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Students, alumni and parents urge board to keep JROTC; speakers highlight leadership and inclusion
Summary
Multiple students, alumni, parents and community members testified in favor of Junior ROTC programs, citing leadership development, community service and personal transformation; several speakers invited the board and public to a student debate on the issue.
A series of students, alumni and parents urged the San Francisco Unified School District board on Oct. 24 to retain Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs, describing the courses as sources of leadership training, community service and improved school engagement.
Student Advisory Council President Alvin Rivera said the council is "in full support of JROTC." Students who spoke from George Washington, Lowell, Galileo and other schools described personal benefits: Vincent Lee called JROTC "one of the greatest programs I have ever been in" and said the program offers skills "you may never even learn in physical education." Stephanie Veil, a freshman, said the program taught leadership, responsibility and community service. Alumni and parents described the program's role in keeping youth engaged in school and participating in community service events such as beach cleanups and food drives.
Several speakers addressed criticism of the program’s inclusiveness. Robin Arroyo, a fourth-year JROTC student at Lowell High, said the program does not discriminate against gay, lesbian or transgender students and urged board members to observe classes in action.
Daniel Chin, representing the Lowell speech and debate team, invited board members and the public to a student debate on JROTC at Lowell High School scheduled for the following Friday at 6 p.m., and encouraged community participation to provide multiple perspectives for student debaters.
No formal action on JROTC was recorded at the meeting; the item appeared during public comment and board members did not announce a follow-on vote during the session.
Next steps: community groups planned a student debate and continued public engagement on JROTC policy.
