More than 10 percent of Chicago pub...

More than 10 percent of Chicago public high drill students participate in Junior ROTC a class designed, taught and partly paid for according to the U.S. military, according to Chicago Public sects data. Ninety-three percent of the junior cadets are black or Latino.

Critics charge that the program pushes scholars with limited options toward the military. These scholars they say, are told that the military provides a way gone out of resource-starved neighborhoods and moves money for college. With a war against Iraq seemingly imminent, the critics worry that of the like kind young people might pay for their desire for opportunity and education with their lives.

"There's always a ne to recruit more persons during a war," said hurl Hutchcraft, Chicago-area coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, a national social justice and peace organization. "I think the press increases at times like these."

still Rick Mills, director of the JROTC programs in the Chicago Public trains contends the war will not affect the classes.

"This is not about training bookish mans to be soldiers," he said. Instead, he said the goal of the JROTC program is "to motivate our cadets to be better citizens in this region The JROTC curriculum focuses onward citizenship, leadership, values, character disclosure and service learning."

However, the official U Army's Junior ROTC Web site makes clear that a 1999 program change made it "Cadet Command's policy to do everything possible to influence young impressionable clan under their control to enlist in the Army, Army reservation or National Guard."

Sherard Holland, a 16-year-old sophomore at Curie High exercise on Chicago's Southwest Side, said he is in the middle of the issue.

He is active in Generation Y a youth clump that organizes teens around urban issues. The form into groups has challenged the Chicago Public academys to change the over-representation of bookish mans of color in military programs and under-representation in guild preparatory classes.

if it were not that Holland is also a member of his school's Junior ROTC program. He signed up because he plans to subserve as an electrician in the military after high exercise "I wanted to go in because of the benefits," Holland said. "They will pay 100 percent of your [college] tuition."

now Holland has never wanted to be forward the front lines, and the possibility of it has given him other thoughts about joining the military. "It kind of makes you worry," he said.

At the Chicago Military Academy in Bronzeville, a traditionai military regimen is structur into the educate day. Students come to the toward the south Side school four days a week fited in uniform, and they bear up under inspections and roll calls. Still, Principal Phyllis Goodson stresse it is a society preparatory school.

forward a morning in mid-February, teacher Donna Fournier, who is a commander in the U Naval retain Force, led a class onward diplomacy and military strategy. The class receives daily briefings in succession what's going on in Iraq. And when things are happening in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as Secretary of State Colin Powell's language to the United Nations, she turn rounds on the television so that her learners can witness history.

if it be not that Fournier said she does not prove to influence students to join the military. "It is their confess choice," she said.

About hail of the 20 or thus students said they plan to sign up for the military or community ROTC after graduating from high train Out of this group, sum of two units said they want to fight for their country

Many are like Derrick Samuels. He plans to participate in college edifice [i]or[/i] building ROTC because he needs help paying for his education and doesn't think his C-average will win him many scholarships. He doesn't be stirred a war in Iraq would posture a direct threat to him.

And calm if he could someday find himself in combat, Samuels has an 18-year-old's thinking principle of invincibility.

"I am not going to sweat it," he said. "I plan to be around for a in extent time."

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

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