LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Burlington Edison NJROTC

RE: Burlington Edison NJROTC

To  all concerned:

I am writing to express my outrage after learning Principal Setterlund and the School District have decided to end the 20-year-old NJROTC program at BEHS. And I want to share this as wide as possible, because I think the way this occurred is shady at best.

The NJROTC program challenges students to achieve their personal best in everything they do while working together as a unit. NJROTC cadets are better behaved, have higher attendance, are role models, have higher self-esteem, develop positive life skills, on average have higher GPAs and graduate at a higher rate.  They learn values, principles, and self-discipline promoting positive, productive behaviors with a support structure that is critical in helping cadets avoid the use of drugs, living a healthy and fit lifestyle.  Approximately 60% of graduating NJROTC cadets continue to higher education. NJROTC offers unique learning experiences to students participating in community service, civic mindedness, teamwork, leadership, self-discipline, STEM skills, marine science, orienteering & drill competition, with opportunities to explore submersibles, aerospace, model UN, FEMA-CERT & much more. It also holds great value for students by exposing them to work force integration skills, life skills, and amazing scholarship opportunities.  Keeping this program that not only serves the widest demographic possible having aspects that everyone can participate in regardless of gender, race, size, religion, athletic ability, intellect, or family financial status, but also serves students from other school districts and home school is of extreme value to our kids & our community.

I found out about the closure from an article posted on Skagit Breaking containing a letter from Principal Setterlund addressing the end of the program. https://www.skagitbreaking.com/burlington/burlington-edison-high-school-ends-njrotc-program/   Turns out this letter was posted on a sub-page of a sub-page of the BEHS website where most people don’t look before we were notified directly. None of us had any idea this program was on the chopping block, and frankly, the decision was made public long after we could do anything about it. Our kids are left disenfranchised and distraught, completely taken by surprise that their 1-3 years of hard work in class, teams & community service, recruiting new students and fundraising for scholarships was all for nothing and their feelings & goals not even considered.

What bothers me even more is the inaccuracies in the letter itself.  Contrary to the content of the letter, there are protocols in place to allow a program to rebuild after 1 year of low participation.  Last year our program was placed on probation for low enrollment, but standards were met, the probation lifted and the unit is currently in good standing with the Navy.  Let’s be clear here, this is not the Navy’s doing.  And leading the public to believe it is, is extremely questionable behavior coming from people in leadership positions.

Highly qualified Naval Science Instructors (some are local to the Pacific Northwest) have applied for the job and would be thrilled for the opportunity to bring fresh energy and use all the available resources to make this a program the School District can be proud of.   So you have the shot in the arm needed.

The School District, School Board & Admin aren’t seeing the interest, because the program hasn’t been allowed to market itself to the 8th grade population like it did in the past. I don’t know if other programs were barred as well, but there’s no doubt, that the declining interest is in direct correlation to the ability to market to the incoming freshmen.  Here is an article from 2012 at another NJROTC program that supports this premise… http://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/…/njrotc…/

Additionally, we’ve seen students and parents disappointed for not being allowed to enroll…and that, clearly shows that this move was premature. This past Friday, Mt Vernon cadets, in uniform and with the Principal’s permission, spoke to their peers about the NJROTC program. There is now a list of 20 students that want to register for NJROTC.  Further, enrollment for ALL classes doesn’t end until after the start of the school year.  It was pointed out by someone that you never know who will come until you see the whites of their eyes.  Correct, so why are you cancelling classes now before seeing how it plays out?  I feel as if they are clearly taking advantage of the situation.

All we are asking is for is the opportunity to follow the protocols set forth by the Navy and let the program succeed or fail based on those stipulations.  If it’s not meant to be, we can accept that.  What we cannot accept is ripping away this valuable program while in good standing from the students who have worked so hard to excel in the NJROTC without forewarning or even an open discussion how the loss of this program would affect these students.  To just close the program out of fear of failure is just failing our students. The NJROTC cadets, as a community don’t give up on each other, so why is the district & admin so willing to just giving up on the students? Please help us do what is right for our students, help the administration & school district understand that tossing away this program now when we are on the verge of a turnaround would be destructive not only for the kids currently enrolled & new students coming in next year, but those families who have come here from other areas specifically because of this program.

 

With heartfelt sincerity,

Lisa Wright

 

If you are interested in sending a letter to the editor, please email it to BreakingSkagit@hotmail.com