Pupils’ war protest worries teachers

By Aeneas Bonner, Education Correspondent

Pupils are set to clash with principals over calls for school walkouts across Northern Ireland tomorrow in protest against war in Iraq. A group called Youth Against the War said students in Belfast, Derry, Newry and many other areas could hold lunchtime rallies at school gates or in town centres.

Spokesman Chris Loughlin claimed that support for the planned walkouts had been ‘overwhelming.’ “During the last week hundreds of school students have joined and pledged that they will be taking action on Wednesday,” he said.

“However, there have been a number of exceptions. Some of our members have been called before their principals and threatened with disciplinary action of they walk out. Youth against the War is demanding that all such threats be withdrawn. School students have a democratic right to protest and it is important that their voice is allowed to be heard against this war for oil.”

Frank Bunting, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (a union), said it was a difficult situation for principals: “At the anti-war demonstration there was an enormous turnout by young people, and I would imagine such a call could have a lot of resonance in schools”, he said. “It is an emotional time and I don’t believe in issuing threats against young people for trying to act in an idealistic manner, but I still think the best thing young people can do is to continue their education rather than walk on streets unsupervised.”

Fern Turner, of the head teachers’ union HAFT, also said she was concerned about health and safety responsibilities: “During the time children are in school, the school is responsible for them and it would be unacceptable for them to leave schools without first being given permission from parents”, she said. “I would prefer if these protests didn’t happen during thee school week.”

However, Methodist College student Chris Cowie, from a separate organisation, called Schools Against War, said it backed the protest. “People shouldn’t be afraid of the consequences of what happens when they walk out”, he said. “Preventing loss of life in Iraq is more important than adhering to strict regulations.”