Too Dumb For Military Service:Who's Too Blame, Teacher or Student?

THE DOCTOR IS IN
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LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how is the world treating you?

Dumb Kids? You Bet! Folks, nearly one-fourth of the students who attempt to join the military., (i.e.) U.S. Army, to name one branch of military service, fail the entrance exam. That's sad.

The study worries all military leaders and many in the administration as well as our leaders in the education field. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said: "I'm deeply troubled by the national security burden created by America's under performing education system."

Look at these staggering stats: Between 2004 and 2009, nearly 23 percent of 17 to 20- year old's failed to get the "minimum" score needed to join the military. These aptitude tests are very, very easy people, and yet the students can't comprehend them. If you can't get the people you need to serve in the military, there is a great potential for a decline in the military readiness.

Questions on these aptitude test are very basic, such as:

"If 2 plus X equals 4, what is the value of X?"

(A) 6 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 1/2

Or,- -
" Dana receives $30 for her birthday and $15 dollars for cleaning the garage. If she spends $16. on a CD, how much money does she have left?"

(A) $29. (B) $27. (C) $24. (D)$12.

Answers: 1)B 2) A
Source:http://www.military.com

In addition Pentagon data shows that a whopping 75% of those 17 to 24-years old don't even qualify to take the test because they are physically unfit, have a criminal record or didn't graduate high school.

It's really unbelievable that we allow these uneducated students to walk across the stage and receive a diploma and graduate.Students with such a low education and who are low performing students don't deserve a diploma because they haven't earned it. So, why does the teachers, the school and education administrators pass the student forward and allow them to graduate?

When these students apply for the military and take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam they only have to score at least a (31) out of (99) on the first stage of the three hour test to get into the U.S. Army, and people, they are failing. Can you believe it?

I would suggest that one reason for the low performing student is that the teachers and educators "kick the can" down the road. They take the position: "the students low performing scores doesn't really matter because they will straighten out when they join the military."

Whether the trooper is a soldier, sailor or marine who is dragging a backpack around from hill to hill or sitting in a high tech science or research center that person should be well-educated and that's clearly not happening.

I have always said we have been dumbing down our kids from decade to decade. One of the biggest reasons for the dumb down is because of the quality of teachers that have been graduating and put into the education system. It's apparent that when you have a teacher that is less educated that those that went before them they are going to teach our children at a sub-standard level because that is all they know and that problem has been occurring and becomes worse with every decade.

There are numerous reasons for the bad education of our children. I mention only one or two in this writing but they are legion. Another I could reference is that instead of the educators sticking to the basics like the three (R's),(reading, writing and arithmetic), they go off on a rampage offering frivolous subject matter that is clearly irrelevant to a good education. That has been happening over the years more and more. The problem perpetuates itself. It's like the blind leading the blind. What result do you get? A poorly educated teacher turns out a poorly educated student who then becomes another poorly educated teacher.

All said and done who's to blame for the uneducated students who can't pass a simple aptitude test? Your choice is as good as mine.- And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.

Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com