PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools is considering adding Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs in some schools. If the proposal is approved, individual schools could decide whether or not they wanted to add a JROTC program, which is a military program that operates in thousands of schools nationally.
In Oregon, only five other school districts have JROTC programs. The Army describes the courses as an opportunity for students learn values of citizenship and service to the country, though critics have contended that the program is detrimental to students.
"If kids want to sign up for the military, they can go down to the recruiting station and talk to a recruiter," said John Grueschow, an objector to JROTC. Grueschow was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and he said instead of adding JROTC to the curriculum, Grueschow said Portland Public Schools should prioritize vocational studies.
Others said JROTC can be beneficial to students, and they want to see PPS give the program a chance.
"It gives kids like that something to strive for," said Oregon state Rep. James Hieb, who represents Clackamas County.
"I think it's a great honor to serve my country," he added.
Hieb previously served in the Marine Corps, and said he would’ve liked to have joined JROTC when he was in high school.
"It would have made things a lot easier for me," he said. "It would have filled up my time in the afternoons and kept me out of a little bit of mischief."
The proposal to add JROTC comes at a time when PPS is shedding staff, as the district faces $30 million in budget cuts. In a letter to board members, district officials said it’s unknown how PPS would pay for a JROTC program. However, the letter adds that staff are just beginning to examine how the JROTC curriculum aligns with career and technical education programs.
But the proposal alone has been enough to spark debate about the impact of the curriculum.
"They're preying on students who have no other choice, and see their way out of systematic inequality as the military," said Haven Wetmore, a substitute teacher in PPS.