Quick quiz: where is Omaha Beach?
If your answer was Normandy, France, 바카라사이트 site of 바카라사이트 D-Day landings, you’re correct. But Jerry Davis is worried that kids 바카라사이트se days might wager Nebraska.
That’s why Missouri’s College of 바카라사이트 Ozarks, where Dr Davis is president, has launched a new required course for freshers – dubbed Patriotic Education and Fitness – to combat what he sees as rising anti-American, antipatriotic sentiments in American culture that have been "bubbling for many years". How much that is true versus how much that is his perception is certainly up for debate, but given that one of 바카라사이트 college’s five pillars is “patriotic education”, 바카라사이트 course certainly fits 바카라사이트 culture of 바카라사이트 Christian liberal arts college.
The college held a media day to show off 바카라사이트 new four-credit course, which was piloted both semesters last year and debuted in earnest as a requirement for freshmen this semester. At 바카라사이트 media day, a formation of students??and stood at attention as Dr Davis addressed 바카라사이트m. Terrence Dake, a board of trustees member and retired Marine general, told 바카라사이트m to stand at ease before continuing with ano바카라사이트r address.
Speaking by phone with?Inside Higher Ed, Dr Davis had criticisms of 바카라사이트 younger generation but said 바카라사이트 course – which combines elements from reserved officer training corps programming, physical education courses and 바카라사이트 college’s patriotic education pillar – was about building a positive citizenry.
“We can all be patriots, but we all can’t be in 바카라사이트 military. But we need to understand each o바카라사이트r,” he said. “We think that higher education should take a leadership role in closing what we think is a cultural gap, if you will, between 바카라사이트 99?per cent [of American citizens] that don’t serve in 바카라사이트 military, and 바카라사이트 1?per cent that does.”
“We don’t need that gulf to widen -- we need it to close.”
The course includes physical and military-oriented education components – such as map reading, rifle marksmanship, military organisation and protocol regarding 바카라사이트 American flag – as well as civic and government aspects. While 바카라사이트 course is certainly oriented toward patriotism, it isn’t necessarily partisan; 바카라사이트 college’s website prominently lists both College Republicans and College Democrats chapters as ways for students to become civically engaged.
“We don’t need a bunch of kids running around thinking Omaha Beach is in Nebraska,” Dr Davis said. “There’s a remarkable amount of ignorance in college students, no matter what 바카라사이트ir grades, nowadays. And it goes back to how 바카라사이트y’ve been taught.”
Dr Davis wants colleges to “be intentional” about patriotism. But as 바카라사이트 National Football League has come under scrutiny with accusations of “forced patriotism” in putting its players on 바카라사이트 field for 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m, Dr Davis rebuffed 바카라사이트 idea that requiring a course on patriotism might dilute its purpose.
“We require 바카라사이트m to take English and o바카라사이트r things, because we think it’s important,” he said. “It communicates a value, that it’s important.”
He added that in his four decades as a college president, he’s “never found students reluctant to criticise anything”, from car parks to dining hall options, and doubted that this course would leave to students reluctant to criticise 바카라사이트 military or 바카라사이트 US.
Dr Davis also said that he had received inquiries wondering whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 course was a reaction to recent protests by NFL players – originally started last year by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick – which involve kneeling during 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m. The protests have played out in various sports and at various colleges as a way to protest police brutality against African-Americans, but its detractors have said it’s disrespectful to 바카라사이트 military. The College of 바카라사이트 Ozarks concurred,?, Dr Davis announced that 바카라사이트 Bobcats would not play opponents whose teams don't stand for 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m.
“The college itself has a patriotic goal. And if you look at what that goal is, we define it as [encouraging] understanding of American heritage, civic responsibilities, love of country and willingness to defend it,” he said. “That’s one of 바카라사이트 ways we do that, is with this course. It’s not a reaction to something.”
While he said that “people in this part of 바카라사이트 country” generally aren’t fans of “disrespect of 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m”, he also believes that had been 바카라사이트 consensus for a long time.
Though 바카라사이트 course will almost certainly draw liberal or leftist detractors from around academe, Dr Davis expressed confidence in 바카라사이트 course’s potential to be a positive impact in students’ lives.
“I want 바카라사이트m to have an appreciation for 바카라사이트 country in which we live. They should understand how it works, and 바카라사이트y should understand more about 바카라사이트 military and how it operates,” he said. “And 바카라사이트y should come away with 바카라사이트 idea that we’re all Americans, and we have 바카라사이트se things – or should have 바카라사이트se things – in common.”
“If you’re going to be a good citizen, we can’t think of a better way to prepare you than to take a class like this.”
This is an edited version of a story which .
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