BYM and ForcesWatch in joint statement
Britain Yearly Meeting joins ForcesWatch in criticising a recent government resource for schools
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has joined charity ForcesWatch in criticising a recent government resource for schools, that they feel promotes ‘military values’.
The organisations used a written report and a graphic to argue that the British Armed Forces Learning Resource (published in September 2014 by the prime minister’s office) is a poor quality educational resource. They believe that it is a politically-driven attempt to promote recruitment into the armed forces.
According to the statement, ‘the document is framed as a History, English and Citizenship resource for children and teenagers from as young as five years old. Endorsed and promoted to all schools by the Department for Education, its stated aim is “to educate children about the work of the UK armed forces”.’
The language used and the complexity of the subject matter are among the concerns highlighted by the two organisations. They consider both unsuitable for many at whom the material is aimed.
BYM and ForcesWatch also said that the material ‘presents a partial and uncritical history of British involvement in war, ignoring debate over the morality and legacy of such conflicts’.
Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, said: ‘Quakers reject the notion that war is inevitable. Holding that each life is sacred, we put resources into nonviolent ways of solving conflicts and averting wars. That leads Quakers to say militarism has no place in our classrooms. This resource is ideologically-driven and should be withdrawn.’
