The Politics of Another Side

Abstract

This article provides documentation of the current military presence in U.S. secondary schools and groups that have mobilized to monitor or oppose this presence. This documentation provides the background for a narrative of a multiple-year effort the author engaged in to promote academic freedom for teachers and students and to provide high school students greater balance in the information they receive with regard to opting for military service. This narrative provides insights on the ways advocacy efforts build on previous efforts, the kinds of obstacles advocates encounter when working with school professionals, and strategies for effective activism and policy advocacy with regard to military presence in schools.

Veterans starting their higher education at community colleges

“…He said, "You could go to some of our nation's top schools, but it's not possible without community college if you're a veteran, unless you were some stellar high school student who just happened to enlist in the military right afterwards." This quote is an exemplar of many student veterans in my study, including myself, that talked about the divide between college bound high school students and enlisted veterans who were products of the schoolto-military pipeline (Abajian, 2013;Crilley, 2016;G. L. Anderson, 2009;Lagotte, 2016).…”

The Militarization and the Privatization of Public Schools

“…As part of that campaign, using attractive lures-like free first-person shooter video games and often false promises of enormous cash signing bonuses or college scholarships-and with the benefit of seemingly unfettered access to places children congregate without the presence of parents or guardians, the military is refining its youth recruitment activities by targeting public education (Houppert, 2005;Medina, 2007). For example, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a multiple-choice test used to determine eligibility for enlistment, is integrated and used in schools as a recruitment tool (Anderson, 2009). Anderson analyzed and named these and other specifics of how schools can be militarized: increased military recruitment in schools and military charter schools; the transfer of military personnel to schools through programs like Troops to Teachers; motivational programs taught and funded by the military like Planning for Life; outreach through "adventure vans" that provide students access to military games and simulations; the use of JROTC instructors to teach other subjects, often allowing students to receive extra credits for graduation.…”

“…Anderson analyzed and named these and other specifics of how schools can be militarized: increased military recruitment in schools and military charter schools; the transfer of military personnel to schools through programs like Troops to Teachers; motivational programs taught and funded by the military like Planning for Life; outreach through "adventure vans" that provide students access to military games and simulations; the use of JROTC instructors to teach other subjects, often allowing students to receive extra credits for graduation. This list identifies a range of issues that reinforce a particular form of hegemonic masculinity and the recruitment of female students to this ideology (Anderson, 2009). In what follows we look closely at connections between military public schools and the charter school movement.…”

Turf Wars

“…Elsewhere, I have done historical analysis of the military/ education policy connection (Lagotte, 2006), shown how students can shape education policy around military encroachment (Lagotte, 2010), and illustrated the neoliberal turn to convert military recruiting in schools into a highpowered sales campaign (Lagotte & Apple, 2010). However, while there is no shortage of academic journal articles on militarism, schools, and society, even these works have not been extensive examinations of the implications of the specific section in NCLB, all the more important as current reform accelerates (Anderson, 2009;Evans, 2008;Gill, 2004;Lipman, 2005;Lutz, 2002, Lagotte 549 2006; Lutz & Bartlett, 1995;Ross & Gibson, 2007). Thus, while interest is high regarding the issue of militarization and public schooling, the research has not been policy focused just yet.…”