The latest Army statistics show a stunning 75 percent of military-age youth are ineligible to join the military because they are overweight, can't pass entrance exams, have dropped out of high school or had run-ins with the law.The cited article emphasizes obesity and physical fitness, but note is taken of the fact that the armed forces have already lowered their standards re mental and behavioral qualifications:
So many young people between the prime recruiting ages of 17 and 24 cannot meet minimum standards that a group of retired military leaders is calling for more investment in early childhood education to combat the insidious effects of junk food and inadequate education...
"If you're overweight, we tell you to come back when you've lost the weight. If you don't score well on the armed forces aptitude test, we suggest you study and take it again," he said.
Between 2004 and 2008, the Army more than doubled the number of "conduct" waivers it granted to would-be soldiers with criminal or misdemeanor records. The loosened standards proved necessary in a time of war and amid a booming economy that forced military recruiters to work overtime to fill the ranks.I can't tell from the article (primary source data not linked) whether the 75% failure rate applies just to those who do apply to enter the armed forces, or whether they feel that 75% of ALL young people would not meet their standards.
In any case, it's food for thought...
Here's an idea, why not let gay people serve?
ReplyDeleteI taught in an inner city high school in a district famous for its problems. The kids arrived in 9th grade woefully unprepared. Some had no concept of what a sentence was. Some students who had been in the district's schools ince first grade still could not speak English. Yet we had military recruiters there all the time, even offering signing bonuses. Need I say all the kids were minorities? I would stress that in many cases it was not a lack of intelligence, but a huge lack of instruction with feedback. Most of them responded well when instructed and given feedback. It's a criminal waste of human potential not to reach and teach all children.
ReplyDeleteLet me add that I am no fan of No Child Left Behind. The program is poorly thought out, poorly constructed, and poorly applied. Our kids deserve better.