Get Schooled

By V for Vendetta

September 18, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

I cant stress what a FANTASTIC idea this is. Assuming the applicant is qualified and adheres to the same standards as everyone else, he should be a more than affective teacher. We have a former Ranger as an administrator at my school and he is the BEST. The kids are deathly afraid of him (he is not afraid to raise his voice when necessary) and overall, is by far the best of all our administrators.

Too often troops come from the armed forces and have a difficult time finding a decent job. This program gives them the chance to not only have a good job, but make a positive impact in a profession that so desperately needs it.

By SNY

September 18, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, there is wayyyyy toooo many much red tape to use this program. You have to have served at least 6 years in the military and be willing to committ yourself to 3 more years in order for them to help you with this program. It is absolutely stupid. I’d rather go the GATAPP way. Just my opinion.

By Dragonlady

September 18, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

The idea that military people will be better disciplinarians in the classroom (than civilian teachers?) is not necessarily true. Even the military people will not last if the administraters continually undercut everything they try to do. Without administrations support, all hope for discipline is lost, military or not.

By OldSchool

September 18, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Think in terms of vocational education. These men and women have been trained in many areas that could translate into excellent vocational classes. Communications, vehicle repair and maintenance, computers, even law enforcement and fitness are all possibilities. Many high school programs are staffed by people hired out of industry (in the heyday of comprehensive high schools, all vocational instructors were hired straight out of industry, put through the New Teacher Institute for 6 weeks, and sent into the classroom.) and hiring people out of the military for their expertise in specific training areas would be just the same. All new teachers need a support system for the first few years, regardless of their background. Those not truly meant to teach will move on. Those who can adapt and thrive will stay.

I do not know if there would be successes in the academic areas but I’d venture a guess that there would. We have several former military and former police officers successfully teaching in our area in both vocational and academic classes.

By jim d

September 18, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

Old school,

Right you are. I know of one that works a really tough school in Dekalb that has proven he’s crazy enough to teach by jumping out of perfectly good air planes while he was in the service.

Ya gotta be insane to do either one.

By Former military

September 18, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

It is always assumed that military people are only skilled and educated in “vocational areas”. My educational path led me through the Nuclear Power and Propulsion program; which condensed a 4 year college Physics, Mathematics and Engineering curriculum into six months. I also completed various advanced electronics and instructor courses. I now work in the IT industry and will stack my education and instructional skills up against any traditional current educator in any school system. I have a 13 year old 8th grader and cannot believe that these teachers teach (or not) what and the way that they do; when I am answering homework questions.

Even though teachers make no money, I actually considered it at one point, because I truly wanted to do it. But SNY is right, the red tape was just too much. Also, there seems to be too many stipulations on getting the grants to do so; and unfortunately I have a mortgage to pay.

By OldSchool

September 18, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

We had a former Marine as an assistant band director. He was tough as nails and the kids loved him. Step out of line and he’d make you drop and give him 20. They did it without question because he was as fair as he was tough and the kids knew he loved every one of them.

I’m not saying everyone is cut out to be a teacher, regardless of their background, but given the chance and the support of veteran teachers AND the right subject area, it really can work.

By OldSchool

September 18, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this

Former military, I suppose I was not very clear. I never assumed that any military personnel were “only skilled and educated in “vocational areas” even though my post sounded that way. I also do not know how much “red tape” is involved in getting certified to teach in areas other than vocational. I also cannot imagine anyone with your credentials considering teaching instead of a much better paying position in the private sector.

What I do know is that the New Teacher Institute gets its teachers up and running and, for the most part, they stay in teaching. I’m getting the idea that most of the red tape is in getting the money to pay for any required coursework to get certified.

I also know that 80% of the jobs out there require technical training and only 20% require a college degree. Also, some have stated that a Bachelors degree is the equivalent of a high school diploma these days and that a Masters is the new Bachelors. I also know that, throughout my 33 years of teaching vocational education, our programs have help keep kids in school because they see and apply their academic skills in our hands-on courses every day. That helps to cement those skills into employability traits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Couple that kind of across the curriculum training with the discipline/self-discipline instilled by the military and I think you would have an amazing teacher…vocational or academic.

By Jeff

September 18, 2006 05:08 PM | Link to this

I talked a LOT to the JROTC instructors at my last school, since their office was just outside my class and their classroom was just above mine. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I RARELY had any problems from their students… they knew I would send them to Gunny, because he had TOLD me to do it.

From an academic stand point…. they don’t exactly accept just anyone, and those they do accept they train to some of the highest standards known to exist in this country. Even Marines - the branch that all the others like to deride when it comes to intelligence - are more highly qualified than some teachers I know.

Personally, I like having former Marines around as teachers…. it lets me know that I’ll have some competent - and quite possibly even better than me, certainly more in-shape - backup if something goes down the drain security-wise.

Most teachers are clueless or know just enough to get themselves killed when it comes to two areas: security and technology….

By teach overseas

September 18, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this

I agree with Dragonlday- it doesn’t matter how tough they (or anyone for that matter) is- without the support of the admin- their authority is nil. And while the “drop and give me 20” sounds good- it’s actually completely illegal to punish any student by forcing them to do some sort of physical activity. Teachers are not permitted to make students clean desks or wash blackboards, clean tables or bathrooms. I would even hesitate at having a student stand for the class period. That band director might love those students, but have one parent complain and no principal would stand behind him. Most likely there would be a letter in his file for “abuse of power”. He would probably be asked to apologise to the student and their family.

By OldSchool

September 18, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

My dear fellow bloggers, may I please explain myself and my use of the term “vocational?” When I entered Georgia Southern in the late 60s, “Vocational” was a rather derogatory term. It was reserved for those who “worked with their hands” and was not deemed worthy of any sort of esteem. During my college days, that view changed. As an Industrial Arts major, I was there when the “World of Work” and “There Is Dignity In All Work” became the clarion call to action. Over my years of teaching and working in industry, I’ve seen the elegant melding of traditional academic courses and vocational training into the highly skilled, highly technical courses that exist and can exist in today’s high schools.

Although we are again moving away from the “vocational” label, it is for very different reasons. Our courses are now “Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education” courses and they are a world away from the old trade school classes. I continue to use the term “vocational” is simply because it is descriptive and more easily recognized & understood than CTAE. Nothing more. I am as proud to be called a “vocational instructor” as I am “CTAE instructor.” If my use of the “V” word insults anyone, I apologize but do not claim to understand why it would.

Take a step back and look at every job, every career around you. More likely than not, they involve some level of technical (vocational if you will) training…from skill it took for me to get to my school this morning to the “housekeeping tasks” required to get my day underway to the typing I sit here doing now.

By SET

September 18, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

This is an amusing thought. I’d not known enlisted people have the academics to serve as a teacher in public schools. Military Officers, yes.

The real resource would be retired police officers. In CA Peace Officers normally retire with full benefits at 30 years service - so they begin their careers at 21 and retire at 51. A larger percentage of these candidates have 2 and 4 year degrees (than military enlisted men). Even better - they are combat trained and are highly skilled on when it’s permissible to cripple or kill people. Plus they are experienced in writing reports explaining how it was necessary to thump someone. They are very experienced in profiling, druggie and gang recognition. They even know many of the hoodlum families and neighborhoods in their towns.

They are perfect for urban secondary schools. We should do all we can to recruit peace officer retirees for teaching. Their presence would make the entire campus that much safer for the workers (teachers).

By 30 Year Teacher

September 18, 2006 06:16 PM | Link to this

I have known some officers that have become teachers. (I am a military wife.) Almost without exception they were in culture shock upon entering the classroom. Reason? In the military, orders are obeyed immediately; in the classroom, orders are questioned, refused, and often include complaints by parents to administrators, etc. Many of these fine men washed their hands and left after the first year. I agree with SET that the majority of enlisted personnel do not have bachelors degrees. I must admit I would love to see a first sargeant in action when some of our more delightful kids told him “no”. :>)

Most military officers can find retirement occupations that are more lucrative (including my full colonel husband) than teaching. He has watched me for 30 years and I imagine teaching in public schools would be the last thing he’d consider although he does teach graduate classes at out local university and loves it.