Lee Jackson is a 1977 West Point graduate with a plebe son. His wife, Barbara, teaches at an intermediate school in Texas. Below are e-mails that were posted on parent-net and plebe-net informing us of a class on the Academies and Ethics that his wife has designed and is currently teaching. Lee has graciously granted permission for them to be reprinted here.
My wife teaches intermediate school. As a result of a classroom incident,
she made her students read the letter that each of cadet-candidate received last Spring (it came with the book on ethics that our cadets were supposed to have read prior to reporting for Beast Barracks). Then, they had to write a lengthy essay on the importance of ethics. The grade for that paper she made large enough to essentially determine pass or fail, and they had to document any source they quoted. I helped her grade them, and I can tell you that, if those young people are representative at all of the young people in this country, they are hungry for a decent, civil, ethical way to live. A result of that was that some students took a renewed interest in ethics and the need for ethics. Discussion mounted among other teachers and students. My wife was requested to teach a mini-course. She chose as her subject "The Academies - Their Histories, Traditions, and Ethics." She will be having guest speakers who are graduates from each of the academies - of course starting out with graduates of the best of them all.Last year, a classroom incident inspired my wife, Barbara, to have her entire class read the letter sent from the West Point Honor Captain that had been sent to each incoming new cadet for this year's plebe class. She then required her students to write an essay on ethics. The responses were startling. One result was raised consciousness among teachers who had further discussions and encouraged her to teach a course that had, as one of its objectives, the teaching and raising awareness of ethical values among her students. A few weeks ago, the course was approved. Then we had to have sufficient enrollment in order to hold the class. A week ago Monday, we learned that that milestone had been crossed. Only then could we make announcements and schedule participation of outside speakers. The response has been incredible. On Monday, Barbara conducted the first class herself. It was basic administration, going over the class outline, giving a diagnostic quiz, etc. Then yesterday, I conducted the 2d class where we gave the broad brush of West Point: a little on its history, its traditions, cadet life, the Honor Code, service and career opportunities. In both classes, the students were attentive, curious, participating, and genuinely interested. For me, it was a great experience. They asked many questions, and went all over the items I had brought for show-n-tell: my long gray overcoat, my red sash, my yearbook (they made insinuations that I didn't look so bad way back when), my tarbucket, and my old Art of Warfare textbooks (very intrigued with the diagrams). Their questions were to the point and their knowledge greater than we might have thought. In the class are three students from USMA families. Tomorrow, the mother of one of them, a grad from Class of '90, will share teaching the class with a grad of '78. This class is also on West Point, but will concentrate on our Traditions and two character values that lend to an ethical lifestyle. The father of the other 2 is a grad of '80, and he will participate at a later date. We have great speakers for subsequent classes, including a graduate from the Class of 1937! He is 90, strong, and was one of the planners for the invasion into Morocco during WWII. He is bringing with him his original Bugle Notes! He will be joined by two other graduates ('78 and '96), and together they will cover "Opportunities for Service" as well as 2 more values that contribute to ethical living. We have participation coming from Annapolis, arranged by one of our own plebe-parent members (if he lets me, I'd be pleased to tell you who he is - he graduated from that other school, then saw the light and sent his son to West Point! [Just kidding. We sure appreciate his help.]) What has me so excited this afternoon is that West Point will be participating. The staff there had already cooperated greatly by providing booklets on the history of West Point as well as a tape. We just received word that the students will have the opportunity to interact directly with cadets and staff in real time! The students are very excited about this! We have had suggestions and offers of support and interest from all over the country. We extend our heartfelt thanks, and are happy to report that thus far, the course is proceeding well. Please wish us well.
Many members requested that I keep them apprised of the progress on this course. What started out as just a neat thing we were doing that I thought others might like to know about has turned into a logistical task that I have not yet mastered. We are nearly halfway through the course, and it has gone better than any of us could have dreamed - thanks in large part to the graduates who have participated, and to West Point itself. On day one, we gave the students a diagnostic course, and they barely knew what the academies were or where they were located. Now, they are very familiar with the histories of West Point, Annapolis, and USAFA (we still have Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy to go), and they have a tremendous appreciation for the Honor Codes. Although not developed as a recruiting tool, 75% of the students now say they want to attend one of the academies. And, we already have indications that the students are taking the Honor Codes to heart…doing the right thing when the wrong thing would have been easier. The speakers have been tremendous. The Class of '37 grad brought in his original Bugle Notes from 1933. His stories were vivid, and he made real the experiences of battle and the need for integrity in the conduct of war. The kids loved him and spontaneously posed for pictures with him. In the same session was a '78 grad and a '96 grad (I was there too, but don't count that), and they both added tremendous depth in terms of demonstrating abiding traditions and necessary change. Throughout this particular class, we were also able to demonstrate for the students the honor and respect we have for the members of the Long Gray Line. The '78 Grad made a point that the freedoms we share are directly due to the sacrifices of men like the '37 Grad. Bridging two sessions, the students watched the movie, "The long Gray Line." They were engrossed with it, and chagrined that they could not see the whole movie at one sitting. But between the movie and the speakers, the link between a code of ethics and living by that code is being made real. Last Friday, we held a videoconference between West Point and the students. In attendance on the West Point side were the Honor Captain, three other cadets, the West Point historian, and an instructor from the Math Department. They made short presentations, and then took questions. For an hour and a half, these students asked away, great questions. And those on the West Point side treated them with respect and gave them serious answers. Reactions after the session on both sides were enthusiastic.
The West Point participants inspired awe among the students here, as well as among the adults. The Math instructor's statement, repeated emphatically, to "do the harder right rather than the easier wrong...even when no one is looking" registered among them. The Historian's enjoyment and pride in relating the history of West Point and the Honor Code was very effective. The Honor Captain's humor and command was impressive, particularly when he said, "... now listen to me, I might sound like your teacher, but she's right, learn how to study. Develop those good habits!" Another senior cadet's willingness to appear unannounced was much appreciated, and his offer of insights into military training caught the students' attention. A 2d Classman's poise and explanation of the life she enjoyed and enjoyed by those who live in an ethical environment registered on the students' faces. And, the quiet strength of personality and caring of another 2d Classman, and her personal manner in handling situations calling for tact without sacrificing integrity were exemplary. Not only the students were impressed with the entire panel at West Point; so was everyone else in the room here in Texas.
On Monday of this week, a former instructor from the Air Force Academy introduced the histories and traditions there. And today, thanks to coordination of our own Mary Kay and our own plebe-list-Dad, Steve Middletown (Navy Grad with a West Point plebe son), a Navy graduate came and did the same for the Navy this morning. He has pledged to roust other Navy graduates to fill out the Navy sessions (on Tuesday he played golf with a former Navy graduate of some football fame in the quarterbacking area and spoke to him about this project - no commitment yet).
Within an hour of the videoconference last Friday, we were contacted by a West Point grad who is in the astronaut training program, and he has offered to participate as well.
And, we have secured the commitment of a retired major general to speak to the class in the next-to-the-last session. He will give a perspective of cooperation between services, how they combine operations, and the importance of being able to rely on the information from which important decisions are made.
A lot of people are involved in this effort, and the ability to thank them all adequately seems somewhat beyond reach. However, we do our best. This forum (for good reason) limits the ability for identifying those who have been so generous with their time. Our thanks, however, is no less because of that, and we have taken other steps to properly express our gratitude. Some have made suggestions or offered help. If I have not gotten back to you, it is not for negligence or not wanting your participation. We have been in the fortunate position of being offered more help than we could handle, and will still probably call on you. Some have asked for our materials, and I'll supply those at the end of the course when we can assess "Lessons Learned."