I just received a call from a friend, the mother of an 11th grade boy. Today, at school, without notification to the parents, the entire 11th grade was administered a 3 hour aptitude test by military personnel.
As of this afternoon, shortly after her son arrived home and informed my friend, that exam is already in Boston. She has been "promised" that the exam will be shredded, as she is a committed pacifist. Her son, raised to be wary of circumstances where military recruitment might be undertaken, is a quiet, respectful young man. He was told to sit and take the exam. He did as he was told. My friend's blood ran cold when her son told her of today's events.
My friend called the school. She was directed to the
guidance counsellor. Not the principal, or assistant principal, or anyone with some authority (or responsibility) regarding this. She has never called the school with a complaint previously. She was not given a straight answer regarding why the
military would be coming to find out
aptitudes in 17 year olds. She was told these tests had not been done for many years, and were re-instituted last year (gee, what timing).
Is this happening everywhere? How do we protect our children from this?