A good model for entire school

Published 1:39 pm Thursday, June 18, 2009

Marine JROTC gets to stay around for another year. As an area manager for 53 Navy JROTC units across the Midwest and West Coast, I see reversals of decisions to end JROTC all the time. The most notable was the defeat of a very concerted effort by a very vocal anti-military group and school board in San Francisco less than a month ago.

I can think of no other school elective that draws as much interest as JROTC, and why? Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with patriotism or the uniform, but everything to do with what instructors do day in and day out in the classroom. They instill leadership, discipline and teamwork in the cadets. Cadets come home after a few days of class and parents notice the difference immediately in terms of respect and their renewed interest in school. No wonder the parents fight so hard to keep the program. They see a difference!

These instructors have years of experience of building teams, which lends itself perfectly to the school setting. Why school administrators are not taking a closer look at the model of JROTC for the entire school is amazing to me. I am not suggesting that every school take up para-military uniforms for their students, but what would be an improvement is a school pride dress code, stronger and more caring discipline and a willingness to emphasize respect as core elements to teaching.

JROTC is proof kids are seeking disciplined guidance, and JROTC sets that bar high, and the kids love meeting it. Snohomish High School, you did the right thing, now spread the model.

Daniel Wenceslao

Marysville