As a teacher, I do my best to remain neutral in the classroom on all subjects, especially those that I am most passionate about. I won't talk about politics, I avoid questions about religion, and I refer them to their parents when it comes to drugs. I do this because I wouldn't want anyone to tell my child how to think about these issues, so I guess it's sort-of a "do unto others" kind of a thing, which is why I was appalled to learn that educators, coaches, and mentors in New Jersey are touring Fort Dix, taking rides in helicopters, and shooting weapons so that they can target their students and encourage them to join the military. Due to this program, recruitment in New Jersey is up, though it is down in almost every other state.
I firmly believe that NO ONE, including a teacher or principal, gets to talk to my child about a career choice (especially one that could get them killed), or any life choice, for that matter, without my presence or permission. The military says the program is designed to give educators a better understanding of what it does. I'm quite clear on the objectives of the US military, thank you very much. I find it disturbing that the government uses the fact that schools use federal money to force them to allow things to happen that are not in the best interest of the student, such as allowing recruiters to spend time in schools and talk to children without parental permission.
As of today:
2,525 US soldier dead in Iraq
18,572 US soldiers wounded in Iraq (at least)
Over 50,000 Iraqi s killed
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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16 comments:
I think you had a typo. That should read 2525 U.S. deaths in Iraq.
I'm in agreement on this subject. If they give military time, they need to give every other employer the same time for potential recruitment.
I agree with you about the military thing. I wonder if the kids had the option of not going? Even that is tough, however, since peer pressure would win over and probably result in name calling.
However, on the other side, what about things like sex ed? Should that be taught only by parents too? What if parents decide to refer to unscientific information that puts their child at risk?
I don't think schools should bear the burden of all social education, but they do have children as a captive audience. Part of the reason for the formation of public schoolin in the 19th century in this country was socialization and cultural education - granted it served the purpose of putting children into the mindset of factory-style capitalism and patriotic duty.
Oh, and you'd be interested to know that the government recently made it illegal for college campuses to bar military recruiters. Some colleges protested the recruiters because the "don't ask, don't tell" rules of military violated their own mission and values of diversity. The gov't threatened revokation of federal money. Dept of Defense also requested lists of students a few years ago with certain criteria (name, age, race, special training, etc). Scary.
Ed,
Thanks, it's all fixed. The argument is that if a school receives federal money, the government can do pretty much whatever it wants inside its walls.
Laura,
In my school they always stood outside the lunchroom and if you made any kind of eye contact they followed you. Some guys said they were even followed into the restroom. If you're going to give kids the option of not going, you have to inform the parents at least a week before so that PARENTS can tell the child, "You are not to attend the recruitment video or speak to a recruiter." The problem is, they often schedule it during class time, so a lot of kids will sign up to go to the speech or video so that they can get out of math.
I knew about the illegality of barring recruiters on college campuses. Again, the federal money argument was used. I think college students are a little older and less likely to succumb to pressure, but I also think that the students should be allowed to protest when recruiters are on campus if they choose.
Anytime the federal government resorts to blackmail with funds in order to get what it wants, all rpivate citizens should immediately realize that our own interests are about to be railroaded.
Chance,
Our own interests have been railroaded for quite some time, we're only just startign to realize it now. The seems to feel that its sole purpose at this point is to preserve the government and forget abotu the people.
tough call. I would hope that by the time our children have reached High School they have enough critical thinking skills to make those kinds of decisions. As regards giving the military access to the schools, that I consider it part of the price of citizenship. If we are not willing to let them look for volunteers then we go for universal service or random conscription. Those are poor alternatives in my mind.
Certainly military service offers some great options for getting post high school education.
I really do not have a problem with recruiters at high school.
I tend to agree with Mal. If you are a politically minded family, by the time your child becomes a high school senior, he will have formed his own opinions.
My high school senior (to be) has spoken to just about every recruiter that's come on his campus (as a junior this year). He's smart enough to formulate his own opinions and do his own research on the war and each military branch, and balance that with what they say. Until he's 18, he can't commit anyway. And once he is 18, I can't do anything about any of his decisions.
I prefer this method to mandatory (or draft) service.
My understanding is that the law requires that the military be granted the same access as colleges and potential employers and that you can opt your child out. Has that changed?
So where do you draw the line? Suppose the peace corps want to come look for volunteers? How about abortion rights advocates? We let the military in the school so how can we deny other people seeking "volunteers" for their occupation?
To me, too much uneducational stuff is going on inside the walls of our schools and it is showing in the U.S.'s standings in world polls. We need to focus on learning first. Serving your country can and should come after school.
Mallory,
How many stupid things did you do in high school? I know I did a few. Regardless of their ability to be critical thinkers, sometimes a recruiter is not completely honest. Man students have been taught to trust people in uniform, and they don't often question what is said. A lot of high school seniors are 18, and they can sign their lives away before their parents hear the first thing about it.
Ed,
You have one career fair a year in which all of those are invited: Peace Corps, Military, Police, Fire Department, etc... Parents are invited. As far as people who have soem other moral or political agenda, school is not and will never be the place for them. That's something that parents NEED to have control over. And you're right, too many interruptions are happening in schools, again because federal money is provided.
You forgot to mention sex in the list of taboo school subjects. I can't count the number of "Can you get pregnant if" questions I've had students ask me.
As for the National Guard tours, I'm glad to learn that the tours are just for educators, not school-sanctioned field trips. And, I admit, I'd jump at the opportunity to go precisely because I'm not as familiar as you are with the U.S. military.
I agree with Mallory about recruiters on campus. They're salespeople just like any college recruiter, so of course they are going to emphasize the best parts. Heck, you should see the gorgeous summer-time photographs of Minnesota colleges they conned us with in high school.
Next a large grunt will be hanging around outside the school with a cosh. But I'm sure Draft dodging George will be able to explain why the press gang is vital in the war on terror.
Good heavens! Any teacher that attempted to influence my child into joining the military would get a knuckle sandwich. We could sort out the lawsuits later!
I don't object to the tours necessarily, although they do waste a lot of money that we should be spending on things such as armor for the troops. What I object to is that teachers, coaches, and mentors are encouraged to talk to kids about the military without their parents present.
When I was teaching I was in the National Guard and I let my students know that. It explained why some Monday mornings I was propped againstthe wall bleary eyed and tired becasue I had spent the weekend in the woods and had had no sleep. If the students had questions about the military I would answer them from my experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly of it. I also told studetn hat said they wanted to enlist to never believe everything their recruiter said.
Exmi,
I think that's the best way people who serve and teach can handle that type of situation.
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