At his high school, McCain promotes troops-to-teachers
On the second stop of his biographical tour, John McCain returned this morning to his high school, where he remembered his rambunctiousness that got him into trouble and the special teacher that helped put him on the right path.
The presumptive Republican nominee also used the setting of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., to promote his "Troops to Teachers" proposal to encourage veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to go into the classroom.
"The sense of heightened responsibility and duty to a cause greater than themselves that veterans were taught in the discipline and code of conduct of the armed forces make many of them excellent candidates to impart those virtues to our children, and help them see the value of learning as a means to self-improvement and much nobler ends," he said, according to prepared remarks provided by his campaign. "There is no reason on earth that this great country should not possess the best education system in the world. We have let fear of uncertainty, and a view that education's primary purpose is to protect jobs for teachers and administrators degrade our sense of the possible in America. There is no excuse for it."
McCain said he wants students to have teachers like he had in William B. Ravenel, the English department head, the junior varsity football coach, and an Army veteran who served with General George Patton in World War II.
"Every child should be blessed with a teacher like I had, and to learn at institutions with high academic standards and codes of conduct that reinforce the values their parents try to impart to them," McCain said. "Many students do have that opportunity. But too many do not. And government should be concerned with their fate."
McCain also launched a web ad featuring Ravenel as an American hero. "It's not always the famous who inspire us," the narrator says.
The Arizona senator conceded that his time at Episcopal was not entirely smooth, saying he did not take well to the mild hazing endured by first-year students.
"As a young man, I would respond aggressively and sometimes irresponsibly to anyone whom I perceived to have questioned my sense of honor and self-respect," he said. "....However much I was captive to the unruly passions of youth, which some of my classmates and friends at Episcopal could attest to as they shared more than a few of those attributes themselves, after a difficult first year adjusting to life here, I came to appreciate this place very much."
mccain was born on a military base and he has never left the government since......a mavrick......hardly......independent......never......free thinking......impossible......he is the worst of the double-dipping govt. parasites.......i am waiting for him to mention the enviroment and the exploitation of animal habitat.....right......that man does not walk in the woods.......earth first......all ways.............
Perhaps Mr. McCain can address what he would to to FUND the Troops-to-teachers program, allowing troops with degrees to go back to school and become certified in 'education'. It's a never ending spiral of re-certifications, at an expense well beyond what a 'G.I. Bill' covers.
The funding was totally stripped from this program during the Clinton administration.
T-2-T does not work. There is very little support for it, outside of military channels, and not much within the military because of what factors are already known. The program has no teeth in it and political factions in the education world resent anyone who comes from a non-educational, or non-traditional background. One last thing T-2-T doesn't tell you is that you still will be starting out on the bottom rung of the teacher's salary ladder. One more way those education types let you know how much they do not want you walking within their realm.
Seven years into this war we are in the midst of another "successful military operation" in Basra. Yesterday the UK decided, that, due to all this "success" they are going to stop withdrawing from Iraq. Frankly, I'd rather hear Mr. McCain discuss the immorality of Stop-Loss, the crooked way we got in this war and the fact that the war had NOTHING to do with the 9/11 bombing. Rather then patting 40,000 cripples and 4,000 dead on the back and discussing how to "repay" 125,000 more with jobs they are not suited for, how about just not fighting this immoral war. It strikes me as disingenous for Mr. McCain on the one hand to say we should "honor the troops" or whatever, While with the other hand, be slapping us with "let's keep fighting this immoral war past any of our own lifetimes." The only person who needs a real job here is Mr. McCain.
While ex-military people can be excellent teachers, it is not the only prerequisite. Not every student will learn with that military discipline. There are as many types of teachers as there are learners. Mr. McCain should look at the students who did NOT learn under his favorite teacher. Not every teacher can reach every student. While he "endured" mild hazing and reacted to it, some students are not able to do that. Most interestingly he mentions that the teacher needs to reinforce the discipline of the parents. This is the key. Too many students do not have discipline at home. Too many parents expect the schools and teachers to do their jobs. NCLB does not hold parents or students responsible for attendance or behavior, expecting schools and teachers to bring students who are chronically absent or misbehaving to a proficient level. I would like to see a military person train troops who are not there and they can not discipline.
Awesome! What a great plan! Part of the reason our graduation rates are plummeting and scores are low are a lack of respect for education in homes and society. It is VERY tough not to respect someone who has been in combat. Great idea, Senator McCain. And it's concrete, too.
Given the low aptitude of many that are being allowed into the military and the number of vets returning with mental issues, this seems like a very unusual idea to me. Teaching is not bootcamp and what is required is not, in many cases, an enforcement of values taught at home but, in fact, the teaching of said values. If he thinks that the same techniques and ideas that were used when he was in school are still applicable today, he is completely out of touch with the realities of the current educational system, particularly in poor, urban areas. His anti-teacher, anti-union retoric does nothing to improve the living conditions of the students before they walk through the classroom door at a huge disadvantage.
Can we really trust a person who will say or do anything to craft him or herself as the "perfect candidate", including changing his religion at age 71. What Bush said prior to election had almost nothing to do with what he did after election, and McCain has a lot in common with him.
McCain has a history of being combative with anyone who disagreed with him, and pro war against any govt that wouldn't follow our demands. Some may like the idea of our Country remaining in an expanding state of war for the next four or eight years; I do not. I'd rather have someone who will weigh criticisms before giving a measured and thoughtful response, not someone who flushes and attacks.
Sen. McCain seems blinded to the fact that Az. teachers are poorly paid. Take a good look Sen McCain at this and also how poorly funded the schools are in Az. and how many layoffs of now teachers are happening. Do you know how many poorly paid teachers are using their own money to buy supplies. Wake up America!!!!
"I would like to see a military person train troops who are not there and they can not discipline. " C.D.
C.D.,
I am a retired military-type who teaches those who do not respond to discilpline "military style", every day. I am a Special Education teacher, and I do not support T-2-T for the reasons I have already outlined, especially the low pay. That 10,000 stipend for teaching inner-city kids for threes years is going to be much-needed to offset the added cost-of-living that current military members are not used to paying for. See military members get an additional stipend for having to live "off base" in the form of BAQ/ BAS/ and VHA, and they won't get that when they become civilians, again.
I was a training specialist for 12 years and a Master Training Specialist for 9 5 of those years; do you think the world of K-12 education gives 2 cents about all of the schooling and training I had to endure to achieve that level? Heck, no! So, I had to go from a salary of about 58K per year to 32K per year. That is quite a demotion. Now, add 10K to that figure and 3 years of misery working in an inadequately funded inner-city school, replete with all the added hoops a teacher has to fund themselves and jump through to achieve a "highly qualified" certification. Is Troops to Teachers worth all of that? Not even close. Teaching truly is a calling and does not treat second-career transitioners kindly.
Since 1994 Troops to Teachers has successfully placed over 10,000 veterans as K-12 public school classroom teachers, and has assisted many thousands more with advice and couselling services. No program will survive for 14 years, especially at the federal government level, without having a great deal of merit and great benefits for those wanting to take the time and effort to transition to the classroom.
No program is perfect, and there will always be those with negative attitudes that look at a glass half empty. It would be great if TTT could improve the amount of funding for its stipend and bonus programs. Contact your Congressman and Senator and urge them to do that!
Thanks to all the veterans who have served our great Nation. They are such great role models and mentors for youth.
No one goes into teaching to get rich. I am a teacher, a veteran, and a part of TTT. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully it will result in renewed funding for the program. Our schools need the quality of person our great military has produced. Terrific role models and in many cases, outstanding teachers. Veterans bring to the classroom life experiences that many teachers cannot and do not. I work in a state that did not have a strong interest in TTT when it first began...and there were some valid reasons. Today, the state has renewed interest in this program. Our school systems frequently lack leadership...leadership that troops will bring to the classroom and the schools.
Rather than just McCain...what about Obama and Clinton's views on funding and improving TTT as well?
they still giveT2T seminar on the base, it 's nothing but college pitch.With the economy in recession, tons of college graduates lined up for teaching jobs, and some states laying off current teachers, and the fact of down sizing your income from comparably 100k to 28k, they really don't have much to flaunt about I guess.
they still giveT2T seminar on the base, it 's nothing but college pitch.With the economy in recession, tons of college graduates lined up for teaching jobs, and some states laying off current teachers, and the fact of down sizing your income from comparably 100k to 28k, they really don't have much to flaunt about I guess.
What kind of training will these veterans receive? Last night during the final debate, McCain talked about this plan and not making the veterans go through the tests and certifications. Well, good luck to them then. I am a certified teacher and it is still difficult to teach a classroom full of students with various needs. A classroom cannot be run like a military boot camp. McCain cannot honestly talk about accountability of teachers and then throw people with no education training into the classroom and expect success. Actually, I find it insulting that people think that just anyone can jump right in and do that job.
OK- I've read the post here, and I will add this:
I am a classroom teacher. I've also been a self employed metal worker, so I know both sides of the fence- government and private work. I was not in the military, but I have plenty of friends who are, from privates to command level. I've taught in both urban and rural schools over four decades.
Being the military does not qualify you to teach. Being a teacher qualifies you to teach. A teaching degree is not enough, and is really considered worthless by most teachers. A degree in your chosen field is what is needed to have the true grasp of what you are teaching. This take 4 years or so, less if acquired knowledge is counted.
Many new teachers leave the field after less than two years. It is too hard for the amount of pay that you earn. A. Wilber mentioned the low pay in his posts, but what he may not realize is that no one is allowed to start high on the pay scale, no matter what their previous experience is. In California, when I taught there, you could be a 20 year teacher but if you moved, they started you at 5 years, maximum. I suppose that this was to keep teachers from changing jobs, but it also kept experienced worker from becoming teachers. I do not think that most troopers will trade their rifles for chalk, but they are welcome to try. You may find it very rewarding, or you may find that it is not worth the trouble. What I do not want to see is unqualified people in the classroom. Don't try and teach Calculus unless you have a math degree, OK? Teachers have to be highly qualified under the NCLB act, and that means having a Masters Degree. If you get that, remember that it will cost quite a bit of money to get, and at least an extra year of college. Good luck! you'll make more money as a plumber or an auto repairman, and you will not have to work overtime for free. Those long summers off? You're taking classes and workshops. Or working a second job to make up for your low pay.
How about Soldiers to Senators program? S-2-S?
The more McCain proposes, the more concerned I become!
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