It was a much quieter day today around here. Yesterday showed me that not only do I have fantastic kids but that I have a little of the rebel in me.
The full story of Sara’s protest started with not wanting to take a test that the guidance department gives every year to the junior class. The test is to pin point areas of interest and skill for possible career choices. Nothing wrong with that. The test is supplied for free to the district by the Armed Forces.
It is called the ASVAB and they send home a pamphlet to let the parents know what the kids are taking. No where on the pamphlet is there any mention of the Military being involved. The military administers the test, corrects the test, and then complies the data to send back to the district. The children when they are finished with the test sign the back allowing the military to access this information, which most being underage is illegal. Google ASVAB and you will get a rude awaking at least from my point of view. It helps the military pin point those children that would be most vulnerable to recruitment. Ian had mentioned something in passing 2 years ago when he took this test and I didn’t pay attention to it or take it seriously. He did the quiet protest by filling in one letter answer for all the questions.
Well an inside source at the school informed my daughter that she didn’t have to take the test. That it wasn’t mandatory and your parent could opt out on your behalf. She went with a friend who also didn’t want to take the test to do homework instead of reporting for the test but the room they were in the teacher was ordered to send them to their testing site. They were met in the hall by the guidance counselors and they were treated like misbehaving 2 years olds and told to report to the test. Well Sara got to the door and saw the men in uniform overseeing the test looked at her friend and said I am leaving you coming and off they went.
She called me and I went and picked them up and they proceeded to Google and check things out on the web printing out things for reference if needed. I in turn tried to call the school and talk to someone. 4 answering machines later the vice principle called me back and he was very helpful then a little later the principal called me back and said he was talking with the superintendent and was trying to figure out what was the back ground on this test and what the options are.
Don’t get me wrong I have no problem with the military in context. But I feel and have always felt that they do not belong in our school and after finding out more about this test, having access to our children’s records. Kids are vulnerable and starry eyed at this age and this test helps the military pin point which kids to target for recruitment. And in a rural area like here some kids thinks its there only hope.
On to today and the call from the superintendent, very nice man our new superintendent, he said it was his first knowledge of the test and that he agreed with me about the lack of information giving to the parents about what is going on. It was nice to deal with a rational human being for a change because the last run ins I had with the previous administration was not a pleasant experience. I once again expressed my concerns and about the lack of policy around this. He said they have a year to look into maybe alternatives and working up an opt out form letter sent out prior to the testing. Wow. But my suspicious feelings of the district will make me follow up on what occurs in the future and I am pretty sure Sara won’t let it go either.
So for now they don’t have to take the test and there is going to be no punishment for them either. I am very proud of my rebels when they are fighting things other than their father and me. They are strong young adults and look out world here they come. I was confused as to where Ian and Sara got the rebel gene from but a friend pointed out to me that I have it I have just suppressed it for a long, long time. Nothing like having kids to extract it from the deep dark hole it’s been hiding in all these years.
ttfn
The full story of Sara’s protest started with not wanting to take a test that the guidance department gives every year to the junior class. The test is to pin point areas of interest and skill for possible career choices. Nothing wrong with that. The test is supplied for free to the district by the Armed Forces.
It is called the ASVAB and they send home a pamphlet to let the parents know what the kids are taking. No where on the pamphlet is there any mention of the Military being involved. The military administers the test, corrects the test, and then complies the data to send back to the district. The children when they are finished with the test sign the back allowing the military to access this information, which most being underage is illegal. Google ASVAB and you will get a rude awaking at least from my point of view. It helps the military pin point those children that would be most vulnerable to recruitment. Ian had mentioned something in passing 2 years ago when he took this test and I didn’t pay attention to it or take it seriously. He did the quiet protest by filling in one letter answer for all the questions.
Well an inside source at the school informed my daughter that she didn’t have to take the test. That it wasn’t mandatory and your parent could opt out on your behalf. She went with a friend who also didn’t want to take the test to do homework instead of reporting for the test but the room they were in the teacher was ordered to send them to their testing site. They were met in the hall by the guidance counselors and they were treated like misbehaving 2 years olds and told to report to the test. Well Sara got to the door and saw the men in uniform overseeing the test looked at her friend and said I am leaving you coming and off they went.
She called me and I went and picked them up and they proceeded to Google and check things out on the web printing out things for reference if needed. I in turn tried to call the school and talk to someone. 4 answering machines later the vice principle called me back and he was very helpful then a little later the principal called me back and said he was talking with the superintendent and was trying to figure out what was the back ground on this test and what the options are.
Don’t get me wrong I have no problem with the military in context. But I feel and have always felt that they do not belong in our school and after finding out more about this test, having access to our children’s records. Kids are vulnerable and starry eyed at this age and this test helps the military pin point which kids to target for recruitment. And in a rural area like here some kids thinks its there only hope.
On to today and the call from the superintendent, very nice man our new superintendent, he said it was his first knowledge of the test and that he agreed with me about the lack of information giving to the parents about what is going on. It was nice to deal with a rational human being for a change because the last run ins I had with the previous administration was not a pleasant experience. I once again expressed my concerns and about the lack of policy around this. He said they have a year to look into maybe alternatives and working up an opt out form letter sent out prior to the testing. Wow. But my suspicious feelings of the district will make me follow up on what occurs in the future and I am pretty sure Sara won’t let it go either.
So for now they don’t have to take the test and there is going to be no punishment for them either. I am very proud of my rebels when they are fighting things other than their father and me. They are strong young adults and look out world here they come. I was confused as to where Ian and Sara got the rebel gene from but a friend pointed out to me that I have it I have just suppressed it for a long, long time. Nothing like having kids to extract it from the deep dark hole it’s been hiding in all these years.
ttfn
No comments:
Post a Comment