Teaching Remembrance: focusing on ‘why?’
09/12/2016ForcesWatch comment
A history teacher from Coventry got in touch with ForcesWatch to share her experience of teaching Remembrance to year nine classes this year after reading the resource Rethinking Remembrance in Schools: 'Teaching about Remembrance this year was a vastly different experience for me than previous years'.
Scottish petition makes headway
30/11/2016
Members of the Scottish Parliament have agreed to seek further evidence on our joint petition – with Quakers in Scotland – calling for greater scrutiny and guidance around military visits to schools.
ForcesWatch comment
Army defies child rights campaigners, intensifies intake of 16-year-olds for riskiest roles
24/11/2016
Figures released today reveal that the British Army has increased its intake of 16-year-olds in the past 12 months, defying calls from the UN, children’s rights organisations and others campaigning for an end to the recruitment of minors.
Child Soldiers International press release
Parliament considers military visits to schools petition
23/11/2016
MSPs will consider what further action to take on a petition from ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland calling for increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to schools this Thursday (24 November).
ForcesWatch press release
More media coverage of our petition to the Scottish Parliament
22/11/2016
Coverage highlights the Scottish Children's Commissioner concerns about the age of recruitment and armed forces visits to schools, and the motion in the Scottish Parliament about the vulnerabilities of young recruits, as discussed in the recent Medact report.
various
The British Legion wants us to ‘Rethink Remembrance’ but they are not the only ones
11/11/2016
The Royal British Legion is asking the public to 'Rethink Remembrance'. Can we remember without obscuring the realities of war and overlaying this important act with militarism?
ForcesWatch comment
Pushing ahead with cadets in schools
21/10/2016
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, choose the Conservative Party conference to announce the next phase of the Cadet Expansion Programme with 25 new cadet units being set up in state schools.
Various
Under-18s in army ‘face greater injury, death and mental health risks’
18/10/2016
Guardian
Recruiting children aged 16 and 17 into the British army places them at greater risk of death, injury and long-term mental health problems than those recruited as adults, according to a new report.
Tory boost for cadets in schools needs fighting
18/10/2016
ForcesWatch comment
This article was first published in the Morning Star.
The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, recently announced that 25 out of 150 proposed new school cadet units would soon be opening. Despite the presentation of this development as new policy, the Cadet Expansion Programme promoting cadet forces in state schools, was first announced in 2012. While the Government heralds the cadets as a silver bullet in terms of improving pupil attainment and development, the sight of ranks of pupils as young as 12 in military gear and handling weapons will ring alarm bells for many. That this is happening within education raises additional concerns.Scottish Parliament asks for more information on military visits to schools after hearing from ForcesWatch
21/09/2016
Back in March we asked Holyrood to ensure ‘guidance is provided to schools', ‘information is collected to provide public monitoring’ and ‘parents/guardians are consulted’ when it comes to visits by the military. Last week we gave evidence to the Public Petitions Committee.
ForcesWatch comment