Junior ROTC to March On at City Schools

San Diego city school trustees Tuesday unanimously backed the district’s continued participation in Junior ROTC programs, but warned that the programs could be subject to budget cuts again next year along with other academic offerings.

The reaffirmation of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps came after a lively 90-minute public hearing. Numerous students spoke of the self-esteem and leadership skills JROTC has given them, while opponents criticized any military-related instruction in public schools.

“It’s had a major impact on my life,” student Santa Pecoraro said. “I have map-reading skills, I know first-aid and can save a life, I now am a leader, I’ve gained tremendous confidence--and not once have I thought about going into the military” after graduation. “JROTC is about becoming better citizens, with the primary goal of graduating and going on to college.”

But numerous speakers, such as parent John Peterson, spoke of military-style leadership as detrimental to students and asked why JROTC, which costs the district about $650,000 a year, should not be eliminated when art, music and counseling services have been cut.

Board members decided that JROTC offers a positive choice to the 1,200 high school students who participate and that its curriculum is oriented more toward leadership and self-development than to traditional military training.

But depending on the budget cuts necessary in the future, the program might have to be reduced in the next several years, they cautioned.