Military training in Regina high schools

Military training in Regina high schools

Postby Oscar » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:28 pm

Military training in Regina high schools

[ http://peacequest.ca/military-training- ... h-schools/ ]

November 9, 2014

You can understand how it happened. Colonel Ross Ermel, commander of Saskatchewan’s reserve unit, needs more reserves. Greg Enion, Deputy Director of Student Achievement in the Regina public school system wants to provide as many career pathways and opportunities as possible. And Don Morgan, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education, seeks to give students ways to learn life and leadership skills.

But bribing Regina students in grades 11 and 12 to take army training in high school is just plain wrong. I call this bribery because students will receive two credits for taking the course, will be paid $2000 over only 23 days and offered the possibility of paid summer training.

Why is introducing military training in Regina high schools wrong?

•The military should not have privileged access to grade 11 and 12 students and be allowed to bribe them to participate in military training.
•The United Nations’ view is that education should enable “individuals to learn to live together in a world characterized by diversity and pluralism.” This goal is not served by teaching our youth that war is normal and that violence is an appropriate way to resolve conflict. And it is definitely not served by awarding credits for learning how to use weapons.
•If high schools agree to solve the employment problem of the reserves by giving students time, credits and money as incentives to join, what will they say when they are approached by fast food restaurants to help solve their employment problems? One could argue that working at McDonald’s opens career pathways and teaches life and leadership skills too.

Art, drama and music can lead to careers and teach discipline and leadership skills, but these programs have been cut. Let’s offer a high school credit in non-violent conflict resolution. Why is there no money for this, but lots of money to support militarism?

Those who join the military are often from lower income families. Above-average wages entice them to risk their mental health and lives to fulfill the goals of the state. Let’s not be complicit. Military recruitment in high schools is wrong.

Please join the conversation.
Oscar
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Re: Military training in Regina high schools

Postby Oscar » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:32 pm

Group delivers petition against army classes in schools (Video clip)

[ http://www.leaderpost.com/news/regina/G ... story.html ]

February 9, 2015

Peace activists delivered a petition at the legislative building today with more than 2,000 signatures against two Regina school boards' plans to offer an optional credit class in reserve military training to Grade 11 and 12 students.

Video Clip . . .
Oscar
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Re: Military training in Regina high schools

Postby Oscar » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:39 pm

Peace activists criticize plan to give credits to Regina students for military training

[ http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/peace-acti ... -1.2057905 ]

CTVNews.ca Staff Published Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:22PM EDT Last Updated Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:23PM EDT

Saskatchewan high school students will soon get credits for training with army reserves, and that’s not sitting well with peace groups.

The Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve Co-op Program announced last month gives Regina students the opportunity to receive two high school credits if they complete basic military training.

The program is a joint agreement between the government of Saskatchewan, the Canadian military and Regina school boards, and offers recognition as a member of a Canadian Army Reserve unit.

The program, which begins in February 2015, is being offered to students who are at least 16 years old with a focus on building character.

Capt. Peter Sliwowski -- a member of the Canadian Armed Forces -- believes the co-op program will teach students leadership and perseverance over mental and physical challenges.

“To have an opportunity to protect Canadians’ homes from natural disasters is an amazing feeling at that is a huge roll of reservists,” he told CTV Regina.

But the program doesn’t come without some criticism. Peace activists have mobilized with a petition to stop the program. Florence Stratton -- a member of the Regina Peace Council -- is concerned that offering this program to students promotes violence.

“You can learn respect and discipline in many, many ways. You don’t have to join up with the army or the army reserves in order to learn those skills which may be important skills in themselves. But my bottom line is war is a disaster and we should do everything we can to discourage it,” she told CTV Regina.

The petition has only been circulating since Wednesday but Stratton says she has received support and hopes the dialogue continues.

Students will also be paid as reservists --- something that Ed Lehman, another member of the Regina Peace Council, believes is most troubling. "It almost seems like a bribe," Lehman said in a news release.

MORE:

[ http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/peace-acti ... -1.2057905 ]
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