Army visits: concerns are recognised
Friends in Scotland welcome a new report by the Scottish parliament about militarism in schools
Quakers’ ongoing concern about the rise of militarism in Scottish schools received good news this month when a report by the Scottish parliament called for a ‘Child Rights Impact Assessment’.
The report from Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee, published on 4 June, about armed forces activities in schools, addresses many of the concerns voiced by petitioners.
General Meeting for Scotland and the organisation ForcesWatch welcomed several of the recommendations. These included commissioning a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) of the ‘content and balance’ in armed forces’ presentations, and in the wider school curriculum, which should also consider consulting with parents.
The Committee also recommended that careers information should fully inform young people of the challenges and risks involved in an armed forces career and that data about the visits should be made publicly available by the Ministry of Defence.
Mairi Campbell-Jack, Scottish parliamentary engagement officer for Britain Yearly Meeting, said: ‘We are delighted that the Committee has recognised our concerns.’
The Committee did not conclude that armed forces’ activities in schools were ‘an explicit act of recruitment’ but said they ‘form part of the recruitment journey’. The organisation ForcesWatch welcomed the acknowledgement.
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