Kenny Frederick fears violence sends the wrong message

Kenny Frederick, of George Green's School in the Isle of Dogs, east London, demanded to know how teachers were supposed to get pupils to resolve their differences peacefully when Britain was taking "illegal" military action.

But Education Secretary Charles Clarke rejected her criticisms, made at the annual conference of the Secondary Heads Association in Birmingham, saying the government was acting according to international law.

Thousands of children have missed school during the past few weeks to protest against military action.

'Role model?'

Ms Frederick said 40% of her pupils were Muslims and the war was causing great difficulties, as the September 11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan had also done.

The Isle of Dogs has a history of racial tension - the British National Party has had a councillor there in the past.

Ms Frederick asked: "Do you think it's helpful or a good role model for our children, therefore, when the government decides to ignore the rule of law and resolve conflict through war and violence rather than negotiation?

"How are we supposed to teach children not to use violence, not to bully? How can you do that when the government is promoting these things?"

'Saddam is a bully'

Mr Clarke responded: "I don't accept the description offered in any way at all."

He praised teachers for the way they had helped pupils discuss events in the Gulf, saying they had behaved "absolutely correctly".

Mr Clarke added: "If I make an analogy in the school environment, if there are bullies, the choice you have to face is whether you deal with them.

"Saddam Hussein is a bully, an absolutely extreme form of bully in prosecuting death and destruction in an entirely appalling way.

"I believe we are right to stand up to it."