Recruiters aim at elementary kids...

[Bigmack]

Two Marines in uniform to read Dr. Seuss to little kids? What's wrong with this picture?
- - - - - - -
The kids in the hats celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday
By Linda Lou STAFF WRITER March 3, 2006

SAN MARCOS – It looked like Halloween on the playground as children walked around in costumes, but the books in their hands hinted at something else.

Students at Paloma Elementary School yesterday celebrated Read Across America, a national reading day held in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. This is the ninth year for the annual event, sponsored by the National Education Association and many other literacy groups


Cpl. Michael Choate and teacher Mary Jo Martinez read a book to students at Paloma Elementary School to mark the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

Besides wearing princess dresses, animal designs and red-and-white striped tall hats from “The Cat in the Hat,” each classroom at Paloma yesterday heard guests read their favorite short books. A group of children gathered around Marine Sgt. Carlton Esswein as he read Dr. Seuss' “Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!” and “Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone.”

Esswein, who was in uniform, elicited a few giggles but it was mostly quiet while he read. Children became more chatty when he gave them time to ask questions.
Someone asked if he was a soldier. Esswein, 22, quickly said he was a Marine and explained what Marines do. “We're like the 911 people for the whole nation,” Esswein said. Others asked about the ribbons on his uniform, night goggles and his parents' names. The subject of pets got many children talking at the same time.

Esswein, who served in Iraq and is stationed at Camp Pendleton, said he was glad to be invited. “I enjoy being around kids,” he said. “I get out and do this as often as possible.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060303/news_1mi3marcos.html

[SPKrazy]

1. Question? Is He A Recruiter? Or A Volunteer Who Wore His

Uniform?

I mean he has a right to volunteer and wear his uniform if he so chooses.

If he is a recruiter and this was a sanctioned recruiting activity, then i have a real problems.

[mediaman007]

2. I'm guessing he volunteered and I'm with you...He should have

the opportunity to be a part of the community.

[Bigmack]

4. Jeezus...

when I was in the Marines, we didn't volunteer and get time off to read Dr. Seuss to little kids. In fact, we generally got told what to do.

Get real. They wore the uniform, complete with ribbons and insignia, to impress the kids with how cool Marines are and how they are "911 for the whole country". Plant that seed early.

Subtle recruiting, but recruiting none the less.

[SPKrazy]

10. proof?

[Bigmack]

20. There's a lot of this shit going on...

... in our local district (mostly Latino), veterans do the recruiting in the elementary. They gave a "comic book" to every kid in the elementary. We're having a helluva time getting the recruiters out of the halls and cafeterias.

The comic book is at: http://emblem.legion.org/AmericanLegn/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=755%2E304&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D213%26Tree%3D%2CCategories&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D39%26Tree%3D0%2CAmerican%20Legion&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D144%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CComic%20Books&HSLB=False&mscssid=0A81E1728A1854C929BEBF13DE09D8A6

Here's some of the stuff you may or may not feel is proof, but there is a concerted effort to get to the younger kids, whether you see it or not.

Take a look at:

Subject: Sumner County Young Marines

Dear Principals:

My name is Chris Hardin and I am the Commanding Officer for the Sumner County Young Marines. The reason I am contacting you is to see if my staff and I may either come into the schools and inform the children of the program or to see if we can send literature to the school and it be sent home with the children. We are starting a new session the beginning of February. My staff and I would like to get the information to the children no later than January 27th.

Below you will find some information about the program. Please take a moment and read over it and let me know which option would be available.

Who we are

The Young Marines is a youth education and service programs for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the official youth program of the U.S. Marine

Corps and the focal point for the Marine Corps' Youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.

Membership

The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings, in 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 240 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

Training
Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over several weekly meetings. This orientation program is affectionately called "Boot Camp." The youth learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies, close order drill, physical fitness, and military rank structure. After graduating from Young Marine "Boot Camp", the youth have the opportunity to learn more new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Young Marines earn ribbons for achievement in areas such as leadership, community service, swimming, academic excellence, first aid and drug resistance education.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/5/185145/8553

or...

The Children’s Crusade
Military programs move into middle schools to fish for future soldiers

By Jennifer Wedekind

Tarsha Moore stands as tall as her 4-foot 8-inch frame will allow. Staring straight ahead, she yells out an order to a squad of peers lined up in three perfect columns next to her. Having been in the military program for six years, Tarsha has earned the rank of captain and is in charge of the 28 boys and girls in her squad. This is Lavizzo Elementary School. Tarsha is 14.

The Middle School Cadet Corps (MSCC) program at the K-8 school is part of a growing trend to militarize middle schools. Students at Lavizzo are among the more than 850 Chicago students who have enlisted in one of the city’s 26 MSCC programs. At Madero Middle School, the MSCC has evolved into a full-time military academy for kids 11 to 14 years old.

Chicago public schools are home to the largest Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program, which oversees the MSCC, in the country. When moving up to high school, Chicago’s graduating eighth-graders can choose from 45 JROTC programs, including three full-time Army military academies, five “school-within-a-school” Army JROTC academies and one JROTC Naval academy.

Proponents of the programs tout leadership training and character development. But critics quote former Defense Secretary Gen. William Cohen, who described JROTC as “one of the best recruiting services that we could have.” Rick Mills, the director of Military Schools and JROTC for the Chicago Public School system, dismisses these concerns. “These kinds of programs would not be in schools if there weren’t kids who wanted it, parents who supported it and administrators who facilitated it,” he says.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2136/

or...
Military recruiting in elementary schools?

From blogger djugglar:

My 4th grader just said, "Dad, did you know that if you get one of your degrees in college and join then Navy that the Navy will pay up to 75% for your 2nd degree?" He explained that someone from the Navy came to his school and showed them pictures of ships. To me this just seems like a very wrong type of recruitment ploy but I suppose the thought has to be planted at sometime. If people don't join our military, we will have to have mandatory service or a draft.

Posted by Michael Silence at November 14, 2005 08:07 AM
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/archives/2005/11/military_recrui.shtml

or..
Military Recruiters Targeting Elementary Schools, Kindergarteners

Even stalwart Staff Sergeant Jonathon Brady admits that his work used to be a lot more difficult and a lot less fun. Though he’s always drawn a strong sense of fulfillment from his job as a recruiter for the Marine Corps, scouring the halls of local high schools in his stiff dress blue uniform for the few and the proud amongst the throngs of jaded students and increasingly defiant faculty was never much of a picnic.

However, two laws, one that requires all public schools receiving federal funds to allow military recruiters access to students and another inserted as a rider to the recently approved bankruptcy reform bill that entitles individuals as young as five years old to agree to future commitments with the armed forces changed everything.

“Since April I’ve been spending a lot of time hanging out with the K through five kids, talking to them about their future and informing them of the opportunities joining the Marines could afford them someday. We have a lot of fun,” said Brady.

Indeed, rather than sticking to the usual dry sales pitches, recruiters like Brady are making a strong effort to impress upon their young candidates the more fun aspects of military life, such as the frequent Hummer and tank rides, pizza lunches, free ice cream and magic acts.

Commented first grader Robby Bryson of Pensacola, Florida, “The Marines are cool! My best friend is a marine. His name is Leatherneck and he wears camouflage clothes and face paint. He came to our school in a tank and asked us where the principal’s office was. Then he got back in his tank and aimed the cannon at where we said like he was going to blow it up! He didn’t blow it up but he did run over a big stuffed horse and gave us all donuts. That was the best day at school ever.”

“I’m joining either the Marines or the Air Force,” declared Bakersfield, California six year old Dakota Gibbs, “Because I want to be a fighter pilot or a magician when I grow up and the Air Force has fighter planes but the Marine wizard said they would pay for me to go to magic school like Harry Potter where I could learn how to turn my little sister into a booger picking frog!”
http://www.newsmutiny.com/pages/MilitaryRecruiters.htm

or....
Militarization in Schools

During the past twelve years, the presence of the US military has increased in schools across the country. Through programs like Junior ROTC, Young Marines, and partnerships between military units and K-12 schools that make field trips to military bases a routine occurrence in some communities, the military is successfully reaching out to the young people in this nation in a wide-ranging propaganda campaign. In some places, tanks and helicopters are brought into elementary schools for children to play on.
http://www.afsc.org/pwork/0411/041113.htm

or..
At the high school level there's JROTC, which has expanded over the last couple decades from just over 1000 programs to over 3000 with over half a million students enrolled as cadets. With younger students, military units, bases, and recruiting offices establish formal partnerships throughout the K-12 system. Uniformed personnel appear in elementary school classrooms to talk about their job and to do tutoring. It's basically a cover to talk about the military and give it a positive image.

In San Diego, we have schools where many teachers take their students to military bases, or the Marine Corps Graduation ceremony, or to the military ships. And even if they don't visit bases, often soldiers come into the classroom with posters to talk about what it's like being a soldier.

At one elementary school a Santa Claus appeared with a big bag of gifts; when the children brought the gifts home their parents learned that they were military posters, erasers, and stickers, all with military logos. The Santa Claus was a recruiter.
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2823/1/151/

[FreedomAngel82]

22. Now THIS post is something to worry about

I think the ROTC program should only be in high schools and optional personally. Same thing with religious classes. Both were optional at my school and nobody ever felt pressured to do either one. It was there if you were interested. Lots of people did either band or the ROTC (I did band).

[mediaman007]

27. People from all walks of life participate in "Read Across America."

We don't know that this was a recruiter...but I agree that his participation complete with uniform and medals would be exciting to some, maybe many. In my school we brought in the boys and girls high school basketball teams to read to our students. They were heroes to the kids, too! We have had scientists, police officers, firemen, mayors, artists and many others participate.

Each one of them in their own way is recruiting. I suppose that is the idea of being a role model. Personally, I would worry more about the video games that the army is giving away. For my mind, the fact that the military is modeling reading and supporting education is better than the video game.

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Read the article again

The kids dressed up as well. So he was not the only one in "a uniform" so to speak. He was there reading to the kids and they got to ask him question's. I see no proof of recruting. Good grief people.

[fed-up]

3. The marines could at least have read "The Butter Battle" by Seuss n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. How do you know they didn't?

[fed-up]

5. Seuss crossed out "Marvin K. Mooney" and wrote in "Richard M. Nixon.

somebody needs to send an LTE with this info to the local paper, maybe the marines were giving a subtle message...:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Nixon,_Will_You_Please_Go_Now!

Some have suggested that Dr. Seuss wrote Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! as a political allegory about Richard Nixon in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. Lacking substantiation of this suggestion, its accuracy is questionable. However, when Seuss was challenged by political columnist Art Buchwald for never having written a political book, Seuss took a copy of the book and crossed out "Marvin K. Mooney" and wrote in "Richard M. Nixon." Buchwald was so delighted, that with Seuss' consent he printed the text as his column for July 30, 1974.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

6. There's a recruiting center in a local mall and this is my plan...

What do you think.

I'll go with my son to the mall, and we separate. I wait in front of the center
(across from a pizzarea Uno) with all my impeach gear, and stop the war stuff on.
Wait for him for an hour or two, saying he forgot the time...

[upi402]

7. The local elementary school near me enables recruiting

Parents must opt-out each and every year. It has to be done within a specific window of time and in a specific way. If parents make a single mistake, the child is on file and tracked my the US military for future use in war profiteering.

[fed-up]

8. I made a big mistake :)-I stopped the recruiters from collecting personal

information from the high school kids when they were requiring them to fill out "waivers" to use the Rock Climbing Wall they brought to campus.

The look on the Sgt's face was priceless when I told him to stop. He told me to go practice my "free speech" elsewhere. I stood my ground-right next to him behind his table.

Luckily, a Vice Principal came along after about 10 minutes and took all the completed forms he had already collected before I got there...

Then, the next day the principal made it clear to both the army and marines that they were not allowed to obtain info on kids that way.

Pay close attention to your schools when they have career day or Red Ribbon Day, those are favorite activities for the recruiters to hunt for more cannon fodder.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. It's part of No Child Left Behind

Districts are required to give names and addresses, etc of all secondary students to the military recruiters. So they don't need to come to special events at the schools to get the names.

[Gabi Hayes]

17. have you told this before? I remember something similar.

that took some fortitude, espec after the bully told you to take your free speech elsewhere.

you should have asked him, "Where? France? they have it there. without them we'd still be speaking....ENglish!"

made myself laugh

[fed-up]

24. Yep, that was my story that I took to our local paper-I still get comments

from people that saw the story and were a little pissed at what was going on in the schools.

I DID/and have signed the opt out form for the last 4 years.

This was an underhanded method to collect info from those that may have signed the form.

I just got another brochure from the Marines this weekend trying to entice my son to enlist.

There is NO way he would ever think of doing so.

[upi402]

25. wow, that's really impressive.

the guy could be reported to his c/o and written up if there was a witness to his 'free speech' comment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. No that is part of NCLB and it applies to SECONDARY schools

NOT elementary.

[upi402]

26. No Child Left Behind & private info co. selling lists for recruiting

Student Profiling, Student Surveys, and The No Child Left Behind Act

American Student List Information BrokerageAmerican Student List sells databases of children's names in grades K-12 overlaid with data on sex, age, whether they own a telephone, income, religion, and their race or ethnicity. This information is often gleaned from surveys that are administered while children are in school under the pretense of college admissions and other education-related purposes. Students and parents do not know that their personal information is being used for the secondary purpose of marketing. The data is used for hawking credit cards, catalog items, magazines, student "recognition" products, and job recruitment. This image of American Student List data comes from the SRDS Direct Marketing List Manual, a list of marketing lists. It is not available online, but one can often find it in a library.

Student "recognition" products, such as "Who's Who Among American High School Students" and the "National Dean's List" have a strong marketing function. Information collected in composing both directories is used for marketing a wide variety of products wholly unrelated to education. And, although teachers and administrators are encouraged to nominate students and transfer data to the company, the reality is that a growing number of employers and colleges don't consider such recognition directories as meritorious.

In October 2002, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled cases against American Student List (ASL) and the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA) for collecting personal information from children using deceptive practices. The FTC complaint alleged that the companies operated a scheme to cull marketing data from student through surveys administered under the pretense of college admissions and scholarship opportunities.

NRCCUA sent letters to schools asking teachers to dedicate classroom time to administering detailed surveys for college admissions and financial aid purposes. These "Post-Secondary Planning" surveys elicited detailed personal information from students, including their religious affiliation, personal interests, and social attitudes. The surveys did have a privacy notice, but the language implied that the information was for educational purposes only. NRCCUA marketed the information collected to higher education institutions, but also shared the information with ASL, which used the data for direct marketing.

In August 2002, the New York Attorney General filed suit against Student Marketing Group (SMG), a company that collected information from students for direct marketing. The company was alleged to have formed a non-profit subsidiary, Educational Research Center of America (ERCA), that sent millions of surveys to high schools to collect information for college financial aid and scholarship opportunities. ERCA, without notice to the schools or students, was also using the information for direct marketing of magazines, credit cards, and other items. In January 2003, SMG and ERCA settled the New York Attorney General's case, and a separate investigation brought by the Federal Trade Commission.

Student profiling does not end with grade school. Profilers collect and use information from students in higher education as well. College students are targeted for magazine subscriptions, student "recognition" programs, credit cards, insurance solicitations, long distance plans, toys, cell phone plans, mail-order food, and other products. Often, college students' personal information is obtained through the institution itself. Institutions may reveal students' contact and activities (club membership) information through student directories, joint marketing agreements, or through state open records acts that require the release of enrollment lists.

EPIC link; http://www.epic.org/privacy/student/

[Igel]

9. Story time at my local public library (for 2-6 year old kids)

featured a police officer and the editor of the local newspaper.

A Latino and a woman. The policeman and I were the only men there; he and some of the nannies, the only non-whites (and they were all latino).

Ritzy area. The nannies probably earn more per year than my wife and I do combined.

It was a big deal, and every place that could invite guests to do some readings to kids did so. Important guests--mayors, police chiefs, and the like--would pick politically advantageous places for photo ops. The scions of the over-educated and over-paid don't rate photo ops.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I am an elementary teacher and we invite community members to come

read to our kids all the time. This guy wasn't recruiting. Talk about a misleading thread title.

[SPKrazy]

18. That's How I Read It Too!

thanks

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. God Bless Him For It. Maybe You Should Volunteer Your Time To Children

instead of judging others who do.

I have no problem with this story whatsoever. It was a good community service that Marine did and I respect him for participating in it. Twisting it to be of malintention and ulterior motives is just severely misguided in my opinion.

And as a side note, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY DR.SUESS!!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Thank you I agree

We need all the help we can get in our schools. This is a neat thing these Marines did.

[SPKrazy]

19. I Believe You Are Right!

He was reading to kids.

Good For Him!

[Bigmack]

23. Naive... see my answer to

Southpawkicker.... post #20 above