They don't seem to mind living under the security that a military affords us.

And more to the point, Brian, they also don't hesitate to use kids for cannon fodder in the culture wars.

Senn High School could do better by its students through intensive vocational-training projects, English/citizenship lessons for newcomers to the country, college-prep "school within the school" for the academically talented, and various other magnet-type programs. The high-school population in the Senn neighborhood is going to change pretty rapidly over the next few years, what with all the "gentrification" going on in the area and a dearth of private schools and other "outs" for affluent parents who fear the CPS. (The only Catholic high school I know of in the immediate area is the all-girl St. Scholastica's on Ridge near Evanston.) In other words, making Senn something other than a "way station" or "cannon fodder" military school, for kids who weren't able to get into a "better" school, would seem to be the smarter way to go. But then whoever accused the School Board/City Hall (they're one nad the same, now, remember) of being smart?

anon:

Way station? Cannon fodder?

Do you have any data to back up implied claims that the students will either languish academically or be doomed to inconsequential deaths? Or is this more knee-jerk aversion to anything loosely military.

Also, you seem to have missed the meaning of Joe's cannon fodder metaphor, which you ironically quoted. Of course, you also quoted “gentrification� and “better,� so I’m not sure that means anything.

This has been in the air for decades; Harold Ramis went to Senn and he wrote "Stripes."