A Different Time, A Different Place

I grew up in a different time, in a different place.

 

Many of you know that I attended military school in the 60’s. We were taught to respect firearms and in the high school years, I had and carried a rifle, like all cadets. We also had swords or sabres. I spent time at the rifle range and acquired proficiency awards.

 

We started and ended our days surrounding the flagpole while the flag was raised or lowered. We were taught (actually required) to salute the flag and to respect what it stands for. During parades we passed in review and we would face the stadium and see alumni and visitors salute or place their hand over their heart areas the colors passed, It was something we did.

 

We were taught respect for others. We did not talk back to teachers or administrators. We had discipline. We learned that there were consequences. If someone misbehaved, they were ‘allowed’ the opportunity to take their rifle and march back and forth for hours while their peers passed by on their way to activities or headed to home for the weekend. When we had demerits we were confined to the campus. We learned quickly to follow the rules and behave.

 

We were required to study and get good grades. It was fairly easy to do that because of the way classes were held. We took one subject for 8 weeks and then had that final before the next class. We did not have those 50 minute mini classes with a 10 minute free for all in the halls which public schools seem to think is ‘education’. Kids spend 10 minutes settling down, 10 minutes getting ready for the end of class and so on. This can explain why most if not all of our alumni went off to college.

 

We were required to march and follow instructions. We had some athletic requirements, yet most students joined one of the many teams or activities. We also had hobby clubs (my favorite was radio among others). We attended chapel every weekday and Sunday. Some cadets were allowed off campus to attend their specific religious institution. We were also encouraged to help our community.

 

We respected other athletic teams and schools who came to participate in events on our turf. W also had away games and were instructed to behave and represent our school with pride.

 

Many of the sports-related alumni from my school went on to the NFL among other places including the Olympics. You would know many of their names. I daresay they they would not take a knee or hide in the shadows during the Nation Anthem.

 

When I attended in the 60’s we had something like 23 countries represented. That has not changed over the years, rather has probably increased.

 

At the end of each day, the bugler played taps. It was a reminder that people died to keep our freedom. Our school has a memorial to those cadets who gave up their life protecting the freedom of others.

 

Even though it was a military school and some went on to serve in the armed forces, many did not. It was not a requirement, however many did serve and with honor, including the time I attended during the Vietnam War.

 

I think what has changed is that people became more permissive. We have parents, politicians and judges who are afraid to hold people responsible for their actions. If someone was caught smoking without permission or talked back, we marched for hours. Yet in today’s society a person can riot and steal from a store and has no consequences (they were upset). A child can be a drunk driver who kills people but gets probation because his parents never taught him the link between behavior and consequences.

 

I have seen parents who believe that everyone is a winner just for showing up for a sport. While that sounds great to them, it does not teach the children that in life they can excel or fail and that by failing they learn lessons to help them deal with life. When there are no consequences, there is no learning and therefor the child will continue along the same path.

 

I am glad that I attended a military school. I had no desire to join the military upon graduation, however, I can assure you that the discipline I learned and the understanding of consequences has stayed with since.