|
|
Post by tridlette on Aug 22, 2005 20:55:16 GMT -5
I am seriously thinking about sending Michael to a boarding school, military academy about 3 hours from home. It is pretty reasonable price wise... less than $15K for a full year.
He would get all the JROTC stuff he gets now, plus...
1. STRICT schedule, revellie at 0645, breakfast at 0715 Inspection at 0800, classes all day, drill every day, 2 hours study hall EVERY night, supervised by staff, lights out at 0945.
2. Customized schedule for academics.
3. All boys school... no girls to distract.
4. TV on the weekends earned through merits.
5. Earned allowance, by shovelling neighborhood drives, etc.
6. Weekly worship services mandatory.
7. Learn how to make beds.
8. Ski club membership by merit.
And more...
So... what do you think? Should I try to convince DH that this is a reasonable idea?
I figure that the $ is better spent teaching him HOW to be a good student now, before he flounders for another 12 semesters in the local high school. Otherwise, I spend more later on to send him to college without the basic skills he needs, that the school won't/can't teach him and he fails there too. If he does well in Academy, then he can get a scholarship to college, or an appointment to West Point and enter the service as an officer!
Or should I stop dreaming and focus on the reasonable, attainable goals?
Thanks for any and all input!
Laurie
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Aug 22, 2005 21:01:00 GMT -5
If you can swing it I say go for it  Michael would be perfect for it and I think he would excel far greater than you could imagine. Plus the fact he would be close to home....Talk Girl Talk ;D ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Kaiti on Aug 23, 2005 7:30:04 GMT -5
:DTrid, I think it would be perfect for everyone. I know that might sound mean, but look what you have to put up with....that attitude and everything else. When you started talking about the money aspect, I wasn't thinking the academic end, I was more looking at the social end. I think Michael would greatly benefit that aspect along the respect factor. Not that Michael is a bad kid, but rebeling and getting into trouble was what I was looking at. You'd save money in the not bailing him out of jail department  I say go for it. As long as you can swing it financially, it's Valley Forge right? Do they any type of financial aid or any thing? |
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Aug 23, 2005 7:50:16 GMT -5
Boy Kaiti ...trid is going to get you ;D ;D ;D My boys all went into the military and it did them a world of good....they went in as undisciplined (to themselfs) boys and came back men. |
|
sportsmom
Member Emeritus
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Posts: 1,171
|
Post by sportsmom on Aug 23, 2005 8:03:12 GMT -5
Trid I think it sounds like a good idea. Michael likes the military aspect and it might be the enviroment he needs to thrive in. Try talking to dh~~get him really interested about it then tell him the price. After you have his interest peaked the money will be the easy part (hopefully). GOOD LUCK
|
|
|
|
Post by camismom on Aug 23, 2005 8:43:14 GMT -5
As long as Michael wants it too, then why not?
|
|
|
|
Post by tridlette on Aug 23, 2005 8:50:00 GMT -5
Valley Forge Military academy is about 1/2 hr. from here... they charge over $28,000 I am looking at a school near Harrisburg that is just about 1/2 that price. DH already knows what VFMA charges... Carson Long might just be tempting after seeing the VFMA price!
Linda... Kaiti has MET Michael... she KNOWS!
I am worried about him feeling like I am trying to get rid of him. I really don't want him to go away to boarding school, but this school just seems like it was custom made for him (except the no TV during the week!) They even have a rifle team!
I guess my next step is to call them? Ask some of the nagging questions I have, and get answers for the ones DH will ask when he gets home from his business trip. And then set up a campus tour. That is, IF they still have any openings!
I STILL WANT MORE OPINIONS and QUESTIONS!
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by finnmom on Aug 23, 2005 14:36:41 GMT -5
Does mine count  I´d say if you can afford it and Michael want´s to go... GO FOR IT. As you said; all those benefit´s and the fackt that Michael is interested of military profession and this could open the way there After all... cant you tyr it for a year.... if it´s unbearable, you still can get him back. I think Michael might feel good to be able/ forced to take care of himself... |
|
|
|
Post by tridlette on Aug 23, 2005 15:15:15 GMT -5
I called the school, they DO have openings for Michael's grade, and they are putting a rush on any new applications so that the boys can be in by start of semester!
He might lose rank, since the HS he is currently in has only had a program for 2 years, and the cadets got rushed up the ranks. The other school is over dates back to 1837... 160+ yrs!
He also needs letters of recommendation, and he doesn't even know who the vice principal is... so how will the VP write a letter? The Colonel I spoke with said he would take a reference from his current Senior Army Instructor (who resigned because the principal of the school doesn't support the ROTC program and doesn't show any respect to the students and staff!) I think his Scout master and his karate instructor would gladly write for him.
I need to schedule an appt. to visit and have him interviewed, get medicals and ...
OH YEAH, DH's $ and approval! ;D
Michael wants to give his local HS a try, of 4 days, and then run for an interview and medical exam, so he could start school on Sept. 19th!
I somehow doubt DH will find the $ for this, and that is sooooo frustrating. I have done everything possible for the other two boys by home schooling them, I want Michael to have the best opportunities too!
|
|
|
|
Post by tridlette on Aug 30, 2005 9:58:35 GMT -5
UPDATE... I set up a campus tour and interview for this week.  DH says his head is spinning, and there is a lot of info to digest, but a campus tour can't hurt. It just means me... getting up at 7 a.m. to drive out to the school. And the interview is with the Commandant of Cadets, who also is chairman of the Science Dept. and the coach of the rifle team! Either Michael will come away begging to go, or praying not to! |
|
|
|
Post by milesofsmiles on Aug 30, 2005 10:58:50 GMT -5
Hey Trid, sounds like an exciting week. I grew up a military brat, so I had a lot of the stuff you are talking drilled into me at an early age. Have to admit, the price seems HUGE, but if you look at the benefits, and the graduation rate, and accepance at colleges, Michael will be so far ahead of the pack when this is done. Heads will spin. Good luck on the drive, and the financing. The drawback would be missing him.  Miles |
|
|
|
Post by tridlette on Aug 31, 2005 8:12:40 GMT -5
The drawback would be missing him. Miles  A 15 year old boy who never showers, changes clothes or gets off the computer except to talk to the girls on the phone and do push ups? I will miss the food bills, the dirty cloth stench and the sticky keyboard, yes, but "miss him"... I doubt it ;D Just kidding Michael, your sense of humor is fantastic, and it is handy that you mow the lawn and do the weed whacking in the yard, and reaching stuff on the top shelf at the grocery store saves my back. I really enjoy the time with your Boy Scout troop too. Hmmm, Miles, I guess I would miss him a little bit  But he WILL come home mature! Let's see how we get through the interview part first! |
|
|
|
Post by camismom on Aug 31, 2005 9:00:01 GMT -5
Well, the tour is your first step, so...Keep us posted.
|
|
|
|
Post by finnmom on Aug 31, 2005 12:50:20 GMT -5
I´am interested to know how your campus tour goes, please keep us posted, and GOOD LUCK |
|
|
|
Post by AnneM on Aug 31, 2005 15:40:28 GMT -5
Trid !! ...  I say YESSSS ... go for that campus tour and interview ... go and find out for yourselves whether this is right or wrong for Michael ... We have private schools run by the military here too ... and they have an INCREDIBLY good reputation!! They are out of the financial range of most people which is a SHAME because there are SO MANY kids who could benefit from them !! ...  WELL DONE TO YOU FOR COMING UP WITH AND FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH WHAT IS POTENTIALLY AN EXCELLENT IDEA !! Keep us posted!! |
|
