The Role of Education in National Significance: Conscription and Democratic Ideals

Conscription, as critics assert, contradicts democracy. George argues that equality before the law and the right against state coercion are the two popular counterarguments against conscription and other forms of mandatory enlistment. However, despite the political and even moral oppositions, conscription remained as an effective and popular means to bolster a state’s defense strategy and posture. Britain, France, and the United States all held an unswayable attitude favoring conscription to support their involvement in the two world wars. By the 1960’s, the increasing number of dissenters forced these powers to limit the target subjects of the military service, paving the way for the eventual full removal of mandatory military service (Flynn, 2009).

Educational Perennialism: National Significance and Civic Preparedness

Educational perennialism postulates that education, especially those aspects considered of national significance, should teach things having “eternal value” and a positive social effect (Barrow Woods, 1971). A democratic education ought to give utmost regard to justice, social equality, and nationalism. Hence, ROTC training should not just focus on defense preparedness alone. It should equally focus on other aspects defining effective citizenry, including security consciousness and other democratic ideals.

Arguing that a subject is of national significance and that it needs to be made compulsory should, in virtue of democracy and practicality, include all related aspects of civic preparedness. This broadens the scope of education to ensure that students are not only prepared for defense but also for the responsibilities of citizenship.

After finishing the article, Jack went back and clicked on the next link. It led to White’s report on a NASA research project that had been halted due to budget cuts. He realized it would take too long to obsessively analyze and decided to read faster. Halfway through the report, he thought back to something he’d read about NASA’s alleged one-sided lobbying tendencies. Out of control lobbying had always concerned Jack. Only a fool could deny the dangers of lobbying. Politicians wrote laws, and they were not the selfless creatures they pretended to be. On the contrary, many of them were narcissists who had a lot in common with serial killers, and many also had disturbing sexual habits.

Further Reading and References

Barrow, R., Woods, K. (1971). Educational perennialism. Education, 89(6), 337-341.

Flynn, D. (2009). The impact of conscription on modern military conflicts. Journal of Military History, 73(2), 345-367.