What is the Role of Today’s Military Boarding Schools?
What is the Role of Today's Military Boarding School?
What is the Role of Today’s Military Boarding Schools?
From the 1940s and World War II, to the Korean War in the 1960s, to the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the role of the military boarding school was well-defined, as Cadets were schooled in academics and military affairs, only to pursue careers as fighting men in the United States Armed Forces.
Military boarding schools now total less than 50 nationwide, including Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy, and each continues to struggle, adjusting to society’s demands and facing the ongoing challenges of financial support, misunderstandings by the public and allegations of misconduct and hazing.
Yet, the demise of today’s society is the biggest selling point to the “new” role of the military boarding school, and many feel that the failures at some public schools may be at the root of the reemergence of the military boarding school.
Public schools receive significant public funding, yet are only slightly held accountable for the academic success of its students. Many public school systems are failing in this effort, thus adding pressure to parents who are ultimately responsible for their child’s upbringing.
At many public schools, drop out rates are on the rise, discipline is lacking, peer pressure often becomes too much for a child to handle, and the support system necessary to ensure a child’s success is missing.
Enter the military boarding school, whose ultimate goal is the development of the “whole” man. Institutions such as Lyman Ward, not only teach academics, but its instructors take an active role in mentoring Cadets on self-confidence, ethics, character, discipline, sound decision-making, pride, organization, time management, respect and civic duty.
Are children at public schools receiving the same instruction?
At boarding schools such as Lyman Ward, boys will be boys, and with 100 teenagers, some get into trouble. Administrators at these schools do not tolerate hazing or abuse, and are quick to deliver disciplinary action. However, at Lyman Ward, the administration also gives Cadets the highest probability of success, even when mistakes are made. Would a public school afford such leniency?
With each “bad apple,” there are a hundred positive stories of young men who entered a military boarding school headed down a wrong path, and graduated only to become different person, one with a new outlook on life, and someone who wants to contribute positively to society.
The decision to send your son to a military boarding school should not be take lightly, and will often be met with resistance. Schools like Lyman Ward Military Academy continually open their doors to both parents and potential Cadets, and welcome the opportunity to provide campus tours, visits with instructors, current Cadets and other parents, and offer a glimpse into Cadet life – a life thatcan be enjoyable and rewarding.