If I drop my health class (half year) and have a W will that hurt my chances for admission

Q

Questioner

New Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2023
Messages
3
My state has a new graduation requirement for a second health class to graduate. My parents want to drop me from it because of the CRT content and they have went to the county for the curriculum to be reviewed.
They want to defer the class until second semester senior year. Will this W (withdrawal) hurt me? We just want the county to produce a responsible and less racist implementation of the curriculum.

P.S. I don’t want the discussion to devolve a CRT discussion. Just whether a moral objection or deferral to take a course after beginning it is considered. It’s not like it’s over my head academically. The class unfortunately missed the mark with not being demeaning and racist right now.
 
Just my opinion. Take the class and put it behind you. Once in a SA, basic military, or even civilians jobs you are going to take classes you do not agree with. This does not mean you have to change your views or the way you think. Over Parents weekend, this year at USAFA, this question came up. The Supt, I thought gave a great answers. In short, he stated, USAFA is not trying to change the beliefs of cadets, but teach them how to lead all diverse walks of life. The cadets are going to be leading individuals from many different belief, and they need to be equipped to handle this type of responsibility and have an open mind.

So in short finish the class. Keep your beliefs, but be opened minded, that one day you could be leading individuals with different points of view.

Best of luck.
 
Good time to learn that there will be requirements as adults we don’t necessarily agree with, but still a requirement nonetheless.

What if you get a CRT sympathizer in USAFA or college?
 
Just finish the course. You are halfway through the semester. They aren’t going to change the course next semester so you woulld just have to sit through it twice. There are plenty of these courses in the future, you will have to learn to deal with it eventually. You don’t have to believe it, you just have to pass it.
 
@Questioner, WRT policy change: I certainly applaud and support your parents convictions and their drive to change the curriculum in your state. You should encourage them to continue to be active to influence and drive change.

WRT to you sitting through this course vs withdrawing. You asked for opinions so here goes - this doesn't sound like it would benefit you personally to withdraw. One thing the Navy teaches in their NSI/ NSO orientations for trainees is to not call negative attention to yourself. This sounds like a risk you can avoid. Don't drop it. Learn to coexist with your strong beliefs and to be able to listen to the beliefs of others. You are not so weak that hearing an opposing view will cause you to melt. You should also point out to your family that you are attempting admission to an extremely competitive SA, where rock star American citizens from around the globe are also with you, vying for a seat. Some of the best young persons in the nation. Ask them not to sabotage your candidacy making you explain something in the interview. When you're in the military and you get an order you don't agree with, will you debate it, retreat/ walk away, or carry it out?

As others posted, will the curriculum change before you graduate? Not a guarantee. Maybe you can make this an application essay that you object and have strong faith but are willing to listen to a view you vehemently oppose, because as a future officer you will/ would do the same. You could use this to show your maturity, conviction of belief, and yet awareness that you'll need to function in the real world.

We can't control who are parents are, and yet you can control in this case whether or not you can just listen to an opposing view. Related to dealing with opposing views? yesterday a co-worker of mine (well, he was a coworker yesterday) from Palestine posted a video of birds attacking the Israeli flag among other rhetoric to our corp. slack channel that was pretty broad reaching in terms of who it included - see pic below. Did I meet with him this morning at the crack of dawn, and carry the mission forward as I do most mornings? Yep- you bet. I have a strong belief of how to treat others, and was offended to the core by his post, but I function/ keep the mission moving forward. Did I also immediately report it to HR yesterday, and by the time 9AM EST rolled around, he is now a FORMER co-worker? Yep - did that too.

Withdrawing because someone is saying something you don't agree with and reporting it as fact? Surely you can and will form your own opinion and can withstand hearing an opposing view, no? If not why oh why would you enter the military? Do some soul searching and see if you can reach a balance here. Soon you'll be an adult but you are making decisions that will impact your future - Good luck.

Officers lead people - including enlisted - if you believe that you will not encounter people with extreme views that you'll need to work with and lead, I believe you are mistaken. Some enlisted are more intelligent, capable, higher performing - the best of the military. Same with some officers, and some from both groups are the diametric opposite of that. You're not the morality police- well you can be if you want to be a clergy, or rabbi, et al. Well, hopefully that's food for thought for you.
 

Attachments

  • 1697203913282.png
    1697203913282.png
    158.6 KB · Views: 11
Last edited:
You should 100% take the course. At the academy, you will be surrounded by people with upbringings opposite to yours. You have to learn to find the strengths in that, it seems like you are only seeing the downsides. At the end of the day, you have to put your opinions aside and do your job- which right now is being a student. The military will ask the same of you. I could say with confidence that withdrawing will impact your potential of recieving an appointment.
 
My first thought was ‘so you are running from something you don’t agree with, instead of sticking around and having healthy discussion’. Or something to that effect.

We need more intelligent, thoughtful, respectful discussion. Not less. Perhaps you could add to that discussion, in your class. Instead of refusing to take it, and not discussing your viewpoints.
 
Thank you everyone for your input. I will take it to heartful consideration. I do feel everyone is equal and deserves dignity and HOW the class is done violates that. I don’t know what I can or will do but it will be what is for the best. Thank you for your words. This weighs heavily on me.
 
Questioner said:
Thank you everyone for your input. I will take it to heartful consideration. I do feel everyone is equal and deserves dignity and HOW the class is done violates that. I don’t know what I can or will do but it will be what is for the best. Thank you for your words. This weighs heavily on me.
Click to expand...
Not to sound cliche, but how will you reconcile things in the military that may challenge you?
 
I would add to above comments that, should you commission, you'll be leading people who have taken, and are perhaps subscribers to, this course material. Best you understand it.
 
Great advice and perspectives above. Part of leadership is the willingness to tolerate those with whom you disagree, to listen openly, and to challenge respectfully. The best leaders don’t run from controversy, but face it with a constructive mindset. Sessions such as this health class don’t end after high school; you’ll face more in college, the military and corporate life. You won’t be able to get a “hall pass” for them all.

When you commission, you will take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. That document gives legislatures the power to prescribe things such as the class to which you object. It also gives citizens (such as your family) the right to petition for redress if they disagree with the legislature’s actions. So in your case, the system seems to be working out as planned. If we disagree with the legislature’s actions — even as we petition for and await redress — we are still obligated to obey the law.

If you were to look deeply enough, closely enough, critically enough — you would realize there are parts of the Constitution that you surely disagree with. Yet it will be your sworn duty to preserve, protect and defend it. You won’t get to pick and choose which part you’re willing to fight for.

A famous saying to consider as you contemplate whether to take that class: If you’re going to die on a hill, make sure that hill is worth dying for.
 
Last edited:
Take it, pass it, exercise and deepen your own critical thinking and analysis skills. Be neutral and open to hearing others’ points of view - you don’t have to personally ascribe - but you will learn how other people think, what matters to them, their “why.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top