Starbase - Military in Elementary Schools

[paparush]

So, my 5th grade son came home last Thurs with a permission slip for him to attend 4 days of "Starbase" presentation this week.

Here's an excerpt from the brochure-

STARBASE, a program for youth ages 6 through 18, is aimed at improving math and science skills. The program starts at the elementary school level in order to attract and prepare students at an early age for careers in engineering and other science-related fields of study.

The program principally exposes at-risk children and their teachers to real world applications of math and science through experiential learning, simulations, and experiments in aviation and space-related fields. The program also addresses drug use prevention, health, self esteem and life skills within a math- and science-based program."

Our son is in AG for Math/Science and Communication Skills.

I read on to find that Starbase is presented by members of the National Guard.

This really pissed me off. The school wants to give the National Guard 4 days of direct, hands-on, access to my ten year old child.

We refused to sign the Permission Agreement/Waiver. My son was told he should just stay home the 4 days this week. I see this as absolutely insidious, pre-recruitment, recruitment.

Anybody else encountered 'Starbase'?
http://www.ngb.army.mil/staff/j1/ay/starbase/

[Maple]

1. It's a great idea

...except for the military part.

Anyway you can discover how much, if any, 'recruiting' goes on in this program?

[MemphisTiger]

2. If they are trying to help the kids with math and science

I've got no problem with it, BUT if it's recruitment propaganda it's out of line. I would ask to see the agenda or syllabus they intend to use. I doubt anything they say to a ten year old would sway them to sign their life away to uncle sam right now, they're only 10 or so.

[Frustratedlady]

5. I Agree. Something's Fishy!

1) There are plenty of other projects the National Guard can undertake if they have so much spare time. Sounds to me like they are "bonding" with students with the ultimate goal of recruitment upon graduation.

2) With the NCLB interfering with the education of our children by wasting mega hours in testing, (not to mention screwing up the curriculum) all our students need is to lose 4 more days of classroom time. If the National Guard is so convinced this is a good idea, work with the students on Saturdays and let the teachers do their jobs during the week.

We are already stretching our National Guard to the limit. Who came up with this idea?

[kenny blankenship]

3. And the Hitler Youth was purely "opt-in" too, they said.

No stigma --no black mark at all!--is attached to the permanent ink record that your child failed to attend the optional military recr- math instruction that everyone else opted to go through. Rest assured: no one in a position of authority will draw any conclusions about you or your child, over the years and years in which that canceled permission slip sits there in your kid's file, getting noticed repeatedly by school recruiters, staff, Homeland Security data mining software, and draftbo- schoolboard officials. Parents should feel absolutely free to consider the ramifications of deciding to turn their backs on the flag and opt out. Don't give your non-conformist kid's permanent record a second thought but let your conscience's tolerance for far-reaching life consequences be your sole guide.

[delen]

11. Right on

This is a thinly veiled threat,we'll keep this in your kid's file forever, doesn't plan to go to collage does he? Then to say don't send him to school for 4 days, wouldn't be surprised if his attendance isn't called into question later on.
If this was me i would start looking closely at school staff and/or school board to see just who has the military connections and raise hell!!!!!!
You can not be the only one who feels this way.

[Wizard777]

4. Abstract Math Program?

0 WMD's x 1/2 Assed Presention = (Infinite War + Infinite War Profits)

That math is more than Fuzzy. It's rotten to the Corp.

[cobaindrain]

6. too risky, keep your kids away from anything military related

and if you decide to enroll him, demand to sit in on a class.

[cobaindrain]

8. and read this, great article from The Nation

the army is getting sneakier and sneakier in its attempts to find fresh bullet meat, and they're targeting younger and younger children.

article | posted August 25, 2005 (September 12, 2005 issue)
Who's Next?
Karen Houppert


The US Army Recruiting Command has a motto: "First to contact, first to contract." In the school recruiting handbook the Army gives to the 7,500 recruiters it has trawling the nation these days, the motto crops up so often it serves as a stuttering paean to aggressive new tactics--tactics that target increasingly younger students.

To make sure they are the first folks to contact students about their future plans, Army recruiters are ordered to approach tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders--repeatedly. Army officials spell out the rules of engagement: Recruiters are told to dig in deep at their assigned high schools, to offer their services as assistant football coaches--or basketball coaches or track coaches or wrestling coaches or baseball coaches (interestingly, not softball coaches or volleyball coaches)--to "offer to be a chaperon or escort for homecoming activities and coronations" (though not thespian ones), to "Deliver donuts and coffee for the faculty once a month," to participate visibly in Hispanic Heritage and Black History Month activities, to "get involved with local Boy Scout troops" (Girl Scouts aren't mentioned), to "offer to be a timekeeper at football games," to "serve as test proctors," to "eat lunch in the school cafeteria several times each month" and to "always remember secretary's week with a card or flowers." They should befriend student leaders and school staff: "Know your student influencers," they are told. "Identify these individuals and develop them as COIs" (centers of influence). After all, "some influential students such as the student president or the captain of the football team may not enlist; however, they can and will provide you with referrals who will enlist." Cast a wide net, recruiters are told. Go for the Jocks, but don't ignore the Brains. "Encourage college-capable individuals to defer their college until they have served in the Army."

Army brass urge recruiters to use a "trimester system of senior contacts," reaching out to high school seniors at three vulnerable points. In the spring, when students' futures loom largest, the handbook advises: "For some it is clear that college is not an option, at least for now. Let them know that the Army can fulfill their college aspirations later on."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050912/houppert

[Frustratedlady]

10. What Does This Paragraph Bring To Mind?

Recruiters are told to dig in deep at their assigned high schools, to offer their services as assistant football coaches--or basketball coaches or track coaches or wrestling coaches or baseball coaches (interestingly, not softball coaches or volleyball coaches)--to "offer to be a chaperon or escort for homecoming activities and coronations" (though not thespian ones), to "Deliver donuts and coffee for the faculty once a month," to participate visibly in Hispanic Heritage and Black History Month activities, to "get involved with local Boy Scout troops" (Girl Scouts aren't mentioned), to "offer to be a timekeeper at football games," to "serve as test proctors," to "eat lunch in the school cafeteria several times each month" and to "always remember secretary's week with a card or flowers." They should befriend student leaders and school staff: "Know your student influencers," they are told. "Identify these individuals and develop them as COIs" (centers of influence). After all, "some influential students such as the student president or the captain of the football team may not enlist; however, they can and will provide you with referrals who will enlist." Cast a wide net, recruiters are told. Go for the Jocks, but don't ignore the Brains.

If a male civilian did the above, he would raise suspicions of being a pedophile. Win the confidence of the child and their parent/custodian/teacher, then gradually make your move. How dare they scheme to influence our children!!

[cobaindrain]

14. bingo

If a male civilian did the above, he would raise suspicions of being a pedophile. Win the confidence of the child and their parent/custodian/teacher, then gradually make your move. How dare they scheme to influence our children!!

It's amazing what one neatly pressed uniform can do. It really wouldn't shock me if some of them were pedophiles and are using there recruitment position as a "way in".

recruiters are pretty much given free reign, under this administration to scheme and lie as they please. They are above the law

[Trillo]

7. If the program is about math and science and experiential learning,

then shouldn't it be conducted by scientists and mathematicians?

National Guard members are only scientists and mathematicians?

Kinda sad, but not surprising. Lessons within lessons, the explicit and implied, and the implication of the implied, etc.

Timothy Leary was right. Tune in then drop out.

[bananas]

9. Maybe they will teach faith-based math and science

National Guard soldiers in uniform teaching creationism to grammar school kids.
Catapult the propaganda right into those young minds!

[kitkat65]

12. Your son is only ten years old and so much is going to happen

between now and recruitment age that four days out of his life isn't going to change his entire outlook forever.

Why not let him go and go with him as a chaperon? Aren't schools always looking for extra adults for field trips? If you work, can you tak a day off to go? Flex time?

That way he can get the benefit of anything educational they have but you can talk to him afterwords about anything you found objectionable. You can also tell other parents what's going on if there's anything that egregiously goes over the line.

[mtnester]

13. So, if you opt out, your child needs to stay home from school?

So it is really MANDATORY, or else your child stops being educated for 4 days? Is your school private or tax based? If tax based, then this is absolutely unacceptable...if private, I cannot comment because I don't know their rules.

Complaint department anyone?

[delen]

15. Checked your link

Star base is slated to be in my state also. Called the school district the person I talked said he hadn't heard of it yet, although he thought it sounded rather weird too. For what the claims on their website were it sounded more like something NASA should be teaching, not the National Guard.