San Francisco school board votes to dump JROTC program

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | November 15, 2006 | Jill Tucker

[L.N. Smithee]

After 90 years in San Francisco high schools, the [JROTC] must go, the S.F. school board decided Tuesday night.

The board voted 4-2 to eliminate the popular program, phasing it out over two years.

...JROTC cadets at the board meeting burst into tears or covered their faces after the votes were cast.

[snip]

Their position was summed up by a former teacher, Nancy Mancias, who said, "We need to teach a curriculum of peace.''

The board's move to dismantle the popular program was led by board members Dan Kelly and [gay] Mark Sanchez with support from Sarah Lipson and Eric Mar...against it were Jill Wynns and Norman Yee. Board member Eddie Chin was absent.

"We don't want the military ruining our civilian institutions," said Sandra Schwartz, of the American Friends Service Committee, an organization actively opposing JROTC nationwide. "In a healthy democracy ... You must contain the military."

Students, parents and school staff from each of the seven high schools converged outside the school board meeting carrying signs and waving at cars, some of which honked in support.

At least 100 cadets edged into Franklin Street waving their signs before being pushed back to the sidewalk by their ROTC instructors.

Yet, in the end, the effort -- one of several rallies in the last several weeks -- fell on deaf ears.

"This is where the kids feel safe, the one place they feel safe," Robert Powell, a JROTC instructor at Lincoln High School and a retired Army lieutenant colonel, said earlier in the evening. "You're going to take that away from them?"

Opponents acknowledged the program is popular and even helps some students stay in school and out of trouble.

[snip]

"It's basically a branding program, or a recruiting program for the military," Kelly said before the meeting.

[Greystoke]

This country, like the rest of the west, is in deep SH_T!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Hey, San Francisco:

[teacherwoes]

"We need to teach a curriculum of peace.''

I'm sure the school board would rather teach the curriculum of Islam instead

[spunkets]

""We don't want the military ruining our civilian institutions," said Sandra Schwartz, of the American Friends Service Committee"

These people are really rotten.

[feedback doctor]

The district pays the other half of salaries ($586,000) and $394,000 in benefits.

Earlier, Mayor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the debate, chastising the board for the effort to eliminate JROTC. A budget analysis found that the district could hire nine teachers with the money the district now spends on JROTC

Let's see, that $980,000, for 9 teachers. Let's not teach the kids about sacrificing for others, let's teach them about greedy unions.

[proud_yank]

I really wish we could send scum like this to the middle east and let them see how long they'd last with the "peaceful" terrorists.

I've grown rather tired of libs getting on a rant, comparing Christianity to Islam, mixed in with some liberal babble.

So, I've come up with the following offer to test their theory: I will personally pay for two, one-week long trips, one to a fundamentally Muslim region/nation (Mecca or Mogadishu, for example), followed by a trip to a fundamentally Christian region/nation (the Vatican, for example). The catch is, they have to actually 'visit', i.e. interact with the people in each region, and they have to visit the Muslim region first.

I will purchase their return ticket after they complete the first five days there, since I think I'd be wasting my money buying a return ticket right away.

I've yet to find a taker, but if any lib is interested, they are free to take me up on it.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

Their position was summed up by a former teacher, Nancy Mancias, who said, "We need to teach a curriculum of peace.''

They need to teach the truth about living in the REAL world... There IS NO Peace without Defense.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

"The move sends the wrong message," he said. "It's important for the city not to be identified with disrespecting the sacrifice of men and women in uniform."

RE: "disrespecting the sacrifice of men and women in [U.S. uniforms]."

Enemy uniforms is another matter.

A search of the article found just one reference to Dan Kelly. No mention of Dan Kelley being jailed for war resistance during the Vietnam War.

Ah yes, "war resistance." I remember, read:

"Ho! Ho! Ho Chi Minh! The FLN is sure to win!"

"Hey, hey! LBJ. How many babies did you kill today?"

"Bring it all down, man."

. . . and all the lies that one John Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

[GOP_Raider]

Their position was summed up by a former teacher, Nancy Mancias, who said, "We need to teach a curriculum of peace.''

"Those who can, do. Those who can't..."

[MarkL]

The US government needs to cut off ALL federal funding to SF, and I don't just mean to the schools...

Mark

[Darkwolf377]

The culture war is heating up again.

The Republicans will take it all in 2008. The Libs just can't help themselves from overheating now that they have aquired POWER.

We will see this thing all over, with other school boards doing their "Me too!" rush to be the most hateful towards those who protect their right to be assholes.

[NinoFan]

Agreed

[Michael81Dus]

Could you please elaborate why you have included France in your list?

[Michael81Dus]

So San Francisco is a city of lower value because they differ on several issues with you or the President? I also find this decision strange, but the US is still a country that respects other opinions/decisions. The school board was democratic elected, and its decisions have to be respected by the federal level. Now if the people of SF wanted to something, fine - but the state and DC have to stay out of this.

What kind of thinking do you have? Federal funding and protection only for those who support the President? State funding and protection only for those who support the Gouvernor? Are you sure you support the Union of the United States and the Republic?

[Lokibob]

Fleet days should be ended for SF, immediately!!!

[Dallas59]

Slip of the tongue when referring to anything "socialism"..

[Lonely Bull]

Fleet days should be ended for SF, immediately!!!

I beg to differ, having come across these reactions to Fleet Week in San Francisco (thanks to opinionjournal.com's Best of the Web):

Letter, "Fleet Week farewells

Letter, "A year ago, during Fleet week with the overwhelming roar of military aircraft above us...."

Even if it's only the Blue Angels, maybe every week, then, should be Fleet Week. ;)

[Eastbound]

"How do you ask a soldier to be the last one to die for a lie like San Francisco?"

Zinger of the month.