Pentagon takes over PE.

• Author: Zirin, Dave
• Position: Edge of Sports - The United States Department of Defense's policy on allowing Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps as an option for Physical Education in San Francisco

On the East Coast, when we think of San Francisco, we often imagine a progressive oasis where ideals of peace and community take precedent over mindless jingoism and division. That's why I was deeply shocked to learn that the San Francisco School Board voted 4-3 to allow Junior ROTC--military training--to be available as an option for Physical Education in the San Francisco public schools.

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The historic mission of PE, dating back to the nineteenth century and the instituting of public school athletic leagues, is to promote teamwork, fellowship, and healthy habits that will last a lifetime. To put it mildly, there are few things less healthy than war.

To see JROTC put forth as a viable option in San Francisco of all places, is particularly eye opening, given the state of school budgets around the country. Physical Education programs are being phased out from coast to coast as emphasis and resources are put toward standardized testing. When budgets become overstretched or underfunded, physical education classes, along with music and art, are immediately demanded to walk the plank. This is what drove me from teaching in D.C. public schools: the imperative to teach to the test and little else.

The idea that the programs of the Pentagon could serve as some sort of replacement for real physical education is Orwellian. Sure, young people are often desperate for structured physical exercise to break up the monotony of the school day. But why not instill in them the love of participating in sports instead of the military? The two are not synonymous.

San Francisco school board member Rachel Norton wrote on her blog that she supported the JROTC option because it is a simple question of expanding exercise options for our kids. She wrote on her website, "So I'm sorry, but I think it's important to allow students as many alternatives as we can if the outcome is that they will ultimately learn how to respect themselves, respect their bodies, and make choices that lead to a healthy, long, and fulfilling life." Leading "a healthy, long, and fulfilling life" and...