219
219
0
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
Responses: 69
4
4
0
My daugter-in-law and niece teach elementary and high school respectively. After listening to them I’d rather deploy for a year than to teach four weeks in a public school. Maybe if you had a touchy-feely MOS/Rating/AFSC but I think most military folks from the pointy end of the spear would have a hard time not getting fired in the first month. But hey, maybe I’m just a jerk.
(4)
(0)
CMSgt (Join to see)
SSgt Joseph Baptist True - but I have the UCMJ and a complete disciplinary system to back me up. Public school teachers are basically powerless - in comparison anyway. Parochial schools are a little different. Spend some time talking to public school teachers who’ve been doing it for ten years or more and see what they say.
(1)
(0)
CMSgt (Join to see)
SSgt Joseph Baptist No we’re tracking. I’ve been in training and teaching since 1980. Taught Crew Chief school at Sheppard and have taught civ mechanics as well as undergrad and grad courses for Embry-Riddle for 13 years. But dealing with the parents and politics of school boards and the DoE policies are not in my wheelhouse. I’d get fired before the school year was out. But I’m glad it’s worked out for you.
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
As a now Psy.D psychologysist, and minister, I'll go towards the elephant in the room and declare the "G" word. I was just finishing up school when they decided to throw God out of our schools. I'll admit I wasn't a big fan back then, but it taught me things to prepare for my future: i.e.: how to treat my fellow man, how to treat ladies, how to be kind, how to be of good moral character, etc. Unfortunately, my parents were no example of these traits at all. My grandparents however were and it was after their lifestyle I modeled my own, their work ethic, American pride, sense of ownership, responsibility, accountability and intestinal fortitude.
I was at a school that graduated a black kid who couldn't even read! That developed legislation nationwide for minimums for education before gaduation. I can't tell you how sorry I felt for that young man that no one took an interest in him. I also wondered though how much of it may have been his fault and how much the teachers may have shared.
Corporal punishment was a well established norm in my day and if you got it at school, you got it again at home just for getting it at school! So, you either learned not to get in trouble or you developed a leathery behind. Kids have no fear today because no one punishes them for anything.
There's the: "I'm gonna call the welfare on you", the child beats the parent up, or there have been cases where the child has shot and killed the parent. That's the kind of society we live in now, a godless, murderous society that no longer values human life.
I've proposed this on many an ocassion and my opinion still hasn't changed. Upon graduation from high school, any type of high school, with absolutely NO DEFERMENTS ALLOWED BY ANYONE, unless you're mentally or physically challenged, every student, male and female alike, should have to report to the service of their choice for a minimum of two years where they will stay untill they complete their two year program, no getting out for any reason. You will spend it in the brig if necessary but it will be a two year program nonetheless. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPINION!!!!
You will learn many new things: team work, responsibility, how to get out of bed at a decent hour of the morning, make your bed, not rely on your mama's, accountability, you will learn new terms and phrases - my personal favorite being EMBRACE THE SUCK.
It will take you awhile to learn what that means but I have confidence in you as you're our future! The men and women of our armed forces will take the piece of sh*t, maggot head, fa^^ot you are now and transform you into an ultra smart, lean, killing machine able to think on your feet quickly, adapt, overcome, improvise any situation and never know the word defeat!
After your two years of fun and adventure are over then you can decide your future! Continue in the military in a chosen career field and have the military pay for college and maybe even a pension one day, or join your thug, criminal buddies on the streets and get capped when you arrive home for your separation money Uncle Sam just gave you cause some lover needs drug money and you just looked phat.
I was at a school that graduated a black kid who couldn't even read! That developed legislation nationwide for minimums for education before gaduation. I can't tell you how sorry I felt for that young man that no one took an interest in him. I also wondered though how much of it may have been his fault and how much the teachers may have shared.
Corporal punishment was a well established norm in my day and if you got it at school, you got it again at home just for getting it at school! So, you either learned not to get in trouble or you developed a leathery behind. Kids have no fear today because no one punishes them for anything.
There's the: "I'm gonna call the welfare on you", the child beats the parent up, or there have been cases where the child has shot and killed the parent. That's the kind of society we live in now, a godless, murderous society that no longer values human life.
I've proposed this on many an ocassion and my opinion still hasn't changed. Upon graduation from high school, any type of high school, with absolutely NO DEFERMENTS ALLOWED BY ANYONE, unless you're mentally or physically challenged, every student, male and female alike, should have to report to the service of their choice for a minimum of two years where they will stay untill they complete their two year program, no getting out for any reason. You will spend it in the brig if necessary but it will be a two year program nonetheless. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPINION!!!!
You will learn many new things: team work, responsibility, how to get out of bed at a decent hour of the morning, make your bed, not rely on your mama's, accountability, you will learn new terms and phrases - my personal favorite being EMBRACE THE SUCK.
It will take you awhile to learn what that means but I have confidence in you as you're our future! The men and women of our armed forces will take the piece of sh*t, maggot head, fa^^ot you are now and transform you into an ultra smart, lean, killing machine able to think on your feet quickly, adapt, overcome, improvise any situation and never know the word defeat!
After your two years of fun and adventure are over then you can decide your future! Continue in the military in a chosen career field and have the military pay for college and maybe even a pension one day, or join your thug, criminal buddies on the streets and get capped when you arrive home for your separation money Uncle Sam just gave you cause some lover needs drug money and you just looked phat.
(3)
(0)
MAJ Matthew Arnold
I've always liked the Swiss model of universal service. Everyone reports for service for a year and then spends the rest of their life in the reserves. This enables the Swiss to call up an already trained battalion, or more, at just about any time.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
While I cannot speak "as a middle school teacher" (PA spokesperson stuff), I'm a middle school teacher and reservist.
Please, please, PLEASE get involved. Teacher (Troops-to-Teachers), substitute, coach, anything.
Yes, I hear some of you, "we're not welcome in academia" or "we get the hard kids". That's true in many places. But all it takes is ONE place where that's not the reality, and you impact hundreds of kids, hundreds of citizens, hundreds of futures. I don't have "the bad kids", and I'm very much welcome in academia....in social studies even! History, government, economics, religion, geography, politics, jurisprudence, wars, etc. is what I put into teaching. Find a place that'll use you.
I didn't major in education, but in history. So, as a historian, I can pass on a specific set of education and skills. Find your niche, and it gets harder to move you to "just THOSE kids" because they need you everywhere.
And in order to be welcome in academia, we have to find a way to change academia. It's not too far gone (ok, maybe in some places), but we've got to establish a beachhead somewhere.
The school I work at had 5 veterans and a reservist (yours truly). 3 of the vets were the janitors/snack-shack managers (oh yeah, kids like geedunk). The other 3 of us teach social studies. And here in South Carolina, male teachers are preferred (there just aren't enough of us); military/prior military are also preferred (life experience vs wet-behind-the-ears educator).
Find the place to serve and touch those future citizens. It's just another front in the battle for their hearts and their minds.
Please, please, PLEASE get involved. Teacher (Troops-to-Teachers), substitute, coach, anything.
Yes, I hear some of you, "we're not welcome in academia" or "we get the hard kids". That's true in many places. But all it takes is ONE place where that's not the reality, and you impact hundreds of kids, hundreds of citizens, hundreds of futures. I don't have "the bad kids", and I'm very much welcome in academia....in social studies even! History, government, economics, religion, geography, politics, jurisprudence, wars, etc. is what I put into teaching. Find a place that'll use you.
I didn't major in education, but in history. So, as a historian, I can pass on a specific set of education and skills. Find your niche, and it gets harder to move you to "just THOSE kids" because they need you everywhere.
And in order to be welcome in academia, we have to find a way to change academia. It's not too far gone (ok, maybe in some places), but we've got to establish a beachhead somewhere.
The school I work at had 5 veterans and a reservist (yours truly). 3 of the vets were the janitors/snack-shack managers (oh yeah, kids like geedunk). The other 3 of us teach social studies. And here in South Carolina, male teachers are preferred (there just aren't enough of us); military/prior military are also preferred (life experience vs wet-behind-the-ears educator).
Find the place to serve and touch those future citizens. It's just another front in the battle for their hearts and their minds.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
You couldn't have said it better SGT Gunderson! A good education is very much lacking in our teens now days. That's what is wrong with our country now. The teachers have their hands tied now and have to teach what the politicians want them to. We need to get them back to basic education so they can learn what they need to succeed and grow.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Well worded response to the naysayers.The NCO corps is well positioned to teach students about sacrifice, trust, and love for this country and its constitution.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Sgt Gunderson has got it right, NCO's have been training the untrained for years. The process is simple and tailored to the Pvt who knows nearly nothing so we first explain what we are going to do, we then demonstrate, and the student attempts the task at hand aided by the instructor when the student completes the task he then takes the instructor through the task as if he was the instructor. The process is simple and it works. The real trial is identifying deficiencies in your students any written exercise will point out missing punctuation, poor sentence structure and spellings errors. figuring out gaps of knowledge takes a real in depth look at where they really are. A poor education doesn't mean stupid by any measure, it does mean being handicapped by that, as you aren't equipped to compete. It's hard to be a good leader when you can't write a coherent after action report. As far as Sgt Gunderson's comment on gender studies, he's right and it isn't just gender studies there are a lot of degrees that have little or no employment value and when you are borrowing money to go to College you should consider your self obligated to be employable at graduation. Fun degrees should be pursued on your dime not some one else's.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
Great article Sgt. Joseph Gunderson. Unfortunately, you fail to mention the lack of discipline and expectations that parents, clergy and others neglect. The school system like our current military
is handcuffed in the performance of their duties. However Sgt.Those of us who care can try to coerce
Both houses of government and our local government to make America great again.
Sgt. you and I and many others can continue to be an example of how an Earthling should act.
is handcuffed in the performance of their duties. However Sgt.Those of us who care can try to coerce
Both houses of government and our local government to make America great again.
Sgt. you and I and many others can continue to be an example of how an Earthling should act.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I think the military trainer works better as a independent contractor trainer. The military taught me to be independent and responsible, they both have worked well for me as a independent contractor. I don't need a boss to tell me how to do my job, just a boss to tell me what he wants done. As a retired Navy Chief, I'll do the rest. With all the new hires in manufacturing companies, independent contract trainers are in demand. I'm into my 23rd. year providing industrial maintenance training to skilled trades personnel nation wide. If training is something you are good at and interests you, give it a try. Besides, I'm retiring next year and someone needs to take up where i leave off.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
My wife and I held our school accountable, and removed our youngest from the public schools system and home schooled him. We were told he would never be socialized and would never make it in the real world. Well folks, I am here to tell how wrong they are; he scored high on the ACT, high on the ASVAB, and took Distinguished Honor Graduate at his AIT at Ft Eustis for Black Hawk repair school. As an former instructor for a Bachelorate program in Nursing, we need more Officers and NCO's teaching these snowflakes, they are way to sensitive, and have no life skills, thanks to mom and dad, and our pubic education system; they can't even think their way out of a paper bag.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google