How do students actually feel about military school?

Question

I recently watched the movie TAPS (Book – Father Sky). It was the saddest movie I ever saw. I was wondering, is the depiction of the students loving (to the point of fighting for it) (some died trying to save it) their school in the movie at all realistic or is it just Hollywood? I always thought that military school was somewhere where “troublemakers” went to be punished. The movie is making me wonder about weather there is actually more to it than a first thought. Do military schools actually help train people to be leaders?

To those who have seen the movie:
If this were to actually happen would you support the school closing or staying open? Would you try to help the situation?

Answer 1

First - Neddie's comment is false in regards to the context of the question. There are no US military schools in context of highschool education. West Point, Naval Academy and Airforce Academies are a part of the armed forces and are federally funded. However, TAPS was based on high school aged students defending their school. How you vote has nothing to do with the context of the question.
Your statements are made on false assertions, Neddie. Most students DO NOT come from WEALTHY FAMILIES. Many students in my school came from families who had to take out loans and extra mortgages on their homes to send their kids to the school. Many kids were ordered to go to military school by judges for criminal offenses that kid committed. Many of the students were from the Bronx, South Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn and the notorious Harlem. It was a pretty rough crowd.

Fr. Chuck is correct - military school can be beneficial, but it is not for everyone. Parents should exercise some parental prudence before deciding to send their children to military school.

The only really wealthy students there were the Arab students from the Middle East. They would show up in limos. HA! That was a sight.

Second, I will answer the question.
Military schools do help train people to be leaders. They do so in a typical, methodically military fashion. First, you are a cadet private - you work, you are ordered to do certain chores which are assigned to do.

I remember mine, my first year - keep the hallway floors clean.
2nd year - bathrooms, then trash, then the outside area around our dorm, then back to floors, then trash.

3rd year, my last year - I can't remember. Senior-itis hit really hard. I think jumping out my dorm room window to avoid extra work became the norm.

As for leadership? Personally speaking, I come from a "broken family" (I don't understand why people call it that, I never viewed it as "broken") my parents divorced when I was 2. My mom was a victim of California's no-fault divorce system, so, needless to say, child support was insufficient. Statistically speaking, I am supposed to be a drug addict, homosexual, sitting on death row.
However, this is not my case. I am a college grad (B.A., History), a law school grad (J.D.), and a current Bar Candidate for the Virginia Bar Exam.

Yes, you learn leadership skills by learning how to serve first.

Third: "if this were to actually happen..." This would not happen. Military highschools do not carry such arsenals - M16s, M60s, grenades - that's all illegal. At my school we had demilitarized M1903-A3s for drills and parades. We also had some .22cal. Winchester, single loading, bolt action competition range rifles. Hardly the hardware you saw in the movie.
BUT, if this were to happen, would I stay to defend my school in such a manner? NO - in fact, military schools do not breed such mindlessness, the students at my school would not have stayed in such a way.

Would I try to help the situation? Not by arming myself - military highschools/junior schools are privately owned by non-prof organizations. It's not my property to defend. BUT, would the mission of the school be worth defending? Sure, but defending it throught mindless chaos would actually be in contradiction to the school's mission statement. Therefore, such action would not be supported by the school
Realistically, it would be impossible to organize the student body to defend the school in such a manner - even if you had the firepower they did in the movie.


P.S.

FR. CHUCK!!!!!!!!!! Keep me in your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

In one way it is just hollywod, but in other respects it is pretty realistic. I am a student at Norwich University, which is the oldest private military college in the US. MY school is not one for troublemakers at all. It is a place for students who show leadership potential to excercise and develop that trait and become great leaders in both the military and civilian world. And to whoever made the comment of only rich kids going - youre probably one of the most ignorant people ive ever encountered. While my school does come with a hefty tuition fee ($30,000/year) the school is very generous with grants and scholarships, and it is possible to get full ride scholarships from any of the four major branches of service at my school. Personally I come from a home which is on a very tight budget, but through a Navy Scholarship, I am able to attend NU.

Now to the original question at hand. Yes, some students do love my school to the point where they would fight for it. It is completely unplausible for them to get their hands on ammo, as no live ammunition is stored on campus, but I have seen many students stand up for the school, via letters and verbal opposal to some recent proposed changes.

I love my school, given the choice I would not go anywhere else. In the one year I have been there I have developed so much physically, mentally and morally, while my peers from highschool are just drinking away their college years, and while there still are many summer "Boot Camps" for troubled teens, military schools are geared more towards developing the future leaders of America.

Answer 3

First of course in any military school the students would not have access to the armory.

But most military schools have very high standards and trouble makers would not be admitted. They have very good education, and for those students who like it , they love it, but it is not for everyone.

Answer 4

Hollywood's depiction. In those types of schools the students do not control the ammo. Yes they do train people to be leaders.

Answer 5

thats one part of being in military school is they train you to be a leader and a fighter. alot of people that go through military school actually join the service one day. in some ways military school can take a troubled kid and actually give hima sense of direction in life and teach him how to be better person by following certain standards and having added responsibility as he shows he can handle it. people will fight for something that they love its shown everywhere.

Answer 6

Military school can actually be very enjoyable. After a while it can become your life, and your comrads will become your brothers and best friends, but military school isnt for everyone. Its best for people who are looking for meaning or an actual role in society, military school can also be a good substitute for family.

Answer 7

close,,, most students are made to go to military academy's by wealthy parents,,,, if students wanted to go to US military schools that were conducted with more concern for them and humanity,,, then I would be more supportive,,,,
VOTE DEMOCRAT

Answer 8

each student makes his or her own life choice on how to be treated and what they will absorb in there brain.like life itself,school is what you make it.