COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Recruiting: Student Privacy
City schools get tougher on military recruiters
Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August 23, 2007
The Pittsburgh school board last night tightened restrictions on
recruiters who visit district high schools, but didn't go as far as
some members wanted.
The policy change, which was approved despite one "no" vote from Mark
Brentley Sr., was driven by concerns about high-pressure tactics by
military recruiters. Because federal law requires the military have
the same access as other recruiters, the change also affects
companies and colleges who court students at high schools.
In Pittsburgh Public Schools, recruiters now must register with an
administrator after arriving at a school.
The board banned recruiters from using contests, drawings or
lotteries, or from giving money or gifts, except minor promotional
items or scholarships.
In a move that predominately affects military recruiters, the board
banned exhibits or video games depicting weapons or violence. The
board also ordered the creation of a system for logging complaints
about recruiters.
Over the objections of Mr. Brentley and Randall Taylor, the board cut
two provisions from the proposed policy. One would have limited
recruiters from a given organization to four visits per high school
per year; the other would have banned recruiters from serving as
tutors or mentors, unless they were parents.
Board member Patrick Dowd said the provisions were excessive. Mr.
Taylor disagreed, saying, "I do think we should regulate the amount
of time recruiters visit our schools and are in our schools."
While the board at previous meetings considered banning recruiting in
cafeterias and hallways, the policy doesn't go that far. Principals
will determine where recruiters may interact with students.
Although he voted for the policy, Daniel Romaniello Sr. said he
conducted an informal survey of principals and found few complaints
about recruiters. He said reports that military recruiters had their
own room at Allderdice High School turned out to be untrue.
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