" I've often thought all the way back to the former California Cadet Corps at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High that there was insufficient recognition for those students. Giving many off school hours to programs for the school without significant mention or even a simple Thanks for the extra effort. Very little was even mentioned during the summer months when the retreat to Officers Candidate School at Reedley College took place. But even the cadets of that era policed and watched over school property during recesses and school dances and other activities to help prevent fights, and also destruction of school property. I take my hat off to these young students both young ladies and young men who choose to devote their time to this worthwhile project. Many go on to have military careers as a result of their participation. "

" Character-building at its finest, Watchdog.

Put this high on the list for what defines American patriotism next time we debate with the Swiss expatriate. "

" NJROTC is a great program. I was fortunate enough to be in Lemoore High School when it began and I joined the very year it started. They offered after school programs that we could join that taught us honor and commitment. I loved my time in ROTC with all the trips and Military Balls. I felt proud to belong to this group. My brother and Sister joined as well when they went to high school and loved it as well. My girlfriend's little brother is a part of the ROTC right now. This is a great and positive program for kids who are so tempted these days with peer pressure. I do not think these students get enough recongnition in a very military community. I would like to see more in the paper about these students and the events they participate in. These students deserve more recognition. "

" Kudos again to the NJROTC. Even though it's just an elective, it's good to know that it is open to everyone at the high school who wish to participate. Patriotism is not a requirement but it does help later on in life when the need to speak up occurs(geographic locations varies as do geopolitical lines).

Now, if only the high schools will bring back the Home Economic classes! "

" To MrsD, I know this is a bit off subject, but since you mentioned it, I don't know if I disagree with you or not. I am not exactly sure of what you mean by Home Economics, if it is like when I went to school and only girls were allowed to attend and it was cooking and sewing and such, then I will disagree with you.

Now if you mean a mandantory class for both sexes on real life, ie. cooking, sewing, plumbing, housekeeping, basic automotive repair, child rearing, how to balance a check book, why it is bad to cause a bank overdraft, and such things, then I am 100% behind you.

To me unfortunately, it feels like the kids get no real life training, and yes some of this should be the responsibility of the parents also, but let us be honest, not all parents out there have these same skills that I am talking about. "

" When I attended Lemoore High School, the home ecomics class was called Independent Living(before that, in the 1970's, the boys home econ was called Bachelor Survival). In this particular class, boys and girls, learned simple receipes, how to use a sewing machine, what pots and cutlery to use in food prep, the 5 W's of cooking from scratch versuses the box brand, how to prepare laundry, balancing a checkbook and etc. Just basic housekeeping skills. It is useful in life since many kids go off to college and not know how to make a cup of hot chocolate or how to clean and disinfect a bathroom. And since there's parents out there who don't do this at home(reasons being great and small)learning it in school makes sense. There's nothing stopping girls to take an automotive class, is there? "

" to MrsD, thank you for your response, the class that you talk about is exactly what I was trying to describe, with the exception that it excluded basic automotive maintenance. What I mean by that is checking the oil, changing a flat tire, checking the battery. Simple things that could help you out in real life. How many times have you been driving down the road and seen (usually a woman, but not always), someone standing next to a car with a flat tire. Having to wait until either a good samaritan, tow truck or other family member comes along to change the tire?
And not all boys take auto shop, I didn't, because in my day it was for the gear heads only. And they didn't have no "Bachelor Survival" course, had to learn most of it on my own, which I feel left me out, I can't cook from scratch the way my wife can. Give me a can of Cheif Boyardee and I can have a meal, disgusting, but a meal (humor). "

" To: Alihandero wrote on Mar 12, 2009 5:18 PM:

" Character-building at its finest, Watchdog.

Put this high on the list for what defines American patriotism next time we debate with the Swiss expatriate. "

Do you suppose Switzerland or (Switcherland) being neutral has any such programs.? I hardly think so and I doubt if the expatriate wants to stick his neck out and start any either. "