Marine-themed public schools meet resistance

[unhappycamper]

Lance Cpl. Carton Markwood, designated marksman for 2nd Platoon, Company I, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment shows Charles Charest, a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet, the right way to shoot during a visit by Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to Hermitage High School in Richmond, Va., in April 2007. The Corps is leading the charge to boost its presence in high schools around the country, part of a wider Defense Department effort.


Marine-themed public schools meet resistance
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jul 11, 2009 9:02:29 EDT

The Corps is wooing public school districts across the country, expanding a network of military academies that has grown steadily despite criticism that it’s a recruiting ploy.

Marine officials are talking with at least six districts — including in suburban Atlanta, New Orleans and Las Vegas — about opening schools where every student wears a uniform, participates in Junior ROTC and takes military classes, said Bill McHenry, who runs the service’s Junior ROTC program.

Those schools would add to more than a dozen public military academies that have opened nationwide, a trend that’s picking up speed as the Defense Department looks for ways to increase the number of units in Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.

“Many kids in our country don’t get a fair shake. Many kids live in war zones. Many kids who are bright and have so much potential and so much to offer, all they need to be given is a chance,” McHenry said. “If you look at stats, what we’re doing now isn’t working.”

Last year, Congress passed a defense policy bill that included a call for increasing the number of Junior ROTC units across the country from 3,400 to 3,700 in the next 11 years, an effort that will cost about $170 million, Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen M. Lainez said. The process will go faster by opening military academies, which count as four or more units, McHenry said.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/07/marine_jrotc_071109w/



uhc comment: And this is happening under a democratic White House, a democratic Senate and a democratic House. (And yes, the small 'd' was intentional.)

[and-justice-for-all]

1. Holy shit that is a terrible idea.

"The Corps is leading the charge to boost its presence in high schools around the country, part of a wider Defense Department effort." and that is fucking horrible to hear...

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Agree. More people need to know this kind of crap is going on. n/t

[saigon68]

7. Mr Obama apparently agrees with this shit

My Generation had "PROJECT 100,000"

Aptly named as "McNamara's Morons"

A few months after McNamara told Lyndon Johnson that the war was unwinnable, McNamara did his part to make Vietnam America's greatest class war with his brainchild, Project 100,000. At the same time, McNamara knew but remained silent about the highly toxic effects of Agent Orange. What the former Secretary of Defense omits in his book and during his talk show interviews bears review, particularly since there is the danger that the next generation will study McNamara's self-serving version in America's schools.

In 1966, McNamara initiated the "Moron Corps," as they were piteously nicknamed by other soldiers. Billed as a Great Society program, McNamara's Project 100,000 lowered military enlistment requirements to recruit 100,000 men per year with marginal minds and bodies. Recruiters swept through urban ghettos and southern hill country, taking some youths with I.Q.s below what is considered legally retarded.

In all, 354,000 volunteered for Project 100,000. The minimum passing score on the armed forces qualification test had been 31 out of 100. Under McNamara's Project 100,000, those who scored as low as 10 were taken if they lived in a designated "poverty area." In 1969, out of 120 Marine Corps volunteers from Oakland, California, nearly 90 percent scored under 31; more than 70 percent were black or Mexican. Overall, 41 percent of Project 100,000 volunteers were black, compared to 12 percent of the rest of the armed forces. Touted as providing "rehabilitation," remedial education, and an escape from poverty, the program offered a one-way ticket to Vietnam, where these men fought and died in disproportionate numbers. The much-advertised skills were seldom taught.

McNamara called these men the "subterranean poor," as if they lived in caves. In a way they did; their squalid ghettos and Appalachian hill towns were unseen by affluent America. All the better for McNamara and his president Lyndon Johnson. Unmentioned in Project 100,000's lofty sounding goals was the fact that - as protest became the number-one course of study at America's universities - the men of the "Moron Corps" provided the necessary cannon fodder to help evade the political horror of dropping student deferments or calling up the reserves, which were sanctuaries for the lily-white.






Whole story http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n6_v27/ai_17040672/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. The high school he went to had JROTC, and 5-6 years before it was mandatory for male

students for 2 years. I don't think he was part of the unit there.

[underpants]

17. Will they get a co-sponsorship from Taco Bell and Carl's Jr.?

[conspirator]

26. Why not let lamarrie cigarettes sponsor schools as well nt

[Hannah Bell]

2. Training new soldiers for our never-ending war, & police to put down economic riots

in our jobless non-recovery

[ColbertWatcher]

4. k+r, n/t

[TexasObserver]

5. k+r

[DaveinJapan]

6. K&R

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

That is pretty fucking scary!

[old mark]

8. At the same time, they are cutting classes in music, geography and history.

You can graduate high school in PA never having taken a single course in history - it has become part of a "social sciences" requirement, equal to economics, sociology, etc. Georgaphy is not even optional in some places, and music is being discontinued all over the place because it's not necessary.

Last college I went to dropped sociology as a major completely - too "liberal" a subject.
RW/ "Religious" Repubs control the school boards and have infiltrated teaching over the last 30 years.

mark

[Odin2005]

32. Can't have sociology, that would let the rabble see beyond dogmatic tradition and tabooism.

They can't be manipulated and frothed up if we let them learn that! :sarcasm:

[pnwmom]

9. I'm such a west coaster that I thought this thread was going to be about

oceanography.


:silly:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. In CA some teachers don't even like USMC themed clothing

and tried to ban it as part of the dress code. Never made it out of the faculty meeting, but the outrage was amusing to see.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Another reason I am glad the kids in my district wear uniforms

Dressing kids up like soldiers is repulsive.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Uniforms can not be mandatory in CA. Parents can waiver if they choose

The issue at the time was more USMC themed t-shirts, particularly in red with gold artwork.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Our parents can waiver too but none do

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. There are always some that do here...more common in HS than elementary schools

Some CA school have tried to have very restrictive dress codes instead to get around parental waivers but its been blocked by the courts.

[paulsby]

23. my school banned all military themed clothing

but then it was a private school and was within its rights to do so. a public school cannot make such content based decisions. they could have uniforms, otoh but can't ban military stuff cause they don't like it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

37. Private schools can do much that the public cannot. including dress codes

Most of us did not consider it a big deal, but others on the staff were having a hissy fit over it.

[paulsby]

47. public schools CAN (and some do) have dress codes

actually, all have dress codes. they don't allow kids to come to school in bikinis, for example. but you get my point. public schools can even have uniforms. what they cannot do is make content based decisions like "we don't like military stuff, so military themed clothes are out" etc. the cases that are tougher are when schools censor certain clothing messages which according to case law they can do if they reasonably suspect it will be disruptive. a perfect example would be a t-shirt that said "hitler was right". clearly, that shirt would be legal in public, but not in public school.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

48. My bad, I meant uniforms, and California they cannot be mandatory in public schools

Parents can opt out with a signature. Sort of defeats the purpose.

Some schools tried strict dress codes but after the courts found they were uniforms and spanked a school, they backed off. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/21/TIGGER.TMP

[paulsby]

53. yea. i had heard that about cali

fwiw, many people here frequently look to europe for guidance (i don't, but...). many public school systems in the EU require uniforms. i am NOT for uniforms in public schools, fwiw, although i wouldn't be against it for certain magnet/charter public schools. schools also have "issues" with "gang attire" because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish what is and isn't. i know many schools for instance ban bandans, for instance
. that has generally been held up as constitutional.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

55. Students always push the limits and sometimes administrators go to far in restrictions

A high school teacher in the family has stories about how the administrators have told them to pressure students with dress code waivers to conform anyway, claiming its disrespectful not to wear them. As if there is not enough herd mentality in the schools already. Last year there was an active movement by the senior class to all get waivers. Administration went bonkers and let people know there would be consequences if that happened. About half did at the start of the year, increasing to 3/4 by the end of the term. However, most stuck with the uniform. The class also

When I was still teaching high school business casual was becoming common and whether to require ties for male teachers was a hot topic. Its not just the students who have to put up with that kind of nonsense.

[KittyWampus]

18. I was in for the same shock.

[surrealAmerican]

19. I thought the same thing, and I'm no west coaster.

That would have been a pretty neat idea, this isn't.

[yorgatron]

22. me too!

op should change the title of this thread to "Jarhead-themed public schools meet resistance"

[XemaSab]

50. And I was like

"Hey, yeah, teaching kids about the ocean sounds really cool! They could have classes in marine life, classes in climatology, the kids could all go out on a boat and look at whales..." :D

[pnwmom]

56. Maybe this should be our next charter school? n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

52. I thought Orcas were going to factor in somehow.

[XemaSab]

58. They're super rare in California

I have been offshore maybe 15 times, and I have never seen them. :(

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. You can thank Arne Duncan

He loves military schools in low income communities.

[ColbertWatcher]

27. Just another reason not to trust Mr. Privatization. n/t

[rucky]

20. I don't see anything wrong with this.

Some kids - not me - but some kids thrive in this type of environment.

[Hippo_Tron]

29. It's a difficult question for me

I agree that some kids do indeed thrive in this type of structured environment. Unfortunately there is no question whatsoever that it is indeed a recruiting ploy. I have no problem with people deciding to join the military but the military shouldn't be indoctrinating 12 and 13 year olds to become future soldiers.

One thing I would point out is that I went to fairly wealthy suburban private school for a semester and many of my friends were in JROTC. They loved that program but not a single one of them went to a military academy, enlisted, or did ROTC in college. If they aren't specifically targeting low income kids then maybe I would feel a little better about this.

[Vidar]

21. Fodder for cannon.

[Vinca]

24. Oops - I thought you meant they studied tides and fish.

[conspirator]

25. dumbing the cannon fodder of tomorrows wars nt

[baldguy]

28. Der Jugendbund

[Brooklyns_Finest]

30. Awesome

I wish they would open one in NYC. I would love to get my nephew in one of these academies. Far better than the crap schools that most kids have to go to these days.

Semper Fi

[Odin2005]

33. You want your nephew to be fodder for fascists?

I think you are on the wrong message board.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

34. My whole family is military

Someone has to do this job. Apparently, you certainly won't.

As for what board I belong on, this is democratic underground right? If being anti-Marine Corps or the military in general is the litmus test to fit in here, then maybe I don't. Unfortunately for you that is not the case.

[Odin2005]

36. Anything millitary should be a child-free zone.

Wait until they are adults and LET THEM DECIDE if they want to serve their country in a military form, this kind of stuff is just indoctrinating kids.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

39. College

Parents talk to their kids about college from the day the kid reaches kindergarten. What is the difference? So many kids are told that college is the key to life and many leave school with a boatload of debt and no job in sight.

As for me? I enjoyed the military, and would love for my kin to have the same experience. My sister doesn't particularly like it, but every time I get a chance, I tell her boys about my times in the Corps. Nobody is going to force these kids to join these schools. If a child is forced, I doubt they will last long.

Also, most of these academies do not require the student to join the armed forces once they have graduated. Seems like a good deal to me. Ever been to a public school lately? Those places can be quite scary. Trust me, I know, I am a product of the NYC school system.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

42. I could see supporting such academies as some sort of special interest/no geographical borders

public school. Certainly ample precedent in the larger school systems. I am sure a few will pop up as charter schools as well.

One of my kids used the military to defray college expenses and get specific career training that she wanted. Worked out well for her. Others I know have gone in as enlisted to get training and skills that work well when they get out. A few went career. It really does help mature them.

College no longer assures a better life and higher incomes. I am a believer in technical training and trade school for those without a bent for college after high school. I also encourage *some* students to look at the military as well. My best story is about a daughter of a good friend. She got good grades in high school but had a 1.5 college GPA on a good day. She did 4 years in the USAF and after that I helped in get back into college. 3.9 GPA in some seriously tough classes. She really grew up and it shows. Its not for everyone, but it helps many.

[Odin2005]

31. This is wrong on SOOOO many levels.

Teens should be learning the latest in science, technology, and community organizing, not the latest in how to kill people. If they want to serve their country in a military form let them wait until they are adults and can make their own choices.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. Teaching kids how to kill for the politicians. Expendable cannon-fodder.

But, the politicians and generals will build them a pretty monument and weep in front of it before sending the next batch of meat off to the next war.

[kenny blankenship]

38. All they need is a special armband.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. As in the Tinker decision?

[kenny blankenship]

41. Was that a case of expression of free speech, or showing membership in a paramilitary organization?

Could be apples to oranges.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

43. It was about free speech and rights of expression of students

It was the black armband protest.

[kenny blankenship]

44. Right, soooo....you have an apple

What has that to do with the orange under discussion here?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

45. Its more a case of do you have a sense of humor...

I took your post as a pun and indirect reference to Tinker.

[kenny blankenship]

54. My apologies then for misconstruing the nub of your gist

I was being sarcastic, but I was not alluding to Vietnam era armbands.

[Liberal_in_LA]

46. I had hoped your thread title referred to a sea themed school. No such luck.

The military should stay out of schools below high school level

[pnwmom]

57. So did a bunch of us.

See post 9, above, and the responses.

Maybe it's an idea whose time has come!

[conspirator]

49. Caption: "Now, just imagine you are shooting a brown guy to steal his oil" nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

51. Many kids _do_ need to be given a chance but it should be one where

training for war isn't a part of it.