If I were to send a letter to the California teacher that called military members the lowest of the low and other such tripe, it would say something like this:
Mr. Salcido,
I am an educator. I currently teach technology classes, including engineering, at the high school level. My teaching certificate has endorsements for Elementary Education, Special Education, Alternative Cooperative Education, Information Technology and STEM.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science, a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Masters of Arts in Special Education.
I’ve got great educational credentials, but I’ve only been an educator for four years.
You see, for 27 years of my life I was in the United States Air Force, both active duty and then reserves. My endorsements are directly related to the experience I gained in service to my country.
I’ve lived all over the world in amazing places such as England, Italy and Germany. I’ve worked with people from Turkey, Spain, Kuwait, Poland, China, Saudi Arabia, and Korea.
I’ve worked on multimillion dollar projects and led teams of over 100 people.
My experiences have made me a better educator.
You may think I’m an exception to your “military members are the lowest of the low” opinion since I have multiple degrees, but let me assure you I am not.
Our military members are highly educated, trained, and represent the best citizens in our nation.
As an officer, I was required to have an undergraduate degree. But our enlisted force is also a highly educated group. In addition to the training provided to work in a primary career field, educational opportunities are many. In the Air Force, airman are required to attend a leadership school. So are our noncommissioned officers and senior noncommissioned officers. In addition, the Air Force has a highly educated group of enlisted members, with Master’s degrees and PhD’s among our senior enlisted force. Our airmen earn associate degrees through the Community College of the Air Force.
In the Air Force, eighteen year olds work on multimillion dollar technologies such as fighter jets. Who keeps those machines flying? Don’t need no degree for that!
Heard of the Nuclear Power School? The Navy runs that one. Those submarines don’t run by themselves you know.
I could go on but I am hopeful you are educatable enough to see the error of your insulting comments.
I am proud of my status as both a veteran and an educator. Don’t denigrate one by insulting the other.
Tantrums and Tales 