The Few, The Proud, the Battered

But the school is steadfastly sticking to its practice of delegating so much authority to the cadets. In a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Glasgow said, "We worked hard at that portion of our training, because our board feels very strongly that you transcend leadership training right into the classroom. And you see the academic grades and achievements go right up the ladder as you see a kid gaining rank and responsibility."

There was no mention of providing drill instructors with support personnel. Chances are the school couldn't afford it now if it wanted to. Having had 32 cadets withdraw after the slashing and another 32 expelled for drug use, the school is facing a deficit of over $1 million in its operating budget, according to a letter Glasgow sent board trustees and staff.

To stem the flow of red ink, Glasgow informed the staff that there would be no Christmas bonuses and that job vacancies would be filled from within. He also issued a curious order banning "all contributions to other charities or organizations."

The school has seen fit, however, to hire a Dallas public relations firm to help restore its reputation.

The parents of Gabriel Cortez don't know what to think about all this. Dr. Gregg Lynch and his wife, Fabiola, originally thought they had done the right thing by enrolling Gabriel in MMA. When he was in eighth grade, his grades dropped precipitously, and he began hanging out with the proverbial "wrong kids." His parents gave him an ultimatum, and when his grades did not come up, they sent him to Harlingen, 2,000 miles away from his home in Laguna Hills, California.

He's carried a 3.0 average for the last three years, but has not distinguished himself as a leader: Cortez has only attained the rank of lance corporal, which is just one step up from private. But for the most part, he's stayed clear of serious trouble. Several weeks before his throat was cut, Gabriel was moved into the Bravo Company after he was caught selling smokeless tobacco to an eighth-grader.

Dr. Lynch flew to Harlingen a few weeks ago to try to get some answers and to calm Gabe, who was upset that charges were dropped against one of the suspects. He's afraid the boys might return to campus.

"We thought we were sending Gabe to a fine college-preparatory school, not a reform school," says Dr. Lynch.

But now, he says, he's begun to wonder.