JROTC and the School Board ...
by , 2008-06-18
To the Editor:
In 2006, the SF Board of Education voted to eliminate JROTC in our public schools. We are committed to this vote and are currently phasing out JROTC in a structured manner so that it is completely eliminated by the end of the next school year.
As part of this plan, SFUSD will offer an alternative leadership development program that is not related to the military in any manner. A pilot course of this alternative program is scheduled to being in next school term, 2008-2009.
Since the Board of Education voted to eliminate JROTC, its enrollment has declined significantly. We expect further reduction in the enrollment numbers as we introduce the alternative leadership program.
The vote surrounding JROTC was a highly emotional one for our San Francisco family. There were (and still are) many parents and students who feel strongly that the JROTC program should continue unabated. We believe otherwise. It is incumbent on our community to reject all types of militarism and homophobia in our schools, and the progressive majority on the school board voted to do just that.
Unfortunately, there has been a recent public attempt to smear members of the Board of Education through a campaign of misinformation. We do not encourage or condone members of the public that engage in such dishonest tactics—it is hardly a good example of how to work together in a collaborative manner.
Such discourse also fails to acknowledge the significant strides this progressive majority on the school board has taken to effectuate positive change. This school board has voted to implement a Small Schools by Design policy, adopt procedures for greater transparency in the District, hire progressive leadership within the District staff, demand a halt to the Lennar development in Bayview Hunter’s Point and take substantive actions in addressing ways to close the achievement gap for all our students. The difference this Board of Education has made over the past two years is tangible.
Finally, we hope our leadership on the Board of Education will encourage direct dialogue and continued conversations on issues that we care about.
Thank you for your advocacy and support.
Mark Sanchez, President
Jane Kim, Member
Board of Education
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