Sixth-Graders’ Attitudes About War and the Military in Portable 6 at Eckstein Middle School in Seattle, Washington

Abstract

Students as young as 10 years old face pressure from the Department of Defense (DoD), which wants to shape young people’s opinions toward a pro-military, pro-war bias. The DoD studies learners’ opinions and uses digital media to influence them, and when young people start high school, military recruiters have access to student contact information; the recruiters anticipate a receptive audience. It is vital that students think and discuss their opinions about war and the military, for they will soon be asked a question such as, “Have you ever thought about joining the armed forces?” This study seeks to understand my Eckstein sixth-graders’ opinions on the military and war and how those opinions developed. 57 students were given a 17-question survey to test their attitudes on the subject, and three students were interviewed to understand more deeply their opinions and how they developed. After tabulating results from the survey and transcribing the interviews, students showed low to moderate support for the military/war, with females expressing less support than males. Factors influencing student opinions include family, digital media, and having a family member in the military. All students interviewed stated they had not thought much about the subject and/or did not talk about it often. A broader study is needed about pre-high school students’ opinions on the military/war and what influences their attitudes. Teachers should know what their students think about these important questions, and educators should train learners to think critically about the military and war, enabling students to make informed decisions.