School lessons plan to prepare children for terrorist attack

LYNDSAY MOSS
The Scotsman

CHILDREN could receive school lessons preparing them for a terrorist attack as part of guidelines being developed in Scotland.

The guidance could also lead to TV educational campaigns informing the public what to expect in the event of a chemical, biological or nuclear attack.

And emergency service workers will also be given special instruction as they would be the first to respond to attacks.

Terrorism experts yesterday welcomed the idea, but said lessons would be best confined to children over the age of 14.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ conference in Edinburgh yesterday heard about work in Scotland to prepare people for attacks so they are more mentally able to cope with them without causing mass panic.

Professor David Alexander, of the Aberdeen centre for trauma research, and Professor Richard Williams, of the University of Glamorgan, have been commissioned by NATO and the Department of Health in London to develop guidance on preparing the public for a terrorist attack.

They will examine evidence from around the world and learn from previous attacks.

Prof Alexander said the guidance could lead to school lessons being developed to teach children about terrorism, so they were better able to cope in the event of an attack.

Similar sessions could be held in businesses that may be a target for terrorists. Another possibility would be a TV advertising campaign to educate the public about what to expect.

Prof Alexander, who led the psychiatric team which first responded to the Piper Alpha oil platform disaster in 1988, said the focus would be on preparing for a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.

He added: “The security services believe such an attack will come. We are trying to develop guidelines on the best way to keep the public resilient.”

Prof Alexander said it was important that all age groups were informed about terrorism, but that people should not become “risk obsessed”. He added: “It would be a mistake to leave children thinking about this as some kind of mystery. But we have to inform them in a way that does not cause alarm.”

But Professor Paul Wilkinson, from the centre for the study of terrorism at St Andrews University, said:

“It is sensible to inform young people about terrorism. I think this is best directed at pupils [over the age of 14] in secondary school when they will have a better understanding of modern history and events.”

And Eric Wilkinson, professor of education at Glasgow University, said:

“It would be a delicate balance between scaremongering and making sure children are equipped to cope in a crisis.”

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: “Schools are free to explore these issues if they feel it is right for their pupils.”

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