Did Joyce Emily mean to join the wrong side in the Spanish Civil War in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie?

I will argue that Joyce Emily did not accidentally join Franco's forces, but did so in accordance with Jean Brodie's wishes.

Joyce Emily Hammond desperately wants to become associated with the "Brodie set" as she has been shuffled between schools for quite some time before landing at Marcia Blane. Brodie and her mentees are viewed by the administration of the school largely as outsiders. This is evidenced by the fact that Brodie is encouraged to...

I will argue that Joyce Emily did not accidentally join Franco's forces, but did so in accordance with Jean Brodie's wishes.

Joyce Emily Hammond desperately wants to become associated with the "Brodie set" as she has been shuffled between schools for quite some time before landing at Marcia Blane. Brodie and her mentees are viewed by the administration of the school largely as outsiders. This is evidenced by the fact that Brodie is encouraged to find a more progressive school on numerous occasions and the faculty attempts to separate or limit Brodie's influence on the girls. As an outsider attempting to find a place of belonging, Joyce Emily would view Brodie's tutelage as advantageous. 

Throughout the novel, Jean Brodie has a number of glowing things to say about fascist leaders coming into power in her time. When her primary set of girls has grown a little older and have less time for Brodie, she takes on Joyce Emily. The problematic part of Brodie's worldview becomes clear when Sparks writes, "Everyone, including Joyce Emily, was anti-Franco if they were anything at all" (126). So why does she die on a train that she shouldn't have been on if she was going to fight Franco?

I think it can be inferred that Joyce Emily's switching sides is a testament to the force of her pro-fascist rhetoric. Jean Brodie is ultimately a problematic character as she irresponsibly indoctrinates susceptible young girls with fascist theory. Joyce Emily's death is the product of Brodie's ideas mixing with the younger girl's willingness to practice them. The result is tragic and ultimately contributes to Brodie's downfall.