Author Topic: boot camp in public school system  (Read 2295 times)

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Offline Anonymous

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boot camp in public school system
« on: September 12, 2007, 08:18:26 PM »
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/opinion/ ... 72036.html

Boot camp limits



Boot camps are not a quick fix to the behavioral problems of most troubled youths.

So if Muskogee Public Schools opens a boot camp — and it appears the district will — administrators should be very selective in choosing youths who are most likely to receive the most benefit from the camp.

Boot camps have been around a long time, and the basic idea is that they offer undisciplined youths the discipline they need to straighten out their lives.

They work off the premise that the discipline will create a better self-image for disturbed youths to help them overcome whatever social deficiencies or emotional issues they face in their lives.

It would be nice if solving juvenile delinquency was that simple.

But boot camps don’t work for everyone, and experts aren’t sure how successful they are. They warn the in-your-face discipline that boot camps are noted for can have detrimental psychological consequences for a disturbed or struggling teen.

They also warn that youths learn that boot camps are short-term affairs, and the youths will tolerate them only to return to inappropriate behaviors once released.

Like with any program, Muskogee schools should continually evaluate its boot-camp program once it opens to see that it is working. Tahlequah and Wagoner already have camps in place, and Muskogee should ask for hard numbers and advice from those districts to see what works and doesn’t work in the camps.

Superintendent Mike Garde says he expects Muskogee’s camp will open next semester as a day camp with about 20 students returning each night to their homes.

When the camp opens, we want it to be a success.

But obviously, a boot camp has limitations in addressing troubled teens’ bad behavior.

The community should not have the mistaken idea that the camp is a cure-all.

Many youths need counseling, individual attention, love and long-term help and supervision just as much as they need discipline in their lives.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »