British teachers have called for sites like YouTube to be shut down in order to prevent students and staff being bullied. The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) is concerned that, “bullies have posted mobile phone videos on websites, showing teachers as well as pupils being attacked or humiliated.” Sadly, this is not a joke.
Bullying is a terrible thing, cyber-bullying included, but I have to say that this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Certainly, bullies are using sites like YouTube to show their handiwork. As far as I am aware, YouTube has taken the issue seriously. It has resulted in a number of bullies being prosecuted. The case that has created most of the consternation for the PAT was a death threat towards a teacher that was posted online. The proposal was made by Kirsti Paterson of the Highland and Western Isles Federation of PAT.
I am a high school teacher, at my school there is bullying just like at any other school. The difference is that teachers are proactive about it. You certainly would not hear of teachers being bullied. As big as some students can be, a teacher is in a position of power, if someone does not project authority, they should not be a teacher. If teachers cannot stand up to bullies, how are students supposed to learn how to do it? The problem, it would seem, is that too many of the wrong people are being teachers in Britain.
In the days before YouTube, kids used to make prank phone calls. No one ever considered shutting down the telephone lines because a few people misused them. Proposals such as this one amount to nothing more than an attempt by some teachers to shirk a vital responsibility: to instill a sense of discipline and to teach respect. If they are unable to perform their duties, they should choose another profession.
Source: BBC
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Tags: bullying, education, YouTube
1 response
Nov 30, 2007 at 9:30 am
it is sooo un-fair that this page is filtered
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