War School Film/Talk

A critical discussion of British militarism for Armed Forces Day with the documentary War School

War School – film extracts and discussion with Ellis Brooks

Despite the many costly crises in our society, increases in military spending continue along with the sale of arms abroad. Wars prevail. Armed Forces Day offers a clear opportunity to shine a light on the normalisation of militarisation and society’s willingness for this to go unquestioned.

Based on excerpts from the film ‘War School’ shown on the big screen to structure and enable discussion, we will learn about the reasons behind the Army’s efforts to make 10,000 annual visits to schools. Despite mounting pressure and criticism Britain continues to recruit children into the Army year on year – the only European country to do so. this practice continues with worse outcomes facing 16 and 17 year olds locked into a system where risks and realities of warfare are minimised and army is presented to families and young people with a positive gloss.

Should this be questioned and discussed? Or are we simply going to look the other way?

Ellis Brooks is the Peace Education Coordinator for Quakers in Britain and one of the coordinators of Our Shared World, a coalition of over 150 organisations working to realise or Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 in England. As well as teaching, Ellis has worked for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, campaigning on human rights, climate justice, disarmament and migrant justice. Ellis is also joined by Carmen Wilson, Director of Operations Demilitarise Education @dED_ucation and Luke Starr, Coordinator ForcesWatch @ForcesWatch

National Armed Forces Day on 24th June is coming to Falmouth this year and not everyone is delighted. Marketed as family-friendly fun, behind military lines lies a desperate recruitment drive and the increasing influence of arms company money in our education system. Militarisation and the billions it costs is on the increase as government and arms companies direct the nation towards war-preparedness.
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