Students required to take ASVAB

[OhioChick]

Sophomores and seniors at two of Yuma's high schools will be required for the first time to take a military test this week — unless their parents opt them out of the exam.

Kofa High School and Yuma High School students will be taking the Armed Services Vocational Battery (ASVAB) test.

This is the first time the Yuma Union High School District has given the ASVAB on a schoolwide level. The test has been available in the past to individual students who requested to take it.

The ASVAB is a national aptitude test provided to high schools and post-secondary schools since 1968, according to the Military Entrance Processing Center. MEPC personnel out of San Diego will be on hand to help the schools with the testing.

http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_26783.php

[bluestateguy]

1. Yeah, make 'em take it. They're never going to amount to anything anyway

If they need direction in life or they need money for college they should enlist in President Bush's military!

[Sydnie]

2. It's part of NCLB now, isn't it?

I know I always opt my kids out of that test when I opt them out of the whole release of info to the military.

Opt out is the only answer to this horrible legislation.

[LWolf]

3. This is actually the, or one of the, original purposes

of standardized tests, before they became more widely used. A sorting tool, as my old "psychological measurement" professor pointed out.

This district is using an "opt out" rather than "opt in" structure, thus guaranteeing that more students will test. Many district use the same "opt out" procedures when it comes to providing student info to recruiters. Either parents read all the fine print on everything, show up and fill out extra "opt out" forms, or students are fair game.

I would suggest that parents ask specific, pointed questions about anything and everything that their children may need to opt out of, since public schools have become such a useful government tool.

I would also suggest that parents, and the rest of the general population, start demanding that the feds repeal NCLB. In my professional experience, it is too flawed to "fix," and ought to be replaced with something that addresses the need to serve all students without all the baggage. These demands must be made to Democrats as well as Republicans, since Democrats have been big supporters of this piece of shit legislation. It's not enough to demand that it be "fully funded." Why fully fund something that mandates that kids be tested, sorted, and recruited to provide military fodder, a large cheap labor pool, etc.?

[Ms. Toad]

4. They've been lucky to have it only "available" so far...

It was required when I was in high school in the 70s, and there was no opt out option. My parents and I tried to opt out, and since we weren't successful it triggered a whole boatload of military recruitment calls.

[hlthe2b]

5. Gotta love efficiency...

Test 'em, sign 'em, and measure for their uniforms and body bags on the same day...

:mad:

[Tesha]

6. Nobody can force the kids to *PASS* the test, though. (NT)

[silverojo]

7. Can you say "Hitler youth"? n/t

[genie_weenie]

8. One way or another, I'm gonna find ya

I’m gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha.

Hell as blustateguy so keenly observed, who said these kids were going to do something with their lives? Why not give them in service... :cry:

[Frazzled Educator]

9. Doesn't surprise me. I live in Yuma.

The right wing nazis that run Yuma Unified are in the pocket of the Bush Administration hook, line and sinker.

If Bush signed a law demanding the death of the first born male student of each family, they'd start lining up a firing squad. It's all very sick out here in Yuma.

Remember too. . .Yuma is about 70% poor Mexican too. So there's the economics and politics of class too.

[blogslut]

10. I took a similar test waaay back when

Twice actually. Once in my sophmore year and once my senior year. I believe thay called it the Army Aptitude test then.

Funny but true story:

I have one of those unisex first names. In my sophmore year, I took the test and checked the box that said FEMALE. When I got my results back, the Army said I would make a really great secretary or teacher! Oddly, I was never contacted by recruiters after that test.

In my senior year I took the test but I checked the box that said MALE. Oh my, what a difference a sex change makes! All of a sudden the Army wanted me bad. I had the intelligence to do anything! I could be a pilot! An engineer! Whatever I wanted was mine for the taking! And the recruiters just couldn't leave me alone!

Isn't that weird? O8) :evilgrin: O8)