General Schofield’s Graduation Address to the Class of 1879

at West Point

Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension

Lesson

The SpeechThe discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to impart instruction and give commands in such a manner and such a tone of voice as to inspire in the soldier no feeling, but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice cannot fail to excite strong resentment and a desire to disobey. The one mode or other of dealing with subordinates springs from a corresponding spirit in the breast of the commander. He who feels the respect which is due to others cannot fail to inspire in them respect for himself. While he who feels, and hence manifests, disrespect towards others, especially his subordinates, cannot fail to inspire hatred against himself.

Step #1

• Make a Tier 2 and Tier 3 Vocabulary Tree map.

Step #2

• Highlight all the words I need to know in order to make sense of this text.

Step #3

• Choose a Vocabulary TM to help you understand the words you need to know.

Step #4

• Make additional Vocabulary TMs to help you understand the words you think are significant.

Step #5

• Combine some of the maps and draw a red frame around them to help you understand the main idea of the map and why the information in the map is important.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

Key Ideas and Details

1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Step #6

• Answer the “So What?” and “So Why” questions.

The important information in this map is that Commanders have a lot of responsibility when it comes to getting work done. Soldiers make choices to either obey or disobey their commanders because of “respect.”

This is important to know because people will respond (behave) one way or another to what you say and how you say it. When soldiers respect their commander, they obey orders; when they disrespect their commander, they disobey orders.

“Respect” is a noun and a verb. It has its roots in Middle English so some form of the word has been around for a long time. Respect can mean different things to different people and the absence or presence of it can determine how people behave.

The important thing to remember is that when commanders are respectful of themselves and their subordinates, their subordinates respect their commander and each other. Respect is seen when subordinates obey – when they do as they are told.

A commander’s respect for him/herself has a lot to do with how effectively s/he leads. When commanders demonstrate that they respect themselves, they also are demonstrating that they respect those they lead. When subordinates respect their commander and each other, they work hard to follow orders.

Our country’s freedom is directly tied to respect. Our country’s safety depends on the ability of its leaders to ensure that soldiers are obedient.

Step #7

• Put it all together.

Commanders have a lot of responsibility when it comes to getting work done. Soldiers make choices to either obey or disobey their commanders because of “respect.” This is important to know because people will respond (behave) one way or another to what you say and how you say it. When solders respect their commander, they obey orders; when they disrespect their commander, they disobey orders. “Respect” is a noun and a verb. It has its roots in Middle English so some form of the word has been around for a long time. Respect can mean different things to different people and the absence or presence of it can determine how people behave. When commanders are respectful of themselves and their subordinates, their subordinates respect their commander and each other. Respect is seen when subordinates obey – when they do as they are told. Our country’s freedom is directly tied to respect. Our country’s safety depends on the ability of its leaders to ensure that soldiers are obedient. A commander’s respect for him/herself has a lot to do with how effectively s/he leads. When commanders demonstrate that they respect themselves, they also are demonstrating that they respect those they lead. When subordinates respect their commander and each other they work hard to follow orders.