Quaker pamphlet to counter militarisation
'Since 2008, there has been ‘a concerted push’ by the armed forces to engage with school children, especially those in deprived areas.'
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has produced a pamphlet after its research found widespread targeting of schoolchildren by the armed forces and arms companies. This has been sent to hundreds of schools.
Since 2008, there has been ‘a concerted push’ by the armed forces to engage with school children, especially those in deprived areas, with visits to 10,000 schools a year, freedom of information requests show.
BYM also found that arms manufacturers visit a British school in every day of every school term. The impact of their weapons is rarely part of their presentations. Legally, schools must consider how military engagement affects safety and wellbeing, educational impartiality, and freedom of conscience.
‘Schools also have an obligation to promote peace, tolerance and nonviolence. But significant concerns have been documented, such as the exploitative targeting of children to embed positive ideas about military life and minimise the risks faced by under-eighteen recruits.’
