Against Military Recruitment in High Schools

Dear Editor,
    As a product of Austin high schools likewise bombarded by military recruiters' propaganda during my time there, I am inspired by the tremendous organizing of Youth Activists of Austin and their new campaign to impose reasonable limitations on the militarization of our schools.
    I was fortunate to witness YAA! – a vibrant coalition of high schoolers throughout Austin – present their case at the AISD meeting on Monday. Indeed, why should we exempt the military, who are desperately struggling to fill their ranks for an illegal and dangerous war, from restrictions imposed on college and employment recruiters? Whole Foods reps are not granted free reign of hallways to badger students into joining their organization. Why then do we allow those seeking to thrust them into a war zone this very privilege?
    We live in an era where middle schoolers are learning to twirl weaponry in JROTC programs, where on-campus helicopter landings and multimillion dollar cinema vans are employed to lure youth toward a career in war-making, and where federal law mandates the surrender of students' personal information to those who supply able bodies for our unethical occupation of Iraq.
    All the while, tuition costs skyrocket while public funding for higher education plummets.
    AISD officials, if they value the principle of a healthy learning environment and the well-being of their pupils, must confront the militarization of our schools and work with YAA! to impose reasonable limitations to the military's recruitment of our youth.
    Keep up the great organizing, YAA! May the students continue to teach.