Posted on 10/11/2006 1:21:14 PM PDT by crazyhorse691
Parents say a U.S.-funded science program smacks of recruitment
The Starbase program, which promises five days of space and aviation "field experiences" using real jet engines and advanced computer technology, would usually seem a perfect fit for a math and science magnet school.
But add U.S. military funding, classes at an Oregon National Guard base and anger about the Iraq war, and the experiment goes haywire, at least at Southeast Portland's Winterhaven K-8 School.
Worried that Starbase is as much about military indoctrination as hands-on education, parents of 12 Winterhaven fourth- and fifth-graders have refused to let their children take part in the program at the Guard's Jackson Armory and Portland Air Base.
The boycott means 20 percent of the 60 eligible Winterhaven students won't attend what school officials insist is one of the year's most exciting and illuminating lessons. The first day camp was Monday; the program will continue one day a week for a month.
"Just on principle, I couldn't do it," said James Ewing, who refused to sign the Starbase permission slip sent home last week with his fourth-grade daughter. "It's not appropriate for the military to be conducting what amounts to a recruiting program at an elementary school level."
This is the first time Winterhaven has been invited to the Department of Defense-funded Starbase. But students from the Portland, North Clackamas, Canby and David Douglas school districts have gone to the local military post for the aeronautics and team-building academy since the early 1990s.
Of the $15 million that the Pentagon sent to Starbase programs nationwide this year, $240,000 landed in Portland, paying for a director, two teachers and two aides. Five percent also goes to the school district, covering administrative costs.
Each year, four or five students don't get on the bus to the Guard base because of their parents' objections to the military's role, said Marilyn Sholian, Starbase director for Portland Public Schools.
But Sholian has never seen anything like the mass protest at Winterhaven. "I was shocked by the number and adamancy," she said.
Winterhaven Principal Tanya Ghattas signed the school up for Starbase two weeks ago, after another Portland school suddenly gave up its spot in the program's fall schedule.
Parents voiced concerns right away. Some were alarmed simply by the wording of a note sent home: "Starbase is targeting fifth-grade students in Portland Public Schools."
At a meeting with 32 parents last week, Ghattas tried to ease the anxiety. Yes, she told them, their children would see fighter jets up close and hear presentations from engineers and pilots in uniform, but the only mission was to offer hands-on mechanical experiments and computer labs beyond anything at Winterhaven.
"I assured them that this is just a good science program that happens to be at a military facility," she said.
Yet, as Ewing noted, Starbase's Web site states that part of the program's mission is to improve the military's image among young people. "They may not come out and say it's recruitment," he said. "But they're definitely laying the groundwork for that."
Trying to improve misperceptions about the military's image isn't the same as recruiting, said Capt. Mike Braibish, an Oregon National Guard spokesman. "There are a lot of misconceptions about the military out there," he said.
As far as Starbase being used as a recruiting tool, Braibish said no one has tracked the number of kids going through the program who join the armed forces. "But I imagine those numbers are quite low," he said. "The fact is, this program improves skills in critical fields that help not only the military, but society at large."
Ewing said he isn't anti-military. Another of his objections to Starbase is that it appears to redirect money that could be used to buy better equipment and body armor for soldiers in Iraq, he said.
After attending Starbase with his daughter's fifth-grade class Monday, Larry Risley wonders whether Ewing and the other parents are overreacting.
"It was pretty sophisticated stuff, showing how planes fly and the properties of air," he said. "You actually felt like you were in a classroom. We didn't even see the airbase."
Michele Shultz, Winterhaven's PTSA president, is equally perplexed, especially because parents send their children to the school to focus on math and science -- not politics. "I've heard that parents kept students out to protest the Iraq war," she said. "I can't follow that line of logic."
But for Jessica Applegate-Brown, making the connection was easy: If she openly talks about her opposition to the Iraq war around her fourth-grade son, how could she encourage him to spend time around soldiers and war machines?
"I'm objecting to the climate we're in right now," she said. "Ten years ago, this may have not been a big deal. But now, it is."
Joseph Rose: 503-221-8029; josephrose@news.oregonian.com
This actually sounds engaging and interesting. I realize these concepts are usually frowned upon in public school but it is a credit to the school district for actually offering such a program. For our "career day" field trip, my class was subjected to a local beauty school and a tour of the regional post office. Oddly enough, my vocational interests did not align with either of these venues...
But for Jessica Applegate-Brown, making the connection was easy: If she openly talks about her opposition to the Iraq war around her fourth-grade son, how could she encourage him to spend time around soldiers and war machines?
"I'm objecting to the climate we're in right now," she said. "Ten years ago, this may have not been a big deal. But now, it is."
When the kids talk to their peers, and learn what a fun time the attendees actually had, the parents can explain to their children why they kept them out of a great learning opportunity because of some vague political beliefs.
That should go a long way toward creating an interest in the child in learning more.
What did they do? Used an egg to test inertia, landed a plane with a simulated flight program, used CAD to design a space station, built and launched model rockets and more. Parents were invited for the rocket launch and graduation ceremony. The instructors were frank:
We do not have enough math and science majors to fill the (security) needs of the U.S.
Math is the language of science
What Starbase Atlantis does is more exciting that the science program at probably 95% of the schools. Perhaps they will turn a few heads to consider that as a field, but it doesn't mean they will go through the military.
Somebody who so vehemently protests a male dominated culture they identify themself by the last names of their husband AND their dad!
Yeah, fancy that, I bet she's a real prize to have around during the holidays.
So will the Auri be neutralized? Or do you think it will be one of those "we will never know..."
Oregon moonbats rule. What would one expect?
I'm sure the whole family gets together to mark each of the solstices.
I agree with everything you wrote. I had mentioned my previous post that my son had attended the program here in San Diego. I can't wait for my daughter to reach 4th grade and be eligible.
They'll tie up the story arc when the season starts up again in January...Auri go poof! I took SG-1 nearly 8 seasons to defeat the Gouold and now, they take out beings as powerful as the ancients in two seasons...wow, go our guys...
Seriously write in to the SciFi Channel, let them know that, once again, the channel is shooting themselves in the foot by canceling quality programming....
Jeeeez....they could get rid of that ECW Wrestling krap and keep Stargate....
They do this program at Whiting Field in Milton, FL. It is a great program and the kids love it. It has nothing to do with recruitment. It is a hands on program to get kids interested in science. Amazing that parents object to that simply because it is associated with the military.
"If she openly talks about her opposition to the Iraq war around her fourth-grade son, how could she encourage him to spend time around soldiers and war machines? "
I bet she is one of those who always tells people that she is against the war but not the troops.
Yep... That plus the message of "forbidden fruit" that they are sending to their children may have exactly the opposite effect of what the parents intended...
It is very easy to spot the loonies from the San Francisco area that moved North to Oregon. Problem they have is the loonies keep breeding and raise more idiots that the rest of us to have to deal with. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it?
I'll bet they think this is great too.
Pro-Gay Councilman Censors San Diego Christians To Block Evidence Of Gay Pride Abuse ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1705216/posts
Back then my daughter considered the Marine Corps. Not big on that for girls generally - but under Clinton? Happily other opportunities opened for her . . .
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