Photo: Community activists and students show their support to end a controversial air-rifle training program at local high schools. ( Ana Tintocalis/KPBS )
San Diego Unified’s JROTC air-rifle training program will continue to take place at local high schools despite mounting community pressure to end the practice. A community-based group called The Education Not Arms Coalition asked the San Diego school board earlier this week to adopt a resolution which would have suspended such training from taking place.
At issue is whether the training -- which is currently offered at 13 local high schools -- should be introduced to Lincoln and Mission Bay high schools.
Community activists and students believe having any type of gun on campus sends the wrong message. They also say it violates the district's own zero tolerance policy on weapons.
School board member John Debeck decided to take up the issue, saying the training itself is costing the district way too much. But the four other school board members did not find merit in that argument or the argument presented by community members. As a result, the resolution died.
Community activists and students vowed to bring the issue back again.
