Prop I: Alternatives to Military Service

One school ballot measure that has attracted very little attention is San Francisco Proposition I. Quoting from the SFGov: Department of Elections web site:

No Military Recruiters in Public Schools, Scholarships for Education and Job Training

PROPOSITION I

Shall it be City policy to oppose military recruiting in public schools and consider funding scholarships for education and training that could provide an alternative to military service?

Digest

by the Ballot Simplification Committee

THE WAY IT IS NOW: The San Francisco Unified School District operates the City's public schools. The District receives federal money to pay part of its operating costs. By accepting federal money, the District must permit U.S. military recruiters access to its schools. Colleges and universities that receive federal funds are subject to similar requirements.

THE PROPOSAL:Proposition I is a declaration of policy that the people of San Francisco oppose the federal government's use of public schools to recruit students for service in the military.

Proposition I is also a declaration that San Francisco should consider funding scholarships for higher education and job training that could provide an alternative to military service.

A “YES” VOTE MEANS:If you vote “yes,” you want it to be City policy to oppose military recruiters’ access to public schools and to consider funding scholarships for education and training that could provide an alternative to military service.

A “NO” VOTE MEANS:If you vote “no,” you do not want this to be City policy.

A quick google news search turns up... not much. There is this WaPo article: San Francisco Issues Spark Scant Interest and this one from the SJ Merc: Groups against recruiters

A coalition of San Francisco peace and social justice groups is rallying behind efforts to pass Proposition I, a largely symbolic measure stating that the people of San Francisco oppose the presence of U.S. military recruiters in the city's schools.

If city voters pass the non-binding resolution Tuesday, it is believed it would be the first of its kind in the country.

But in practical terms, it would not end the ability of military recruiters to spend time on high school and college campuses. Because the San Francisco Unified School District accepts federal funds, the district must provide military recruiters the same access to high school students as colleges or prospective employers.

I'm a bit surprised that it has not provoked more discussion. Not on our list. Not anywhere. It seems like an initiative that is designed to be talked about. It does not actually do much—in this era of ever tighter budgets it seems unlikely that SFUSD will be underwriting any new scholarships. So if no one is talking about it, and it won't really change anything, what's the point? How can this be the start of something when it provokes neither discussion nor action?

I'll probably vote "yes" if I cast a vote at all. But really, why?