robtex said:
that is the issue I have with it. There really isn't an option for an opposing opinion but some checks and balances, as with any monopoly, should be in place.
Due to my age I haven't seen a recruiter in school in quite some time. Anybody younger have experience with that?
Yes, my kids have. Now, we have a Jr. ROTC programme at our HS, so it makes sense for recruiters to be there to support kids in that program.
And I don't have a problem with recruiters giving their pitch *once* and *with my express permission.* But that isn't what happens.
Imagine you were parents who belonged to a strictly pacifist religious tradition. The school allows your kids to be repeatedly "advertised to" by a group that is in obvious conflict with your religious beliefs. The presentations, as you say, contain only half the picture. You have zero control over when this happens or what the content is, and are not notified. There are no opposing views. These are impressionable minors who, in a short while, will be able to sign away years of their life and put themselves in danger without the parent being given an opportunity to oppose these viewpoints, because they don't know it's even going on unless the kids tell them.
How is this not stepping on those parents' prerogatives to raise their children according to their religion?
We're not talking about a classroom discussion on the merits of war here...this is something entirely different.
Now, being the parents we are and having the kids we do, this has not been a problem for us. We've always encouraged the kids to think for themselves, understand the nature of international conflict and possible means to deal with it. And we have specifically instructed the kids to, when confonted with recruiters, be polite and greet them, say "No thank you" and don't waste your time or theirs with further conversation.
I believe that recruitment for the armed services should be handled in the same way sex ed is here: You tell me exactly what you're gonna cover, and if I have objections, my kid will not be allowed to be there.
This way the recruiters will be able to continue to do their job, and there are many kids (and parents) who would welcome the information and opportunity. There's nothing wrong in serving your country, and a stint in the armed services has helped a lot of people into adulthood and/or given them a way out of poverty. I can't complain about *that*.
But those of us with moral objections don't have to have our kids being subjected to repeated attempts at advertising something that runs counter to the values we're trying to instill in our kids.
I think we can accomodate all views here.
