A Seattle High School Bars Military Solicitation

[Blue Belle]

Rift Over Recruiting at Public High Schools
A Seattle High School Bars Military Solicitation, Touching Off Debate Over Iraq War and Free Speech
by Dean Paton

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0518-04.htm

<SNIP>High schools are struggling with a similar issue as the “No Child Left Behind” Act requires that schools receiving federal funding must release the names of its students to recruiters. Some feel that's an invasion of privacy prompted by a war effort that has largely divided the American public. Others say barring recruiters is an infringement of free speech - and a snub to the military, particularly in a time of war.

Garfield High School took a decisive step last week with a vote of 25 to 5 to adopt a resolution that says "public schools are not a place for military recruiters."

<SNIP> In response to Garfield's resolution, Seattle's district issued a statement reinforcing its policy of allowing recruiters to work on high school campuses, but also said it would increase efforts next fall to make it easier for parents and students to opt out.

"Nothing in this resolution prevents students desirous of joining the military from doing so," said Sasha Riser-Kositsky, a Garfield sophomore from a written statement during last week's meeting. "Indeed, there is a recruiting center within a five-minute walking distance of Garfield."

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This has been my feeling about recruiting at schools all along - they shouldn't be there! I find this practice ghoulish, and I'm glad the PTA stuck to their guns.

On Edit: Clarified my stance on active military recruiting on high school campuses.

[TwentyFive]

1. I support Military Recruiting in HS? Invasion of the Body Snatchers. n/t

I would support them coming on campus, but I'd want other groups to promote reasons not the join the military.

[Dhalgren]

2. I think that any time recruiters are on campus it should be

required that someone dressed as the "Grim Reaper" accompany them. That way when a recruiter starts talking to a kid the "Reaper" can stand nearby and point at the prospective recruit...

[pnutchuck]

3. Good, keep those fascists away from the children.....

That's bs that schools have to "inform" on their students in order to receive federal funding for NCLB. These funds are supposed to be for the childrens education, not for recruitment benefits of the fascist agenda.

[maynard]

9. NCLB is for recruiters

Recruiting is just one small aspect in the law. Unless parents know about the clause, they will get bombarded with harassing phone calls. Parents have to put it in writing that they do not want recruiters to call. They even do it on a college level. A friend of mine just graduated from college at the age of 55. She has been receiving phone calls on a daily basis despite her telling them about her age. All different people calling her.

Another aspect of NCLB, We have tested our students 5 times since Christmas. (elementary) The hoops that school districts have to jump through just to get a few dollars is ridiculous. NCLB is blackmailing schools that are desperate for financial support. Not that Bush has bothered to fully fund the law. The Bush tax cuts caused states and cities to raise taxes. It has had a major impact on schools. Schools have to prostitute themselves for any type of funding to keep their heads above water.

As my wonderful Senator from the Great state of Nevada has said....Bush is a Looser!

[pnutchuck]

10. I hear the same complaints about NCLB from my mom

She's an ED teacher and she's joined a few groups here in CA to fight the unfairness of NCLB. I just had no idea about the recruiting policy. Jeez, it's bad enough all the other crap the schools have to go through to get funding, but this is just over the top.

[bushisanidiot]

4. Good! Let those who want to join go to the recruiters office like

grownups.

the military shouldn't be shoving their lifestyle of death and torture down students' throats!

[UrbScotty]

5. Agreed! (nt)

[spunky]

6. Good for them. Students go to school for an education.

If you are in high school and don't know that you have the option of joining the military and that you would get money for school by doing so, then you probably aren't intelligent enough to belong in the military in the first place. If kids want to join, they can go to the recruiting office.

[Voltaire99]

7. Good job! Military out of our schools!

Starve the imperial army out of public life.

[Catshrink]

8. That's Jimmi Hendrix's high school!

And I think Bruce Lee went there also. It was my rival HS -- I went to Franklin.

Anyway, WoooooHooooo Garfield! Great move.