The Can'ts v the Cans: Round III

I found this article on the Bristol Evening Post's website. I thought it summed up the position pretty neatly so have reproduced it here.

Some teachers believe it is immoral to allow members of the armed forces into schools. This is left-wing garbage. Teachers, like those at the National Union of Teachers' conference last month, say that the Ministry of Defence is glamorising war and influencing the poorly educated by allowing representatives of the army, navy and air force into schools all over the country. Well, if our children are poorly educated, then surely teachers should look to themselves. After all, they are paid, either through our taxes or school fees, to educate our children.

..... Tell them to speak to teachers in Bosnia, where British troops helped to rebuild the schools so that children could be educated, where British camps were opened up to the public for shelter during repeated heavy air raids, and where schools were watched over by British troops so that the children could be taught. .....

Why not look to soldiers to help and assist in schools? They could help with much-needed discipline. Perhaps then children would learn the need for teamwork. Perhaps then they would see that discipline helps with good morals and stands you in better stead for future life. Perhaps it would prevent youths feeling they have no purpose in life. Soldiers could help with outward- bound activities and help kids gain some self-respect.

Teachers should be the ones flying the flag. They should be instilling in our children the virtues of Britishness. They should be applauding our troops for fighting for freedom. They should welcome troops into schools and encourage children to talk to them. The armed forces employ thousands of people and offer scores of different jobs and careers, which happen to include teaching.

Teachers are very fortunate that we have services which, over the years, have protected their rights and everyone else's. I accept that the armed forces are not universally popular among the British general public. There will always be people who disagree with the military, and rightly so, too, because that is what freedom of expression is all about. However, to condemn them out of hand is wrong. The armed forces do not go out to kill, they go out to protect our interests, personnel and civilians, both here and overseas.

To read the complete article, click on the link below:
Link> Bristol Evening Post: To protect and to serve

Link> AV: The Can'ts vote to ban the Armed Forces from Britain's schools
Link> AV: The Can'ts v the Cans - Teachers object to Britain's Armed Forces

PS
Link> The Mail: Over a third of bosses say staff lack the three Rs... despite the billions ploughed into education