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Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Keep JROTC on the March in Our Schools
Used to be it was patriotic to be willing to join the military and to fight for your country if it became necessary. It still is to many Americans.
A few vocal critics are trying to equate Albuquerque Public Schools' Junior ROTC programs with promoting violence and war and say they permit students to be preyed upon by overzealous military recruiters. Some want the military training programs out of schools entirely.
But JROTC programs are much more than recruiting devices. They provide training in leadership, structure and discipline and seem to do well at schools with large percentages of at-risk students. They emphasize the value of finishing high school and continuing education, whether through civilian pathways or the military. These are attributes and goals we should want for our children.
Without alternatives like these, more students are likely to drop out or join a gang instead of participate in a program that prepares them for the responsibilities of being a good citizen and that has a track record of solid upward mobility in society. Students coming out of JROTC often become our next leaders.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, public schools must allow military recruiters the same access as college recruiters or prospective employers and are required to provide the military with students' contact information. But parents can opt-out of that, and they should if they object.
While APS needs to make sure recruiters don't overstep their bounds and that parents are aware of the opt-out form — it's given to all high school students at registration — the valuable JROTC programs should remain an option for those students willing to put in the hard work and time.
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