ledge of liberty

No Child Left Behind Act Continues to Shock and Awe

It’s nice to know that Bush and Company are still able to make use out of that under-funded No Child Left Behind Act.  Thanks to the following sneaky Pete clause, schools are legally required to fork over secondary school level students personal information to U.S. military recruiters without parents consent.

Sowwy there’s no money for books folks, but we’re gonna need you to go ahead and send us over those names and addresses ASAP.  Hey, don't blame us -- it's the law.  Thanks.  -U.S. Army

SEC. 9528. ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION.

      (a) POLICY-

            (1) ACCESS TO STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION- Notwithstanding section 444(a)(5)(B) of the General Education Provisions Act and except as provided in paragraph (2), each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide, on a request made by military recruiters or an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students names, addresses, and telephone listings.

            (2) CONSENT- A secondary school student or the parent of the student may request that the student's name, address, and telephone listing described in paragraph (1) not be released without prior written parental consent, and the local educational agency or private school shall notify parents of the option to make a request and shall comply with any request.

            (3) SAME ACCESS TO STUDENTS- Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students.

Related:  leavemychildbehind.org

Cindy Sheehan's Speech Live in Crawford

Here's a recording I made of Cindy Sheehan addressing the crowd of hundreds of supporters who converged from all parts of the country this weekend in Crawford Texas.  As Sheehan climbs atop the back of a red pick-up truck parked outside Bush's Crawford ranch, you can hear the sound of military helicopters circling.

She begins her 15-minute speech asking, "Who knew that the beginning of the end of the occupation of Iraq was going to start in Crawford Texas last Saturday?  Who knew that America would finally stand up and say we’re sick and tired of this shit -- bring our troops home!"

Click here to play speech

Photos: Joining Cindy Sheehan outside Crawford ranch

[Enter the Camp Cindy Photo Gallery]

Note to self:  Don't expect quality pictures when using your camera-phone.  Yeah.