Don't Aid Recruiters

This fall, many local students will be surprised to find that the Pentagon has found a new territory to occupy: their school. President Bush's war in Iraq has caused a significant drop in the Pentagon's recruiting ability, creating massive pressure from the top to supply fresh bodies for Iraq. In turn, recruiters have become increasingly crafty in their struggle to meet quotas. Luckily for them, information on our nation's children is readily available. Under Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, schools must turn over students' private records, without the students' consent, to recruiters. The only way parents can prevent this is by special request. Since most parents and students are not aware of this automatic information turnover, most do not bother to ask that the data be kept private. Concerned parents should contact their children's principals and insist that the procedure for telling the Pentagon to butt out of their children's lives be made readily available.

BOB SALSBURG

Northfield

Letter printed in Philadelphia Inquirer, September 10, 2005

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2005/09/10/news/editorial/12606855.htm