Personally, I think that the School Board of San Francisco should be allowed to do whatever they think is in the best interest of the school children. If they determine that means suspending the Junior ROTC program than that is their right. I have no problems with the School Board acting in this manner.

However, keep in mind, that the No Child Left Behind Act, which is federal law and thus supercedes state or local law, deems that any school district which denies equal access by the Military will be denied federal funding. The San Francisco School Board has determined that it will not allow equal access, in accordance, the they should face the result of their actions. They do not want ROTC or military recruiters that is their right, and it is the Federal Government's right to deny funding.

As far as the students are concerned, the point of the matter is that there are students who wish to participate in this program, what has happened to their right of free association as guaranteed by the Constitution??? The San Francisco School Board by banning Junior ROTC is denying these students of that right.

Ultimately the military is not a social experiment. Rules and regulations have been developed to maintain order and discipline. Those who volunteer to serve often waive certain rights to serve. They accept orders without question unless those orders are illegal. By volunteering to serve they immediately give the Government control of their lives for a minimum of eight years, often as 4 years active service and 4 years inactive service as a member of the Ready Reserve. They accept and follow the orders of those appointed above them. It is not a right to serve in the military but a privilege. There are many rules and regulations that govern the lives of the individual soldiers to ensure unit cohesion and Espirit de Corps, including the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. That is the military's right to ensure that it can perform its mission. I will not sit by and say that there have not been homosexuals that have served honorably and heroically in the military, cause I know that there have been. However, the military has seen fit to ban this type of activity to preserve the cohesion of the force. Something known as the greater good, men and women who join and who are often required to share close living spaces with others should not have to worry about the sexual orientation of their squad mates. Having been in the infantry I have seen and done many things that others would find repulsive, however, at the time they were necessary to accomplish the mission.

While it is in the right of the School Board to act as they have, unfortunately they have failed to grasp the bigger picture. ROTC allows students to learn about the military and its life style, a life style that is not suited to every individual. With a voluntary force, our students should know what they are getting themselves into. Furthermore, the ROTC program offers many great scholarships and other methods for students to attend college, including programs that require matching years of service for tuition assistance. Tell me is it not in the best interest of the students for them to find ways to afford and achieve college educations??? Unless the San Francisco School Board is going to pick up the slack, they have done a great disservice to the children.

However, the decision has been made, and know it should be accepted with all the consequence of the decision. If the people of San Francisco are not happy with the decision it is within their power to elect to individuals who will enact their will. ANd if this is the will of the citizens, then they should be allowed to have it, with all of its ramifications.

dmk