School 'cyber bullies' making Edinburgh teachers' lives a misery

Published on Thursday 29 October 2009 09:32

TEACHERS are being subjected to "cyber bullying" by pupils as growing numbers of children use mobile phones to film lessons, take "inappropriate" pictures of female staff and make false allegations on websites.

Unions today claimed that technological advances were leaving teachers more vulnerable to "public ridicule and false allegations", and called for legislation to protect staff, as well as zero tolerance for cyber bullies.

Members of the UK's largest teaching union NASUWT are gathering in Edinburgh this weekend to discuss the problems created by new technologies at their AGM.

Neil Mclean, Edinburgh secretary of the NASUWT, said cyber bullying was a "genuine worry" for teachers.

The Castlebrae High teacher said

: "One example that's been happening locally is boys using a phone to take pictures of female teachers' bottoms and such like.

"So many pupils believe it's their absolute right to get their phone out and take pictures whenever they feel like it.

"Phones are everywhere and they're so tiny that you can't see them in the class. It's a worry for teachers because they are being quite maliciously targeted."

The motion to be discussed by union members later this week states there is growing evidence that "the abuse of technology, particularly mobile phones, e-mails and internet sites, is not only contributing to increasing workload but is also providing a vehicle for the bullying and harassment of staff, as well as false allegations being made against them".

Mike Corbett, convener of the organising committee which is calling for stricter controls on technology, said there needed to be a review of legislation to prevent allegations being made about named teachers on internet sites and tighter restrictions on the use of mobile phones in schools.

He said: "With technology progressing, now we can take photos and videos which can be doctored.

"We would like to see more guidance nationally on how we can address this because it's pretty patchwork at the moment.

"It opens up teachers to abuse, if pupils can take a video on a phone without anyone knowing and use software that can give a false impression of what's happened and stick it on the internet."