Military Brat Dissertation

My name is Leslie Hinkson and I am a graduate student at Princeton University. I am currently finishing my dissertation which looks at students who attend DoD schools and asks the questions -
1) Why do they do so well on standardized tests compared to their public school counterparts in the States; and
2) Why are racial gaps in test score performance smaller (particularly in the schools overseas).

At the end of July I will be leaving Princeton for the U. of Michigan where I will be working to finish this project and hopefully turn it into a book. I have conducted interviews (but through a snowball sample that primarily includes my family, some of their friends, and students here at Princeton) and would like to conduct more interviews, this time with people who aren't so closely connected to me (which should increase the number of diverse experiences and voices). I am looking for individuals who have attended domestic and/or DoD schools, parents of these individuals, and teachers from the DoDEA system to develop a better understanding of how military culture and structure affects families and schools in ways that seem to produce extraordinary results in the students that go through the DoDEA system.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview, either over the telephone, via e-mail, or face-to-face, please contact me at lhinkson@princeton.edu. I believe this project has the potential to help inform educators on how to reduce racial gaps in academic performance and would help bring to light the extreme importance of maintaining and expanding access to base schools for the countless dependents Stateside who deserve this service.

VFW Memorial Wall

In honor of Memorial Day, VFW is launching The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall Campaign.

As a tribute to all of the proud men and women who have served our country and live on in our memories, we are building a virtual memorial on our website- The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall.

The goal of the campaign is to collect the names of 10,000 veterans - spanning every generation - and memorialize them in the inaugural launch.
The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall will be viewed by the thousands of people who visit our site each year and serve as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom.

We want to ensure that not one single veteran is ever forgotten.
They helped make this the greatest country in the world. And we have a duty to make sure that their dedication to this country is remembered long after they are gone.

Add your loved one’s name to The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall today.

But hurry! You must send your submission by Memorial Day May 30th in order for your loved one to be a part of the inaugural launch of The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall.

Once The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall is launched, we will email you the link so that you can view your loved one’s name and share it with others.
Thank you for remembering our veterans!

Military Brats Create "Soldiers Are" Video

Hello Mr. Curtis, I, too, am a military brat. But I am able to keep in contact with the brat life by teaching on a military base: Ft. Benning, Georgia. A group of our children (grades 2-5) created a tribute to their fathers and all Soldiers. If you are interested, you can find the project here: "Soldiers Are" Movie

Thanks, Mary Barnette