Progressives New Plan To Force High School Kids Into The Military

a reply to: ketsuko

Hell even WaPo highlighted that fear in their article about this "idea" of Ol' Rahm's.

You take a bunch of kids who already have a bleak outlook on their future and tell them "hey, you have to have a plan past graduation and these are your options, and if you don't have a plan we can confirm then you don't even get to graduate.....and oh by the way, we're not staffed to help you with this post-graduation plan at all" how the hell is that going to motivate them to even bother with school?

The ones who are motivated to graduate and do something productive with their lives are already motivated to graduate and do something productive. This idea isn't going to be a light-bulb moment for anybody other than a infinitesimally insignificant group. I really can't see how this idea is going to revolutionize Chicago's school system, other than perhaps an uptick in dropouts and non-grads.

originally posted by: Shamrock6

Your OP doesn't even touch on the deeper issues, which is that while this plan to force kids to think beyond graduation sounds good on paper but the Chicago school system is woefully unprepared to help kids do it. Thanks to their continuous budget crisis, the school system is severely lacking in staffing, which means there are far too few people available to implement the plan in any sort of constructive way.

It's not about money. If you doubled the school district budget they would still be incompetent. Indiscriminate hiring based on quotas for over a generation has condemned Chicago schools to mediocrity. Actually, they don't get that high. Couple that with a decrepit and downright scary environment and there's disaster right there. And if you don't know, Chicago, 'the city that works,' has run on bribery for generations If you want a city contract for anything, you better make a sizeable donation to the mayor's reelection fund. The place is entirely corrupt from the top down. It's patronage system is legendary. There's actually plenty of money in Chicago; it just gets diverted to the wrong people. If this ever does get implemented there will be a lawsuit You can't deny a kid a diploma based on what he does after earning it. This is liberalism's future, the worker's paradise.

Hmm, I think it's a good idea if a state chooses to vote for it because, in this instance particularly, there are a lot of lost kids that will either be bums or turn to crime and ultimately become a burden to society. I have often thought mandatory military service would be good for a country as long as there are 2 types of active realms, one being prepared for actual fighting and the other more along civil lines for trade skills or medical field perhaps. I don't think enlistees should, under these circumstances be forced to fight, but the other benefits of enlistment such as personal responsibility, decorum, leadership and pride are what is missing with so many of these kids because of unfit or missing parents. Additionally include paid education for them. Maybe expand military to start doing some other gov jobs too like roadwork/infrastructure, fire/police personnel etc...

Heck I like the idea enough to support national requirement as long as THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS, one for fighting and one for conscientious objectors. Something needs to be done for our youth and future and bootstraps ain't gonna get it, too many idiots having kids, and too many entitlement expectations and handouts. Something has to change and so far, generally speaking, too many kids are unable or unwilling to live a productive positive life.

Flame away...

It is getting to be that worker's paradise isn't it?

It's just a short step away from the state testing you for aptitude and assigning you a job.

originally posted by: ketsuko
It is getting to be that worker's paradise isn't it?

It's just a short step away from the state testing you for aptitude and assigning you a job.

It's what they do in socialist countries.

originally posted by: DBCowboy

originally posted by: ketsuko
It is getting to be that worker's paradise isn't it?

It's just a short step away from the state testing you for aptitude and assigning you a job.

It's what they do in socialist countries.

They kind of did that in Germany back in the 80's. Not sure about that today.

a reply to: infolurker

They still do, or did when I was stationed there.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: infolurker

They still do, or did when I was stationed there.

What the heck happened to the other thread?
On topic: that is fake news.

a reply to: infolurker
This story has appeared on ATS before, perhaps when it was "approved" in May. I remember making the comment that the whole point of school diplomas was to testify to the work done in school, so they should not be used for other purposes.

P.S. No, it was in April. I've just googled. What I actually said at the time was the neater

A high school diploma, by definition, should be about what they have done at high school.
If he wants it to serve any other purpose, he should call it something else.

Military might do them some good, instill the Army values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.

But, it isn't for everybody. Chicago needs to work on their educational infrastructure. Reinvent and revitalize, as a start point that will eventually spread throughout. Long and painful task, it'll be up to its citizens.

a reply to: schuyler

It's about a lot of things, and money is one of them. My point was that the budget problems are a central issue in the Chicago school system and to say that it's not about money is, bluntly, stupid.

Why do they hire teachers who are so stupid they can hardly read? Because people know they can get a paycheck from the city simply because they check a box off the city wants checked. What's that? Money.

A big part of why there's such a budget crisis? Well the state, and city, can't bring in enough money to pay out their own pension plans. What's that? Money.

Chicago is corrupt as # at all levels. The city is treated like an employment agency by, frankly, wholly unqualified candidates. What's that about? Money.

I spent several years growing up just outside of Chicago. I'm well familiar with how corrupt a place it is, has been, and likely will remain for quite a long time. I'm not implying that simply throwing money at the problem is the solution. I'm saying that money is one of the core reasons the school system is in the shape that it's in. Whether that's by their own hand or not is immaterial to my statement.

Here is a article from CBS Chicago.
chicago.cbslocal.com...

Having raised two sons, and being a teacher myself, I think it is a good idea.

Some kids have no structure in their lives once they get out of school. I think this helps some kids who have no idea what they will do with their lives.

Some kids have no family structure to guide them.

Job markets are changing, we need to help these kids to learn to help themselves

a reply to: waftist


I like you am pro-military. I have several family members who have made lifetime careers with the military and have done quite well.

I do believe it should be a persons' choice however.

originally posted by: KTemplar
I do believe it should be a persons' choice however.

I don't think it is a good idea but it is a person's choice. The options seem to be "university, community college, apprenticeship, trade school, internship, or the armed services."

I can understand wanting to motivate kids to do something after high school, but not this. This is a terrible idea.

originally posted by: daskakik

originally posted by: KTemplar
I do believe it should be a persons' choice however.

I don't think it is a good idea but it is a person's choice. The options seem to be "university, community college, apprenticeship, trade school, internship, or the armed services."

..... and deep debt for colleges; military all the way!

F chicago
F Rahhhhmmmmm

the govt cant force a legal citizen to do anything

minors are legally forced to go to school
once they are 18 the world changes

as the school is a govt agency all the adult has to do is file a foia request for their school record as it is a govt document

stupid dems

originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: schuyler

It's about a lot of things, and money is one of them. My point was that the budget problems are a central issue in the Chicago school system and to say that it's not about money is, bluntly, stupid.

Thanks for your insight, but to say this is about money is, bluntly, stupid. It;s about a corrupt system and MONEY will not fix it.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: infolurker

Government does NOT have the right to tell people what to do or how to live their lives, but of course Progressives think they know best and it is for our 'own good'.

I can't stand over reaching Government that infringes on our personal liberty.

To be honest, some of you actually DO need to be told what to do or how to live your lives. Leaving some of you alone to do whatever the hell you want actually can endanger my life and encroach upon the rights and safety of others.

Sad to say, but there are morons out there that would do significant damage to those around them if someone didn't tell them "No".

Rahm said guns were the problem.
Now he wants these same kids to have guns.
Ready for the big house. Schizophrenic for sure.
Wait...do gangbangers count as "Armed Forces"?