A modet proposal: Beginning with first grade, kids go to
school year round, nine to five with a 2-week break at
Christmas, one at Easter, and two in the summer. At the end
of 10th grade, high school is over. All kids are then sent
to "boot camp" where their job is to become independent
adults. They learn to wash their clothes, keep their
rooms--barracks--tidy and clean, cook their food, and they
learn a trade. Maybe they experience some rites of passage
that have disappeared since we went to the all volunteer
army. Hell, we could go so far as to teach some
manners--what a concept. Other time is spent in community
service during the two years in camp. (Boot camp is not a
place to learn about guns and "Army stuff." ) At 18, they
choose advanced education, the service, or going to work.
Kids lose lots with a 3-month summer vacation and the
earlier justification, farm chores, are no longer done in
the old way anyway. Plus, parents work and all the pain and
agony of finding day care, etc. could be avoided. Too, it's
during those teen years when kids and parents are most
likely to tear each other apart emotionally if not
physically. A drill sergent type is unlikely to put up with
that stuff.
Wizard Marks, Central
