice when go to work, and still like the smell of a good shoe polish (even though I shine my dress shoes about once a year now). And if you don't think these things work for anyone, or that blacks react differently to them, check out the Oakland Military Institute--instituted against all odds by Oakland Mayor (and former California governer Jerry Brown).
This is not just about standing at attention, singing or having one's shoes shined, it also involves routine. Students tend to be more comfortable when they know what to expect. IIRC, I have read that in the states where they have "boot camp" programs for younger offenders of the laws of the state, the discipline and routine helped more of them stay outta trouble than just tossing them into a juvenile hall type facility that was not as demanding or structured. IF society wants the schools to be everything for their kids, to me, everything includes routine and discipline.
I'll bet if any California school district tried to impliment a "military school" type of school, there would be some requirement about 'self esteem' and values of diversity, etc.....
The Folsom-Cordova school district in suburban Sacramento used to have (don't know if they still do) an "opportunity school" out at the former Mather AFB. It was a "last chance" school before being expelled from the district. Boot camp model.
Don't know how much self-esteem training they had there! I always tell people:
Self-esteem is the *result* of achievement, not the cause of it.
Darren,
I sure that Matthew Lee Whitney High School, Cerritos California would be a much better place if they made all of the Asian kids stand around in uniforms and shine their shoes.
To be the most racism I see is rich whites telling blacks that the way to get ahead is to shine shoes and dance while the Asian kids are sitting in Calculus class.
If you want a better high school just let all schools do like the military schools, exclude the trouble makers, special ed, and the delinquints and really teach everybody else. Then you can like the Jodie singing and the shoe polish at home.
My son attends a private school that uses a military system of leadership. He was a top student before he went there, and he is a top student today as well. Why does the poster above have to set up a false dichotomy between shoe shining (that is, attention to detail in one's appearance) and the study of calculus (attention to detail in an academic endeavor)? To my mind, the two reinforce each other in the habits they encourage.
My son finishes up the third term of his first year at this school tomorrow. He says he can't imagine going to school anywhere else.
By the way, we're white. The person my son respects most is the captain of his unit, a young black man who is certainly going to do great things in the world.
Not only a proud mom, but a good mom, too.
Your insight is valuable.
And a personal observation.
I graduated from West Point. We called cadence when marching, shined our shoes and brass, wore uniforms--and received one of the most rigorous educations around! I graduated with a degree in mathematics (focus on applied math) and probably have enough engineering/science courses to have received at least a minor in engineering at any other college.
Military training and academics are not mutually exclusive. In fact, as proud mom said, they're reinforcing.
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