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tabling at Wheeling HS April 12, 2016

Tuesday, 19 April 2016 03:16 Libby Frank

Tuesday, April 12, Equal Pay Day. I was planning to have something on my table with information about Pay Equity but forgot. Darn!

Continuing with the theme of women and Selective Service - more students are voting "no" to the question "Should women be required to register for Selective Service". It's not because they feel women should be treated differently; they're opposed to the entire concept. This is different from last month when the vast majority of students voted "yes".

But the display did generate a lot of discussion. Most students are pretty clueless. In Illinois, as in many other states, the process is more or less invisible. When young men get their driver's license their information is taken and then when they turn 18 they are automatically put in the Selective Service database. At least that's the way it's been described to me by a Coast Guard officer who is on the board. I figure he ought to know. He also told me that there is a provision that lets you not have your information go to Selective Service but not many do that.

I shared a table with some students who were selling packages of "puppy chow" (or "muddy buddies") to raise money for Operation Snowball. Here is the Wikipedia definition: "Operation Snowball is an international alcohol, tobacco and other drug-use prevention program focusing on leadership development to empower youth to lead drug-free lives. The name originates from the idea that having a positive impact on an individual can "snowball" into positive results for an entire community and beyond." Hard to compete with that; even with our free candy and trinkets.

I was upset to find out from my contact at the school that her position (college/career assistant) is getting cut to part-time along with other positions in the College/Career departments and registrars. This is due to the budget crisis in Springfield. I suppose they consider the College/Career counselors non-essential since they aren't teaching staff but I think the departments were  understaffed even before this development. My observation is that because of limited staffing the focus is almost entirely on the college-bound student which leaves many underserved or unserved.

 

Libby

 

tabling at Buffalo Grove HS March 14, 2016

Thursday, 14 April 2016 15:31 Libby Frank

I'm at BGHS today. Here I am in my red top with little Scottie dogs printed all over it. Few Students visiting table. Table is covered with a purple cloth printed with peace signs and flowers. Two young women came by together. One insisted I was a military recruiter. Her friend was adamant I was not. LOL. I explained why I was there. They were not particularly interested. The confused one had a friend interested in the military.

A young man came by. Supports peace and took a button. Took a brochure about our group. Two other young men came by together. One wants to be a computer engineer. The other plans to become a fire fighter after completing a degree at Harper. Said Harper had the best fire science program around. Two girls came by. One took candy. Not a lot of interest in why I'm here.

Two boys came by together. The 9th grader plans to go to university, then join the military as an officer. The 10th grader plans to enlist in the Marines as soon as he graduates. I told him my nephew had done that years ago and is a Marine sergeant. The younger boy didn't understand how I can be proud of my Marine nephew, yet seem to be anti-military. I explained that I was anti-war, pro-peace. And you don't have to agree with somebody about everything to love them. This was hard for the younger boy to understand, but the older one seemed to get it.

No sign of the future journalist I met here last month. I was hoping she would write an article for our zine.

 

Lynne

tabling at Buffalo Grove HS April 11, 2016

Wednesday, 13 April 2016 03:34 Libby Frank

I'm at BGHS this morning. Students seem primarily interested in eating lunch. Some interest in the peace table. Since some girls here in February were interested in a peace club, I printed out and brought the peace club starter kit from www.buildingpeace.org. Another girl came by today and took one of those as well as a zine, which ahas a page about getting us to help them start a peace club. M came by and took a zine. She asked if we would be publishing a future issue. I told her maybe in the fall and asked her to write an article ASAP and get it to us, and we'll get it into the next issue whenever it happens.

A nice looking and cheerful young man just stopped by and greeted me and took a zine. Looked like a movie star by said "Ma'am" like a military recruit? He had nice hair; not a military buzz cut. Some girls came by and one took a peace pin. I also have peace patches and literature on the table but am seeing no interest. Cafeteria is full of beautiful young people nourishing their bodies.

 

Lynne

tabling at Rolling Meadows HS April 5, 2016

Wednesday, 13 April 2016 03:26 Libby Frank

It's a very slow day at RMHS today. Very little interest. A pair of girls and a solo girl came by and got peace pins. Our friend J came be and was very appreciative of being published in the latest zine. He took 5 or 6 copies. Nobody else has shown the slightest interest. A substitute teacher with whom I've been friendly came by. Hadn't seen her since last school year. Turns out she broke her leg in the Fall and was out of commission while healing. She is now caring for an infant grandson three days a week so can only sub a maximum of 2 days each week.

Several students have come by and taken zines; one of them is a regular, a clean-cut student who reminds me of the Frank Burns character from the TV show "MASH". Several other boys were following him around. Students have been taking zines. One security guy took a look at it as well. Another very pleasant security guy is doing his job and being cordial with staff and students. He is wearing the most interesting shoes; the soles of which look like legos.

Our friend J tells me he is working on more articles. Let's hope.

 

Lynne

tabling at Wheeling HS March 8, 2016

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 02:48 Libby Frank

International Women's Day

We continued with our informal poll about women and Selective Service. So far, the vast majority of students (male and female) feel that women should be required to register.

I talked to two young people - one male, one female - that plan to enlist after graduation. The young woman is following a family tradition and intends to become a dog trainer. She has been assured of a position and feels she has enough connections that this will come to pass. She currently has five dogs of her own and has trained them all.

The young man is a different story. In his case, it seems he just doesn't know what else to do. He doesn't want to go to college; doesn't have any particular career goals; sees no other path. I encouraged him to wait at least a year after graduation before deciding. I got a bunch of his friends to talk to him about delaying this decision. He has a cousin who enlisted and came back "damaged" so he is well aware of the risk. But young people that age just don't think this will happen to them. It's hard to break through.

 ss2

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