11/15/07:Fund schools so military ads are not necessary-Dave Koene (TAME)
Fund Schools So Military Ads Are Not Necessary
The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL :: A9
Thursday, November 15, 2007
David Koene, Madison
Dear Editor: "Check the score and join the war." This is the message the Madison School Board is sending our kids.
It's no coincidence that the Army wants to advertise on the scoreboards of our schools' athletic facilities. In a time of war, generous college aid is not enough to entice kids into the military. The Army must persuade them that the war is a game to be won. Joining up is equated with rooting for the home team. "Jump on the team for the big win," an officer told Michael Herr in Vietnam. What better place to advertise this message than a high school scoreboard!
Last week a member of the School Board told The Capital Times the ads "don't specifically target kids." Who, then, is the military targeting - senior citizens?
The school district has a policy against advertisements for beer, cigarettes and even soft drinks. Apparently our School Board thinks kids can't be trusted to make the right choices regarding tooth decay. But if the Army wants to post deceptive propaganda to entice kids into signing a nonrevocable eight-year contract, that is just fine.
The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL :: A9
Thursday, November 15, 2007
David Koene, Madison
Dear Editor: "Check the score and join the war." This is the message the Madison School Board is sending our kids.
It's no coincidence that the Army wants to advertise on the scoreboards of our schools' athletic facilities. In a time of war, generous college aid is not enough to entice kids into the military. The Army must persuade them that the war is a game to be won. Joining up is equated with rooting for the home team. "Jump on the team for the big win," an officer told Michael Herr in Vietnam. What better place to advertise this message than a high school scoreboard!
Last week a member of the School Board told The Capital Times the ads "don't specifically target kids." Who, then, is the military targeting - senior citizens?
The school district has a policy against advertisements for beer, cigarettes and even soft drinks. Apparently our School Board thinks kids can't be trusted to make the right choices regarding tooth decay. But if the Army wants to post deceptive propaganda to entice kids into signing a nonrevocable eight-year contract, that is just fine.
Yet the fault does not lie wholly with the School Board. We need to summon the community will to fund our schools. Our School Board should not be forced to depend on such odious sources of money.
Submitted by wnpj on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 2:09pm.