Co-op program called death sentence
Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Thursday, April 06, 2006
The local public school board's newest co-op program helps the Canadian military recruit high school students, says a concerned citizens' group.
"We don't look at this program as an opportunity -- we look at it as a death sentence," said Marilyn Eves of the anti-war group Women in Black. "It's not the school board's role to be procuring for the military."
Eves made the comments at a Wednesday meeting of the Greater Essex County District School Board, where trustees were presented for the first time with a new co-op program in partnership with the armed Forces.
Teacher consultant Peg Rooney said National Defence representative Cpl. Jason Olson visited all 15 of the board's secondary schools in March and informed students about the one-semester paid military co-op that begins in February 2007.
Olson said the program allows students to explore such career fields as infantry, armoured soldier, weapons technician, vehicle technician, mobile support equipment operator, supply technician, resource clerk, cook and musician.
"It's basically another opportunity for our students," Rooney said. "We provide the information to the students. They're allowed to make their own decisions.... We are not recruiting members for the reserves."
Rooney said Olson makes annual visits to high schools regardless of the co-op program.
But Eves, a retired teacher, warned the partnership will leave the board with blood on its hands. "What is the future for these kids?" she said. "They're going overseas to fight and some of them are going to die."
Eves said students will be lured to the program by its promise of pay, medical and dental coverage, and four credits toward their diplomas. "It's a huge enticement. It's an obvious bribe."
Pat Noonan, a retired teacher, said times have changed for the Canadian military and pointed to operations in Afghanistan.
Noonan said she's nervous about the career plans that the program brings to students. "We're putting them at risk," said Noonan, 75. "We're in dangerous waters."
Women in Black member Claire McAllister, 62, asked if the military co-op runs contrary to the school board's goal of teaching students peaceful resolution methods.
But director of education Mary Jean Gallagher argued that the program doesn't contradict the board's values, and has existed for years in other school boards. "There's fairly solid interest in this community in the military, so why wouldn't we offer that opportunity?"
Gallagher noted that the program's capacity is no more than 25 students, and students who enrol in any co-op program are free to make career choices outside their co-op field once the program ends.
"This program is career exploration.... They find out about the world of work," Gallagher said. "As enticing as it might sound, it comes with responsibilities and commitments."
Grade 11 Sandwich Secondary student Brittany Fleming said she decided to attend the meeting because of how strongly she disagrees with the program.
"It's too disciplined, too scary," said Fleming about the military. "They beat it into you so you don't know what you think anymore. You're not a person anymore. You're just a machine."
Fleming said she doesn't know what kind of response the program had at her high school, but she's sure there are students who will be drawn to it. "People who want basic things like money and health care will end up going for it. And I'm worried that it will happen to my friends."
© The Windsor Star 2006
. However this particular comment which I bolded 
