Poynter High - Story Ideas

JROTC programs and military recruiters generally have unopposed access to high school campuses. But at least one group, Veterans for Peace, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in St. Louis, has petitioned school boards across the country to allow an alternative viewpoint on school campuses.

RELATED IDEA

Some countries require all citizens to perform either military or civic service, usually right after high school or college. What do students at your school think about that? PBS.org provides online lesson plans for teachers (and high school journalists!) based on a Jim Lehrer Newshour segment, “What Can You Do For Your Country?” Herff Jones, Inc., publisher of The World Atlas, has a four-page PDF quick review of service options around the world.

Other counter-recruitment organizations are working on this issue, too.

Some questions you might ask:

• What military programs are at your high school? The U.S. Army's JROTC Web site (“To Motivate Young People to Be Better Citizens”) lists high schools with Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.
• What is your school's policy about granting military recruiters on campus?
• Do JROTC programs and on-campus military recruitment efforts affect the percentage of students who enlist in the military? Call your local recruiter (listed in the phone book) to find out about pre-graduation enlistment in the Future Soldiers program.

How many males age 18 and over at your high school have registered for the draft? Survey the 18-year-old boys at your school and compare the results with the percent registered in your state and in the nation. The Selective Service System's News & Public Affairs page provides charts and tables showing a wide range of rates of draft registration by state and through the years. Look at the SSS's Fast Facts page for more information about the draft registration process.

-- Anne W. Anderson