BKAM.ORG | Anti-Militarism Web Resource

You can call Your City Councilmember and let them know that:

1.         The JROTC program costs New York City taxpayers over $2 million

2.         The JROTC program is a major component of the military’s effort to recruit young people; nationwide, approximately 50% of JROTC cadets join the military, as opposed to less than 5% of other students

3.         Even with the Stimulus, the cuts in the Mayor’s proposed budget will mean teacher layoffs, program cutbacks, and deferred maintenance and construction. 

4.         Every dollar is precious, and $2 million is not “chump change”

5.         Through “don’t ask, don’t tell” the military is overtly homophobic, and JROTC follows this policy.  When one of the principal purposes of education in our City is to teach tolerance and an acceptance of difference, the JROTC program sends the wrong message.

You can also send this letter: 

Dear Councilmember:

            I write to urge you to support removal of the approximately $2.4 million appropriation for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) in the Council’s response to the Mayor’s proposed FY 2010 for the Department of Education (DOE). 

            The Mayor’s proposed budget for the DOE does not provide adequate funding to maintain the current level of educational services to the youth of our City.  Larger class sizes, teacher lay-offs, diminution of after-school programs and deferral of needed repairs and construction are the likely result.  Additionally, the State is proposing cuts in education aid, and the historical underfunding of the City’s schools, made clear in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity’s lawsuit, remains insufficiently addressed.  In this period of fiscal stringency, every taxpayer dollar is needed to make sure that appropriate educational priorities are met. 

            Currently in 19 High Schools, the JROTC program is an important component of the military’s recruitment efforts.  It is simply inappropriate, particularly at this time of extreme financial distress, for the taxpayers of New York City to be subsidizing the Pentagon’s program to staff our Armed Forces.  Our money is needed for our real educational priorities, not to promote militarism within our school system.

            Through its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the military overtly discriminates against LGBT people, and JROTC perpetuates this homophobia.  It is simply inconsistent with the fundamental educational purpose to teach tolerance and respect for the City to be funding an institution that overtly practices bigotry. 

            I look forward to a favorable response to this request.

                                                                                                Sincerely,