About one-third of the juniors and seniors at South Whidbey High School have chosen to “opt out” of allowing the military to have access to their personal information.

Of the school’s 153 juniors and 151 seniors, 100 students chose not to allow the school to release their personal information. This is about the same as last year when 107 students out of 320 11th- and 12th-graders signed opt-out letters.

However, it’s a different story at Bayview School where almost all — nine out of 13 juniors and seniors — opted out this fall. It’s a significant increase; last year at Bayview School, only 17 students out of 41 eligible opted out.

Each fall, high schools transmit student information to military recruiters, including home addresses, phone numbers and other information. Juniors and seniors can choose to stop the school from releasing their personal information if they complete an “opt out” form.

At South Whidbey High School, members of the Peace and Reconciliation movement have been meeting with students and talking about serving in the military during wartime.

Linda Morris, a member of the group, said she is not sure why the number of students opting out is about the same as last year.

“Movements take a long time to germinate,” Morris said.

“This being a volunteer military, the students probably don’t feel like there is any threat of them landing in the military whether they sign it or not,” she said.

Another issue is the current culture.

“We are bucking cultural norms of patriotism,” Morris said.

“Apathy and powerlessness may contribute,” she added.

Jan Witsoe, registrar at South Whidbey High School, said students may end up on military lists anyway.

“Schools aren’t their only source,” Witsoe said.

Morris agreed.

“The kids don’t really feel like signing this, unless it’s going to insure that they aren’t on some ‘big brother’ list,” Morris said.

The total number of South Whidbey High School juniors and seniors who have opted out increased significantly from 2004 to 2005.

In 2004, only 70 students out of 356 chose not to have their personal information forwarded to the military.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools to release the names, addresses and phone numbers of juniors and seniors or face the risk of losing federal funding.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com