A Tasmanian private school has taken a stand against “militarism” by refusing to participate in educational programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers and defence entities.
Hobart’s The Friends’ School announced the policy change on Thursday, saying it will immediately affect student involvement in The National Youth Science Forum and The Science and Engineering Challenge.
Principal Esther Hill said the decision aligns with the school’s foundational Quaker values of peace, integrity, equality, simplicity and community.
“We are called, not just to educate minds, but to stir hearts,” Hill said.
“Our students are growing up in a complex world. We want them to see that peace is not just an ideal – it is a daily practice, a brave choice and a way of being within ourselves, within our communities and across the world.”
The policy, recently approved by the school’s board, prohibits participation in activities sponsored by military organisations or weapons companies, those carrying defence entity branding or programs that “normalise the arms trade or present militarism as aspirational”.
“By collectively reassessing the influence of militarism and weapons companies, especially in school-based programs, we believe we can contribute to a healthier, more just society for all,” Hill said.
“The normalisation of militarism and the global arms trade is fundamentally incompatible with the values we strive to instil in our students.”
