<p>The title speaks for itself. Those San Fran values at it again.</p>
<p>Our school used to have the BSA as a sponsor of one of their outdoor programs- but since the BSA discriminates- we chose to have a non discriminatory organization The Mountaineers sponsor the program, even though they do so at a lower dollar amount than BSA.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with JROTC, but I am reading that the militarys “don’t ask- don’t tell” policy doesn’t apply to JROTC, as there are both cadets and instructors who are out and gay. In that case, I also do not understand the boards decision to expel the program.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/05/MNG8NM6E4N1.DTL[/url]”>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/05/MNG8NM6E4N1.DTL</a></p>
<p>anti military liberalism</p>
<p>The board’s actions are ignorant and blatantly biased in my opinion. The board cited the military’s “pro-war and anti-homosexual” policies as the main reason for banning the JROTC programs. That is rather ignorant. Ask some military personnel around you whether they like war. JROTC does not have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy either. It is a shame that a few people are willing to cut a popular and usefull (since it promotes good citizenship) program simply to further their political agendas.</p>
<p>People who do not research their actions and are willing to deprive students of a popular (and voluntary) program do not deserve to be in charge of our educational system.</p>
<p>(golani89, that is a good summation!)</p>
<p>JROTC has been a wonderful influence in our local high schools. For some kids, it has given them a purpose and a sense of belonging that they didn’t have previously. For others, it has led to wonderful scholarships and college educations that may have been out of reach otherwise.</p>
<p>This is beyond appalling. Shame on San Francisco.</p>
<p>I just watched an interview about this subject. The justifications for the removal of this program were lame and unconvincing…something about the program targeting mostly low income kids before they had opportunties to explore fully their educational options. Something else about “indoctrinating.” </p>
<p>Can this BE any more ridiculous? JROTC is a <em>voluntary</em> program which provides many positive benefits to many kids. What a pathetic display of bias by the San Franciso school board. :(</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>This really is the city of San Fransisco’s attempt to force their extremism on others. 1600 kids were deprived of an afterschool activity, that in my opinion is more noble and worthwhile than the typical yearbook and newspaper. There are even openly gay kids in this program. How can the board defend this with the “dont ask dont tell” policy and “pro-war” policy, I do not know. Ofcourse the military is going to be pro-war. There job is to wage war.</p>
<p>San Fran is always said to be the tolerant city, but the only think I see from them is intolerance to conservatives, religion, and now the military. </p>
<p>This isnt the first time either. The city has been military recruiters from San Fransisco schools, which is absolutely ridiculous. The army is charged with protecting this nation and San Fran consistently spits in its face.</p>
<p>as a San Francisco, this was a HUGE mistake to get rid of the JROTC</p>
<p>Most SF poeple I know had no problem with it, saw that it did good work adn was a benefit to many kids</p>
<p>It was a few people with a school board, not the city, that is whacked</p>
<p>the majority of people at the meeting were San Francisco residents and supported the JROTC</p>
<p>IN SF we have fleet week evvery year and it is one of the most popular events, we LOVE IT</p>
<p>This decision was by a school board that for many years has some seriious problems and it does not reflect the general feelings of most San Franciscans</p>
<p>I sent in letters to the board to keep the JRTOC…but when you have close minded people, it was a 4-2 vote, you get a mess</p>
<p>This board has done a bad job managing our schools, they helped push out a great administrator and are trying to make a point on the backs of students</p>
<p>It was the wrong decision, most San Franciscans felt that way, and I would bet you that some of those kids in the JROTC were gay or lesbians, and were doing a great job</p>
<p>This morning, on the local shows, 8 of 10 people were angry at the decision</p>
<p>My gut tells me it will be changed, we can hope so</p>
<p>You must remember, this was not the CITY, it was not the Mayor, it was not the board of supervisors, it was not the people, it was a small group of people on the school board, period</p>
<p>as I said most San Franciscans think the JROTC is a good thing and are disgusted by a school board that doesn’t think of the kids…they never have and it shows</p>
<p>do not blame an entire city for the foolish actions of a few</p>
<p>we have a proud military hear, we have sailors in town all the time 
we just had wonderful veterans day parade</p>
<p>I would not judge a whole town because of its school board…cause school boards are often whacked</p>
<p>this school board has been the worst group of elected officials I have ever seen, I have lived in SF for 20 years, and I try and vote them out, they seem to be people who think they should be on a much larger stage- their intergration policy cause nightmares, it was so badly handled, the process to get into neighborhood schools, egad, and every year parents jsut go crazy getting their 1st grader into the right school</p>
<p>this is one area of SF life that needs a HUGE adjustment, imo</p>
<p>they broadcast the meeting on radio, and they are almost always contentious…</p>
<p>I too, am ashamed of their decision</p>
<p>ps- I have already sent in letters to all the school board members, the princpals of the schools (who liked the program, alot), to the mayors office, and each member of the board of supervisors</p>
<p>this short sighted decision was jsut bad</p>
<p>And herein lies the truth, that it is not the awful, liberal values of the city itself, since many of its inhabitants are well aware of the benefits of the program, but of a few policy makers.</p>
<p>It is wrong to malign the good city of SF for this action.</p>
<p>
This is true, and I shall appropriately redirect my condemnation to the responsible group (the misguided school board). However, as I just posted in another thread last night, when we <em>represent</em>, as the SF school board does, our obligation to “do the right thing” increases dramatically as our actions become a reflection not only of ourselves, but also of that which we represent. Someone voted these self-serving whack-jobs into office, and it wasn’t I. ~berurah</p>
<p>I agree that this was a bone-headed decision, and I also agree with CGM that it may be reversed. It’s a good example of the types of crazy decisions which are made at school boards everywhere, though, and should not in any way be presented as representative of an entire city. It was FOUR people who voted in favor of this decision. FOUR! This has been my beef with municipal politics for as long as I’ve had kids in school. School board officials are possibly the most influential individuals you will ever vote for at the municipal level. They have incredible power and can make decisions which will directly affect your children far more than mayor or council, etc. The sad thing is that in many places, people don’t know, or care, who is on the school board and, thus, do not inform themselves who is running. I always find it interesting to see the actual number of votes (low) that are cast for the candidates of the school board elections. </p>
<p>From the sounds of what CGM says, the response has been much as it’s been here. Golani is barking up the wrong tree.</p>
<p>
hey always! :)</p>
<p>You know what I’ve found TRULY interesting as I’ve been pursuing the local yearbook issue with our school board? Whenever it comes to needing help or assistance from it, our school board says that its hands are tied as more and more issues are being decided at the state level, so their power is minimal. Then, when it comes to something like this, they have astonishing amounts of power. 
</p>
<p>Twice I have been asked to run for the local school board by the current school board president, who has been on the board for a LOOOONG time and who has said that she would publicly endorse me. I’m still giving it consideration, especially as there is much about the operation of school boards that seems “mysterious,” and I’d sure like to get a bird’s eye view while serving the public! ;)</p>
<p>You are most correct, though, about the importance of the school board elections. I only wish more people realized that. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Mark Twain, in his infinite wisdom, made this comment:
Wise man, ol’ Mark… ;)</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>LOL, berurah. Gotta love Mark Twain. I agree with you that school boards often use their ‘power’ conveniently. In my experience, many school board members are interested in being there to promote their own agenda, rather than for the good of the students overall. It’s often a stepping stone position for what they consider higher ground, such as council or even mayor. I think you really should consider running in your town. You are the type of person who will put kids first.</p>
<p>Three of the board members that voted down the JRTOC- where up for election earlier this month and LOST!!! So this was a lame duck vote…one school board member was unable to attend the meeting would have voted to keep the JROTC- so the vote would have been 4-3…</p>
<p>glad to see those 3 go…the people did vote to get them out of office, but this vote, which had been on the table for a while, was done after the election…so they voted for themselves not for the students, that is why they are leaving</p>
<p>so we are hoping that with new board coming in soon, this issue can be brought up again…there is supposed to be a two year phaseout, so there is time to have another vote</p>
<p>cross your fingers</p>
<p>
will do! :)</p>
<p>The School Board reprentative on O’Reilly (why do I still watch that show?) last night did little to impress me. In fact, he was a stammering rake. I often vote for Democrats but this is what makes progressives look like storm troopers in some parts of America. And I found his attempt to buttress his argument by purporting to support minority kids, in a word…WEAK. JROTC programs at many largely minority high schools, including those in upper-middle class neighborhoods in places like Atlanta, are decidedly popular.</p>
<p>LWash~</p>
<p>I saw that too, and ITA with your comments. ~berurah</p>
<p>IMO- the deadly combination of elected school boards and powerpoint, may be the downfall of the american education system</p>
<p>that is why those people were voted OUT…we didn’t like them, now they are getting theiir 15 minutes on the backs of hs students disgusting</p>