Parents exercise military opt out

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050528/NEWS/505280381/1002

A growing number of parents are opting out of having their children's names, addresses, phone numbers and school records added to military recruiting rolls.

Since 2002, as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, school districts have been required to turn over student information to military recruiters and colleges which request those lists, except for the information on students whose parents specifically request not to be included.

In practice, according to Mary Moran, superintendent of the city schools, only the military asks.

"If they ask, we have to give it to them," she said. "The military asks annually … and quite frankly, colleges don't ask."

Providing lists of student information is something Moran said she finds troubling, and goes well beyond the traditional practice of allowing recruiters — college and armed forces — onto school campuses.

more

http://www.leavemychildalone.org.

[Earth_First]

1. NEVER our child, for YOUR war...

[halobeam]

2. My son enters high school in the fall.

I just attended his "exit" interview at the Middle School, and his counselor knows NOTHING about this. Now he knows EVERYTHING about this. Plus he has MANY copies of the opt out form to hand out. I know the new students in high school are young, and apparently will not be contacted until 11th grade, but I heard that is NOT necessarily the way some recruiters work. They accidentally, get to know your kid, right from the git go. With recruiting numbers so low, we all know, they are doing some pretty desperate things to get kids in. They won't be doing this to anyone I know, as far as I can help it. Education/information is the first line of defense.

[fed-up]

4. Be sure to go to your son's HS on Career Day to MONITOR The Military ...

At my son's High School the Army brought a rock climbing wall, the catch was that the kids were required to fill out an informational questionairre with their personal contact info despite the fact that I had filled out an opt out form which was on file in the school office.

Desperate measures for desperate times. It is IMPERATIVE that all those with HS age children go to the schools and MONITOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MILITARY especially during Career Day.

Son's prinicpal wasn't aware of the slimeball tactics, but after speaking with him he agreed that what they were doing was unacceptable and they will NOT be allowed to do same next year. You many also want to check with the Career Counselor about current practices of the military while they are on campus.

[beyurslf]

6. Here we have annual event called the River Festival. Basically the whole

community ends up going. I have never seen the military there before with anything other than a regualr vendor booth. This year, they had the rock climbing wall and some other big thing. You also had to fill out a form to use the equipment. The line was very long so I know they got a lot of names.

[1monster]

13. So, how do these guys know if the right info is being given?

For instance, what if I put in
Suzie Torta de la Taza
Ningúndonde Road

Would they know?

Translation: Suzie Cupcake
Nowhere Road

[LizW]

7. When should I start asking about this?

My son is going into eighth grade this fall. The next year he will go to high school. Should I make sure we have the form on file before he goes to high school, or should I do one for middle school too?

So far I have not heard anything about recruiters at the middle school.

[JerseygirlCT]

10. You may have to ask for it

we got the form sent home as he started HS, but you may have to ask for one. Do ask.

There shouldn't be a problem waiting until he/she starts HS -- I don't think they're desperate enough yet to recruit freshman. But make sure your preferences are on file and in writing. Wouldn't hurt to press the school to make opt-out forms available to everyone -- so many don't know about this!

[concord]

3. Thank you for posting the "opt out" form link

It's a great site. I'm passing it along to everyone I know who is in the same situation.

[kittykitty]

5. I got a big error message from this link-Java, cold fusion etc,

The error occurred in S:\Internet\Http\Lmco\lmco\plugins\SimplePlugin.cfc: line 96
and much more

[soup]

11. another source for the form.

I've forgotten which DUer provided a link to the military-free zone site a few weeks ago, or I'd give them credit:
http://www.militaryfreezone.org/opt_out

[concord]

14. There's an extra "." at the end of the addy

Just take that out and you'll get the site.

[bleedingheart]

8. How much you bet that these kids Student Loans will be affected?

In BushCountry...everything is possible...

[soup]

9. Question - Are private schools required to turn over

the student records, too? I haven't heard anything about it, and was just curious. Anyone know?

[yorkiemommie1]

12. my question too

since my nephews attend a fundie church school. they should be the first to enlist.