The San Francisco paradox: Another antiwar leftie for JROTC

September 19, 12:56 PMSF Education ExaminerCaroline Grannan

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A fellow Examiner, SF City Hall Examiner Melissa Griffin, posted an excellent account a few days ago of the JROTC situation, for those looking for background on the controversy.

There's one point in the background I would clarity. No Child Left Behind requires school districts to release students' contact information to the military or lose federal funding -- unless the student specifically, indivually, requests that his/her contact information be withheld.

The SFUSD school board looked into how to abide by the law (and not lose funding), yet make it as easy as possible for students to withhold their contact information. So the high school enrollment application has a "check here" box, placed prominently on the form, for students/families who do not want their contact information released. The district determined that "opt in" (as in check here if you do want the information released) wouldn't meet the letter of the law and would risk our schools' funding.

My own view, for the record, is that although I oppose the Iraq war and am generally not a big booster of the military (though I support our enlisted men and women), I have been convinced by students and parents that JROTC has benefited many students, bringing direction, stability and leadership skills into their lives.  And the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has not extended to our schools' JROTCs. A gay Lowell JROTC alum told me that PE was a hostile climate for gays and JROTC (which students were able to take to fulfill PE requirements) was his refuge.

So I would like to see JROTC stay in our schools.

Prop. V on San Francisco's November ballot is an advisory measure calling for keeping JROTC in our schools. Also, for the record, veteran school board member Jill Wynns, currently running for re-election, has been the board's stalwart supporter of JROTC in our schools, despite being (like me) a generally antiwar liberal who'd be a far-left radical in most communities. (Disclosure: I am supporting and volunteering for Wynns' campaign.)