The best way to challenge the militarizing of your school is to join with others who feel the same way. Even a few people, working in an organized way, can accomplish a lot. Remember the quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Ask your friends how they feel about being profiled and recruited by military recruiters and if they want to do something about it. Set up your own group on Facebook and ask your friends to join. Ask a sympathetic teacher if he or she can be an adviser to your group. Ask your parents to organize their friends to insist on making return of opt-out forms mandatory or to gain access to the school for peace groups or those offering alternatives to the military.
Join NJ HS Anti-war on facebook.
Here are some ideas for activities:
Organize a leafletting day at your school to pass out opt-out forms, information about military recruiting, or information about alternatives to joining the military.
Plan a protest outside the local military "career" center. Bring signs. Make sure you know your rights. Contact the nearest ACLU or National Lawyers Guild and ask for legal observers during your protest. Photograph and videotape your protest if you can.
Hold a forum to discuss the many ways that the military tries to recruit young people and what you can do about it. Invite a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War to participate.
Make an Opt-Out public service announcement (PSA) for your school television station or the local public access TV station. Put it on youtube and share it on Facebook.
Write an Op Ed article on military recruiting or opt-out policy at your school for your student or local newspaper.
Show the film "Sir, No Sir" to classes or during an after-school event either at school or at your local library. Have a discussion about the film.
Get creative! Use art, music, spoken word, theater or street theater to educate members of your local community, and your Internet community through video-sharing sites like youtube, about this and related issues.
