[pjw] INFO: Portland School Board taking input on JROTC till Tues 4/23

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi
This just in from John G. at War Resisters League about the JROTC plan at 
Portland Public Schools...

By the way he doesn't mention it in the email but I think he told me that 
they don't really take public input at the meeting itself, so if you 
haven't let the know how you feel yet, there are only 3 days to do so (or 
a little less, deadline is 5 PM and I'm sending this at about 5:10 PM 
Sat.)

dan handelman
peace and justice works

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:30:18
From: John Grueschow

The Portland School Board is scheduled to vote on the JROTC proposal on 
Tues. May 7th, their next regular meeting. The meeting will be held at 
the school district headquarters (501 N Dixon St.) beginning at 6 pm. 
*We are holding a press conference and rally outside the main entrance at 
5 pm.* It is possible that the school board will postpone voting on JROTC 
to a later date, but it is very important that you show up on May 7th in 
any case to show strong community opposition.

Also, the school board is taking public comment on the JROTC proposal
through April 23rd. There is a form available at:
  https://forms.gle/VqYbmVA36qqADj6n6 
Public comment is also very important in showing strong community 
opposition. We can beat this JROTC proposal if we work together.

See you on Tues. May 7th at 5 pm, or whenever you can make it.
John Grueschow
War Resisters League--Portland

*TALKING POINTS ABOUT JROTC:*

*It's racist. *

EQUITY. JROTC is part of a poverty draft that offers an inferior education 
to students of color and low income. The military claims JROTC doesn't 
recruit. In reality it targets people who are black, brown, poor, or 
struggling in school. Far from being an opportunity, JROTC is a diversion 
of school resources, making it easier to avoid reforming education to 
address students' needs for effective curriculum, small classes, tutoring, 
accessible extra-curricular activities and mentoring.

*It's a lie*.

MILITARY'S LIES. Military personnel make false promises to hook students 
seeking a clear career path. Among these: you won't deploy; you can back 
out of enlistment whenever you want; you can choose your location; you can 
change your military job; you'll get college paid for without 
qualification. Recruiters don't mention that recruiters' verbal promises 
aren't legally binding*. And they don't mention war, death, injuries, 
fighting, battles, weapons, violence, killing, being killed, PTSD, sexual 
assault, toxins, torture, soldiers' and former soldiers' poverty, US 
militarism or foreign policy.*

*It's imperialistic*.

US GLOBAL DOMINATION. Schools' participation in JROTC would be an act 
against the welfare of our students and our society. The mission of the 
military is to promote the interests of a small class of citizens, at 
serious cost to U.S. citizens and people around the world.

*It's not what PPS School Board should be wasting their time on*.

PORTLAND SCHOOLS' PRESSING ISSUES. Right now the last thing we need is 
for the School Board and staff to pour their energy into a dangerous 
concept of education. Members need to get down to Salem to work with the 
legislature to increase education funding. They need to focus on: hiring a 
superintendent and other administrators; bringing students out of the 
post-pandemic learning deficit; ensuring the safety of facilities; mending 
post-strike relationships; and supporting professional development, e.g., 
to introduce the new elementary literacy approach. *

(Please add your own concerns for Board attention.)*