SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 49

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO LIMIT THE RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION TO MILITARY RECRUITERS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, while choosing to serve in any branch of the military is a noble decision, many high school students, though very bright, have barely developed their decision-making skills; and

     WHEREAS, serving in the military is always a life-altering decision, and the risk of serving in the military is probably too difficult for a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old to assess; and

     WHEREAS, losing one's life or a limb, or receiving a permanent physical or mental injury, is a significant risk of serving in the military, especially during times of military interventions; and

     WHEREAS, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires all schools receiving federal funds to turn over information on students in their junior and senior years in high school to military service and military school recruiters; and

     WHEREAS, many schools provide these recruiters with significant access to students for the purpose of convincing the students to join the military, which, in some instances, includes recruiters pulling students out of class; and

     WHEREAS, many schools provide these recruiters with offices or scheduled use of offices on campus for the purpose of convincing the students to join the military; and

     WHEREAS, many schools encourage these recruiters to place posters and flyers around campuses and in counselors' offices; and

     WHEREAS, parents send their children to school to learn, parents and their children expect that the information taught in schools is correct and fairly presented and students expect that everything offered in the school environment is safe, correct and fairly presented; and

     WHEREAS, the United States spends over three billion dollars ($3,000,000,000) each year selling people on joining a military service;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to require that each public high school:

          A. notify each student and the student's parent or guardian that the student has the option to request that the student's name, address and telephone number not be released to military recruiters without prior written consent of the student's parent or guardian;

          B. provide notice of this option during the first week of the school year, or at the time of mid-year enrollment, in an easily understood, written format in a language that the student and parent or guardian can understand; and

           C. include with the notice a form that the student, parent or guardian may use to request that the high school not release information on the student to military recruiters. A copy of the form shall be retained by the school for the duration of the student's enrollment at that school; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education.

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