bootcamps and jails.

i think everyone in any sort of society should be forced to endure some form of bootcamp or jail term early in their life. i think it could be character building.

Perhaps, but isn't that what public education is for?

public educationis a walk in the park.

I would disagree with that sentiment. Public Schools can be horrible if you are surround by others who have no desire to learn. Perhaps you went to an OK public school system.

Perhaps one year of volunteering when teens reach the age of 16 or 17, that has always been bandied about. However I think that will never happen because of our litigious society, especially here in the U.S.

i feel compelled to admit, for most of my education, i attended a private school. i've been in (various) all girls' schools since year 7. but i've done some public schooling in junior school and half a year in year 8. i find that whilst the environment may not be ideal, you're still basically free (relatively) to be yourself and do your thing. that is different to bootcamp and jail, where you are denied your individual identity (basically.)

From what I've read, public schools have gotten worse since I went to school.

Toilet Stalls with no doors (to prevent the use of drugs). Taking a **** with no door on the stall seems weird.

Many schools have inadequate playgrounds, air-conditioning, desks, books.

Actually, Soulfilms, as an ex-army dude, my boyfriend is of the same mind as you are. Not necessarily the boot camp part, but he thinks that everyone should have to serve their country in some way for two years of their life.

Be it in an office somewhere, or out in an Army fort, or on a ship, or whatever, he feels that it would be quite an eye opener to many people in this country and hopefully also impress on them a stronger sense of... I don't know what to call it - pride? loyalty? patriotism? or maybe responsibility?

I suppose that's all very idealistic, but I don't think it's that bad an idea. And most Mormon kids do a year or two of volunteering as soon as they graduate high school. They love it and it's really important to them - they plan it for years ahead of time.

People seem to view boot camp as a form of punishment, they will not make the "good" kids go, instead they punish the "bad" kids and make them go.

Hehehehehe...sounds like you just describe our public schools.

i agree with luna.

of course, i'm well and truly OVER the hill so i won't need to serve but those little sh i ts will and i will make sure that they get a sadistic ******* as their superior.

actually, i just think that most people of the younger generation (my generation included) are spoilt rotten teethed and deserve to know that having to catch public transport is far from having it rough.