COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Recruiting: Student Privacy
School Restricts Military Recruiters
Rob Daniel, Iowa City Press-Citizen
March 4, 2006
Military recruiters visiting City High are working a little
harder to reach students there, thanks to a change in policy
restricting them to the school's guidance office.
Iowa City School District Superintendent Lane Plugge has directed
officials at City High to restrict military recruiters by having them
arrange appointments with individual students in the school's guidance
office. Previously, military recruiters were able to set up a table in
the school's cafeteria during lunch hour and distribute souvenirs, such
as pens and brochures, to encourage recruitment.
However, complaints from some teachers and parents, as well as a
request to distribute anti-war literature at the school, prompted
Plugge's action. Usually, only information from city and county
governments, such as announcements of activities at libraries, are
permitted, Plugge said. He said he had to find a way to allow the
recruiters into the schools as mandated by the federal No Child Left
Behind Act.
"It's to be consistent with the colleges and universities,"
Plugge said, saying that representatives from colleges follow the same
procedure. "I can state where it can be, and I wanted it to be
consistent."
City High Principal Mark Hanson said he had no problem with the
military recruiters meeting with students in the cafeteria but thought
the change might help diffuse concerns raised by the teachers and
parents.
"Personally, I wasn't uncomfortable with them by the cafeteria,"
he said. "If this will ease the tension or concern with our parents,
then I'm OK with that."
West High has had a similar policy in place since at least the
early 1980s, Principal Jerry Arganbright said. Regina High tried the
open policy about six years ago, but most students were not interested,
guidance counselor Gaylen Woboter said. Now, recruiters must set up
appointments through her office to meet with students, she said.
Hanson said thus far, military recruiters have complied with the
new procedure. However, recruiters said they miss the extra exposure
they had meeting with students in the cafeteria.
"I guess it might give up the overall exposure where kids can
come up and talk to me," said Sgt. Scott Canada, a recruiter with the
Marine Corps in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
Canada said he and other recruiters leave their business cards in
the school's guidance office, allowing students to contact them if they
want to discuss possibly enlisting.
"Overall, it hasn't really affected recruiting efforts," he said.
The Iowa National Guard has had 11 students each from West High
and City High enlist since the 2000-2001 school year, a low number for
schools their size, said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, public affairs officer
for the Iowa National Guard.
"You're talking a fairly low number," he said. "(The change will) have minimal effect."
Hapgood said the best way for the Guard to market itself was to rely on soldiers who already live in the community.
"The best tool is for people to know them," he said.
Students at City High were split about whether the change in policy was a good move.
Seniors Nick Vance, 18, and Wesley Helms, 17, said they are
planning to enlist in the Army National Guard after graduation. They
said recruiters repeatedly contacted them at home after they asked for
more information.
"They make you fill out a (form) and they call you at home,"
Vance said. "I think it's kind of a good policy. If you want to join,
you're going to join."
Freshman Meghann Beaty, 14, said many students will not know
about the military option unless the recruiters could get the extra
exposure in the cafeteria.
"Most people don't go somewhere to find out more information unless (people come to them)," she said.
Reach Rob Daniel at 339-7360 or rdaniel@press-citizen.com.
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