A public school should not help recruit 14- and 15-year-olds into the military

To the Editor:

At the Jan. 8 meeting of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board, there was a discussion about the implementation of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program in the high school. Two students, Jake and Luke Valachovic, did a commendable job of expressing support for the program as did several other members of the community.

As a veteran and community member, I expressed my opposition to the program because I do not believe ROTC belongs in a public school. It is a way of insinuating the military into the public school system for recruitment purposes.

In February 2000, Defense Secretary William Cohen even stated, “This is one of the best recruiting devices that we have.” I do not believe that a public school should be a party to the recruitment of 14- and 15-year-olds into the military.

This program proposed by Berne resident First Sergeant Dennis Palow would cost the district $66,000 a year for the first three years of the probationary period (a total cost of almost $200,000) with First Sergeant Palow as the part-time instructor at a salary of $53,000.

Should 10 percent of the student body not be enrolled in the program at the end of three years, it would be terminated. I believe there would be pressure on students to sign up for the program to justify the initial $200,000 already invested. If the program does reach the 10-percent mark, another more qualified instructor has to be hired at an even higher salary.

I am not concerned about the expenditure of $66,000 for a school program. I have never voted against a school budget in the 48 years that I have been a resident of Berne.

I am concerned that a full-time math, science, or elementary teacher could be hired for a similar amount of money. We should be focusing on programs that will benefit a greater number of our students at this time of budget restraint, not enabling the military to recruit on campus with a program financed by the district and directed by the United States Department of Defense.

The military deserves no more access to students than the recruiters from colleges or businesses.

Richard J Ronconi

Berne

More Letters to the Editor

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.