Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

Thanks for making that clear. I'm glad the DOE is doing something right for a change.

[kalama]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

Several parents in my neighborhood were talking about some forms that their children brought home. The forms were from the DOE seeking permission from parents to release information on their children to the US military recruiters for recruiting purposes only.

Anyone know what's up with this? Seems mad shady and against everything I stand for.

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The Hawaii DOE form was not seeking permission to release information to the recruiters, but to give students and parents the opportunity to PREVENT information from going to the recruiters. Hawaii has the nation's best student-friendly procedure to opt out.

The No Child Left Behind law requires all school systems to release names, addresses, and phone numbers of all secondary school students upon request by military recruiters -- unless the student or parent "opts out" by requesting that such information NOT be shared. Yes, the law even allows the students themselves to initiate the opt out on their own behalf, but most states do not allow that. Hawaii does.

The Hawaii DOE recognized that its usual parent notification form at the beginning of the school year was not as complete as it could have been with respect to the military recruiter provision, so clear and accurate forms were reprinted and distributed to ALL secondary students to give them a direct opportunity to opt out.

If any students want to be contacted by military recruiters, that's fine -- as long as it is their own choice. If they don't want recruiters to contact them, all they have to do is let their school know -- using the specific form, or simply in writing.

[christa]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

thanks for saying that tim-- because it seems to me that it isn't as horrible as some of you are saying. i mean, they are compiling their lists and also planting that seed in these kids at their most impressionable age.

i don't have a problem with middle school kids seeing military as an option. maybe not giving their information to recruiters for when they turn 18 but, i mean, the service is an excellent career path for people uncertain of what they want out of life. AND if you make the right decisions (which service, which job in the service, a college program, etc) then it's certainly going to be rewarding.

i'm speaking from personal experience here, nothing else.

[timkona]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

Middle School might be a little early. But it's also true that the military is an excellent choice of career path, most especially for the brightest, who have not the financial resources within their families to carry the weight of college for 4-6 years. Lord knows we got plenty of those kids in Hawaii.

Score high enough initially on all the tests, and watch the doors start opening to a free, state of the art, edumacation, with little risk of actual engagement.

Had I stayed on the path of ROTC, and provided I wasn't BLOWN UP along the way, it is likely that I would be retired right now with damn good pension and benefits. 39 years old. Think about it. I do all the time.

[1stwahine]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

What next? Pre-School?

No way!!! My Antonio going be FIREMAN!

Made ya SMILE!

Auntie Lynn

[Miulang]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

Legally, your kids don't have to register until they are 18 (and then, it's only boys who have to register). Yes, it's sneaky that the feds are dangling the prospect of getting funds for schools over every parents' head, but you have the option of opting out of registering your kid. If I had a child that age, I definitely wouldn't want that kid to be another number in a potential list for draftees down the road. I mean, the feds already know your child exists because you had to get them a Social Security number at birth (and you list them on your income tax return)...so they don't need to know anything else until that child turns 18.

Miulang

[1stwahine]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

According to the article:

"Maj. Chuck Anthony, spokesman for the state Department of Defense, confirmed that no one under the age of 17 should receive recruitment materials.

In fact, he added that if younger students request information about enlisting, the recruiters tell them to come back when they turn 17."

However, "Paul Vierling, the Hawai'i Parent Teacher Student Association's community relations specialist, said concern over having information released to the military is unfounded. "I don't see any problem with it," he said."

He betta see a PROBLEM with it cause it is Soooooo WRONG!!!!!

Their reason: "The release of information is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which requires all school systems receiving NCLB money to make the contact information available to military recruiters or risk losing federal money. The law also requires schools to give military recruiters the same on-campus access they would give to prospective employers, colleges and other post-secondary education institutions."

Common SENSE Should be used....but den again ~ neva mind.

Auwe!

Auntie Lynn

[TuNnL]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

Looks like NCLB is like the backdoor trojan that I thought it was.

Yeah, this is absolutely disgusting. This administration spared no expense to manipulate the American people for their agenda. Right down to robbing the cradle to increase the pool of young soldiers to go fight Muslims. Our government is no different than a Islamic fundamentalist religious order.

Sad.

[Mike_Lowery]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

High school I could understand but middle school?

That's what I'm sayin. My cousin came home with the form, and her parents refused to return them, citing an obscure option to not participate.

I just found the following article online. SMH @ the Pentagon.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/ln11p.html

Looks like NCLB is like the backdoor trojan that I thought it was.

[helen]

Re: Military recruiters in Hawaii's middle schools

High school I could understand but middle school?

[Mike_Lowery]

Several parents in my neighborhood were talking about some forms that their children brought home. The forms were from the DOE seeking permission from parents to release information on their children to the US military recruiters for recruiting purposes only.

Anyone know what's up with this? Seems mad shady and against everything I stand for.