Get the Military Out of Schools
Elizabeth Frank / Taskforce to End Compulsory Military Training in Schools
(November 4, 2023) — When the New York Times printed the story December 11, 2022, about thousands of high school students being pushed into JROTC, it gave those of us working as counter military activists a welcome validation for what we had been experiencing and struggling against for years.
We decided to use the opportunity to consolidate our practice. The result is a packet that can be accessed at endcom.org. It includes facts, helpful articles, research tips, suggested actions and more.
Assist us by identifying the schools by name in as many school districts in the country that meet the profiling, if those schools are experiencing involuntary placement into military indoctrination courses as freshmen in high school. As an example of a recent success, activists were able to force the San Diego Unified School District to adopt a consent form for students enrolling in JROTC.
Although the packet focuses on JROTC, there are many examples of the creeping militarism in US schools. Are students able to opt-out of having their contact information forwarded to the military? Are students being required to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test? Are military recruiters allowed unfettered access to the students?
It’s important to bear in mind that we are in a state of perpetual war. Although the public is little aware of it, US troops are involved directly in a number of “small” wars abroad, and maintain a threatening international presence with over 750 bases around the world. The threat of “large” wars, perhaps with China or Russia or Iran looms larger than it has in a number of years. No matter which party and administration are in power, militarist policies and the threat of greater war remain. We call on all groups involved in the struggle to assess what they can do; big or small, it all helps.
Please look over the attached materials. Contact us with any questions, concerns or comments.
contact@endcom.org
TECMITS (Taskforce to End Compulsory Military Training in Schools)
Libby Frank for TECMITS
