Contra Costa Times-Students should get clear picture of war

[brooklynite]

Editorial

Most people support the troops in Iraq, but they don't necessarily feel the same way about military recruiters on their high school campuses. The Albany school board is expected to set restrictions on recruiting this summer. And it is far from alone in expressing reservations about the military's efforts to use our schools to shore up its ranks. The Alameda County Board of Education recently considered a resolution urging parents to keep their children's information from recruiters. The Berkeley school district requires parents to sign a form before releasing student information to the military, and bans all recruiters from its campuses.

It may strike some as unpatriotic for Albany, Berkeley and other districts to interfere with such a vital task by our military at a time when the nation is at war and our forces are stretched thin. After all, the best way to support our troops in Iraq is to get more men and women into uniform to alleviate the enormous burdens they face.

Nevertheless, we believe the actions of these districts are not only understandable but commendable. This is not an issue of trying to dissuade our young men and women from military service or opposing the war in Iraq. Rather, it is an issue of ensuring that teenagers, many of whom cannot yet vote, have a clear and accurate picture of the risks and rewards of military service -- and the situation in Iraq -- before making such a critical decision. Regrettably, there is little reason to believe that will be the case if military recruiters are allowed unfettered access to high school students.

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The military has a right to be granted access to those who express a real interest in serving their country, but we believe that access should be carefully monitored so that parents and schools know what teens are being told. Teens should be encouraged to read independent news reports about the situation in Iraq and in the armed forces in general before making final decisions. Parents and teachers should be encouraged to take part in recruiting visits.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/cities_neighborhoods/berkeley/11977055.htm