Myths About Military Schools
THE MYTHS
Have you ever heard the expression “if you don’t straighten up, I am going
to send you to military school”? Parents have used this expression (or
threat) for many years to get the attention of their sons or daughters
when they are misbehaving. Unfortunately, this expression misleads our
young people to believe that military schools only accept “bad” kids. Nothing
could be further from the truth.
The purpose of this paper is to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions
surrounding military schools that we often hear from parents and students.
Even though thousands of young men and women graduate from military schools
every year, many people have an inaccurate image of military schools in general.
MYTH
#1: MILITARY SCHOOLS ARE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS
IN
REALITY: Military schools offer a structured and disciplined environment for young people.
Few, if any, military schools accept students
with severe discipline problems (especially those
discipline problems involving drugs or the law).
MYTH
#2: MILITARY SCHOOLS ARE A HARSH AND COLD ENVIRONMENT
IN
REALITY: Military schools are among the safest of all possible educational choices because
of the structure and the personal accountability
taught in the military school environment. Positive
adult interaction tends to be greater than that
in other school environments and frequently is
greater than that which parents are able to offer
at home.
MYTH
#3: MILITARY SCHOOLS CONDONE HAZING AND PHYSICAL ABUSE
IN
REALITY: Military schools stress safety and concern for the well-being of each cadet
above all other considerations. Military schools
must abide by local, state, and federal laws
concerning physical treatment of students.
MYTH
#4: MILITARY SCHOOLS TRAIN STUDENTS FOR THE ARMED FORCES
IN
REALITY: Military schools teach students how to live using the structure of the military
system to teach responsibility, leadership, honor,
discipline, and pride within an atmosphere that
encourages spiritual, mental and physical growth.
Military schools are educational institutions
that encourage their students to go to college
– not the Armed Forces.
MYTH
#5: MILITARY SCHOOLS DO NOT OFFER A STRONG COLLEGE PREP CURRICULUM
IN
REALITY: Military schools are prep schools, preparing young men and women for college
and life. Military schools teach very effective
study skills in preparation for the college environment.
Nationally, military schools boast a high level
of college enrollment. For example, 100 percent
of Oak Ridge Military Academy’s graduating seniors
for more than a decade have been accepted to
the college or university of their choice.
MYTH
#6: MILITARY SCHOOLS ARE THE ANSWER FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
IN
REALITY: Military schools, with their structured approach to education, do help students
with minor learning differences such as ADD and
ADHD. However, military schools are not the solution
for significant learning disabilities requiring
special education techniques.
MYTH
#7: MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTRACT ONLY RICH KIDS
IN
REALITY: Military schools are a low-cost alternative to higher-cost traditional prep
schools. Parents frequently find that the investment
in education at the high school level opens doors
for a young student at the college level that
might not have otherwise been open.
