Army Preparatory High School Successful
Get your GED – Army Style
The figures are staggering. While some high schools are dropout factories and graduate less than 50% of the students, the Army Preparatory School graduates nearly all students.
GED Scoring
The GED, General Education Development, is a process that some students select if choosing to not receive a high school diploma. There are many reasons students do not graduate from high school in the traditional manner. The GED process is an open door to receiving the equivalent of a high school diploma.
The National Average GED Score Is 480. However, the Army GED scores at Fort Jackson average at 570. 99% of the 400 soldiers that have attended the Army GED school have successfully received a certificate.
Army GED Class Structure
Under normal circumstances, students attend GED classes on a relaxed schedule and take tests when they feel prepared. In the Army Preparatory High School, students attend school eight hours a day and complete studies within three weeks. In addition, they go through the traditional Army routines.
The Army’s Hidden GED Agenda
Is the Army now into educating high school students? No, not really. The Army is interested in educating recruits. The military does not want high school drop outs, but the Army does want 90% high school graduates and will tolerate 10% of recruits as GED certificate holders. The military wants young people that can succeed finish something they start, set goals and meet them.
"A lot of APS (Army Preparatory School) soldiers have quit everything they’ve tried in life, but they realize when they get here we don’t allow them to quit. They’re soldiers. They can’t quit." [Capt. B. Gaddis, commanding officer, edweek.org, Dec. 8, 2008].
Gaddis gives much credit to the teachers. Teachers in the APS are certified and hired by Stanley Associates that handles the actual teaching component. And, to qualify for attendance in the school, students must place in the top half of the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery).
Army Preparatory School Students
Who are the students that enter into the APS? The typical age is 20 or 21. These students were dropouts and decided to serve in the military after being in the real world for a few years. They’ve been sworn into the Army and march to mess hall for lunch. They are in class until 2 p.m. and then train, learn military courtesy, develop map reading skills and other military necessities. After dinner, there is a study hall and homework. Lights go out at 9 p.m.
What about technology? Students are not allowed cell phones, MySpace, iPods, or Facebook. And, just in case someone may think about bending the rules, a sergeant is patrolling the area to make sure rules are followed.
APS Curriculum
The curriculum is the same as typical GED students.
- Math
- Science
- Reading
- Writing
- Social Studies
Teacher ratios begin at 20:1 and finish at 5:1 toward the end. Students also tutor each other. A student that is strong in math will tutor students weak in math. Students strong in science will tutor others weak in science. Friends help each other. The atmosphere is different than high school where the top achievers gain teacher attention and the lower half do not appear on the radar.
Teaching methods can be somewhat unorthodox at times but the teachers are given academic freedom to teach without jumping through the hoops of standards and benchmarks. Accelerated remediation is often used.
Hank Taylor, former Army medic who is an instructor at the APS school says, "I think the discipline is what makes it work. It’s exceedingly rare that a soldier gives me trouble. But, if it happens, I come in and remove him. There are things that happen here that couldn’t happen in a public high school." [Scott J. Cech, edweek.org, December 8, 2008].
Related articles: Pros and Cons of Same-Sex Classrooms, NEA Dropout Plan
Army Offers Second Chance to Dropouts
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles