School sets up peace vigils

Headteacher Mike Conn has provided students with talking sessions, intranet message boards and peace vigils to air opinions about action in Iraq.

The provision to discuss international events was prompted in response to the actions of 300 pupils, who planned a protest during school hours.

The protest never took place, as the school stepped in with a range of ideas for airing opinions.

Mr Conn said: "On the first day of action a small group of students decided they wanted to protest and they went round the school shouting and screaming and trying to encourage others to leave the school at lunch time for a protest.

"They didn't leave the school as teachers intercepted them.

"I called them together in the afternoon and agreed to find a way for them to voice their opinions.

"We have set up a bulletin board on the school intranet for students to leave messages on regarding their feelings about war.

"This is a double bulletin board, as not all students are against the war.

"They also have the chance at every registration group to talk about the war.

"We have a vigil for peace at 1.20pm every day."

Mr Conn sees this as a fundamental role of the school.

"We are enabling the children to be heard. It is not only about protest, but also about having the chance to be heard.

"Our children appear to be quite satisfied with that provision."

The opportunities to talk are being used by a large number of students, but the voluntary peace vigils, held in lunch time, are not proving overly popular.

"The interesting thing is only about 100 children come to the peace vigil." said Mr Conn.

"It is held in lunchtime - I will not allow them to break the law, I will not allow them to leave the site. Some of them, by their own admission, wanted to protest to get out of lessons if they could."

But the overall tone of discussion is seen as a positive sign by Mr Conn.