When we first think about having children, one of the biggest things on our mind is where we’ll send them to school. Perhaps we’ll have dreams of sending them to a prestigious school in the future, or maybe we’ll be comfortable just sending them to a local college with lots of different options to help them follow their dreams. Whatever the case is, choosing a school can be incredibly difficult.
In most cases, you’ll either be picking between public or private schools. Private schools are typically much more strict and difficult to get into for a variety of reasons. They might also have certain requirements, such as following a specific religion or demonstrating academic abilities from an early age. Public schools are free for anyone to join regardless of their beliefs or academic abilities. Their goal is to offer every child and equal level of education without taking their background into consideration.
Choosing between these two styles of schooling can be difficult, but there’s a third option that seems to have fallen out of the public’s eye; military schooling. In this article, we’re going to talk about what military schooling is, if it’s compatible with your child and what the benefits of it are.
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What is a military school and how is it different?
Contrary to what the name might suggest, a military school is not designed to teach your child about combat from an early age. Technically, they are known as military boarding schools because they usually require the child to stay at the institute itself instead of commuting every day. This might raise some concerns for parents, but functionally, military schools aren’t much different to boarding schools until your child reaches a certain age and starts to learn more about core military values, civic responsibilities and also become more athletic.
Let’s start by dispelling some of the common myths about military schools.
- Military schools don’t just teach military stuff. While there are core military values such as structure, teamwork and self-discipline, your child isn’t going to learn to shoot a gun before they know how to read. There is an emphasis on military history and related subjects, but this doesn’t mean it’s all focused on combat. In fact, it’s no different to something like a religious school; instead of extracurricular studies on faith, it’s about military subjects.
- Military schools aren’t designed to reform children. Some people think that military schools are designed mainly for children that have disciplinary problems. For example, if you’re having trouble controlling your child, you might think that sending them to a military school is a good solution. However, there’s a good chance that they won’t get in since the schools aren’t designed to fix behavioral problems.
- Military schools are for everyone. Military schools aren’t just for boys. There are plenty of female students that enrol in a military school because of the benefits. Don’t let the term “military” put you off from considering it as an option.
- Military schools don’t lock you into military service. Depending on the school, there’s a good chance that the military school won’t lock your child into a life of military service. Many parents send their children to military schools to help them develop good discipline habits. If they decide that they want to contribute to their country through military duties, then it’s an option–not forced.
- Military schools don’t guarantee that you can enter military service. Similarly, going to a military school doesn’t mean that your child can instantly enter the service once they graduate. They’ll still need good grades and be able to show that they’re suitable for a role in the military.
Based on the name alone, it’s easy to misunderstand what a military school actually does. If your child is currently having trouble focusing in class or you just want your child to join the military then sending them to a military school isn’t a solution. While they might not be as difficult to enter as a well-known private school, your child does need to demonstrate that they’re a suitable fit if they want to be a part of a military school.
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What benefits should I expect if my child goes to a military school?
If the idea of sending your child to a boarding school and learning some core military values sounds appealing, then you might want to know more about what a military school can offer them.
Discipline is arguably one of the most important values that military schools are based around. Learning about the value of hard work, stamina and persistence are difficult in both public and private schools. However, in a military school, discipline becomes one of the core principles and is one of the most important things to develop. Whether it’s in classrooms, doing community service or working in a group, your child will always be reminded of the importance of discipline.
Character is another value that is strongly emphasized in military schools. While discipline is one of the biggest characteristics, your child will also learn about taking initiative, having courage, building self-confidence and also being honest and modest. This is all thanks to the environment that is created by the military school that actively promotes and rewards these values.
Focus is another aspect that is strong in military schools. They are stricter than public schools and there are fewer distractions to get in the way. Distractions such as modern technology and video games are kept at a minimum and there’s a heavier focus on productivity and self-development instead of procrastination.
These are just a few of the most common benefits you can expect if you decide to send your child to a military school. Again, military schools aren’t suitable for all children, but if you’re confident in your child’s ability to be independent when you’re not around, then it can be a fantastic option to instil some excellent core values from a young age that will provide them with a solid foundation for their future.