Should Boot Camp Programs Be a Requirement for High School Students?

Sifting through the newspapers, and watching the evening news, we often find ourselves being bombarded with negative news. In local cities, gang violence and troubled teens riddle the headlines, making city living almost unbearable for those seeking a safe environment for family living. With all of the violence that has come to light over the past several years, it's almost become normal to hear heart breaking developments about school shootings and outcasts seeking revenge.

Teenagers are abusing drugs at an alarming rate. Not only experimenting, but becoming heavily addicted and dependant.

Many believe that society has become less strict over time, and has allowed this type of behavior to swirl out of control, and for far too long. Lacking discipline and structure, it's seemingly becoming worse.

But let's direct our attention in a different direction.

Boot camps are military-style, semi-penal institutions that use discipline, military exercises, and physical training to overcome adolescent defiance and behavioral problems. Teaching respect and structure, many parents turn to these type of programs to teach their unruly teenager how to obey and respect authority, as well as themselves.

But lets be honest. You don't have to be a defiant teenager to learn something from a course in respect. It seems society has rapidly lost sight of what respect is, and how to show it. Schools attempt to teach children respect, and structure, but they often fall short, giving up on many children far too quickly.

What if there were a requirement that all students complete a boot camp style program before completing high school? Learning structured and respectful living before moving on to college and being completely responsible for themselves and their actions could be very beneficial. But how many parents would agree?

Many of the skills taught in boot camps are basic skills that you need in order to lead a successful life. Schools teach a lot of subjects, and this is one of the most important things that every child needs to learn, yet they're not teaching it.

Perhaps if every child in school were taught these lessons throughout the years of education, it would prevent specific behavioral issues.

Although this is a controversial idea, it leaves much to consider. With everything going on this day and age, it may be one step in creating a happier environment for everyone to live.