Comments on: Wacky Mommy vs. Starbase, or Why It’s Wrong for Portland Public Schools to Allow the U.S. Government to Do Military Recruitment on Any Students, But Especially 5-Year-Olds http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46387 Steve Buel Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:50:53 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46387 How silly, Wacky Mommy, you think some wacko is going to shoot up a military base in this country? How absurd -- oh, wait, that happened a couple of months ago didn't it, sorry. How silly, Wacky Mommy, you think some wacko is going to shoot up a military base in this country? How absurd — oh, wait, that happened a couple of months ago didn’t it, sorry.

]]> By: mamatoo http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46375 mamatoo Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:01:44 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46375 Every election year, people talk about our education being critical to our national defense. More highly educated citizens = less potential for war + less lethal fighting when we have international conflict. Then, we see things like "it's a tight economy" and everything gets cut except defense. So, why not put our money where our mouth is? If DoF money is going to education of kids, with hopes to recruit young Americans to get excited about science & math and study it with vigor, HOORAY!!! Change in defense has to start somewhere. Let's not assume they're hoping kids will fight like we do - maybe they're hoping (and putting funding into education so that) kids will outsmart, outwit, and outlast the enemies of the future! :-) Every election year, people talk about our education being critical to our national defense. More highly educated citizens = less potential for war + less lethal fighting when we have international conflict. Then, we see things like “it’s a tight economy” and everything gets cut except defense.

So, why not put our money where our mouth is? If DoF money is going to education of kids, with hopes to recruit young Americans to get excited about science & math and study it with vigor, HOORAY!!!

Change in defense has to start somewhere. Let’s not assume they’re hoping kids will fight like we do – maybe they’re hoping (and putting funding into education so that) kids will outsmart, outwit, and outlast the enemies of the future! :-)

]]> By: Miss Merry Sunshine http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46055 Miss Merry Sunshine Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:05:11 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46055 Good one, Wacky! Truth, don't you have any doubt about the military involvement in education??? Seems if you look at world history where it happened, not exactly a path I'd want to repeat! Good one, Wacky!

Truth, don’t you have any doubt about the military involvement in education??? Seems if you look at world history where it happened, not exactly a path I’d want to repeat!

]]> By: Wacky Mommy http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46052 Wacky Mommy Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:53:19 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46052 Truth, go for it. Prove your love, just in time for Valentine's Day. Enlist. I've never said it's overt recruitment. They're just getting kids used to the idea. Did you take the survey they hand out at the end of Starbase, that asked questions like, Do you find military bases fun? Did you enjoy spending time on a military base? Our country is currently at war with two countries -- Iraq and Afghanistan. You think it's safe for kids and civilians to be roaming around military bases? Truth, go for it. Prove your love, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Enlist.

I’ve never said it’s overt recruitment. They’re just getting kids used to the idea. Did you take the survey they hand out at the end of Starbase, that asked questions like, Do you find military bases fun? Did you enjoy spending time on a military base?

Our country is currently at war with two countries — Iraq and Afghanistan. You think it’s safe for kids and civilians to be roaming around military bases?

]]> By: Truth http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46049 Truth Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:48:03 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46049 I'm just a concerned and committed parent like you. My child attended Starbase, and I experienced the program with her. That is why I'm not concerned about the purpose or intent of the program. It's about education, particularly STEM education, that inspires kids in a very positive way. There's no recruitment going on at Starbase. I appreciate your concerns, but they simply don't jive with the experience of those who've actually had children participate in the program. We love Starbase. I’m just a concerned and committed parent like you. My child attended Starbase, and I experienced the program with her. That is why I’m not concerned about the purpose or intent of the program. It’s about education, particularly STEM education, that inspires kids in a very positive way. There’s no recruitment going on at Starbase. I appreciate your concerns, but they simply don’t jive with the experience of those who’ve actually had children participate in the program. We love Starbase.

]]> By: Wacky Mommy http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46037 Wacky Mommy Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:16:29 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46037 JT -- OK, we love Iowa around here, thank you. Be well, more later. JT — OK, we love Iowa around here, thank you. Be well, more later.

]]> By: Carrie Adams http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46030 Carrie Adams Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:37:10 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46030 JT, I love that you shared your perspective and offered solutions. Can you talk about why you're not a fan of the Starbase classes being held at PANG? JT, I love that you shared your perspective and offered solutions. Can you talk about why you’re not a fan of the Starbase classes being held at PANG?

]]> By: Miss Merry Sunshine http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46026 Miss Merry Sunshine Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:18:34 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46026 WACKY MOMMY--The emails you send to your principal are cc'd to the PPS lawyers? Oh, brother!!! That takes some nerve to send a covert threat to you!? Some administrator....ooh, are ya scared???? NOT! WACKY MOMMY–The emails you send to your principal are cc’d to the PPS lawyers? Oh, brother!!! That takes some nerve to send a covert threat to you!? Some administrator….ooh, are ya scared???? NOT!

]]> By: JT in the Army http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46025 JT in the Army Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:02:21 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46025 Wacky- I grew up in Iowa and moved to Portland about a year before deploying with the unit out of Jackson Armory, home of one of the STARBASE classes. I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of having this take place at PANG or Jackson. Have the concerned parties begun looking at replacement programs? It seems to me that if the focus is on math, science and engineering and on space exploration that there should be some way to bring a program to OMSI. When I was in junior high, the Science Center of Iowa had a mock space station where students would need to use math and science skills to enter answers for the "space station computer" to perform tasks on simulated missions. Before visiting, our class learned more on the history of the US Space Program and had activities in science and math that were based on the space program. NASA has multitudes of education programs that they fund and run, and also provides education grants across the nation. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/All_Alpha.html What about the Oregon Space Grant Consortium, would they be able to help OMSI structure a replacement program? http://spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/k12.html Wacky- I grew up in Iowa and moved to Portland about a year before deploying with the unit out of Jackson Armory, home of one of the STARBASE classes. I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of having this take place at PANG or Jackson.

Have the concerned parties begun looking at replacement programs?

It seems to me that if the focus is on math, science and engineering and on space exploration that there should be some way to bring a program to OMSI.
When I was in junior high, the Science Center of Iowa had a mock space station where students would need to use math and science skills to enter answers for the “space station computer” to perform tasks on simulated missions. Before visiting, our class learned more on the history of the US Space Program and had activities in science and math that were based on the space program.

NASA has multitudes of education programs that they fund and run, and also provides education grants across the nation.
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ed.....Alpha.html

What about the Oregon Space Grant Consortium, would they be able to help OMSI structure a replacement program? http://spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/k12.html

]]> By: Wacky Mommy http://ppsequity.org/2010/01/26/wacky-mommy-vs-starbase-or-why-its-wrong-for-portland-public-schools-to-allow-the-u-s-government-to-do-military-recruitment-on-any-students-but-especially-5-year-olds/comment-page-2/#comment-46021 Wacky Mommy Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:06:40 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1471#comment-46021 Truth, maybe they've tried complaining and they've been told to shut up. When I send e-mails to my children's principal now in regards to this program, he is having his public information officer (who is spinning things and also being rude) respond. The principal is also cc'ing PPS legal counsel. The message that sends to me is: Shut up. I'm not saying that the program isn't fun or educational. I'm not saying it is "overt" recruitment. But the money does come from the military recruitment budget. Are you saying the military "claims" to be spending that budget on what it is earmarked for -- recruitment of new soldiers -- but isn't "really" spending the money on that? I'm surprised they don't load the kids up with hot cocoa, a buffet lunch, and then send them home with a free puppy. You're missing my point, entirely. I don't like it when people go stealth. I'm telling you up front who I am, and you are not telling me one thing about yourself. I am a pacifist, a mother of 2 who lives in Portland, Oregon, who is saying that it is immoral for our school district to accept $320,000, then hand over our students. Truth, maybe they’ve tried complaining and they’ve been told to shut up. When I send e-mails to my children’s principal now in regards to this program, he is having his public information officer (who is spinning things and also being rude) respond.

The principal is also cc’ing PPS legal counsel. The message that sends to me is: Shut up.

I’m not saying that the program isn’t fun or educational. I’m not saying it is “overt” recruitment. But the money does come from the military recruitment budget.

Are you saying the military “claims” to be spending that budget on what it is earmarked for — recruitment of new soldiers — but isn’t “really” spending the money on that?

I’m surprised they don’t load the kids up with hot cocoa, a buffet lunch, and then send them home with a free puppy.

You’re missing my point, entirely. I don’t like it when people go stealth. I’m telling you up front who I am, and you are not telling me one thing about yourself. I am a pacifist, a mother of 2 who lives in Portland, Oregon, who is saying that it is immoral for our school district to accept $320,000, then hand over our students.

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