PORTLAND, Oregon — The Portland Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education voted Tuesday evening to allow high schools the option of adding Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs.
The decision came from a 4-3 vote, following public comment and a lengthy discussion among board members. Before the school board meeting, many community members gathered outside PPS headquarters to rally against the JROTC proposal. Many said they feel the JROTC is a tool the military uses to target students with limited options after high school.
"It's really kind of unfair to prey upon people because they have a lack of resources in order to fill the ranks," said Pat Kaczmarek.
The district's policy wouldn't automatically bring JROTCs into Portland high schools. Rather, it will allow individual schools to decide if they want to add one or not.
Iraqi War veteran Mike Prysner said he believes there should never be a path connecting kids to pro-military education.
"The only reason I joined the military is because recruiters and JROTC representatives of the Army were allowed into my high school and started indoctrinating me with this fantasy of joining the military when I was 14, 15 years old," Prysner said.
Marine veteran Mike Eschete said he believes the JROTC can be a positive resource for students who want or need it like he did. Eschete wished others could see that side of it.
"As somebody who fought for that right, I'm really pleased that they have the right to protest and say they don't agree with the Portland Public School District's position," Eschete said. "But I'm on the other side — saying for me and a lot of other veterans, it worked really well to find the military. It provided what we couldn't find on our own inside the school system."
During their discussion, school board members often noted what the resolution was and wasn't, as they considered public opinions.
"So why all the opposition to something that does not force a school community to do something?" asked board member Herman Greene. "But rather, provides a clear path for what would be necessary should they wish to consider it?"
In the end, the board's vote reflected that sentiment.
About 30 years ago, PPS school board members banned military recruitment on campuses because of the now overturned "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy impacting people who identify as gay and lesbian who are in the military. Later, after federal law over-ruled the district's resolution, the school board allowed recruiters back while also allowing anti-war activists to set up next to them.