TEACHERS have vowed to stop military recruitment campaigns in schools amid fears that they are promoting pro-war "propaganda" to teenagers.
The National Union of Teachers yesterday voted to back staff who resist Armed Forces recruitment drives and called for "education for peace" to be embedded in the school curriculum.
Delegates at the NUT's annual conference in Manchester also called for a campaign to undermine efforts to enlist new teenage recruits in an attempt to hasten the return of British troops from Iraq.
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The union backed a motion committing the NUT to supporting teachers and schools in opposing Ministry of Defence recruitment activities "that are based upon misleading propaganda".
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Paul McGarr, a delegate from east London, told the conference: "They want to recruit in our schools because they have got a problem. They have had a crisis in recruitment and by taking this step, by developing this campaign, we can add to that crisis."
The motion committed the NUT to holding a summit of teachers, education experts and campaigners to consider the issue of military recruitment in schools.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Our recruitment practices avoid glamorising war' and propaganda'.
"Anyone considering a career in the armed forces is presented with clear information and all aspects of service life are discussed in detail, following a sensitive recruitment process."
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