Should S.F. Use Anti-War Text Book?

It's an undisputedly leftist view of the United States involvement in wars, and it may soon come to classrooms in San Francisco public schools.

Pete Hammer, San Francisco Unified School District: "The topic is one that a lot of teachers would have an interest in bringing into the classroom."

Pete Hammer reviews new materials for the school district. He gave "Addicted to War" a thumbs up for use in the classroom.

Pete Hammer: "It hasn't been adopted as material that every teacher has to use, teachers will have their choice about whether they want to use it or not."

Frank Dorrel, Publisher, "Addicted to War": "We're really glad that the San Francisco School District, which is apparently against the war in Iraq, well not apparently, obviously is, has chosen to do this."

Frank Dorrel is now helping to supply the San Francisco Unified School District with 4,000 copies of the book for use in high school social studies and history classes. The books are being donated by a local anti-war activist.

Frank Dorrel: "It's important to show once again - the alternative history of U.S. foreign policy -- of U.S. wars, of U.S. militarism."

Leo Lacayo: "You need to focus in on both sides of the issue in order for students to create their own opinion."

Leo Lacayo is with the San Francisco Republican Party -- he opposes the book's approval. Lacayo accuses the district of being anti-military.

Leo Lacayo: "If you just look at this -- it's a comic book with bad illustrations. It's obviously made to poke fun at a very serious situation."

Colonel Powell has run the San Francisco Junior ROTC program since 1983.

The San Francisco School Board voted to phase out the program last November, the board, taking a political position, says public schools are no place for the military. Colonel Powell says "Addicted to War" could be a valuable classroom tool, but he's concerned purely political ideology may cloud how teachers present the book.

Robert Powell: "You can put this out to stimulate discussion, and in fact use it to get discussion going in a good civics class, you know what I mean, but you go to have two opposing points of view."

There is however, no prescribed book for the opposing perspective -- that will be up to teachers. The district says it is looking for books that will adequately present an opposing points of view.
abc7news.com: Should S.F. Use Anti-War Text Book?

Promote a book called "Addicted to War" but phase out the ROTC? Since when did the school systems get the right to promote a political agenda? Only in San Fran..................

Have a good one!:s4:

San-fran-sicko

weed is the only thing sanfran has going for it.....

Public schools must remain neutral ground and only teach FACTs. Students shouldn't be subjected to "historical commentary". Unfortunately you get those nuts that that want us to put into out books of scientific facts that "intelligent design" is real.

I think that every kid everywhere should get a read on a book that is anti-war. And I think ROTC should be eliminated from schools. There is a one way curriculum now on school campuses, and it is a right wing agenda. If they showed blown up corpses and brains scattered about from munitions, maybe the kids could decide for themselves whether war was good or not, Now all they get is the flag and apple pie bullshit. Even when I was in Basic training they didn't show the horrors of war. War is a horrible state of affairs, and if enough kids figure that out, maybe when they grow up they'd be less likely to start one or go to fight one! Now all they get is pro-war bullshit. Plus the History books need to be straightened out to reflect the actual facts of war and all it's ramifications and the real reasons behind them. Maybe when the kids see that war is really about profit, they'd be less likely to fight in one!