-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- IT'S NOT JUST SCHOOL, IT'S AN ADVENTURE By Ray Quintanilla, Tribune Education Writer. Sporting baggy designer blue jeans, faded T-shirts and expensive sneakers, they stood in line for more than an hour, learning to salute. A few raised a left hand to their brow, a mistake that was immediately corrected by Maj. James O'Rourke, a 20-year military veteran who roamed the lines to inspect his new Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. "No, no, no, it's the other hand, it's the other hand," he barked. "You have to get it right!" However shaky the start, the Chicago Public Schools system is looking to these 120 young cadets, the entering freshman class at the new $24 million Chicago Military Academy in the old Bronzeville neighborhood, for answers to help turn around the system's ailing secondary schools. The concept for the nation's sole high school partnered with the Army-- which opens officially on Aug. 24-- evolved from a confluence of factors: a push to renovate the historic 8th Infantry Division Armory on the South Side, saving a structure that formerly housed one of the nation's sole black infantry units; a desire by the military to increase minority candidates for its military academies, such as West Point; and a push to inject a hefty dose of discipline in Chicago schools by rejuvenating the system's low-key ROTC programs. "The mayor is a big fan of this," said School Board President Gery Chico. "It's a school based on rules and conduct. This is a very good thing." The school's admission requirements are simple: Candidates must be elementary school graduates, have a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, and sign a contract, along with a parent or guardian, stating that the cadet pledges to work hard. There is no requirement that graduates attend a military school or join the service. The school's goal is to enroll 90 percent of the cadets in four-year colleges and to have at least 70 percent receive full academic scholarships. Military officials hope many will want to attend military schools. Despite the physical rigors of a recent two-week "boot camp," designed to give the cadets a taste of military life, 14-year-old Ricardo Galvan said he understood this group has a great responsibility on its shoulders. Not only will their parents be watching during the next four years, Army brass will be closely monitoring the school as well, evaluating whether this new partnership with the Chicago Public Schools is producing leaders and college-bound graduates. "It makes me really nervous, but I'm committed and it's going to work for me," said Galvan, an average student who chose the military school over Kelly High School, located two blocks from his home. Like most of the cadets, Galvan learned of the school from a teacher in the weeks following a central office campaign to recruit faculty and students. "At the big schools, you can get pushed around and stuff," said Galvan, a soft-spoken and slender teen who weighs under 100 pounds. "This way, I know I have a good shot at getting into college, and there won't be other kids looking for trouble," he said. Galvan's mother, Yolanda, said she was reluctant when her son broached the idea of attending the military academy. She had visions of her son holding a gun--against his will--somewhere in a hostile land. "I'm glad they don't require him to attend the military. But if he wants to go, then that's his option," she said. "But he gets a good education first." Col. Charles E. Fleming, the school's principal, said that contrary to what many people may think, discipline has helped attract students--not push them away. After the 120 youths were accepted, a waiting list with at least that many candidates from around the city began to take shape. Fleming expects the school to grow to about 600 students after four years. "They want an environment that's conducive to learning, period," he said. "There shouldn't be time for problems because our expectations for each cadet are high. It's not unreasonable to expect our students to increase their reading and math skills by between 1 1/2 to 2 grade levels per year." About 45 percent of the incoming freshmen class is female. Misbehavior, such as breaking the law, skipping school or fighting can lead to expulsion from the academy, Fleming said. To keep cadets out of trouble, a demanding schedule was created. The daily regimen looks like this: Arrive in full military uniform no later than 7:10 a.m. for breakfast. Twenty minutes later, roll call and marching drills. From 8:30 a.m. to 3:16 p.m., classes in math, English and science for the college-bound. One of the seven 45-minute periods will be used for learning about military life and team building. Students can remain at school until 6 p.m., participating in athletics, clubs or student government. Most teachers will come from the public schools, though at least two will be full-time Army personnel. The military administrators at the school transferred in from other local JROTC programs. The armory has a shooting range in the basement where cadets can practice marksmanship by using rifles that shoot pellets. Fleming said those who run the JROTC program in Norfolk, Va., want the school to become a feeder for the nation's military academies. "Let's be frank, there are certain strong desires. The military wants cadets from a school like this," Fleming said. But, he added, "There's not going to be any pressure." Students who leave the military academy before graduation will be transferred to their neighborhood school, officials said. For their first three years, cadets will be asked to spend 2 weeks every summer at Ft. McCoy in Sparta, Wis., to learn about military careers and leadership. After graduation, cadets who want to enlist in the military are eligible to come in at a higher rank than a typical recruit. For instance, while a typical Army recruit might enter with no rank, completion of four years of JROTC training makes a cadet eligible to enter the service as a private first class--one step below a corporal. That was a big incentive for Patricia Flores, 14, of Brighton Park, who recently completed 8th grade at Five Holy Martyrs Catholic School, 4325 S. Richmond St. Traveling around the world as a member of the armed forces looks like a great life, she said. "My mother told me to be very careful," said Flores, the youngest of three siblings living at home. "I know this isn't going to be like my old school, this is going to give me challenge. And then, maybe I can see the world." Retired Brig. Gen. Frank C. Bacon, the school's superintendent, said the academy will have an appointed Board of Governors, rather than an elected local school council. In four years, officials expect to have about 50 teachers, all of whom will be required to wear Army uniforms. Teachers will be given the honorary title of "Captain." The new military academy will further bolster Chicago's little-known distinction of having the largest number of students and schools in the country participating in the JROTC program, with 7,000 students in 41 schools, according to schools chief Paul Vallas. Vallas said the Army JROTC is expanding at Farragut, Steinmetz and Tilden High Schools. The Marine JROTC program is expanding at Juarez and Curie High Schools, and a Navy JROTC is doing the same at Taft High. The Air Force JROTC is slated for growth at Phillips High School, officials said. "You're going to see expansion of these military programs in the future," Vallas said. "This is the wave of the future," he said. The public school system owns the armory building, 3519 S. Giles Ave., one of several buildings in the area--including the Chicago Bee Newspaper Building and The Supreme Life Building--which comprised the focal point of Chicago's growing black community during the turn of the century. The state built the armory in 1915 on land bought by local residents who wanted a place for black troops to train. It was used for military training until about 1960, when the National Guard moved the unit. When renovation work on the abandoned building began more than a year ago, construction crews found a 15-foot-high tree growing inside. Copyright Chicago Tribune -- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! 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