No Child Left Behind Act - A Sneaky Military Recruitment Tool
Posted: Friday, January 23, 2009
by Myla Madson
Myla Madson.com
Any act of legislation is going to have its proponents as well as its critics. My parents, both retired teachers, were staunch critics of the No Child Left Behind Act signed into law in 2001 shortly after our now infamous 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush, was sworn into office. I hadn't much thought about the No Child Left Behind Act until my sixteen year old daughter suddenly started getting calls from military recruiters.
Our family is quite familiar with military service and how recruiting new members really works.
My ex-husband served in the Navy and had mentioned how he was lied to by recruiters when he enlisted, desperate to fill quotas (he could write a book on all the broken promises, lies, and downright manipulation of the system that caused him and our family a lot of heartache and sleepless nights).
To his credit, he proudly served his country, winning many awards, but thought that those who enlisted should be told the truth about what they were actually signing up for and not misled by false promises and out right lies.
Needless to say, he was furious that his baby girl had been contacted by a military recruiter without our permission. We soon found out that the military did not need our permission and that the high school she attended was required by law to give military recruiters the name, phone number, email address, areas of study and interest of every student enrolled in their school.
This requirement came about from the No Child Left Behind Act and can be found at the following link: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg112.html#sec9528
As parents, we can opt our children out of this requirement, but we at least need to be aware we can do this, which I was not. You will notice that schools are required to notify you of this right but neither I, nor other parents I've spoken with about this matter, had been told we had a choice or that this requirement even existed. Something this serious should require an opt-in form, not some cleverly hidden opt-out one, that way there is no doubt.
In doing my research for this article, I kept coming across the name, Cindy Sheehan. You may remember her as the mother of a soldier who was killed in Iraq who became a very vocal anti-war activist. The media did a great job painting her as quite the lunatic, camped out in a ditch in front of George Bush's Texas ranch dubbing her make shift diggs, "Camp Casey" named after her dead son.
I never followed her story close enough to gain an understanding of just what it was she had been protesting. Constant sound bites from television and radio made me think that she had lost a son in the war and was now protesting our invasion of Iraq. My thoughts were that he had joined the military and that's what militaries do; yes her loss was tragic but no different than the thousands of others who had also paid the ultimate sacrifice.
But why was she constantly coming up in my research into the No Child Left Behind Act? Well, it seems that is how her son found himself in a distant land with an enemy hell bent on killing him and doing so just five days after him setting foot on foreign soil.
Most would argue that he joined the military when he was 21 so he was old enough to know what he was doing and to understand what might come a long with that decision.
Her argument, which I'm not sure many people are aware of, was that the military recruiters had pursued him since he was in high school and the years following and had used several underhanded tactics to finally get him signed up. This of course rings true with what my ex had told me.
Her opinion was her son never should have been put in harms way in the first place because he never had any interest in joining the military until he was contacted repeatedly by recruiters. As more information came out about the war, she thought the invasion of Iraq was as unnecessary as her son's death had been and all of it the products of lies so she joined that front as well.
I'm not here to voice my opinion of the ongoing war in Iraq. I simply want parents to be aware that they can opt out of the requirement for their child's information to be freely handed over to military recruiters. I believe this sneaky collection of children's names is a violation of privacy and more should be done to let parents know it is happening and that you should expect a call from your local recruiter.
Military service is a noble profession and without it, we would lose the few remaining freedoms we still have left. However, I believe that no one has the right to lie to my child, behind my back, about how wonderful military life is and make attractive promises they never intend to keep to get them to sign up.
If it was such an attractive line of work, the government would not have to come up with unlawful ways to get peoples information and force recruiters to tell bold face lies because of pressure to meet enlistment quotas. I know these lies happen because my ex-husband and I were victims of them; plain and simple…just thought you might like to know.
Please, no comments from close minded individuals looking to pick a fight. I love my country, and I love and support our military. My family and I have done our time so I have a right to give my opinion on this important matter.
You can get the opt-out forms and more information by going here: http://leavemychildalone.org/lmca_forms/Opt_Out_Form_Parents.pdf
For more from the mind of Myla, please go to http://www.mylamadson.com
our high school often had recruiters that would come and set up a table during lunch, and we never received any form asking us whether we wanted our information released. in fact, one of the teachers at our school had a recruiter come in and wouldn't allow his students to leave the room until they'd filled out their information and given it to the recruiter.Sounds like the teacher was doing an illegal act and should be prosecuted for it.
Perhaps you should publish the teacher's information on a few blogs, and the citizenry can perform public justice ;-)
I have recently commissioned into the US Air Force, and my experiences have been completely different than those described above. Perhaps it's because of the officer vs. enlisted, or even the Army/Navy vs. Air Force (which has the highest quality of living out of the services), but I have found all information to be very straightforward. Yes, you will have to work hard and may not always do what you want to do. No, it's not the magical job recruiters tell you it will be. But in the end, it is worthwhile just for the opportunities afforded to members of the military: free (essentially) medical care, house and utilities completely paid for, major discounts on all food and clothing items, free schooling for your kids, experiences you will have both in training and leadership, and job security. If it's not your cup of tea, you can vote with your feet and resign your commission after four years if you're an officer, or decide not to reenlist if you're enlisted personnel. Either way, do your research before joining any military service, the information is out there, and it's not for everyone. If your child isn't willing to put in the effort to know what they are getting into, then there's not much you can do about it, complaining after the fact is just foolish and unproductive.
if God didn't want me to avoid contact with military recruiters, He wouldn't have given me the ability to provide fake phone numbers and email addresses.
No one puts a gun to your head and says you have to join the military. People choose to join. The same goes for school - no one is saying you have to go to school at all.The fact that they have your first and last name and phone number is irrelevant information. They can get this information out of the phone book.Children are required by law to attend school, all children. If students do not attend school parents face serious repercussions for educational neglect and usually are required to go to family court. Two of my students have cases monitored by a child protective services social worker to make sure they are attending school and not only attending, but participating in classwork and homework regularly.
Got news for ya, military recruited 16 year olds before No Child Left Behind.
Speaking of the 'opt-out' form.. When I was in high school, we would receive this enormous packet at the beginning of the year. All of the "important" papers were in the front. I happened to come across an opt-out form stuck way in the back with all of the "less important" information. I had my mother sign the paper and immediately turned it in to the secretary at school (the "due date" on this thing was only a few days after school had started).About a month later, I received a call from a recruiter. I told him I wasn't interested (he later came to my school and said I gave him the nicest "No" ever), but he was nice, so I stayed on the line. I eventually asked him where he got my information from, he told me that the schools were required to give the information to him under the No Child Left Behind act. I explained that I had signed an opt-out paper, he apologized, but we both understood it wasn't his fault. I went to the school the next day and asked about it. It seems I didn't have any such paper in my file. I imagine they just tossed it right out.The recruiter also told me that it was his job to contact every person in my grade (only 40 people, so not that big of a feat) and that even if the school didn't give him my information he would have had to get it some other way.. from another student or the phone book. I explained that no one with my information would have suggested calling me as I'm not a big fan of war (who is, right?) and that we weren't listed in the phone book. He told me that he would have gotten it, one way or another.So, it doesn't seem that a opt-out form really does anything, anyways... especially if your school just throws it out.
This clause in the No Child Left Behind bill is SINISTER. It is also the tip of the iceberg.Begin to educate your self now! The internet and the library are the only ways to gain the truth.W A K E U P!
Hello Myla, This was a very informative article. I had no idea about the "No Child Let Behind Act"!!! As in everything else that has happened in our schools and government, sometime I feel that they (meaning schools and government) require to much control of our kids...yet they will hang you if you descipline them...go figure. You are right about the lies, I was lied to by a Navy recruiter when I joined the Navy back in 1964. The recruiter outright lied to my mom, because in those days, if you were under the age of 21, you had to have your parents signature to join. The lie to get you in....once they suck you in, you are theirs!!!! And you are right about the quota thing. I totally agree with this article, and I also acknowledge that you DO have the right to make this point, and express your opinion, just because you are a voting citizen if any other reason....Well done, well written. Thanks for sharing this, your friend in pen, GaryThanks for commenting Gary. I'm glad you got something out of the article.
Like someone said above, we have to READ! everything we are putting our signature on! Great informative article. Karen, NY
I have to admit, I thought the same way about recruiters... until I became one. Without us, every male would serve...That is what the selective service is for. Also, no military recruiter literally forces anyone to sign...the applicant does that. Selective listening on the applicants part is also a factor..If they read (like they are supposed to) the Annex A, DD-1966, and DD-4..All questions should be answered. I hope you enjoy your freedom of choice.
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