british PAT (Professional Association of Teachers) wants to BAN utube/video website

nbooradley

Hi guys,

Was reading the news the other day and came across this article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6925444.stm

"Teachers have called for websites such as YouTube to be shut down as part of efforts to prevent pupils and staff being bullied."

I dont know how you people feel about this but i'm in shock that teachers can be so STUPID!

My point is that BANNING anything only creates more demand for it, the fact this story made it on the news only fuels more people to post up and abuse the system.

I dont feel that the websites themself are to blame more the steady moral decline in youth over the years and teachers and parents looking for anything to blame other than themself for BAD teaching and most certainly BAD parenting.

I decided to mail the PAT and explain my viewpoint on the issue. I also pointed out that if you want to BAN video websites because of cyber bullying then lets ban all DIGITAL CAMERAS and PHOTOS due to paedophiles using them for child abuse!

Anyway they was good enough to email me back with the full motions that these two incredible short sighted and idiotic members of P.A.T motioned.

here you go and see what you think for yourself.

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PAT Annual Conference 2007

Motions Session I: Tuesday 31 July, 09.00-10.30

Conference speeches are the personal opinions of those making them and may not necessarily represent current PAT policy. Motions that are carried will go to PAT’s Council (the policy-making body) for consideration.

Check against delivery

2.Conference deplores the very real problem of cyber bullying in schools and demands the closure of sites encouraging such behaviour.

Seconded by Catriona Tait

Madam Chairman, colleagues – I speak in full support of everything my colleague Kirsti has proposed, and speak also as a fully paid up member of the ‘digital generation’. I am the proud owner of the laptop, broadband Internet, I-pod, and have to admit, I am that annoying friend who is never without their mobile. However, to me, these devices are all a simple means of relaxing after a long day or communicating with friends, old and new, past and present.

For many young people, however, their presence has a more sinister use and, with the advent of such technologies, cyber bullying came into being, a new and, if possible, more terrifying means of intimidation. According to a recent study carried out by Goldsmiths University, between a fifth and quarter of students surveyed had been a victim of cyber bullying at least once over recent months. I am sure you will share in the shock that I felt on hearing this statistic, that anywhere between 20 and 25 per cent of the children in our classrooms have been subjected to some form of bullying through phone call, text messaging, or the World Wide Web.

According to the anti-bullying network, victims of cyber bullying can feel even more isolated than those subjected to face-to-face bullying. For such individuals, the abuse can be 24 hours, with no sanctuary to hide from the endless threats and torment. Such anonymous bullying can make it hard to identify the perpetrator, even if the victim finds the courage to confide in another. With so many parents unfamiliar with many aspects of technology, signs of bullying towards the victim or from the bully are much harder to identify.

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PAT Annual Conference 2007

Motions Session I: Tuesday 31 July, 09.00-10.30

Conference speeches are the personal opinions of those making them and may not necessarily represent current PAT policy. Motions that are carried will go to PAT’s Council (the policy-making body) for consideration.

Check against delivery

2.Conference deplores the very real problem of cyber bullying in schools and demands the closure of sites encouraging such behaviour.

Proposed by: Kirsti Paterson, Highland & Western Isles Federation, SEC Committee, PAT (Scotland)

Madam Chairman, Colleagues

School personnel, in partnership with pupils and parents, continually make efforts to address bullying problems through agreed school policies on anti-bullying. Now, as we move further into the 21st century, we are also recognising a new form of bullying, manifesting itself in the misuse of mobile phones. The majority of young people possess the newest and most hi-tech gadgets, increasing digital interaction. Such technological advance has also brought the threat to which I make reference in my motion – cyber bullying.

This can range from texting threatening messages, using camera and videophones to take pictures without permission. These have been known to be posted on the ‘You Tube’ Website. Access to Internet sites eg Rate My Teacher are being used by pupils to make hurtful and offensive comments about school staff. Being exposed to ridicule whether as an adult or young person is a humiliating and frightening experience.

Allow me to give you some evidence given by members of our Association …

A member has indicated that pictures of a staff member were taken during a class lesson and posted on a Website. A caption accompanied the picture: “YOU ARE DEAD”.

Another instance tells of a staff member videoed whilst walking along a path.

Yet another – where a pupil put some derogatory comments about another pupil on a Website but portrayed it that it was a staff member who had published the offensive remarks.

The sensitivity of certain cases does not allow details to be released to the public domain but generally speaking these identify:
• assaults filmed on mobile phones of both teachers and fellow pupils and of threats sent via text or e-mail;
• use of Websites – posting unfair criticism and even malice;
• use of MSN messenger – pupils contacting one another, sometimes using insulting language and the resulting bad feeling is brought into school.

I have just hinted at one consequence of this deplorable behaviour – bad feeling amongst peers is brought into school.

I think we can go further – nowhere is safe from cyber bullying. It can carry on 24/7 through mobile phones and in multiple forms online. Remarks, images posted online can be easily copied and can be present on line in many places. To quote our General Secretary, Philip Parkin, “Cyber bullying is an invasion of privacy from which it can be difficult to escape”.

In the short term, confronting this problem must be the closure of sites encouraging the cyber bullying as I have already mentioned.
In the long term, authorities and schools must have policies encouraging responsible and safe behaviour online so that all can embrace the benefits these technological aids. Otherwise, we will leave professionals and young people in our schools vulnerable to unacceptable behaviour. They need our support.

Our Association puts children first. Also the well-being of our members must be of paramount importance.

Over the last week, the media have shown great interest in this motion. From the Press and Journal editorial: “All technical measures available to restrict or wipe away their unsavoury efforts, should be pursued vigorously”.

From the Inverness Courier: “Yesterday NCH supported her stance”.

I ask Conference to fully support this motion.

Thank you.

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Phew! sorry for such the long post but would be interested what the rest of you think about this.


cheers

NBooradley

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Lol, while they're at it, they might want to get rid of schools as well, because that's where most of the bullying goes on

unnameduser

i think youtube is an excellent site for teaching

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I don't think google would be too happy to see their $1.65 billion dollar investment "closed"

Soundman

Just ban children. Sorted!

nbooradley

little buggers get away with murder these days in my opinion.

who else has a parent that said a thump round the ear never did them any harm!

the worlds become so PC and wrapped up I think teachers are afraid to even FART in a classroom now.

we all know ASBO's dont work and are just a status trophey to these kids, hey i've got 10 asbo's WHATEVER!!

Banning these sites is just such an incredible dumb solution to me.

The root of the problem needs to be addressed but with parents not giving a toss what their little urchins get up to and parents with hands tied behind their backs what hope do we have of sorting it out.

Stephen

FUC KTARDS.

I hate people with the WEH WEH THIS IS BAD SO IT SHOULD BE BANNED mentality. Quick, ban computer games, films, rock music and freedom of speech while you're at it. Better burn those books you don't like too.

oh no, godwinned!