On July 19, 2011, the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) of Mountain View High School was given a disestablishment notice, effective on June 30, 2012. But things haven’t slowed down for the 17 year-old elective. Right now, the biggest thing on the corps’ shoulders right now is the task of reforming into the Naval National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC), or “Cougar Corps”. This would allow the cadets from NJROTC to remain in a similar friendly environment, perform much the same community service they have been made famous for, and continue many of the teams that brings so many cadets to the corps every year, all while remaining as an elective in Mountain View High School. But that doesn’t mean Mountain View’s “Cougar Corps” would be a carbon copy of NJROTC. To bring more students in, “Cougar Corps” will attempt to make it’s elective more inviting by omitting most of it’s strictly navy-based curriculum, and most importantly, making the weekly “uniform day” optional for all cadets.    On the contrary, things have accelerated, with 78 cadets enrolled in the program participating in activities ranging from school assembly color guards to Varsity football cannon team. “Doing cannon team is a significant part of the Varsity football games [in Mountain View]. It’s cool to be a part of it” comments Chase Leitz, a participator in NJROTC’s cannon team as well as sword and drill team.   Practices for each of NJROTC’s five unique teams started September 26^th, with marksmanship, athletic, color guard, drill, and academic teams all training hard for upcoming competitions. Nearly 40 cadets also completed NJROTC’s Basic Leadership Training, a 3-day mini-boot camp consisting of basic marching maneuvers, lots of exercise, and a curriculum based around the Navy’s three core values: honor, courage and commitment. “I think that this year will be the strongest year of BLT because staff as well as older cadets have gotten a head start on every activity” says Paige Westoby, a cadet part of NJROTC’s Executive Staff, who will be facilitating during the camp.

The road to getting district approval for this plan will be long and hard, but support from Mountain View’s principal, Katie Legace, has given the program new life. Though at times it seems NJROTC is fading, there is no doubt that, in one form or another, NJROTC is here to stay.

NJROTC Unit Photo: November 11, 2011

Incoming freshmen are used to this schedule. Middle schools that trickle into Mountain View, such as Sky View and Pilot Butte, have been on the seven-period schedule for a few years.  Aspen Crew says it’s “more of the same. But there could be a little less homework.” Freshmen take core classes mainly, however, Crew was in Sculpture and Ceramics with Mrs. Carroll. One thing Crew did mention: the teachers are much better than middle school. Overall, the freshmen think that the teachers at Mountain View are phenomenal; in fact, Arick Payne says his favorite part of high school so far is the teachers. While he disagrees with the structure of the schedule, he does suggest that the shorter periods are nice. As with most freshmen, and even returning students, there is an echo of the lunch being too short (yes, it’s true: the time parameters for lunch this year are five minutes shorter than in years past.) The freshmen are celebrating the new freedoms of high school. With freedom comes choice, something these budding teenagers will pursue over the years, with increasing desire. This much I have learned, in my experience and observation of high school’s preparatory and cyclical visage.

Matt Crawmer, a multi-talented student and musician, says that Mountain View can best help him by developing and using a mentorship program. Like Link Crew he suggests it keeps new high school students on their feet. Crawmer feels this would be a great way for him to maintain his goal of straight A’s throughout his high school career. He also is taking Jazz Band, where he plays guitar, and is re-surfacing percussion, something he dropped in order to start playing guitar. Crawmer favors the block schedule simply for the factor of time; he’s indifferent about homework, he believes high school should be about getting an education to succeed. Increasingly, younger students are thinking about college. Conventional wisdom encourages this; a head start is great for students’ chances on getting into a university. Arick Payne already has his sights set high. He wants to attend New York University, and he knows he’s going to need guidance to get there.

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I had an insight while driving the other day: I cannot fault anything for something that it is programmed to be, or programmed to do. As controversial as it seems, high school fits this description. Monet Miller would agree to this statement. She knows that she has core classes to take, but she isn’t complaining. “It is what it is,” she told me, “and we do have more freedom.” There’s something appealing to everyone: freedom. Each one of these new students (and the familiar faces, the upper classmen) desire to be free, and all are working towards their own individual freedom, day by day. Miller says she would increase the sizes of the hallways, if she were in charge. She also wanted to take a certain elective class, but couldn’t, since the class was too full. Class sizes have increased, due to the budget cuts on the district’s menacing deficit. It simply is something that the school must weather in the coming years. One last thing: Miller says, “I don’t know so far what I want to do” after high school. That’s quite all right; some people believe one should wait until one goes to college to start thinking about a major, let alone an occupation. It would appear then, that Miller is on the right track for a 21^st century student. High school is just beginning for these youngsters. It is wise of them to analyze their needs. They will depend on the strength of the school they attend to send them into the future, and they must be academically and socially equipped for all that lies ahead

Second Coach Riper is very eager to get back out there and make conference again so they will have another shot at making state again. One thing that Coach Riper needs is more freshmen for the basketball team that way they can get into it and when it comes time for the state he will have more players he would like to see at least over 50 all together.

Austin Custard