See, That Right There …

( – promoted by Nightprowlkitty)

I have a friend at work whose young daughter started a bit of a trend with us.

She saw her older brother doing something wrong  and she pointed to him and said, “see, that right there … you have to change your attitude!”  So now whenever something idiotic happens at work, the “management” does its usual bad job, we say “see, that right there …” and add whatever comment we have.

From Woman of Color Blog brownfemipower tell us:

Chicago Military Public Schools Draw Mixed Reactions

Yes, you read that right, the U.S. military is running four Chicago public schools. And it’s actually fucking *debated* on NPR on whether or not this is ‘ok’.
via NPR
Tell Me More, October 23, 2007 · Chicago Public Schools is allowing the United States military to run four of its schools. The decision is raising question about what involvement, if any, the armed forces should have in educating Chicago’s children. The relative of a middle-schooler who currently attends one of the city’s military education programs, is joined by a vocal critic of the concept. They share differing views.

From The Chicago Tribune (warning, PDF):

CPS Daily Clips
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Copyright 2007 Chicago Tribune Company
October 15, 2007

Reading, writing, recruiting? Debate rages as city’s newest facility is dedicated
By: Stephanie Banchero and Carlos Sadovi

Chicago Public Schools , which already has the largest junior military reserve program in the nation, on Monday will commission the country’s first public high school run by the U.S. Marines, much to the chagrin of activists who have fought to keep the armed services out of city schools.

The dedication of the Marine Military Academy on the Near West Side comes a few days after Chicago officials announced plans to open an Air Force academy high school in 2009. If that happens, Chicago will become the only public school district in the nation to have academies dedicated to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

District officials say the military-themed schools give students more choices and provide an opportunity to enroll in schools that provide structure, discipline and a focus on leadership. They say the schools emphasize academics, not recruitment. “We have to think outside the box, and what existed before simply did not work for far too many students,” said Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan. “These schools are popular and have waiting lists, so that tells me parents want more of them.”

But critics argue the military academies and other district Junior ROTC programs unfairly target poor and minority teenagers for military service.

“We’re already the most militarized school system in the nation, and the [district] officials just keep opening more programs, as if they have no problem being a recruitment tool for the military,” said Brian Roa, a member of the National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth and a science teacher at Senn High School on the North Side. Senn shares a building with Rickover Naval Academy. “Chicago Public Schools should be in the business of educating children, not finding ways to indoctrinate them into the military.”

Nearly a century old, The Junior ROTC was created in 1916 as a way to develop citizenship in teenagers. It grew incrementally for decades until the 1990s, when it dramatically expanded. Today,about 500,000 students are enrolled in high school military programs nationwide. Chicago has the nation’s largest junior cadet program.

…

“This is not a recruiting tool, but a way to help students succeed at whatever career they might choose,” said Army Lt. Col. Rick Mills, who oversees the district’s JROTC. “We intend to use the academies to take students who perform in the middle range and use the military model to enhance their postsecondary education.”

…

Many of the students interviewed at the naval high school, which opened two years ago, said they chose the school for its focus on discipline. Most said they do not intend to enlist.

Natassa Bourkas, a 16-year-old who plans to attend college, said she hopes she will stand out from other students applying to colleges.

“When people see that we went to a military school, they know we’re obedient, we follow directions, we’re disciplined,” said the student, who plans to become a pediatric cardiologist.

…

But despite a stated focus on college prep, the city’s military academies have had mixed academic records since the first academy opened in 2000.

Pass rates on the 2006 high school state exam range from about 9 percent to 30 percent at the military academies, compared with the district’s average of 32 percent. None of the academies met federal No Child Left Behind testing standards last year.

See, that right there … that attitude.

Since when is the military the only source to learn discipline and values?  This is the best we can come up with?  Leaving aside the obvious, that these kids are being targeted to be military cannonfodder, leaving aside that the results are not terribly impressive when it comes to test scores, is this how low we have sunk?  Do we really find the military culture to be the best when it comes to educating our children?

It was sad reading about this, seeing the hopes of both parents and children, the myth of military school being for the elite and somehow that will rub off on their own schooling.  Yes, this is how far we have sunk.  See, that right there … that attitude.

Browsing through the diversosphere, I found an amazing video, a poetry performance from Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai.  (h/t to angry asian man).  It’s entitled By-Standing: The Beginning of an American Lifetime:

I dunno, it seemed a great response to those who think the military would do a good job of running our high schools.  I like this woman’s stuff.  See, that right there … that attitude … it’s good!