This summer, Conscience and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) introduced a policy resolution limiting military recruiters’ access to students in the Pittsburgh Public School system.
On August 22, a weak version of the policy they drafted was passed by the Pittsburgh school board that deleted the following sections:
- Recruiters from one agency or institution shall only be permitted to visit a school one time per grading period and no more than four times in one school year.
- Recruiters shall not be permitted to serve as mentors, tutors, coaches or sponsors of intramural activities such as school clubs, except in their capacities as parents or guardians of individual students at specific schools.
In their report on the passing of the resolution, the AFSC reported the final version had “all the heart taken out.” Activists believe that pressure from the state and federal government played a role in defeating the policy rules.
Under state and federal laws, like No Child Left Behind, schools cannot restrict military recruiters any more than corporate or college recruiters. The military can use these laws to pressure school districts by claiming restrictions on their recruitment will potentially limit students’ job and educational opportunities.
AFSC did report that the school board had strengthened one point requiring all recruiters to be accompanied by a school district employee during the time they are on school property.
The new rules:
- Require recruiters to register with the principal or an dministrator upon arrival.
- Require a district employee to escort recruiters around a school unless they can show proof of having state and federal clearances or a statement from their employer that they have such clearances.
- Prohibit them from sponsoring contests, drawings, lotteries or from exchanging gifts unless they are of scholarships or are of minimal value.
- Ban them from using exhibits that violate the district’s weapons policy or using video games that depict weapons or violence.
- Limit them to meeting students in areas designated by the principal.
Conscience and the AFSC are considering further options limiting and countering recruitment. To get involved contact Conscience at 412-231-1582 or online at www.consciencepgh.org.
(First published in The NewPeople, October 2007)
