I/we support the Veterans For Peace initiative to de-militarize Chicago Public Schools.
CPS is the most militarized public school system in the country with over 9,000 children receiving military training. The myth is that the military teaches discipline. The reality is that the military teaches children to follow orders without question and to use the military solution to conflict resolution – that is, death and destruction.
The U.S. has a culture of violence and much of it stems from our promotion of the military and it’s joined at the head partner - violence. We don’t “send in the Marines” to have dialogue. We don’t drop bombs, shoot rockets and invade countries to learn about their needs.
If we truly want our children to be the best that they can be, then school must be the place to teach them to think, to teach them to question, to teach them to explore. These skills are taught in all the academic disciplines and also in the creative disciplines like art, music, creative writing, poetry, yoga and many more creative endeavors.
On behalf of the children and the long run future of this city and this country, stand against the culture of violence, set a national example, use our financial resources for academic and creative disciplines and . . . . de-militarize CPS.
