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A military school is an alternative place in which to educate your teenage son or daughter. They are not unlike prep schools for a military college like West Point.
But why would you send your teenager to a military school and can you? Well ‘can you’ is important because military schools have certain strict guidelines. The first is that if your teenager doesn’t want to attend military school, the school doesn’t want to accept and won’t accept your teenager. It’s as simple as that. They are highly selective. Military schools are not boot camps.
Likewise if your teenager is having discipline problems or has learning difficulties, again they are most unlikely to be admitted. So having cleared up those points, if you are still interested, by all means consider a military school for your son or daughter.
What Is a Military School?
In some ways it’s just like another high school only the students live on campus, wear military style uniforms and get plenty of routine and discipline. They study hard and graduation from a military school is an excellent preparation for a life in the military.
All schools have a discipline code but military schools take their policy seriously. If a student breaks the school rules, expulsion is a very real possibility. The school has a strong physical program using physical education as part of its core curriculum. Many students like this and even more parents believe this type of educational institution is ideal for their child.
The chances of a young person skipping class and mixing with the wrong crowd are far less at a military school. Besides if that did happen, the student would most probably be asked to pack their bags.
If you are investigating military schools, understand that they are not all the same. Discover the differences and then contact those schools which seem best to suit your teenager.
What Happens?
There is a strong academic program, lots of physical activity and a strict regime as far as personal discipline is concerned. One aim of a military school is to develop teamwork within the students, to make them feel a part of their class and their school.
Think of a military school as being a younger version of a military college. Work hard, play hard and develop skills and attitudes to help you throughout the rest of your life. Obedience to the staff is a given.
One hears tales today of teenagers in ordinary high schools being defiant towards teachers or slacking in class. That situation is foreign in a military school. There the students are encouraged and required to complete all the tasks set and to work as hard as possible.
If your son or daughter is keen on a career in the military, a military school is the ideal launch pad. If your child is not off the rails but needs some discipline in their life, again a military school may be the perfect place for their secondary education.
Elementary Military School
If your child is aged between 7 and 12 it is possible to enroll them in an elementary military school. There is a strong emphasis on discipline and hanging out with friends or lying around all day playing video games is not part of the curriculum.
You can also consider a summer school – about five weeks in length – as an alternative. Much of the activities you would find at a military school but for a limited period.
Military Schools for Girls
Gone are the days when girls were not considered or encouraged to enroll in a military school. There are even all-girl military schools. The program is pretty much the same as required of boys with slightly lower requirements in physical education simply because of the different growing patterns of a girl’s body.
For a teenage girl, the benefits of an education in a military school are excellent. Most schools have a full-time counselor or mentor on hand and resident in the dormitory so the students [cadets] have a friendly adult on hand to guide and advise. Academically the range of subjects and quality of professional teachers guarantees an outstanding academic program.
Opportunities for a career in the military are further enhanced with a solid military school background. Finding employment in the civilian world too is easier as employers look favorably upon young women who have graduated from a prestigious military school.
Teenage girls who graduate from a military school have a level of confidence and maturity not always found from a traditional education.
Costs of Military Schools
If you experience financial hardship, there are loans and scholarships available to attend a military school. Contact the school you believe would suit your child and ask about various financial options.
What Do You Want for your Teenager?
Certainly all parents want to see their teenager happy and healthy. But parents also want their child to be successful and that is where military schools, with their program and their concentration on discipline which is fair but firm, give any teenager who is willing to work hard, the perfect grounding in their high school education. Friendship, teamwork and reliance on others are a strong part of the operation a military school. These are ideal goals for your teenage son or daughter.
Summary
Many parents with teenagers worry about outside influences. They may have confidence in their child to stay away from drugs and other potentially harmful activities, but will their child work hard and obtain good grades.
One way to remove many temptations, provide an excellent academic program and instill self-confidence, maturity and self-discipline is to place your child in a military school. The employment options or college opportunities for young people are greatly enhanced by graduating from a military school.
But remember they are not all the same and you should consider several to see which best suits your teenager.
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