24 January 2012
Gaston School Board Members,
I am asking the Gaston School Board to implement a recruiter policy for the Gaston School District.
There are many other school districts across the country that have established recruiter policies.
I presented a working copy of a recruiter policy to the Board on the 19th of January. I was told at the board meeting that there was a recruitment policy already and I obtained a copy of that, and it is a Visitor Policy - not a Recruiter policy. The intent of a visitor and a recruiter are quite separate and distinct. Grandma is not a college recruiter and military recruiter is not a Grandma.
The main points of the policy I presented to the board are:
In order to create an even balance of recruitment visits to the Jr/Sr high school - a limit of 2 visits per year for each college/university or employment opportunity or branch of the Armed Forces would be made policy.
A job or career event is not included in the 2 visits per year.
Twice, while I have been in the classroom with a military recruiter, they have asked for a
child’s contact information.
There is a problem with this.
Each year at registration, a parent or legal guardian is given an “opt-out” form to tell the school that they do not wish for a recruiter to have their child’s contact information, otherwise the school will automatically give the contact information to a recruiter if asked.
Any recruiter should not ask for contact information from a child, as it may well usurp the parent or legal guardians stated wishes.
I propose that the district create two separate “opt-in” forms.
This is more pro-active for the parent and the student. One opt-in form if they wish their 7th-12th grade student’s contact information be released to an armed forces recruiter and a separate “opt-in” form if they wish their 7th-12th grade student’s contact information to be released to a college or prospective employer.
These could even be one on the same page and no excess paper would be used.
As it is now, if a parent does wish contact information to be given to an armed forces recruiter, and not a college - what are they do to?
I was at the school in November when an Air Force Recruiter was scheduled to recruit and he had two other soldiers with him. Only the main soldier signed the visitor book. There is no way to know who the other two men were. That is unacceptable.
It should be mandatory that each recruiter be signed in.
Colleges recruiters and prospective employers do not solicit 7th and 8th graders, and I would like to see emphasis on restricting those students from having contact with any recruiter. I do not think a 12 year old 7th grader should be talking to a paid salesperson at school.
I asked the school district for email contact information for each board member, and Marie said that because the board members use their own personal email addresses that it is best if I send this to her and she will forward it to each of you.
I welcome any questions or comments you may have about the policy I presented to the board or any information you would like from me.
I think this is a great opportunity for Gaston School District to be a leader in policy making of this sort.
I am looking forward to hearing from each of you.
Thank you,
Gaston School Board Members,
I am asking the Gaston School Board to implement a recruiter policy for the Gaston School District.
There are many other school districts across the country that have established recruiter policies.
I presented a working copy of a recruiter policy to the Board on the 19th of January. I was told at the board meeting that there was a recruitment policy already and I obtained a copy of that, and it is a Visitor Policy - not a Recruiter policy. The intent of a visitor and a recruiter are quite separate and distinct. Grandma is not a college recruiter and military recruiter is not a Grandma.
The main points of the policy I presented to the board are:
- All recruiters may visit the school 2 times per year with prior notification.
- All recruiters must sign the visitor log in the office
- All recruiters are requested to speak to age appropriate students only.
- Recruiters may not solicit contact information from students.
- Parents and legal guardians are welcome to monitor recruitment visits.
- Counter-recruiters are welcome to recruitment visits
In order to create an even balance of recruitment visits to the Jr/Sr high school - a limit of 2 visits per year for each college/university or employment opportunity or branch of the Armed Forces would be made policy.
A job or career event is not included in the 2 visits per year.
Twice, while I have been in the classroom with a military recruiter, they have asked for a
child’s contact information.
There is a problem with this.
Each year at registration, a parent or legal guardian is given an “opt-out” form to tell the school that they do not wish for a recruiter to have their child’s contact information, otherwise the school will automatically give the contact information to a recruiter if asked.
Any recruiter should not ask for contact information from a child, as it may well usurp the parent or legal guardians stated wishes.
I propose that the district create two separate “opt-in” forms.
This is more pro-active for the parent and the student. One opt-in form if they wish their 7th-12th grade student’s contact information be released to an armed forces recruiter and a separate “opt-in” form if they wish their 7th-12th grade student’s contact information to be released to a college or prospective employer.
These could even be one on the same page and no excess paper would be used.
As it is now, if a parent does wish contact information to be given to an armed forces recruiter, and not a college - what are they do to?
I was at the school in November when an Air Force Recruiter was scheduled to recruit and he had two other soldiers with him. Only the main soldier signed the visitor book. There is no way to know who the other two men were. That is unacceptable.
It should be mandatory that each recruiter be signed in.
Colleges recruiters and prospective employers do not solicit 7th and 8th graders, and I would like to see emphasis on restricting those students from having contact with any recruiter. I do not think a 12 year old 7th grader should be talking to a paid salesperson at school.
I asked the school district for email contact information for each board member, and Marie said that because the board members use their own personal email addresses that it is best if I send this to her and she will forward it to each of you.
I welcome any questions or comments you may have about the policy I presented to the board or any information you would like from me.
I think this is a great opportunity for Gaston School District to be a leader in policy making of this sort.
I am looking forward to hearing from each of you.
Thank you,
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