Military Recruiters in Our High Schools Essay

Military recruiters should be allowed in our high schools despite the opinions of anti-war groups, counselors and teachers who are focused on keeping the military recruiter out of our schools. This report will reveal opinions of those opposed to military recruiting showing that they are more focused on the war concept and slandering the recruiter rather than assisting the students with a job, trade, financial responsibility and an education. An article written from the author Ayers (2006), states that program’s such as the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps are helping the recruiting efforts with 40% of JROTC graduates joining the military. A clear insight of the Parent Teacher Student Association, in which some schools focus more on the war in Iraq than education or school functions according to an article written by Paton (2005), will show the opposing opinion of the recruiter and how the No Child Left Behind Act, to some, is an invasion of privacy promoted by the wars effort. Schools that do not follow this law will be in jeopardy of cutting the schools federal funding. With the research by Cupolo (2007), the article written shows the Opt Out, Opt In schematic, in which parents or students can deny the recruiter access to their information. At the base of the argument of whether recruiters should be allowed into high schools, remains the fact that the act of recruitment is strictly voluntary. The recruiters are not demanding an audience, nor are they requiring participation in the recruiting program. Should the Military be allowed to recruit in High Schools Recruiting in the high school arena has been a tool for the military recruiter to do his or her job effectively to complete the assigned mission. Certain jobs such as Administrative, Disbursing, Food Services, Computer Data Analysis, Motor Transportation, Aviation and Supply Administration are needed in the military to assist with day to day military operations, as well as continuing support of the war efforts. However, the individual recruiter is hindered by a lot more than just the student’s lack of knowledge, but the opinions of others, i. e. parents, teachers, whose lack knowledge of the opportunities that the military recruiter is providing for the students. In society today, our young adults are constantly pushed by counselors and teachers to go to college after graduating from high school. To some, the decision to go to college is not easy; depending on their race, location of living, financial stability or the student’s sense of character. According to an Ayers (2006) article, the JROTC program, which was credited to Colin Powell, head of the Joint Chief of Staff, tgives an individual discipline and structure; and has doubled it’s enrollment at over 3,000 schools. In addition to providing discipline and structure during the formative years, this program has been a useful tool for the military recruiter. Additionally, this program allows military recruiters to further focus their efforts for the students that are specifically interested in military service and those who may not be able to afford college. Herbert (2005) noted that all high schools are not equal to recruiters: â€Å"Schools with kids from wealthier families are not viewed as good prospects†. Further he stated â€Å"The kids in those schools are not the kids who fight America’s wars†. Those wealthier young adults have doors open to them that are not available to less privileged. The conversation of war presents itself again without giving the readers the knowledge of what the military recruiter has to offer. The Should the Military be allowed to recruit in High Schools deas of Herbert (2005) are also biased as was a Vietnam veteran who was drafted during the buildup of Vietnam. The No Child Left Behind Act requires that High Schools share student contact information with military recruiters so that the recruiters can provide information on military service. Schools that do not participate lose their federal funding. In an article written by Paton (2005), the Parent Teacher Student Association in Garfield High School has successfully blocked that sharing of student contact information with recruiters. The organization was started to assist students in activities and be a liaison for the parents to express their concerns to the teachers. In this instance they are using their platform for political sentiment not related to academia. Anti-war groups are pressing the Opt Out, Op In policy, Cupolo (2007), which keeps the student’s information private, unless the parents authorize its release to the military recruiters. To go into more depth, Paton (2005) research reported that a vote of 25 to 5 to adopt a resolution that says â€Å"public schools are not a place for military recruiters†. In Paton’s (2005) article, Steve Ludwig whose son is a senior and daughter is a freshman stated, â€Å"Garfield does not allow organizations that promote illegal activities to recruit students to perform those activities, nor does it allow organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation to recruit on campus. † The negativity of the PTA clearly limits the students’ options to speak to a recruiter or weigh his option to determine his furture; and instead speaks to the PTA’s antiwar senitment. War is not a number one factor for recruiting in high schools. Recruiters should be allowedto give students other options for the future. Teachers, counselors, need to focus more on a young adult’s future, rather than giving their opions and bias regarding the war. Targeting low income students or those of a particular race has no bearing on the recruiter; but setting the positive standards about the military and allowing students to make their own choices should be important to the parents and educators. The military recruiter should be accepted by parents as a means of financial independence and viable oppotrunity for their future. . Recruiters are meant to give pertinent information to both parents and students regarding the military. Should the Military be allowed to recruit in High Schools The military can provide Self-Reliance, Discipline, Financial Responsibility, Leadership and Job Security. Additionally the recruited young adult will feel that since of pride about individual accomplishments and financial independence.