CHICAGO – A new educational opportunity is coming to students in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, although not everyone is excited about it.

The city’s Board of Education recently approved a plan to convert the failing Ames Middle School into a military-themed school – the Marine Math and Science Academy – despite emotional objections from some parents. The move is backed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado, and the general public, WGNTV reports.

“We conducted a scientific poll, with the help of a professional research firm,” Maldonado told the television station. “And we found 72 percent of parents … we polled are in favor and support bringing the Marine Math and Science Academy here.”

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Other leadership academies in the city report significantly higher attendance and graduation rates than traditional public schools, and nearly 90 percent of leadership academy graduates attend college, Maldonado told WGNTV.

In comparison, only 37 percent of Ames Middle School students – nearly all of which are from low-income minority families – met or exceeded standards in the 2013 Illinois Standard Achievement Test, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Despite the obvious academic advantage, some parents simply don’t want the school, and they’ve collected signatures for a petition in opposition to the conversion.

“In our community, Marine Academy is not welcome,” one parent reportedly told the Chicago school board, according to WGNTV. “Look for another place.”

While the military theme might not be the perfect fit for all students, it would certainly provide a more structured, disciplined and focused learning environment than the city’s traditional public schools. Structure, discipline and focus are elements many believe struggling inner-city students could use a lot more of.

There’s also ample evidence that shows the most direct path out of a life of poverty is through higher education, and significantly more students will undoubtedly understand that concept at Marine Academy than they did at Ames Middle School.

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Not surprisingly, the Chicago Teachers Union has come out against the proposed school, regardless of how much it could benefit students. Union officials are helping to organize a petition drive to put a referendum on the city ballot to kill the concept.

Why the union opposition?

The CTU doesn’t want new, successful, non-union schools competing for students with the sub-par schools that are staffed with its members. Many union leaders also have a traditional hatred for anything related to the military.

Logan neighborhood parents would be wise to closely consider who’s leading the charge against the Ames Middle School conversion, ask themselves how students might benefit from the change, and draw their own conclusions about what’s best for their children.