MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- Marines of the depot’s Basic Marine Platoon, a holding platoon for recruit training graduates who have been injured and awaiting further training, now volunteer their time every other Thursday at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary. BMP is divided up and sent to individual classrooms in small groups.
“I’ve come several times now, and really love working with the kids,” said Pfc. Jacob Wheat, who is in BMP due to a fractured leg. “They look at us as heroes, and I love being that kind of figure to someone.” According to Lindbergh Schweitzer Vice Principal Muriel Bartolini, having the Marines in the classrooms gives the students an experience they can’t get from an assembly or speaker.
“The Marines act as a new support system,” said Bartolini. “They are someone that the students can look up to. They’re real enough that the kids can sit right next to them. Having Marines helping them with everyday problems and classroom issues, really brightens the kids’ day and can show them a new approach to solve their issues.”
Lindbergh Schweitzer is a magnet school in the San Diego Unified School District that has adopted “service learning” as their mission. Julie Harris, magnet coordinator said that service learning is a teaching strategy in which the students are taught that what they learn can help the community. Students are taught to empower themselves, as illustrated in the 8 to 10 projects that the school is involved in at any given time.
“It’s very important that these programs are student driven,” said Harris. “It makes the students adaptable and puts them in the mindset that they can accomplish anything; that instead of taking a distant, sympathetic approach, they have an integrated, empathetic response to the world around them, just like the Marines.”
The school also takes part in a mainstreaming approach to special education. This means that several special-needs students are put into general education classes, said Bartolini.
“It teaches everyone compassion,” she said. “After learning with each other, they don’t see differences; they only see people who can make a difference.”
Pfc. Brandon Rosenow, who spent the day with Mrs. Baxter’s 6th grade class, said it’s a great experience getting to work with general and special education students.
“In that environment, it’s like they don’t even know they have a disability,” he said.
Bartolini said that is exactly why the partnership between the school and Marines is so successful.
The Marines participate in classroom activities. They engage students during and after teacher-led lessons and provide assistance when a student needs it. They play at recess, eat lunch with their class and participate in physical education class. The Marines also help at the library, in preschool classes and partake in birthday celebrations.
“I love thinking that I can have a positive influence on the kids, and knowing that I can make a difference,” said Rosenow. “I can’t wait to come back.”
The Marines can’t always be at school though, and the mission of teaching and developing the students is left in the hands of the caring staff of Lindbergh Schweitzer. There’s nothing to worry about though, said Wheat.
“The teachers here work just as hard as any Marine, fighting for the same opportunity for these children as we do. If you want to see honor, courage and commitment, it’s at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary.”