Teachers have voted to oppose military recruitment activities in schools if they employ "misleading propaganda".
Teachers have voted to oppose military recruitment activities in schools if they employ "misleading propaganda".
Young people must be given a true picture of Army life, not a "marketised version", the National Union of Teachers conference heard.
Young people must be given a true picture of Army life, not a "marketised version", the National Union of Teachers conference heard.
The Ministry of Defence denies actively recruiting in schools but says it does visit to raise awareness when invited in by head teachers.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) denies actively recruiting in schools but says it does visit to raise awareness when invited in by head teachers.
Some teachers complain the Army uses sophisticated methods of recruitment.
Some teachers complain the Army uses sophisticated methods of recruitment.
Paul McGarr, a teacher from east London, said only when recruiting materials gave a true picture of war would he welcome them into his school.
Paul McGarr, a teacher from east London, said only when recruiting materials gave a true picture of war would he welcome them into his school.
These would have to say: "Join the Army and we will send you to carry out the imperialist occupation of other people's countries," he said.
'Shoot and possibly torture'
These would have to say: "Join the Army and we will send you to carry out the imperialist occupation of other people's countries," Mr McGarr said.
"Join the Army and we will send you to bomb, shoot and possibly torture fellow human beings in other countries.
"Join the Army and we will send you to bomb, shoot and possibly torture fellow human beings in other countries.
"Join the Army and we will send you probably poorly equipped into situations where people will try to shoot or kill you because you are occupying other people's countries.
"Join the Army and we will send you probably poorly equipped into situations where people will try to shoot or kill you because you are occupying other people's countries.
"Join the Army, and if you survive and come home, possibly injured or mentally damaged, you and your family will be shabbily treated."
"Join the Army, and if you survive and come home, possibly injured or mentally damaged, you and your family will be shabbily treated."
'Limited opportunities'
Delegate from Lambeth, south London, Chris Kelly, said he was offered free teaching materials, which he only later discovered were from the MoD.
NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott told reporters before the NUT conference that he was concerned youngsters from poorer backgrounds were being targeted.
"We must also ask ourselves why the MoD are in there influencing the way our students view the Army in the 21st Century.
It's all small things but it's self-discipline. The Army for me, and for many others, was a fantastic life Ex-soldier Terry
"They find it difficult to recruit into the armed forces and are trying to encouraging them to join up," he said.
"Youngsters from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have more limited opportunities in life than youngsters from better off backgrounds.
Decision
"It's simply a fact. I am not saying that youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot get something from a career in the military."
Executive member Martin Reed said young people should have the means to make an informed choice when deciding whether or not to sign up for an Army career.
He gave the example of school careers service Connexions which warned on its website that young people should not make this decision lightly.
It warned that war could be dangerous and that there were humanitarian casualties, he said.
Another teacher, Stefan Simms, from Ealing, west London, said those that were recruited would "come back knowing the horrors of war, maybe having committed the horrors of war."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We do not recruit in schools.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We do not recruit in schools.
"The single-service schools teams visit about 1,000 schools a year between them only at the invitation of the school - with the aim of raising the general awareness of their armed forces in society, not to recruit."
"The single-service schools teams visit about 1,000 schools a year between them only at the invitation of the school - with the aim of raising the general awareness of their armed forces in society, not to recruit."
Roger Leighton, head teacher of Sydney Russell School, in Dagenham Essex, said people could have a fantastic life with a career in the armed forces.
But some teachers argue these visits have a wider purpose.
"I can't see any problem with the army coming in and recruiting in schools," he added.
'Patronising'
Ironing
The NUT will now convene a summit of teachers, educationalists and other bodies to consider the issue of military recruitment in schools.
And ex-soldier Terry told BBC Radio Five Live that the union's attitude was patronising to 16-year-olds.
Teachers who opposed recruitment activities based on "misleading propaganda" would be supported.
An ex-soldier, Terry, told BBC Radio Five Live that the union's attitude was patronising to 16-year-olds.
"Now 16-year-olds are not kids - they know, they know their mind," he said.
"Now 16-year-olds are not kids - they know, they know their mind," he said.
"If they are not sure what they want to do and they are just tinkering with the idea of just going in the Army - nowadays they can go in the Army, they go on a six-week camp and they find out what it's like.
"If they are not sure what they want to do and they are just tinkering with the idea of just going in the Army - nowadays they can go in the Army, they go on a six-week camp and they find out what it's like.
"If its not for them, they have the choice to leave."
"If its not for them, they have the choice to leave."
Based on his own experience he would never dream of asking his partner to press a shirt for him or sew on a button.
"If I am hungry I cook for myself. It's all small things but it's self-discipline. The Army for me, and for many others, was a fantastic life."
Has the army visited your school or the school of a relative? Have you or any children you know been encouraged to join the army through a school visit? Send us your comments using the form below:
Has the army visited your school or the school of a relative? Have you or any children you know been encouraged to join the army through a school visit? Send us your comments using the form below:
