<videovortex> ‘Make a YouTube video and you’ll be kicked out’

[Sabine Niederer]

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/05/22/make-a- 
youtube-video-and-you-ll-be-kicked-out-91466-20947226/


‘Make a YouTube video and you’ll be kicked out’

May 22 2008 by Gavin O'Connor, South Wales Echo

PUPILS are today being told they face being kicked out of school if  
they use mobile phones to humiliate people on YouTube.

The stark warning comes from the headteacher of a Valleys school in a  
letter to parents.

Alan Pritchard, head of Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr Tydfil,  
said: “There’s been a growing problem across Wales and the UK with  
students using mobile phones to video incidents in lessons, for  
example, classes misbehaving and behaving provocatively to teachers.

“There have also been occasions when videos have been uploaded to  
YouTube, causing extremes of embarrassment and upset for all concerned.

“This matter is deemed an illegal intrusion into the workings of the  
school and practices of teachers. Consequently, if this happens in  
this school, the punishment will be punitive and may include  
permanent exclusion.”

The tough approach has been widely welcomed.

Phillip Dixon, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers,  
said pupils needed clear rules and needed to know what the  
consequences would be if they were breached.

He added: “We know that cyber bullying is an increasing problem in  
schools, not just of other pupils, but there’s the issue of bullying  
of school staff when things are being passed around from phone to  
phone or posted on YouTube.

“Teachers may be shown in an unfortunate situation, losing control of  
a class or slipping, and some very personal comments can be attached  
to these images.”

Coun Ray Thomas, who is an experienced chairman of governors for  
schools in Merthyr, said: “I don’t believe mobile phones should be  
allowed into any school because they are disruptive.

“This issue is something which happens in comprehensive schools more  
and more and it has to be dealt with.

“I would back any headteacher who took on this policy.”

John Williams, headteacher of Pen y Dre High School, one of four  
comprehensives in the borough, said both mobile phones and YouTube  
were banned in his school, but would not say whether pupils breaching  
the rules would be excluded.

Richard Piggin, spokesman for the charity Beatbullying, said banning  
pupils from school could be a step too far.

He said: “Young people involved in any incident of bullying deserve  
to be sanctioned, but they still deserve an education, or else we may  
just be perpetuating the problem. Filming an incident and spreading  
it via the internet can often be just as serious an offence as the  
one being carried out in the film.”

gavin.o’connor at mediawales.co.uk

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