A recent video from the US Army captures scenes at Vicenza High School in Italy, where students staged a walkout in protest of Pentagon policies affecting their school. According to CNN, these policies have raised concerns among students and parents at Defense Department schools worldwide, who feel that attending these schools puts them at a disadvantage.
The impact of recent Pentagon policies, including restrictions on diversity, equity, inclusion programs, and freezes on government credit cards for civilian employees, is being keenly felt by DOD families living abroad. These changes, initiated under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have affected various aspects of school life, from student-athletes’ travel opportunities to the availability of AP classes and the content in school libraries.
One concerned parent in Germany, whose child attends a DoDEA school, expressed worry about the lack of autonomy these schools have in implementing administration directives. The parent highlighted the challenges faced by students in DoDEA schools, who are not shielded from policy changes like their counterparts in the US.
In response to these policies, students at over a dozen DoDEA schools globally organized walkouts to voice their dissent. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a supportive and inclusive learning environment, free from censorship.
Students and parents have voiced frustrations over the reduced opportunities available to students in DoDEA schools compared to those in the US. For instance, the discontinuation of AP Psychology due to DEI policies has left students feeling limited in their educational pursuits.
DoDEA spokesperson Will Griffin emphasized the organization’s commitment to providing a high-quality education to military-connected students. Despite the challenges posed by recent policies, DoDEA aims to support students in their academic growth and preparation for future success. Discussions are ongoing with the College Board regarding the scheduling of AP Psychology courses.
Psychology will be offered as a course in the 2025-2026 school year. However, a second DOD civilian in Germany, who is also a DoDEA parent, expressed concerns about students having fewer opportunities to stand out for college compared to their peers who did not attend DoDEA schools. This individual mentioned feeling that policies were not considering the overseas demographic and questioned if there was enough care for service members and families in Europe.
Students from DoDEA schools worldwide voiced their opinions in response to the new administration’s policies by organizing walkouts. These protests were anticipated to involve over a dozen schools across countries such as England, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Students emphasized that their actions were not rooted in politics but in safeguarding the rights of all students, regardless of their identity.
One student shared how the policies had impacted teachers’ ability to support transgender students, highlighting the importance of using chosen names and pronouns. The students in South Korea also revealed that they were instructed to refer to transgender students by their birth names in the student yearbook, which they found distressing given the challenges faced by LGBT youth.
Leading up to the walkouts, DoDEA school administrators cautioned parents that their child could receive an unexcused absence if they participated. The DoDEA spokesman stated that the organization did not endorse student walkouts and encouraged exploring alternative methods of civil engagement to prevent disruptions to classroom instruction.
Despite the warnings, participation in the walkouts appeared to decrease.
The first DOD civilian in Germany noted that fewer students participated in a recent walkout at his child’s high school compared to the previous month. The second DOD civilian, also a DoDEA parent, praised the younger generation for being well-informed about current events and news. They emphasized that adults often underestimate young people’s knowledge and research abilities.
Both DoDEA parents interviewed by CNN expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding how DOD policies are impacting schools. They cited instances where books were removed from libraries without clear communication to parents, leaving them feeling excluded from decision-making processes.
In response to Trump’s executive orders and guidance from Hegseth, DoDEA is reviewing policies and library materials for compliance. The vague directives have caused stress among leaders, with some feeling overwhelmed by rushed orders lacking effective guidance.
The second DOD civilian raised suspicions that the lack of clear guidance may be intentional, allowing the administration to distance themselves from any controversial actions taken by subordinates. This ambiguity has created a sense of unease and stress at all levels within the organization.
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