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Harwich: Concern at Army school visits
A FORMER soldier has backed a vow made by teachers to oppose military recruitment campaigns in schools.
John Tipple, of the Harwich Respect Party, said he hoped the National Union of Teachers (NUT) would vote in favour of questioning army recruitment for pupils when they consider future careers.
The NUT is planning to convene a summit of teachers, education experts and campaigners, to consider the issue of military recruitment in schools after teachers expressed concerns over how joining the army was portrayed to youngsters.
Mr Tipple, of Chevy Court, Ramsey, said: "It's the correct position to take.
"Having joined the Army at 15 myself, I know the problem is they haven't got the sophisticated process of thought.
"You are all staring at no job and have been offered one in the Army - and you think I won't be stepping off the landing craft into a hail of bullets'.
"They see it as they are fighting for their country and they are brave.
"They are targeting our 14 and 15-year-olds in their Army uniforms - I think the Army should have no role in education at all.
"I don't think they should be allowed in schools to recruit."
Delegates at the NUT's annual conference in Manchester lined up to condemn the tactics of the MoD in targeting teenagers with "misleading" information that they said glamorises war.
The union backed a motion committing the NUT to "support teachers and schools in opposing Ministry of Defence recruitment activities that are based upon misleading propaganda".
Concerns were also raised regarding some lesson materials prepared with MoD backing.
Brigadier Andrew Jackson, Commander of the Army Recruiting Group, said: "The single-Service schools teams visit about 1,000 schools a year, only at the invitation of the school.
"Their aim is to raise the general awareness of the Armed Forces in society, not to recruit.
"We are proud of the work we do with schools and colleges to inform young people about the tremendous work and careers on offer, which can provide fantastic and unique opportunities to a wide range of people from all sectors of society."
5:36pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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