Pentagon Takes Over P.E.
On the East Coast, when you think of San Francisco, we often imagine a progressive oasis where ideals of peace and community take precedent over mindless jingoism and division. That's why I was deeply shocked to learn that the San Francisco School Board voted 4-3 to allow Junior ROTC -- military training -- to be available as an option for physical education in the San Francisco public schools.
The historic mission of P.E., dating back to the nineteenth century and the instituting of public school athletic leagues, is to promote teamwork, fellowship, and healthy habits that will last a lifetime. To put it mildly, there are few things less healthy than war.
To see JROTC put forth as a viable option in San Francisco of all places, is particularly eye opening, given the state of school budgets around the country. Physical Education programs are being phased out from coast to coast as emphasis and resources are put toward standardized testing. When budgets become over-stretched or underfunded, physical education classes, along with music and art, are immediately demanded to walk the plank. This is what drove me from teaching in D.C. public schools; the imperative to teach to the test and little else.
The idea that the programs of the Pentagon could serve as some sort of replacement for real physical education is Orwellian. Sure, young people are often desperate for structured physical exercise to break up the monotony of the school day. But why not instill in them the love of participating in sports instead of the military? The two are not synonymous.
San Francisco school board member Rachel Norton wrote on her blog that she supported the JROTC option because it is a simple question of expanding exercise options for our kids. She wrote on her Web site, "So I'm sorry, but I think it's important to allow students as many alternatives as we can if the outcome is that they will ultimately learn how to respect themselves, respect their bodies, and make choices that lead to a healthy, long, and fulfilling life." Leading "a healthy, long and fulfilling life" and patrolling Afghanistan don't exactly go hand in hand.
There are several other problems with Norton's argument.
The first is that a recent study by the San Diego school district, done to support efforts to give P.E. credit to JROTC cadets, showed instead that students who take part in JROTC actually fall physically behind their classmates in the basic exercise curriculum, according to Rick Jahnkow of Project YANO (Youth and Non-Military Opportunities.)
One reason for this is that JROTC is not taught by actual physical educators. In this era of childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes, that should hardly be taken lightly.
The second problem with Norton's logic is that she entirely ignores -- if not obscures -- the political dimension of her decision. Proponents of the JROTC option want more militarism integrated into education. They want the Pentagon in the public square. As Marc Norton (no relation for Rachel), a leading opponent of the JROTC/P.E. option, wrote to me, "What is revealing about this fight over P.E. credit is the way that JROTC boosters have abandoned their rhetoric about giving students a 'choice' to be part of the military program. Now it is all about promoting the program, pumping up the program, luring youth onto a military track, particularly low-income youth and youth of color, using P.E. credit as the bait."
Oftentimes, San Francisco acts as a beacon when it comes to both healthy lifestyles and promoting peace. It's deeply distressing to consider that the San Francisco School Board could be dragging the schools of the United States in the other direction.
First run in the Progressive.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
A work ethic second to none...more responsibilities than most CEO's (we DO have raging hormones) and inspections yearly to ensure we are in compliance with set guidelines. Now...can you please, anyone, tell me what teacher in what high school in what district have those in place? Please NORTON , save the percentages, numbers, quotes, websites for another post...cause the ones made here today are just junk. I want NORTON to spend a day with a ROTC instructor. THEN, and only THEN, come back and write your fog, I mean blog!! At that point, NORTON..I will ask CSI to find an ounce of respect for you and Mrs. Z...right now? You have nothing...
Everyone has their definition of a teacher. My definition? Lead by example...develop students to do their best and be productive CITIZENS...I am an ex recruiter..and will not EVER steer one of my students towards military...but, and this is a big BUT...I want them to explore options...college, military, whatever ...ok? Nobody holds a gun to their head to join NJROTC OR to sign a piece of paper...Please, whoever is writing this article, MR Zirin...get a clue! I suppose you are lucky to have written some actual blogs that made sense, and hp gave you an outlet..but this one? You are so off base it's not funny. Marky Mark Norton? What gives bud? I don't see anyone giving you any medals of honor for writing junk...but go ahead and hide behind the 1st ...cause the MILITARY DEFENDS IT FOR YOU......kids have 4, only FOUR years of high school, which is the most influential time of their lives right? Now, as some people have posted, most kids don't do 4 years in the program...stats prove that. So wherever you are getting your info...ARMY websites? Where? OK...sure...and guess what?...it's still a VOLUNTEER military!! Get back to that bong guys! HP doesn't give pee tests do they? And if you can think of a BETTER program to teach? I don't see you offering a solution. AH...don't have one...gotcha again boys
There are several posts here claiming that JROTC is NOT a military recruitment program. What bull...
1-
According to federal regulations for the Army, one of the goals of JROTC is to "create favorable attitudes and impressions toward the Services and toward careers in the Armed Forces." These same regulations state that "all qualified students of JROTC" should be "encouraged" to "perform military or any other Federal service."
2-
Policy Memorandum 50 - U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) states that "Cadet Command elements, at all levels, will... actively assist cadets who want to enlist... facilitate recruiter access to cadets in JROTC program and to the entire student body... [and] work closely with high school guidance counselors to sell the Army story."
3-
JROTC is funded as part of the Pentagon's military recruitment budget.
4-
Former Defense Secretary William Cohen famously said that “JROTC is one of the best recruiting devices we could have.”
5-
According to the Army's 2005 fiscal report, 42% of JROTC graduates chose to enlist, to go into a military service academy, or to enter a ROTC program in college.
What could be more clear? Does anyone really believe that the military would set up thousands of JROTC programs, at the cost of many millions of dollars, merely out of a sense of civic duty
(continued below)
Continued.
Marc, here is the fact to nail the case shut. You say the Pentagon brings in 42% through JROTC. I explained above what that fact was, but in case you don't believe me. Lets use your figures:
I am most familiar with Navy JROTC, but all the programs are very similar in the stats I am going to explain to your audience.
1. 76,000 the approximate number of Navy JROTC in the US.
2. Use your figure of 42% come into the service: Ugh,, that would be 31,920 came in blindly, and duped through NJROTC.
3. The Navy enlisted recruiting goals was enlisted 35,500 for officers (just for grins) is 2162, grand total coming into the Navy before 30 Sept 09, if navy meets goal = 37,662.
So Marc you are way off! NJROTC brings in a whopping 84.7%!!!!!!! Incredible, and DoD does not even know it, but you do! Also that means 4000 recruiters bring in only 1.4 recruits/officer PER YEAR. A horrible investment! Actually their goal is 1-2 per month!.
4. So no blog me and work more of your magic.
(continued from above)
DM Wenceslao says "Trust me if 40%-50% came in through JROTC, DoD would fire recruiters and ask congress for more money to open more programs."
Guess what? The military is not firing recruiters just yet, but the most recent National Defense Authorization Act mandates that the military increase the number of schools with JROTC from the current total of slightly less than 3400 schools to 3700 schools by 2020.
The fact that JROTC boosters need to constantly tell The Big Lie That JROTC is Not a Military Recruitment Program should tell any objective observer everything they need to know about this program.
Our youth deserve a quality education, including real physical education. Let's keep the military out of our schools. If students want to talk to a recruiter, they are in the phone book.
We aren't military recruiting...and I only typed a few words...now...I say keep colleges out of schools...why? What do people do in college? Rack up debt, smoke weed, and drink heavily. No direction, and nowadays a bachelor's degree can't get you work! Now, with my military backround and work ethic I developed in the military? I am earning active duty pay and allowances...over 60,000 a year, PLUS my military retirement...oh wait...I am only 41 years old! Does college offer that? I say keep THEM out Marky!
Marc,
You just don't get it
1. Answer my arguement about JROTC being an elective, and parents authorizing their OWN kids to take JROTC. It because it destroys your arguement about targeting kids. Parents tell me routinely their kid did not want to sign up initially, but they (the parents) convinced them to do it. Parents are dupped right? The pentagon controls the parents mind,,, I see.
2. Yes, "42% of JROTC graduates" come into the military. So Marc Blog this: Only 10% of all JROTC stay in 4 years or as you say get that classification as "JROTC Graduate". So Marc it is 42% (about 5% high) of the 10% that stay in 4 years come into the service. To simplify: 60 kids in, 6 stay four years, 42% of 6 (not 60!) come in to the military! A grand total of 4% that were exposed to JROTC as freshman come in. Do your research!
3. You are right (actually I am right, you don't know govt) the defense Authorization act did increase the JROTC units! Go ahead say it, " CONGRESS Passes those acts". Your beef is with the parents and congress!
4. Tell us, have you EVER sat in a JROTC Class! I want to see your answer in print, if you have the courage to tell us, when where and with whom.
5. DoD does not fund JROTC, Each of the services funds it! Navy does it out of training budget, check your facts not recruiting!
Wow....Please go watch MSNBC while you are at it!
That last post was for Marc...Not DM or pmip.
Thank you for paying for my BS by the way. The Navy did that for me. I should have let you pay for my MAEd too...but I was too lazy to let you. Now I make more money than you...and probably have more benefits to boot. But I owe 35K. But thank you for my bachelors. By the way....how many inner city kids actually continue college after 1 semester? Wait.....I hear Keith Olberman calling you.
I am amazed that in this day and age people are STILL making assumptions about things they know nothing about. The NJROTC program is NOT, I repeat, NOT a recruiting program. Check your numbers. Most of the students enrolled in NJROTC do not go into the military post high school. It is not the mission of any instructor to recruit any child into the military. That, people, is the job of the recruiters who come onto campuses do recruiting speeches to mostly juniors and seniors.
Mr. Zirin is also incorrect in that NJROTC instructors are hired by the principals of the schools and have to go through the same process to get hired as any other teacher. If you will check your facts you will find that there is a vocational certification for NJROTC instructors in most states. The Navy does certify their instructors after going through background checks and a certification board.
YOU, Mr Zirin are just trying to use your position as a "journalist" and I use that term VERY loosley to scare people. The facts are known by the students, the instructors and school principals.
Absolutely, amazing. What's worse, you people will believe anything you read without checking the facts. I don't even know why we have the press anymore. Mr. Zirin has turned the Huffigton Post into the National Enquirer...
I was interviewed and hired by a principal. Zirin and journalist in the same sentence? Great post
Another insightful, well documented column. I'm not quite sure I agree with the whole issue. ROTC, Scouting, et al can instill certain disciplines in some youngsters. Parents need to be involved to ensure their children are doing the right things for the right reasons. You don't sign on the dotted line to enlist when you enter these programs. I'm not sure that counting participation as a physical education is appropriate.
To areamano3:
Physical Education teaches physical fitness and teamwork. JROTC is a military recruitment tool, targetting 14 and 15-year old youth.
DM Wenceslao:
You are mistaken if you think JROTC is not a Pentagon program. JROTC instructors are selected by the military. Our schools have no say in their hiring. JROTC cadets are not being vilified by opponents of JROTC, but they are being exploited by the military. Pentagon officials openly brag that 40-50% of JROTC cadets end up in the military.
To allincompasing:
We don't need the military to teach discipline -- unless by "discipline" you just mean following orders.
To ladyfractal:
You summed up the whole point of this article -- PE credit is being used by JROTC to entice students into their military recruitment program.
Mark Norton
No, You are absolutely wrong. Of course it is run by the DoD, duh! The point is like every DoD program funding comes from Congress, and in this case this program was started by Congress! You can not deny that this is a congressionally mandated program. You are a smart person go to the yearly funding for DoD, and you will see the line for JROTC from Congress. This is a congressional program, not STARTED by the military but by Congress. And in case you don't know your history the military works for the elected civilian congress. Last I heard DoD takes their orders from Congress. So want to change the program hit up your congressman.
I know this program inside and out, and you are totally off planet with your comment about 40-50% coming in from JROTC, check your facts. Only 10% of kids signed up spend 4 years in the program, most just try it a semester or a year. Trust me if 40%-50% came in through JROTC, DoD would fire recruiters and ask congress for more money to open more programs.
And Mark,
Oh by the way, the course is an elective, in case you did not know. Last I knew Parents still verify, approve courses THEIR kids take. Or do you have some other factoid, that says.. KIDS come home after the spring pre-registration, will glossy eyes, robotic movements, placing the approval for courses before their parents, and then ordering them: "SHUT Up and sign mom and dad, I belong to the military now".
Oh no! We now have parents targeting their kids and forcing them to sign up for JROTC. We must stop this aberrant behavior of having parents forcing their kids to sign up for JROTC!
Yes...DOD does finance the program. However, as a jrotc instructor of 14 years I can tell you first hand that many, many, many kids are developed into responsible citizens. Many are literally saved from joining a gang or worse. This is NOT a road to the military. In fact, we are not allowed to "recruit" students in any way. They must follow the guidelines of the program, but there is abolutely no recruiting going on. The students must approach us regarding any career or college program offered my the military. In fact, several years ago the Navy removed all material from the curriculum that pertained to any types of jobs or college programs from the curriculum. Personally I teach oceanography, meteorology, a little on military law, naval history, etc. ONE DAY is used and required for students to wear the uniform and be inspected by their peers or students in leadership positions.
SELF-DISCIPLINE - being accountable and responsible is one of the goals. The cadets run the programs and take great pride in their success. Not all schools accept JROTC as PE credit. In my school they do, but there is one day per week dedicated to PE. Many students are on drill teams that compete to enter a national competition.
06:30 Hrs: Begin close order march drills daily, drills end at 08:10 Hrs school starts @ 08:20 hrs
11:55 Hrs: Hustle over to close order drills for 30 minutes during 1 Hr lunch break
15:30 Hrs: Drill Team practice begins, close order drills required 2 hrs of practice after school each
Day in preparation for parade performances.
Drill Team wins grand prize in 8 consecutive parades participated in throughout the school year.
(Average parade route marched is 4.3 miles in full uniform with rifle)
Drill Team wins 32 consecutive titles in parades throughout 4 year period.
As Drill Team and Rifle Team Captain(Second highest rated in the city), JROTC recommends me for Westpoint Academy(Senator Alan Cranston and Congressman Ron Dellums sign off).
Oh, by the way, back-up small forward on AAU Championship basketball team
and starting free safety on football team. Just for kick and giggle's, Captain of Tennis Team that wins city doubles title.
Where did I learn the self-discipline to succeed in all of these activities, JROTC of course!
The two sergeants who ran our program were retired Drill Sergeants formerly responsible for basic training in the US Army. I never went to Westpoint, I took one of the 16 Academic scholarships that were offerred to me upon graduation.
This is news? When I was in JROTC a quarter century ago *part of the appeal* was that you didn't have to take P.E.! That was half the reason I did it because it got me out of P.E.
Cheers
LF
Frankly, I find this whole article to be more than a little alarmist. Is the JROTC program being offered IN LIEU of P.E. outright, or is it just another "option" a student can take in place of regular P.E? It's not made clear. If it's just another option...what's wrong with that?
Secondly, I'm just over 10 years removed from graduating from High School. I don't know where you took P.E., but in my school, the coaches were a bunch of old men (who were probably military retirees anyway), and the health instructors were no paragons of health and/or fitness. There was no mission of "instilling a love of organized sports"--it was a bunch of kids who liked playing sports who played sports, and a bunch of kids who didn't like playing sports jogging around the gym. You make it sound like there's an actual "education" that goes into P.E. That was never my experience...they wrangle a bunch of teenagers for about an hour at a whack and get on kids for not dressing out....that's it.
Not to mention, the health instruction was truly a joke...NO ONE, especially teenagers, pays attention in health class...it's the most laughable subject around.
I know, I know...we're all liberals here and we're supposed to hate on the military. Bad, evil military. Muhahaha....
1. JROTC is not a Pentagon program. The program is congressionally mandated by congress. Civilians in congress have ordered the Pentagon to fund the JROTC program. So take it up with your rep from CA, ask them to overturn their decision.
2. The instructors who teach in the program are 100% employees of the school.
3. As far as kids not understanding this "shell game" as a blogger states... well according to your logic over 90% of the kids at school must understand the logic because in most schools less than 10% of the students take JROTC. Is this 10% manipulated or deceived? This same group of kids testified at school board meetings and won! And don't try to spin their success, they were speaking from the heart!
4. Teachers are RETIRED veterans, they draw their paycheck from the district. School officials can drop in on them, kids can tell their parents what is taught. In fact, only a small minority, about 1% of the school, make the free choice to enlist. If this is the Pentagon's recruiting effort then they are failing miserably.
5. These kids understand JROTC, and your one-sided effort to silence them. You are against freedom of choice and If someone opposes your point of view, you villify them. The small minority of the students that take JROTC, are not at all being manipulated, and your unfounded arguments only support their position, that you have no tolerance, and are supressing them!
Thank you, DM Wenceslao... my comment was filtered out for some reason, so I'm glad yours got thru.
Co-sign.
I am as well! I don't mind that Huffington post has a different idealogy, this is America! They need to be honest and held to that standard.
Excellent explanation...doubt the military ahters will read it though. Thank you!
Getting gutbuckets out of their hoverchairs? The end justifies the means.
See Dave Zirin's Profile
Thank you Marc for your comments. Your work on this has been stellar.
You may think Marcs work is stellar...However it is incorrect. Let's take them in order
"Physical Education teaches physical fitness and teamwork. JROTC is a military recruitment tool, targetting 14 and 15-year old youth."
Not true...we are not allowed tor ecruit in any way.
"You are mistaken if you think JROTC is not a Pentagon program. JROTC instructors are selected by the military. Our schools have no say in their hiring. JROTC cadets are not being vilified by opponents of JROTC, but they are being exploited by the military. Pentagon officials openly brag that 40-50% of JROTC cadets end up in the military." -
All wrong - I was hired by the principal and confirmed by the B of E. We all submit packages to be approved by the specific branch - but we must find our own jobs and negotiate salary. If 40 to 50% are going in the military it is not from my unit of over 298 cadets.
We don't need the military to teach discipline -- unless by "discipline" you just mean following orders.
Every once in awhile I ask my classes why they are in NJROTC. The number one answer is still "for the discipline. Most of these kids have ZERO at home.
Can't we just let high school kids be high school kids and leave ROTC for college where it belongs? My high school workload got so hefty that I dropped out of Boy Scouts roughly around sophomore year.
For the most part, ROTC is an elective...so you know what that means right mr degreeholder? If San Francisco had something bad happen to it, who do you think they would call? The miscreants on Market? Nob Hill residents? I have an idea...
To kmswriter:
You say that JROTC instructors are "highly skilled... certified instructors." In California, JROTC instructors are required to have a "Designated Subjects Special Subjects Teaching Credential." The main requirement for this credential is a high school diploma or G.E.D., and certification by the military. For this, JROTC instructors are paid many thousands of dollars more per year than teachers with a real teaching credential.
JROTC cadets do not need "good school grades." At a recent San Francisco school board hearing a JROTC instructor bragged that one of his cadets had gotten all F's, except for an A in JROTC. This was his idea of singing the praises of JROTC.
To Rogan:
The statement in Zirin's article concerning San Diego JROTC cadets falling behind PE students is not a "factoid... thrown away without elaboration." It is a fact, revealed by the San Diego school district report which Zirin cites. If anybody wants a copy of this study, along with Rick Jahnkow's analysis, please email Military Out of Our Schools - San Francisco at yahoo.comahoo.com, and we will forward it to you.
Hey NORTON!
We are paid more. We work longer hours, interact better, and have skills to stand up in front of a class and command attention. We earned our pay in the trenches. Yes, they need good grades if they want to go on a variety of field trips. Our cirriculum is more than sitting in class for an hour reading "ETHAN FROME." So the study is available only via email? Why isn't it public knowledge.
Where is the basis for your argument NORTON? Mr. Zirin has it wrong also. To be DEEPLY troubled about this, he obviously hasn't developed mature thoughts yet. This is a congress mandated program around longer than us, and I have never heard of an english teacher changing someone's life!
Hey pmipIP! I guess JROTC instructors are the only people in the world who know how to teach. Why didn't I know that?
As an instructor I am paid on the teachers scale. No more...no less and I am a CERTIFIED TEACHER of the state I work in. In fact, I hold a MAsters degree in education. I hope I know whaT I know what i am doing!!!!
You are paid "on the teachers scale," you say? Department of Defense regulations require that JROTC instructors -- all retired military officers -- get the equivalent of their active duty pay and allowances, minus their retirement. In San Francisco, that averages out to about $84,500 per year. That does not include benefits. How many teachers get paid that much?
Marc...You are wrong again....I am paid on the same scale as regular certified teachers. You need to do more research. No more - no less. And I give many more hours than regular teachers. BTW - I am a certified teacher.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
