Using template function for generic input validation

I want to create a function that will loop until a user enters the correct input type. I'm new to using templates, but I imagine if I want to validate a general type then a template function would be the correct tool to use. I want the function to keep asking the user to enter an input until the type matches the model type.

So this is my attempt so far (which throws an error: 'input': undeclared identifier)

template <typename T>
T check_input(T model_input, string message)
{
    for (;;)
    {
        cout << message << endl;
        T input; // will it make the input type the same type as model input used in the arg?
        cin >> input;
        // if valid input then for loop breaks
        if (cin.fail())
        {
            // prompts that there was an error with the input and then loops again
            cin.clear();
            cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
            cout << "Invalid input, please try again" << endl;
        }
        else
        {
            break;
        }
    }
    return input; 
}

Will having the unused model parameter, force the input variable to be of the same type? (also is this bad programming practice to have an unused parameter?)

Is there a more eligant way to write a general validation check loop?

thanks