I first read of this in the weekly "On the Hill" roundup from the Times-Picayune's Washington reporters Alpert and Walsh. The story in the Lawrence Journal-World has a bit more detail.
As always, if this has been diaried earlier, let me know and I'll take this down.
There has been a lot of discussion here about No Child Left Behind and then-Rep. David Vitter's (LA) insertion of an amendment to cut off funding to public schools who do not allow military recruiters access to students' contact information. lale wrote a great diary last month about one method recruiters are using to get the information of students whose parents have "opted-out" of the access provision.
Now, two students in Lawrence, Kansas are making a documentary showing how opting out of the recruiters' grasp also means giving up recognition for acedemic and social achievement in school.
First, for the two or three DKos readers unfamiliar with the military recruiting provision of NCLB, this article from the Spring 2006 Connecticut Publc Interest Law Journal is an excellent overview of the Vitter-Sessions amendment and how it became a part of NCLB.
Those familiar with the law know that parents who object to military recruiters having access to their childrens' can sign papers to opt out of the requirement though, as lale's diary points out, there are plenty of ways for recruiters to seek out that information without getting it from the school's front office.
But even the most vigilant parents and students are at a disadvantage when battling the intrusion of recruiters into their schools. Why? Because opting out of military access means opting out of a lot more.
Those who opt off the list find themselves also excluded from the lists provided to college and job recruiters. And opting out also means a student’s name cannot be published in yearbooks, honor rolls or newspapers.
Alexia Welch and Sarah Ybarra, students at Lawrence High School, are upset about the restrictions, and have decided to put their dissatisfaction into a documentary.
The idea for their project started when Welch received a letter in August from someone claiming to be an Army recruiter.
"Where did they get my information?" she recalled wondering.
The students launched their investigation in an advanced broadcasting class taught by Jeff Kuhr. Welch and Ybarra estimate they so far have about two hours of video to work with as they craft their documentary.
. . .
But the biggest challenge, they said, was getting an interview with Army recruiters. They tried to talk to recruiters who manned a table in the high school commons area earlier this semester.
"They didn’t want anything to do with being interviewed," Welch said.
A sergeant later agreed to an interview but wanted questions submitted in advance.
Welch and Ybarra say they'll be working on their doc through this semester and their teacher, Mr. Kuhr, has exempted them from deadline constraints for their project.
A video report on Welch and Ybarra's project can be seen at 6News Lawrence website.
We wish these bright, motivated students the best, and look forward to seeing their film.