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It should come as no surprise to anyone who has spoken with me or read some of the other pieces that I have had the privilege of posting that education is something that I feel extremely passionate about. In fact, I would go so far as to say that education ranks right up there with my passion for writing, service to my country, and love for the Constitution of the United States and everything that it provides. Why exactly would education rank so high up there in things that I value? Simply put, education is the basic foundation for those other things that I have listed. Without a proper education, one is unable to utilize the written word. Without a proper education, one cannot properly serve in any branch of the military or law enforcement (contrary to popular belief). Lastly, and most importantly, without a proper education, one is unable to understand, abide by, and protect the Constitution of the United States; this fact seems ever more evident by the masses of ignorant young people and their radically unhinged and politically motivated leadership.
I previously wrote a piece that really maligned what has so far been my experience at a university. I could go on to elaborate even further about the shortfalls of the college education provided in this country, possibly for eternity, but I would rather take aim at a different aspect of our education system. As previously stated, young people show up ill-prepared for what they should be expected to do once they arrive at college. Why is this? Well, we can point fingers at government regulations (ie “No Child Left Behind”), or ‘teaching to tests’, or funding, and, in all honesty, any one of these could very well be accurately blamed for one negative aspect of our system or another. What about just the people teaching our kids?
We hear all the time about the professors at universities but it is very seldom that we look at the people at the elementary, middle, and high school levels – unless there happens to be a scandal involving sexual misconduct (which is an issue of a whole other kind) – but take a moment to think about these people.
I am going to speak in generalities. Young people these days have little to no discipline, no work ethic, believe that they should receive unearned benefits and or rewards, and seem to have the worst time regulating their emotions (so much so that “trigger warnings” have become common practice in many places). Who can the education system turn to in order to make drastic improvements to these circumstances? Why, the last time that I had an issue with any of these things was prior to my experience in basic training!
Noncommissioned officers, not just drill sergeants, are specially adapted to developing functional and well-adapted youth that are prepared to take on the difficulties associated with the real world. Day in and day out, NCOs across the military are constantly dealing with young men and women ranging in ages starting at 17; who is to say that these professionals could not adapt to perform the same miracles with young people only slightly younger? Counseling, personal and professional development, and teaching (training) are all tools that any NCO worth their salt has at their disposal. In addition, NCOs promote discipline in various ways, understand the need for proper levels of encouragement, and instill values into those under their charge. Are these not the exact qualities that we wish for our young people?
Everyone has heard the saying “those who cannot do teach”. The fact is that this has been the case for far too long. When you have a generation of people who cannot do anything, teaching kids who will in turn not be able to do anything, you end up with a large portion of a generation essentially crippled. We can see this right now. A generation of young adults looking for handouts, free stuff, and government assistance because they have been taught, for ages, by people who could barely do anything for themselves (or at least were so inept that they could do almost nothing of novel value). We have people going into disciplines like “gender studies” in which lies a future of absolutely nothing. Can anyone please tell me exactly what someone with a PhD in gender studies does for society besides teach other people who are going for a degree in that area? Of course you can’t because there is nothing. Perhaps work in some obscure fashion for the ACLU, maybe.
I believe that it is high time that people who can do, and can do many different things, teach those who we expect to do many different things. If we want young people to take up valuable professions, to be pushed towards doing things of value to themselves and society, they must first be provided with the structure that supports them to do so. Noncommissioned officers are often described as being the “backbone” of the military service (or at least in the Army they are). Could these professionals become the kind of “backbone” structure for the education system that we need? I believe so.
I previously wrote a piece that really maligned what has so far been my experience at a university. I could go on to elaborate even further about the shortfalls of the college education provided in this country, possibly for eternity, but I would rather take aim at a different aspect of our education system. As previously stated, young people show up ill-prepared for what they should be expected to do once they arrive at college. Why is this? Well, we can point fingers at government regulations (ie “No Child Left Behind”), or ‘teaching to tests’, or funding, and, in all honesty, any one of these could very well be accurately blamed for one negative aspect of our system or another. What about just the people teaching our kids?
We hear all the time about the professors at universities but it is very seldom that we look at the people at the elementary, middle, and high school levels – unless there happens to be a scandal involving sexual misconduct (which is an issue of a whole other kind) – but take a moment to think about these people.
I am going to speak in generalities. Young people these days have little to no discipline, no work ethic, believe that they should receive unearned benefits and or rewards, and seem to have the worst time regulating their emotions (so much so that “trigger warnings” have become common practice in many places). Who can the education system turn to in order to make drastic improvements to these circumstances? Why, the last time that I had an issue with any of these things was prior to my experience in basic training!
Noncommissioned officers, not just drill sergeants, are specially adapted to developing functional and well-adapted youth that are prepared to take on the difficulties associated with the real world. Day in and day out, NCOs across the military are constantly dealing with young men and women ranging in ages starting at 17; who is to say that these professionals could not adapt to perform the same miracles with young people only slightly younger? Counseling, personal and professional development, and teaching (training) are all tools that any NCO worth their salt has at their disposal. In addition, NCOs promote discipline in various ways, understand the need for proper levels of encouragement, and instill values into those under their charge. Are these not the exact qualities that we wish for our young people?
Everyone has heard the saying “those who cannot do teach”. The fact is that this has been the case for far too long. When you have a generation of people who cannot do anything, teaching kids who will in turn not be able to do anything, you end up with a large portion of a generation essentially crippled. We can see this right now. A generation of young adults looking for handouts, free stuff, and government assistance because they have been taught, for ages, by people who could barely do anything for themselves (or at least were so inept that they could do almost nothing of novel value). We have people going into disciplines like “gender studies” in which lies a future of absolutely nothing. Can anyone please tell me exactly what someone with a PhD in gender studies does for society besides teach other people who are going for a degree in that area? Of course you can’t because there is nothing. Perhaps work in some obscure fashion for the ACLU, maybe.
I believe that it is high time that people who can do, and can do many different things, teach those who we expect to do many different things. If we want young people to take up valuable professions, to be pushed towards doing things of value to themselves and society, they must first be provided with the structure that supports them to do so. Noncommissioned officers are often described as being the “backbone” of the military service (or at least in the Army they are). Could these professionals become the kind of “backbone” structure for the education system that we need? I believe so.
Teacher
Teaching
NCO Academy
Primary Education
Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
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I come from the Marine Corps, and I’m sure it is no different in the other services, but you learn every promotion makes you responsible to teach those below you. As a Corporal and then Sergeant we were assigned courses to teach those not only below us, but our peers as well. If then you also go to NCO and then SNCO Academies, you learn to lead and teach. When I left the Military I went into Emergency Medical Services, There was a College Instructor who had a thought of creating an EMS Academy, thereby adding a layer of Professionalism to the industry. He heard of my background, I helped create, then teach the profession, but I learned my teaching and leading skills as an NCO.
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I was an E-4 (CPL. 0331) in the Marine Corps and an E-6 (DS1) in the Navy. I agree with all that's been said. In the Navy my last 5 years was as a Master Training Specialist and taught at CSTSC Mare Island Vallejo Ca. I taught the peripheral portion of the An/UYK-7 Pipeline. You want to reach young people. 70% will be confidence and credibility. Most NCO's have confidence and right off the bat should have credibility. Being a subject matter expert definitely helps.
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NCOs are teachers and experts in their fields.
I dare say that if they received specific training in a focused subject area - say Math (only, not 4 years of college) - then they would be excellent at that field also.
I dare say that if they received specific training in a focused subject area - say Math (only, not 4 years of college) - then they would be excellent at that field also.
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As a NCO in the military it is our responsibility to teach and to take time to learn as well. That's the way I learned to get to where I have gotten. The younger generation have a lot to offer and at the same time they have a lot to learn.
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NCO's and Officers who have the desire to teach need to "bite the bullet" and get their teaching degree. You will make an impact, even if it doesn't seem so at the time. I had been out of the active duty military for 10 years when an elementary school teacher encouraged me to get my teaching degree. I had my Bachelor's Degree in Management, so I was able to get a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1.5 years. For 18 years I taught in the neediest middle school and high school in my county. The students were very poor for the most part (over 80% free and reduced lunch). Having been an nco and an officer in the Marines made me uniquely qualified to teach these students. Many of them were undisciplined, and they did not grow up learning new words or numbers in their households. I taught mathematics, and I didn't worry about being politically correct. I found over time that if you could produce results, the school leadership would leave you alone and let you do your job. Classrooms that work must have teachers who know how to instill discipline in their students. I was tough on the students. I told them that once they crossed from the hall to the classroom, they needed to "sit down and shut up". I did not allow them to put their heads on their desks. If they were disruptive in class, they were kicked out. They may have been sent back to the classroom later, but the student was better behaved when he/she came back. I began teaching when class began on the first day, and I didn't stop until the end of the last day of school. When I began teaching, our middle school was brand new, and the students were split off from the lowest academic school in the district. We remained the lowest scoring school on the state test for the next few years, because it takes time to make a real impact on students. IT'S WORK! By my tenth year we were the top middle school in the county in math. I transferred to the brand new high school with my students, and they remained #1 in math at the high school. I taught the same students for four years, and when they graduated, the salutatorian ended by saying, "As Mr. Fillmore says, 'If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got.'" I am retired now, but I see students who know me at Walmart, BiLo, and Lowes. I don't always remember them, but they always remember the impact my class had on them. Some are in the newspaper for armed robbery or murder, or drugs, but I always remembered them as the ones who were constantly in trouble for something. You'll probably never reach all of the students, but you will reach some, and that's what counts. Also, remember that you can also reach the students by coaching. I coached cross country and distance running when I taught, and some of the students went on to run in college. I still teach math 7 hours/week at a Technical College because I enjoy teaching, and I know that the students are being impacted, whether I know it or not.
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I just finished HOW SCHOOLS WORK by Arne Duncan excellent book I highly recommend reading this book. He tells it all from how the school system needs to be revamped BUT that cost money to more money needing to go to inner city schools do to most of these children are at strike two before they get up to bat. Teachers leaving do to stagnant wages. How president Bush had a good idea with no child left behind but it had its flaws that no one wanted to fix again do to money and political suicide.
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This is one of the best articles I have read on the subject of education and NCO's, albeit, short. Recently, I have been exploring the option of leaving My Gov. Job and opting for a teaching position that would put me closer to home. The major stumbling block is the requirements. I have a degree, but noting in the education field. I live in WV, so if anyone has made the transition from NCO to Teacher there, I am open for advice!
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Sounds like you may be where I was.... But on the other hand, if you know the super and he knows you, it may be productive to sit down with him formally (I.e. a scheduled office call). If he wants you in the HS, show him where you are at and ask him what he needs you to do to get there. Then counter with what you think you need to do to get into K5. If there is a significant time difference, he may be willing to see things your way. Or may convince you that maybe HS *is* the best route - and even help you get there.
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SGT Mary G.
SFC William "Bill" Moore - Some colleges and universities offer teaching programs where much of the learning and many of the credits are on-the-job teaching in the class room, which results in earning the degree/certification in less time. This link provides some information: http://www.teaching-certification.com/alternative-teaching-certification.html
Alternative Teaching Certification
Learn about the process and reasons for earning your Alternative Teaching Certification. Find it at Teaching-Certification.com.
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1SG Ken Rossi
Most states have some form of alternative certification route. This is especially seen in states and areas that have real teacher shortages. Even in those areas there are still hurdles for those who retire from the military and less for those who finish their service much earlier, as stated here there are some perceptions of retired military that can color a school district's view of some. I digress, back to the alternative certification route. If you have a degree many states' DOEs will let you begin the process if you can pass the Praxis I test - its a standardized test of basic knowledge in broad educational fields - math, science, history, reading, etc. This is generally are a requirement for all those in university education programs. If you have a relevant degree and pass the Praxis I you cna many times be hired as an emergency hire and you will then have 2 or 3 years to complete a certification, That means you go to the local college/university School of Ed and take the necessary education courses required for certification. These are not subject courses but classroom management, curriculum design, methodology for assessment, etc. These are similar to what you may have taken in military instructor training course but focused on the skills required of classroom teachers. When you complete that you would take the Praxis II, which is your subject matter test (math, science, language arts, etc.) this with the experience gained as an emergency hire (most paces will count this as your student teaching) and you qualify for your preliminary credential. This would be the route for those wanting to teach at the grade 7-12 level and is called a "Single Subject Credential" qualifying you to teach in the subject you studied and tested on. If you desire to teach in K-6 level, the process is similar but usually requires a more broad level of undergraduate education in all subjects (math, reading, science, etc.) and the Praxis II which would be based on multiple subject knowledge. This combined with the emergency hire experience would gain you the "Multi-Subject Credential" certifying you to teach the broad array of courses required at the elementary level. Now, some states may require specific subject experience that may require some of you to lick up additional courses in your desired subject area. This is an easier route for those who want to teach in high school and I believe that former military, regardless of the time spent in the military, can be the most beneficial to students at that level for all the reasons stated in this discussion and for simply being emotionally mature enough to not be intimidated by the 'tougher' students who may be the ones who need you the most. Its a tough process but if you desire to teach and help, this is a route to go. I have known a number of former military who entered the teaching profession and they have been great - many were assigned to the tougher areas and really excelled because they could deal with the neediest students - without having to resort to excessive measures.
The reality is in the military we learned how to think out of the box (I know, I hate the term too, but its relevant here) to be able to create a learning environment that engages the students, provides the necessary knowledge and skills and still meets the requirements to be able to pass the standardized tests. I see former military folks hoping to get into teaching all the time as a teacher in a local School of Ed - I teach courses in assessment and school law and other classroom/school leadership courses. From my perspective, the major drawback for former military to enter the procession is desire - how much they want it. Its tough and even tougher when they get in the classroom but if they really want it they will do it.
My uncle retired from the Army in 1969 - he was a WWII Marine Raider vet, Korea and Viet Nam Army vet who entered the teaching profession upon retirement from the military are taught and led (house master, etc) for 30 plus years.
So, if you really want to giver back, continue to serve or however you view teaching. start with you state Department of Education for the alternative routes. Look into programs such as Teach for America, Troops-to-Teachers (which may be gone at the federal level but there may be a state version still out there), or the various alternative certification routes. The best approach is to start this before you get out. I worked with the ACAP program when it first began and believed that too many waited until they got out to think about the education they would need for their future. So, I started in the education world as a counselor for a local university serving the military population in our area just so I could help military members and their families get a head start on the education requirements for their future. I understood this as I used the military as a way to work my way through my bachelor's degree for 17 years but was able to complete what I needed to transition before retiring.
I didn't touch on those who pursue fields that don't require a college degree but that will be for later post! As I have stated in the past, I apologize for this being so long winded, its a byproduct of teaching at the university level for some 25 years.
The reality is in the military we learned how to think out of the box (I know, I hate the term too, but its relevant here) to be able to create a learning environment that engages the students, provides the necessary knowledge and skills and still meets the requirements to be able to pass the standardized tests. I see former military folks hoping to get into teaching all the time as a teacher in a local School of Ed - I teach courses in assessment and school law and other classroom/school leadership courses. From my perspective, the major drawback for former military to enter the procession is desire - how much they want it. Its tough and even tougher when they get in the classroom but if they really want it they will do it.
My uncle retired from the Army in 1969 - he was a WWII Marine Raider vet, Korea and Viet Nam Army vet who entered the teaching profession upon retirement from the military are taught and led (house master, etc) for 30 plus years.
So, if you really want to giver back, continue to serve or however you view teaching. start with you state Department of Education for the alternative routes. Look into programs such as Teach for America, Troops-to-Teachers (which may be gone at the federal level but there may be a state version still out there), or the various alternative certification routes. The best approach is to start this before you get out. I worked with the ACAP program when it first began and believed that too many waited until they got out to think about the education they would need for their future. So, I started in the education world as a counselor for a local university serving the military population in our area just so I could help military members and their families get a head start on the education requirements for their future. I understood this as I used the military as a way to work my way through my bachelor's degree for 17 years but was able to complete what I needed to transition before retiring.
I didn't touch on those who pursue fields that don't require a college degree but that will be for later post! As I have stated in the past, I apologize for this being so long winded, its a byproduct of teaching at the university level for some 25 years.
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LCDR (Join to see)
1SG Ken Rossi - Seconding all you've said. And troops-to-teachers is still in play in South Carolina (as of 2018)
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