Delegates at the National Union of Teachers’ conference voted yesterday to “support teachers and schools in opposing Ministry of Defence recruitment activities that are based upon misleading propaganda”. The motion also called for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and for protests if there is any attack on Iran. Check out these reports from the BBC and the Guardian.

This move should give more space to school students such as those in School Students Against War who are campaigning against military recruitment in schools and colleges.

And over in the US the ‘National Heroes Tour’ event planned for Forest Lake Area High School in Minnesota had to be cancelled after complaints from parents and the threat of protests. According to the tour sponsor’s, Veterans for Freedom, website, the national tour “is about supporting our troops, honoring their commitment and rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. At this critical juncture in our country, we need Americans, lawmakers and the media to fully recognize — and appreciate — the sacrifice of our brave military and the dramatic success they have achieved, especially in Iraq with the new counterinsurgency strategy.” Given this attitude it is not surprising that some people were not prepared to allow this war propaganda in their schools. Read the report from the Star Tribune here.

Those interested in hearing a much more honest voice about the experiences of soldiers in Iraq should take a look at these videos of Iraq Veterans Against the War activist Michael Prysner. This is someone who we would welcome speaking in our schools, colleges and universities.