<p>Retired diplomat and Iran hostage embarks on course to expand Navy's cultural horizons</p>
<p>Published in the BS:</p>
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The midshipman blurted out his question, interrupting a class discussion about tolerance of other cultures in the early days of Islam.</p>
<p>"When did this fanaticism start?" asked John Kennedy, a Naval Academy senior. "Like when Iran's president says the Holocaust never happened or wants to nuke Israel and wipe it off the map?"...
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<p>Hey GA... I saw this article yesterday and loved it.....forwarded it on to my Plebe and we discussed it last night in a brief phone call. I hope someday she has this guy as a teacher.</p>
<p>One thing we don't mention much as a real advantage of a USNA education is that in the overwhelming majority of the classes the mids have for all 4 years they will be taught in a class sizes of about 20, with full professors in every class. Compare this with any major univeristy and USNA has them beat.</p>
<p>And many of the courses will have intersting, insightful teachers like this one mentioned in this article.</p>
<p>Here's another outstanding article that especially applies to this theme.</p>
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overwhelming majority of the classes the mids have for all 4 years they will be taught in a class sizes of about 20, with full professors in every class. Compare this with any major univeristy and USNA has them beat.
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<p>While this may hold some truth with many of the larger, and certainly many of the state universities, there are many, many fine colleges and universities out there where, even as a freshman, you will find yourself in a class under 20 pupils, taught by PhD's and EdD's....</p>
<p>Certainly USNA ranks along with the best of them.... but there are more then you might think in that group...</p>
<p>true, but the cost of the education is almost always overwhelming to a family budget. With our launching 5 through all kinds of colleges, this is still a 'plus' for a Service Academy</p>
<p>Peskemom, that's why we're thrilled that our daughter's going to William and Mary in the fall. Small classes, all classes taught by full professors and it's an in-state school for us. Since we couldn't convince her to follow her brother to the Academy, we figured it's the next best thing.</p>
<p>good for your girl, atrmom!!! One of my other kiddos went to a small Christian university that had a Classical Books Education - every class taught by top professors in their field. The education she received was top-rate as well. Good luck to your daughter!!!</p>
<p>atrmom Congrats on your daughter's choice of W&M. That was one of my son's acceptances too. The funny thing is it was one of his roommates at USNA too!</p>
<p>Many fine LAC give so much in merit aid due to high endowments they should never be discarded as to expensive when applying. Son got very good aid packages at two very prestigious LAC’s that put the cost cheaper than attending our State U. Also, most State U’s have very good honors programs that limit student class size to 20 students. My husband teaches in Engineering and he typically only has 30 students in his undergraduate class – required course of his department at a State U. Yes a Full Professor, with no TA, teaching an undergraduate class. Becoming more and more common. Friends teaching at other State U’s are saying that they are starting to only use TA,s - at least in Engineering – for lab sections or grading not teaching class sections.</p>
<p>One thing I know I think of when I speak of large state universities is my personal experiences with the University of California. Since we are from a huge state I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my own and a few of my children's experiences who attended UC schools...reflects the fact that we are dealing with schools educating hundreds of thousands state wide and hence the typical 300+ basic courses taught by TA's, versus the smaller class sizes, etc. that many other schools offer.</p>
<p>i guess it all boils down to "you get what you pay for".... hopefully!!!</p>
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... but the cost of the education is almost always overwhelming to a family budget. With our launching 5 through all kinds of colleges, this is still a 'plus' for a Service Academy
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<p>While I understand where you are coming from, I am going to revert back to a quote I saw way back around my 10th post here on CC that has stuck with me ever since...</p>
<p>"while the education at the USNA is priceless, it is hardly free"....</p>
<p>bargain? yes.... if you come out the otherside whole....</p>
<p>navy2010 let's not totally freak out the newbie moms and dads! 1000 young people X3 every year graduate from our Service Academies and whatever stuff goes on in their heads from 4 years of that life....trust me....what college grads at regular schools put up with can be equally as stressing, and mentally questionable to their well-being.</p>
<p>Yes I personally know the 'cost' of a free USNA education. When I first met my husband in 1973 at a Bible study in San Diego, he never said a word....not ONE word....for months. I thought he was mental for sure, even though I learned he was a Naval officer stationed on a ship as a communications officer. I knew him for 18 months before he spoke one word to me, and that was because he was in love with me and wanted to figure out a way for me to marry him! ( and obviously it worked, eh?? :-) ) It took him years to break out of a self-imposed exile and talk to me about the true hazings he got in his USNA years. His gentle nature took a beating and it took love and trust to rebuild those areas of his heart. So I do know that some graduate from USNA mentally broken in deep ways. This never affected his service to his country and he served 11 years of wonderful naval service for which he and I are proud.</p>
<p>It took 25 years of marriage for him to open up about his Academy years and I finally heard stories that set my hair straight up. Nevertheless he looks back with pride on his education and never once discouraged his daughter from choosing USNA.</p>
<p>He is a proud father and proud graduate.</p>
<p>I bet folk like Zaphod and GreatAmerican - graduates from other decades ( Z from the 90's, GA from the 80's and my hubby from the 70's) can totally relate to what I am saying.</p>
<p>But I would bet real money that all 3 of them would not trade those years for any other institution.</p>
<p>well I am not sure where all of that ^^^^ came from...</p>
<p>and I am certainly not trying to freak out "all the newbie moms and dads"....</p>
<p>what I was trying to convey is quite different... and that the lure to the academies needs to go far deeper than the "free education"....</p>
<p>because it can end up costing them dearly... and by this I am certainly not talking about "whatever stuff goes on in their heads"....</p>
<p>what I was talking about is that case in Memorial Hall where even you found yourself so profoundly moved...</p>
<p>I am talking about the poor mother that gave a heart-wrenching speech at this year's Military Ball... who lost her son just a few short months following commissioning in his first tour of duty... and while she clearly remains the very, very proud mother of a wonderful and blessed son, I can't help but think that she, too, has at some point questioned if the cost was just "too high" to bear.......</p>
<p>I am talking about the walls in the dorms at West Point honoring their graduates who have paid the "ultimate price".... and the wall that has been just recently cleared and remains empty....awaiting the names from Afghanastan and Iraq to be added........ </p>
<p>add to that the brave souls fighting their way through Bethesda and other places to return to some state of "normalicy".....</p>
<p>what I am trying to do is make sure that those looking at the "free education" are rethinking that mentality....because they really need to! This is NOT COLLEGE!!!! </p>
<p>I am certainly NOT knocking your husband, his nature, his service, or his mental state.... I met the man, remember?????</p>
<p>honestly!</p>
<p>And don't doubt for a minute that we have not done the very same soul-searching..... and challenged our son to do the same.... the Oath of Office is a very serious one- one that is not taken lightly.... and I certainly hope one that is not taken to take advantage of the "free" education!!!! And while I am sure our son will value his education at USNA, I pray to GOD that he does, in fact, come out "whole" at the end of the process....be that 10, 15, 20 or more years from now....and to make sure this is crystal clear, by "whole" I mean LIVING AND BREATHING!!! ANYTHING short of that we will deal with!!!!!</p>
<p>Really PM....</p>
<p>good points made Navy2010
glad we're not being scored in a debate :-)</p>
<p>I stand down</p>
<p>your partner in this journey
:-)</p>
<p>wheewww.....</p>
<p>I guess the heartwrenching speech that poor mom so bravely struggled through really impacted my soul more than I thought.....</p>
<p>"the only thing to fear is fear itself....."</p>
<p>"Free Education" never crossed my mind when applying. I wanted to be a Naval Officer, period, and USNA was the best place to do it, period.</p>
<p>I applied, got in, and graduated. As time passes, things that MIGHT have left a "scar" on my soul fade into memory. But even then, I don't recall having passed through any single occurrance or experience that "scarred" me. You have to take the totality of those four years (five, in my case) and compare Before to After to really see the impact.</p>
<p>It is well known that the classes of the 60's and into the 70's underwent REAL hazing (far worse than what you saw at Abu Grahib, I might add), but that all that had died down by the late 70's and into the 80's and 90's. Good riddance. However, it certainly explains why some, such as Peskemom's hubby, don't talk much about it. I had a friend or two experience some pretty hellish things, but those were the exceptions rather than the rule.</p>
<p>The biggest source of fear at USNA nowadays is simply the unknown. So much to learn, so much to perform, so many standards to meet, and all so quickly and without any babying from those you have to impress. That can be pretty horrifying for some (who were spoiled rotten growing up), but challenging and even fun for others. It all depends upon the individual.</p>
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"Free Education" never crossed my mind when applying. I wanted to be a Naval Officer, period, and USNA was the best place to do it, period.
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<p>the way it shoud be.... IMO ;)</p>
<p>Well, it's good to know I got SOMETHING in my life right....</p>
<p>now don't be getting all soggy on us now...</p>
<p>If the thorpedo turns out half as good, I will be very, very pleased!</p>
<p>444 days as a "guest" of the Ayhatollah, and he made it.</p>
<p>Yeesh, and we talk about Plebe Year. He's got bigger ones than I do, that's for sure....</p>