No Child Unrecruited
Should the military be given the names of every high school student in America?
Sharon Shea-Keneally, principal of Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vermont, was shocked when she received a letter in May from military recruiters demanding a list of all her students, including names, addresses, and phone numbers. The school invites recruiters to participate in career days and job fairs, but like most school districts, it keeps student information strictly confidential. "We don't give out a list of names of our kids to anybody," says Shea-Keneally, "not to colleges, churches, employers -- nobody."
Advertisement
Advertisement
But when Shea-Keneally insisted on an explanation, she was in for an even bigger surprise: The recruiters cited the No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush's sweeping new education law passed earlier this year. There, buried deep within the law's 670 pages, is a provision requiring public secondary schools to provide military recruiters not only with access to facilities, but also with contact information for every student -- or face a cutoff of all federal aid.
"I was very surprised the requirement was attached to an education law," says Shea-Keneally. "I did not see the link."
The military complained this year that up to 15 percent of the nation's high schools are "problem schools" for recruiters. In 1999, the Pentagon says, recruiters were denied access to schools on 19,228 occasions. Rep. David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana who sponsored the new recruitment requirement, says such schools "demonstrated an anti-military attitude that I thought was offensive."
To many educators, however, requiring the release of personal information intrudes on the rights of students. "We feel it is a clear departure from the letter and the spirit of the current student privacy laws," says Bruce Hunter, chief lobbyist for the American Association of School Administrators. Until now, schools could share student information only with other educational institutions. "Now other people will want our lists," says Hunter. "It's a slippery slope. I don't want student directories sent to Verizon either, just because they claim that all kids need a cell phone to be safe."
The new law does give students the right to withhold their records. But school officials are given wide leeway in how to implement the law, and some are simply handing over student directories to recruiters without informing anyone -- leaving students without any say in the matter.
"I think the privacy implications of this law are profound," says Jill Wynns, president of the San Francisco Board of Education. "For the federal government to ignore or discount the concerns of the privacy rights of millions of high school students is not a good thing, and it's something we should be concerned about."
Educators point out that the armed services have exceeded their recruitment goals for the past two years in a row, even without access to every school. The new law, they say, undercuts the authority of some local school districts, including San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, that have barred recruiters from schools on the grounds that the military discriminates against gays and lesbians. Officials in both cities now say they will grant recruiters access to their schools and to student information -- but they also plan to inform students of their right to withhold their records.
Some students are already choosing that option. According to Principal Shea-Keneally, 200 students at her school -- one-sixth of the student body -- have asked that their records be withheld.
Recruiters are up-front about their plans to use school lists to aggressively pursue students through mailings, phone calls, and personal visits -- even if parents object. "The only thing that will get us to stop contacting the family is if they call their congressman," says Major Johannes Paraan, head U.S. Army recruiter for Vermont and northeastern New York. "Or maybe if the kid died, we'll take them off our list."
Comments
I think it is great for a child to serve this great nation and to be a defender of freedom and the american way of lifr. Lets face it if it were not for the soldier Thomas Jefferson would have been tried for treason in a british court room and the Declaration of Independence would have been the evidence!
Soldiers of that army were
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon Mar. 16, 2009 7:13 AM PDT.
Soldiers of that army were volunteers. Joining the army was encouraged, but not forced. That's why our nation was great. Not because of our army, but because of our choice to fight or not. Lately, though, people such as yourself, and no offense intended, have found it proper to require people to put their life on the line for their country. That's just wrong. By the way, I'm a student attending a highschool in Minnesota.
wow
Submitted by cal (not verified) on Mon Aug. 31, 2009 11:18 AM PDT.
The American armed forces is not used for protection it is used to conquer.We are not some holy morally wholesome army we kill and destroy and take over. And They want you to be apart of it.I just graduated in 09 and i will never join the Marines i would rather starve.
u suk. the military rules
Submitted by the b1ll he4d (not verified) on Thu Feb. 4, 2010 12:23 PM PST.
u suk. the military rules
That is absurd. I'm a high school Student and I so it go agaist my rights as an American to have the militaray demand my contact information, and from the school no less. That bit of this law has nothing to do with the educational system and shouldn't even be in there.
probably won't make it in anyway...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun Sep. 6, 2009 7:30 PM PDT.
It's a sad state of the public school systems that you are a high school student... You probably wouldn't even pass the entrance exam anyway so you don't have anything to worry about. All you have to do it tell the recruiters no....
These kids probably put more online on sites like Facebook and Myspace that the schools could ever give out.
I can't believe they are allowed in the schools to recruit our kids! How dare they prey on these young kids that may be having a hard time, as teenagers do. They talk about traveling, money and free training to make it sound like such a good life. Yeah, well I lived military life for seven years and I can tell you it SUCKS!! They treat you like crap, housing sucks and you make enough money to qualify for food stamps, doesn't that sound lovely? They don't tell you any of that.
I been in the Army for seven years. I got a BA from it, house, really good training. I have seen the world. And for people to say things like the post below is well..just uneducated and unamerican. For someone like me the military was good. College was not in my future. It is now. I have not heard of ANY one in the Army on food stamps. I would like to say thanks to the post who is a true patriot and a great american. I was 17 when I joined and still have not a single regret. To the lady who thinks recruiters prey on "our" kids....Our kids and other young men and women give you the right to type such a statment. Your rights as an american have not been violated because someone asked you to defend your country. Grow up america our country needs us.
I cannot believe that you
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr. 8, 2009 5:07 PM PDT.
I cannot believe that you would call someone un-American and not a true patriot just for giving their opinion. That is what being an American is all about and you are just saying that anyone who disagrees with the government, yourself or just wants to keep their information private hates this country. And do you know what that is called? Fascism. You have the right to voice your opinion just like everyone else, but don't question our loyalty just because we don't want to be shipped off and die in a far off county or worse kill people. It makes me so angry that we are called un-American for standing up for our rights! I too am a freshman in high school who has had my right to a private domain restricted by this law that was supposed to help students like me.
Like I said I lived military life for seven years and qualified for food stamps and WIC. We were a family of four making $800 a month, so I think I know what I'm talking about.
My daughter is a senior in high school this year, not only are they at the schools but we are constantly being called and sent mailings.
What does the military need these records for? There seems to be a hidden agenda here. Also,it is not unamerican do disagree with a law that authority forces upon one,that one may believe to be violating a personal right. Our framers are the perfect example of this. It fact, I would call that very american.
Most high school students can think for them selves, much to certain individuals oppositon, and can choose of their own free will, whether or not they think the nilitary is a suitable career option. They don't need to e dogged into choosing it.
I am one myself, and am not carried away with patriotism and respect for those of "intelligence" who are in power at the moment.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE MILITARY ARE IN A COURTSHIP TOGETHER. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL PRIVACY ACT AND AN UNPRECEDENTED PHENOMENA IN OUR HISTORY. RECRUITERS PREY UPON TEENS WHO TEND TO BE IMPRESSIONABLE, VULNERABLE, UNABLE TO CRITICALLY EXAMINE, AND TO ACT IN HASTE. RECRUITER PRACTICES ARE RIFE WITH LIES, UNTRUTHS, COERCION, AND OMISSIONS ABOUT MILITARY LIFE AND WAR. THIS IS AN UNCHECKED INFLUENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND S NOTHING OTHER THAN EXPLOITATION OF OUR YOUTH FOR CANNON FODDER.
66 % OF ALL VETS WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GI BILL GET NO MONEY FOR COLLEGE. THE PENTAGON ACTUALLY PROFITS FROM THIS PROGRAM. THE MODERN MILITARY HAS MADE EXTENSIVE CUTS IN MONEY FOR SCHOOL AND JOB TRAINING AND HEALTH CARE. THIS IS WAR TIME. PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY IN THE PAST PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW. TALK TO SEVERAL VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN!
i dont feel comfortable about that so really thats just something i dont want to see really if military is anything like what it is here i dont ever wanna see it again because all we do is get pushed around yelled at and forced to do a bunch of stuff i dont have enough time to do my homework anymore because of this school i also havented talked to my parents in what 2 months because i dont have a phone card wow thats great for ya we all have our opinions and this is mine i dont really feel like getting a reply to this not like im gonna read it anyways
FIRST OF ALL IVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY FOR TEN YEARS NOW,I HAVE MY BA THAT I EARNED WHILE IN THE MILITARY,IVE BEEN TO IRAQ ONCE ,BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME IN CALIFORNIA AT THE AGE OF 26,AND MAKE 4800 DOLLARS A MONTH AFTER TAXES.SO AS FAR AS FOOD STAMPS I DOUGHT THAT.THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THOSE HOW SAY THEY DIDNT GET AN EDUCATION , IS I REALLY WANTED ONE.
oh so we can continue to be
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr. 8, 2009 5:12 PM PDT.
oh so we can continue to be the American empire
You have a teenager that would like to pursue a career that requires a college degree or some type of job experience. You would love for your child to pursue his/her dreams, but it will probably not come true because there was no money put aside for your child's education and let me add that most teens will not get a scholarship. Student loans are possible but in my opinion, that option would not be the best solution to help your teen get through college and afterwards, they end up paying on a student loan for years. It is not the best option when you consider the fact that the military provides 100% TA (100% tuition assistance) and the MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill)for serving your country!! In addition to that, depending on what job you choose, (you can choose your job in the Army) your child can get an enlistment bonus in the thousands. What the military advertises and what we tell our young men and women is simply the truth! What I have noticed from all the negative comments is that these people don't have a clue about what the military offers. I am not talking about if you were in the military back in 1967, 1991, etc. I am talking about current information. Before you talk negatively about your country's military, go to websites like GoArmy.com and educate yourself.
the truth realy? Because I
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr. 8, 2009 5:17 PM PDT.
the truth realy? Because I din't see that you mentioned the fact that you are forced to kill people. Or you just forgot seems like all the recruiters at my school seemed to have left that part out too.
I'm a highschool student and
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun Aug. 16, 2009 9:44 AM PDT.
I'm a highschool student and I was really shocked when I was filling out the paper work for my school. The military is a volunteer program for people to go join if they want. That lifestyle is not for every one though. The military does not need our information. The recruitments where fine before the law was passed, so why do they need it now. Well any ways, this law makes me very angry. Plus they disguise it as another law. Why? Because they know that it is wrong!
The problem with websites such as GoArmy.com is that they are created for the purpose of promoting the army, hence are not the best way to educate yourself. While it is easy to turn this issue into an argument of how the military treats soldiers and the strength of the American army, such subjects are off topic. The problem at hand is that the military recieves access to student records with information such as phone numbers, adresses, social security numbers, and even GPA, without the student ever being notified. Such policy is an obvious invasion of privacy, not to mention the recruiting practices that follow. Recruiters target schools in poor districts, often making little attempt in affluent areas, essentially, they aim for people who they consider expendable. It sounds harsh and it is, with covert tactics such as talking to popular students in front of admiring followers and even challenging young men by implying that they are not tough enough for basic training, military recruitment is anything but fair, rather it is forceful and discriminatory. While one may argue that a country requires a strong military, the tactics used to achieve one need some work.
it is astounding that those who have written a reply to this post have such horrible spelling when they care so much about education that they dont look at the real issues...i will not lie and say my spelling or my grammer is all that great however then again i am not an educator in so much as far as book knowledge is concerned however I do love what i do and that is being a marine. In any other country in the world the voluntary premise of being in the military is not present. In fact there are less then 10% of all countries in the world that have voluntary militaries. Yes Recruiters do get lists of names, addresses and phone numbers of most students however they are not complete as in being all the students. To me that really isn't an issue at all anyway I guess to me the biggest issue here is that there are many UN-EDUCATED Oppinions posted on this web page. I mean just read them. One says the pay is 800 dollars for a family of 4...i dont know when you were in the military but a family of four hasn't had a salery of 800 dollars since oh, i dont even know...ill just say it has been a very long time...what is the guy 80 years old?...not to mention that every family gets paid for housing and this may sound weird but also a food allowance...huh how does that work - crazy isn't it...my use of illipses my be way out of wack but then again i repeat i'm not one for great grammer. So to continue with my rant and list of crazy responses there is the lady who basically says she doesn't have any confidence that his son/daughter has enough responsibility to be able to make their own decision unless of course its to go to college what parent cares about that...i mean who cares if my kid wastes a year, 2, 3, or maybe even 4 years of their life and money to go to college to find out oh crazy i dont want to do this job...guess you better go for round two...lets go back to college for another 4 yrs...and i say she doesn't have confidence because i quote, "targeting vulnerable teens" what makes the teens vulnerable?...LACK OF PROPPER TRAINING...and you have the guy who thinks that the student can make a decision whether to join or not, let me ask you this how can you expect these students to make an educated decision about the military if they know nothing about it except for the crazy ramblings on this blog...how about sitting down with a recruiter...but then again what teacher gives their students the militaries recruiting office phone numbers...maybe if the teachers gave the recruiters number to the students they wouldn't have to give the recruiters the students numbers. And as for "Dogging" someone into the military that simply isn't true thats a stereotype..."all recruiters are liars"...well the opportunities that recruiters give to students and then on to future military members is something that no one else can offer. I dont care what scholarship you give 100% tuition + getting paid to go to college and then food and housing etc. cannot be offered anywhere else in the world...cept maybe bill gates' kids...did he have any kids?...lets move on. Alyssa one question...how do you think the military would get its recruits if it didn't prospect off a school list? Do you honestly think that enough people would walk through the military recruiting offices because of curiosity?...come on get real...I'm willing to bet theres not one kid inside a school who could tell you where the local recruiting station is if they hadn't been contacted or searched for it themselves...how come the schools dont educate their kids on all the opportunities the military have to offer...we tell them what schools offer and even help them get into them...wierd isn't it...so much knowledge so little understanding of it...i wonder where this MISS ANN PITTS gets her information from...how does she know if all recruiters are liars...maybe she was a recruiter herself and decided to lie to people...not how most military members work...OOh ooh i like her next post...she throws a stat at us..heres one 95% of all statistics are made up on the spot...oh yeah and if 60% is true maybe those that have the MGIB should actually take the time to fill out the paperwork to start getting it...then maybe it would be higher then again i dont really think i want to use it right now and maybe i will never use it then again its my friggen choice now isn't it...quote another stat...heres one to think about...more people in america die a day from natural causes than from smoking...weird how that stat thing works isn't it...paul's got the idea though this whole discussion is pretty much a joke anyway...heres a question for lish...where is the military getting the info for people again when they turn 18?...if they aren't on a school list chances are they aren't getting their numbers to recruiters...to the military school student...the real military isn't the same as a military school- military schools are more like military boot camp every day of your school life...sux dont it...use it for good become an officer or something get policies changed by being a military leader...works for me i guess...i like the military recruiter guy hes smart...prolly a marine...The army guys on the right track join the military for the benefits but dont join the military because of the benefits join because you simply want to...and last but not least shes got a lot of probs but well discuss them...your right about army.com being a promoter of the army and your right that its not the best to get all the education you need to make an educated decision but if army dude dont mind and im sure he doesn't the site is a way to educate yourself on the programs and opportunites the army has to offer...another good website...i might be a little biased on it but i think is a Marines.com...its a great way to educate yourself on the marine corps however the best way for you to get a good understanding of what the marine corps has to offer and how it all works is to talk to your local marine corps representative...the next thing is to say i think maam that you are an idiot...the SSN's and GPA's are not given out to recruiters without the students concent...in fact you cannot get them with out the students concent...the name, phone number, and address yes...GPA and SSN, NO!...next to fix anyone's concern about preying on a 17 year old student dont forget this cool little piece of paper that has to be signed before any student or 17 year old if they aren't a student needs before they can join the military...yes that is right person in the second row three seats to the left...THEY NEED A PARENTAL CONSENT FORM IN ORDER TO SIGN ANYTHING...DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER...CALL YOUR LOCAL RECRUITER...ITS IN THE PHONE BOOK GO LOOK FOR IT THE TEACHER'S AREN'T GIVING IT TO YOU...
You know its funny the way some Americans think.There are people out there who are protesting recruiters out of they're local schools.When the military is for staying drug free,becoming responsible,staying fit,getting a higher education.Yet they want them out.But how often do you see a protest group protesting gang recruitment out of our schools,or the drug dealers.how about the local prostitution going on out side our school gates.Not very often.Think people the Military is not the problem here.
drug free, training?
Submitted by CAMMMO (not verified) on Fri Mar. 13, 2009 6:22 AM PDT.
I assume you are speaking of some other country's military. Or do you not read the news?
They already got one of my grandsons and I will do whatever I can to prevent them from getting another one of mine or anybody else's for that matter! These guys paint a rosey picture of what "your country will do for you" and lie about what it is they want the young men and women to do for their country. The military war machine sees our children as expendable necessities. Let us send the gung-ho Senators, Congressmen and other politicians who support this war and this farcical administration instead of our children. How about that? Seems to make more sense to me than pulling our children out of the village to do their dirty work for them and die in their stead. I say we leave ALL of the children "behind" when it comes to war.
My third grader just brought home an Army totebag. Ridiculous! I would really like to not have my seven year old subjected to recruitment, but I cannot opt out (unless I could afford private school). If my children decide to enter the military, sobeit, but can't the military wait awhile? (By the way, know that I am a Navy veteran)
If a child really wants to join the military he/she will do this on their own agenda, not that of military officials. My older brother was called by every single section of the Armed Forces for about a week straight until we finally just told them to shut up. Their almost worse than telemarketers.
Although of of them are nice about it, and act as though your a person not just an object that'll carry a gun.
Who cares if the Army wants kids Info. The kid has a say if he wants to join or not so who the f cares! Its like some of u ppl have no life and all u want to do is find the flaws in things and just pick at them, I love it when the Army recruiter comes to my school.
um because of soldiers he would have been tried, because of soldiers 2 million people died in korea, 5 million people in vietnam, and already a million in iraq. you may say its patriotic or your duty to become a soldier for your country. thats bull crap. its patriotic to question authority, and humanitarian to not join the military(obviosly) besides jefferson's dream died, this is britian(not litteraly)
Of course recruiters are going to recruit from schools, that is where the next generation of our country's defense lies. Why is that a bad thing? The public school systems are funded by the government so Recruiters have a right to student's information. If you dont like it, send your children to a private school. No one is forcing anyone to join, are you kidding? Most countries REQUIRE men serve for 2 years! The U.S. has a voluntary force, something the military prides itself on!
i resent the military recruiters, they should stay out of our schools. fortunately for me, i have mental problems which wouldn't allow me to serve anyways, but i worry about my younger brother. why are they allowed to be here in the first place??
i honestly don't understand it.
when i see them strolling around my school it makes me want to scream. i see them constantly, handing out flyers, pencils, folders, buisness cards... the works. i even have an army t- shirt from before my boyfriend went to basic training. (yes, he is in the army)
and for the record...
i know where the recruiting office is, thank you very much "Someone Who Cares".
please don't let these arguments end. pressure from the government for an increasing presence in our schools will only increase as the war fails. schools in low income, inner city systems will be hit hardest. don't send poor kids to fight in the name of wealthy adults. fight back. jon cammmo.org now.
I teach high school and can tell you first hand the lengths these unscrupulous recruiters go to in order to meet their quotas. Bonuses and promotions vs. full disclosure of facts is a losing battle every time. PARTICULARLY disheartening is their specific targeting of special education students that have little or no reasoning abilities......and we wonder why attrocities are committed in war.
Wow
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue Oct. 6, 2009 8:27 PM PDT.
You say you are a High School Teacher. Maybe you should actually teach your students how to do simple math, english, and science. 88% of high school students can not do college level work. Some of you shock me, Hell most on here do not have to worry about their kids joining the military, because they can not pass the test.
I make $60,000 a year so food stamp guy maybe you should have went to the financial staff and set up a budget of where your money is going. Military have all kinds of programs, but they are no good if people do not use them.
Where would everybody be if the military wasn't around....You can kiss your freedom of speach good bye that is for sure. Some of you need to move overseas....oh wait they make high school graduates serve 2 years
aLSO, RECRUITERS ARE IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK WITH THEIR INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS/ADVENTER VIDEOS/FREE HANDOUTS BOMBARDING THESE KIDS RELENTLESSLY ABOUT THE UNBELIEVABLE BENEFITS OF THE MILITARY. I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF AN OCCASSIONAL VISIT AND BELIEVE THE MILITARY IS GREAT FOR SOME KIDS. HOWEVER, RELENTLESS PRESSURE CAN AND DOES LEAD TO ENLISTMENTS THAT ARE LATER REGRETTED. SHAME ON OUR PRESIDENT FOR HIS "NO CHILD UNRECRUITED LAW" AND EVERY OTHER CRIME AGAINST THIS COUNTRY. JANUARY 2009 CAN'T GET HERE SOON ENOUGH.
THIS IS TO TEACHER 101,YOUR COMMENT ON RCTRS TARGETING SPECIAL ED STUDENT IS WRONG.HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A TEST CALLED THE ASVAB. ITS A TEST THAT ALL APPLICANTS HAVE TO PASS ,BEFORE THE CAN JOING ANY BRANCH OF SERVICE.BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT TEST YOULL GET SCREENED AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS ARE YOU A SPECIAL ED STUDENT. DO YOUR REASERCH BEFORE YOU POST YOUR IGNORANT COMMENTS..........
Imagine if our country did not have a military. I think that the military has the right, expecially with the dwindling numbers. They aren't forcing anyone into this. Just think if the draft was re-instated???
P.S. Many other countries require high school grads to join a military service for a year or two. AND IT ISN'T PAID.
The perception that folks have concerning military way of life and the opportunities are perceived ones from those that are uninformed. I am a retired Air Force officer who received my education and training through programs as an ENLISTED person. I joined the military as an enlisted airman and took advantage of the military and received a BA x 2/MS and medical training. I was commissioned, and have lifelong retirement (32,000 $/year) at 42 years old. My training and education also prepared me for my civilian career which I make 170000$ per year. When I was active duty, I met and worked w/ the most educated/ motivated/ squared away people you could imagine. The opportunities are endless in the military system, IF the person takes advantage of them. I did not originally enter the service because I was destitute or criminal. I researched the benefits, and used them. The military is a great way of life, and changes the lives positively for millions.
First of all Jp That's not true. Soliders had nothing to do with the creation or the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Secondly, the choice should be that of the child and not some recruiter shoveling information or hounding him or her at school. The child should go to the recruiter and make the decision and not the other way around.
I am "the guy" who said the family of 4 was making $800 a month. I am 36 years old, not 80. The year was 1990, thank you very much. You can google it if you would like.
I am talking about my experiences and how I thought the military was when my husband was active duty.
It's nice that people have positive experiences that they can talk about. I am not saying that the military is bad for everyone. I am just talking about my own situation.
If military life was so great we wouldn't need recruiters in the schools and incentives to join.
Recruiters don't target special ed students. A new recruit has to go through a physical process to get into the military. Also you need a high school transcript to join the military, even if you have a GED still need a transcript to show you completed the 10th grade.
Post new comment
MoJo Comments: Send Us Your Feedback
We changed our spam software to better filter comments. Should you encounter any issues, please let us know.
