As you may know, the governor and certain military recruitment offices have been chastising at least seven southern Maine high schools for denying military recruiters from meeting students. I can assure you that this is not the case at Gorham High School. We have had the same policy in place for well over 10 years and during my nine years in Gorham I have never had a call or contact from any military recruitment office complaining about access to Gorham High School students.

It is unfortunate that a contentious legislative session and attendant political debates between and among the governor and Legislature has resulted in these accusations. If you have been following the story, you will note that each school has responded by stating that the information being sent to the press is inaccurate.

We would not ever deny military recruiters to meet with students at Gorham High School, any more than we would deny college representatives from meeting with our students. We do require that all recruiters and college representatives meet only with those students who, knowing those representatives will be at the school on a certain date and time, express an interest in meeting with said representative(s). This is protocol has been in place for well over a decade and it is solely to limit intrusions in the teaching and learning process.

I would encourage you to contact Chris Record, principal of Gorham High School, if you have any questions.

Ted Sharp

Gorham school superintendent