*ForcesWatch is a small not-for-profit organisation based in London which seeks to challenge the ethics of UK military recruitment, and question the sense of uncritical pride in the Armed Forces - forceswatch.net. *The Education Campaign, which I run, largely focuses on a Military Out Of Schools campaign *The Military Out Of Schools campaign seeks to document military and military-oriented activity in UK schools and colleges - from Armed Forces visits to the Combined Cadet Force, and the new Military Ethos in Schools programme (which includes the Troops to Teachers scheme) - and get people (from the general public to decision-makers in schools, government and elsewhere) to question whether this is appropriate. The Ministry of Defence acknowledges that the two main outcomes of Armed Forces activity in schools is recruitment of young people into the Armed Forces, and providing positive information to influence future opinion formers. Is it in the best interests of the young people? The ultimate aim of the MOOS campaign would be to have schools becoming military-free, but the short-term focus is getting a balance of views put across so that there is more critical thinking going on - after all, the 1996 Education Act demands a balance of opposing views whenever pupils are exposed to a political view. For more info on the MOOS campaign go to forceswatch.net/projects/details?quicktabs_3=2#quicktabs-3 *The Education campaign also involves: looking at the presence and influence of the military in UK universities (Im writing a report on this, which is novel, wide-ranging and should be interesting reading); and proposing and supporting alternative explorations of conflict resolution, and alternative ways to develop the core skills that the military are presented as being the best providers of, within the UK Education system. *The email list that Im inviting you to join usually involves me sending a weekly update on the campaign: what Ive been up to and links to any relevant articles in the news. Sometimes this leads to a discussion, but there is no pressure for this to happen (though its great if it does!) If youd like to be added, or if you have any questions, let me know. Thanks very much for reading.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:26:19 +0000