Indoctrination.
WEST NEW YORK — As the firefighters used the “jaws of life” to demonstrate how to rip open a car, the group of disciplined West New York kids who were watching remained standing at attention. But some of their eyes lit up a bit.
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue’s Acting Captain Peter Mancini later let a few of the kids touch the “jaws of life” emergency rescue tool, which helps extract people pinned in vehicles after car accidents.
The firefighters’ work was part of an April 10 educational simulation for West New York’s second “Youth Academy” for kids interested in the emergency or military services. It was just one part of a week of activities, Monday through Friday, for the 59 participants.
The students, who were on spring break this week, are all seventh and eighth graders, officials said, and they had to apply to the program.
A program like this is an opportunity “to give them another view of what we really are,” said West New York Det. Hilenne Chemas.
Though 13-year-old Haley Flores isn’t considering joining the service, she said she liked learning about “having respect” for yourself and everyone else. Flores even said she liked doing push-ups as part of the academy’s training.
She was also happy that girls made up about 60 percent of academy participants, because “you always see boys doing the hard work.”
“I saw a video from last year and I saw how much fun that kids were having,” she said. “I would come back next year.”
Mayor Felix Roque said he helped create the first academy last year, because he understands the value of the service – as a graduate of the New York Military Academy, in Cornwall-On-Hudson, N.Y.
Saying his town likely offers the only youth academy in Hudson County, Roque said he would eventually like to see a military charter school in West New York because “the military is the only avenue” many students get “to a good job.”
When asked about some people’s negative views of the police based on certain local and national news stories, the mayor said he didn’t believe this reflects reality.
“It takes a great human being to become a police officer, to put your life out there,” he said.
Likewise, Youth Academy Police Sgt. Erwin Moreno said this program teaches the kids “a little bit of discipline, pride, self-respect.”
Moreno demonstrated this later, as he led a chant for the young participants.
“Are we proud?” he yelled.
“Yes sir!” they shouted back.
Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/04/west_new_york_youth_academy_lets_kids_learn_about.html
Obedience training for tomorrow’s Cannon fodder. Disgustingly pathetic. Where are the parents ? I suspect oblivious and lost.
Agreed.
The communist agenda. Indoctrination at an early age to bow to the supposed “authority”, of which, they have none. “We are here to protect and save you” mentality that gets hammered into the kids heads much like the guy with the cement block! Der, God bless ‘Merica’, you know, mom and apple pie and all that bullsh!t. Joining the ranks of the flag waving morons.
Smells like they are trying to save their own skin
Too late
So they didn’t beat them mercilessly when they walked in the room?
They lied?
With as many accidental discharges as the American cops have. I would not let my kids go for there own safety around such as a cop.
I see only two white men and there both firefighters. Just an observation. Being a firefighter my self the last numbers ilooked at we’re overwhelmingly white volunteer and paid fire fighters. But same old hogwash. Yes master spray me again, yes master bring me to your camp.