Forget K-12. I propose K-13 — with one-year of Civic Service after High School.
I published this idea two years ago, and have included that excerpt from WHY I CAME TO AMERICA…and what I think now (see below).
HIGHLIGHTS OF GRADE-13 PROGRAM:
(Springboard to Success!)
1. Mandatory for all US students.
2. Paid Internship – 40 hours per week at minimum wage or higher.
3. Student Choices – Military Training or Law Enforcement, Trade Schools, Peace Corps, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and endless other possibilities.
4. Curriculum to include studies of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance, Household Financial Management, Manners, verbal and written skills, working understanding of the English language, and others.
5. Students do not graduate from High School without successfully completing Year 13.
6. Program mirrors Selective Service Registration (including males and females) and is conditional to earning future Federal Benefits programs, such as the GI BILL, VA mortgages, government loans and grants, etc.
7. No exceptions, diversions, or college enrollment. Most institutions will give full CREDIT for Grade-13, and all students will start fresh in Year 14, via college, employment, etc.
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Excerpt from WHY I CAME TO AMERICA…and what I think now
(Page 84 hard copy book, page 63 eBook)
RULE 4: All high school grads attend one year of civic duty
I would call it Prep Year, or Civic Internship. This is a PAID year; a forty-hour week, and minimum wage for all. That would be my preference. (Israel has two years mandatory military service for teens who are graduating high school, and it works well in strengthening their camaraderie and culture).
In America and Canada, I envision one year. It can be military service, a Peace Corp kind of program, perhaps a community house building program for low-income folks, seniors, or veterans. The core goal of this one year Prep Year is that everybody participates, and all programs contain civic and yes, patriotic duty.