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CYBERBULLIES

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Published Date: 19 February 2010
DRIFFIELD School has joined an international campaign to combat cyberbullying at a time when staff there are dealing with on average one reported case a week.
It has also become one of the first schools in the East Riding to pay for an e-safety co-ordinator to visit primary schools to warn children about the potential dangers of using the internet before they reach secondary school age.

Headteacher Martin Green said: “The internet is a fantastic educational and social resource for people everywhere but it does present a danger for young people and what we want to do is to encourage young people to access everything that’s available but safely.

“The key message is be aware of the primary dangers and take some simple precautions that will keep you safe.”

Posters featuring embarrassing photographs of pupils, many of whom have been victims of cyberbullies, have gone on display around the school in a bid to make others think about what they are posting on the internet and social networking sites such as Facebook.

The launch of the poster campaign co-incided with Safer Internet Day, an international initiative organised by Insafe to promote a more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people.

This year’s campaign topic was Think B4 U post!, a message which Driffield School ICT teacher and newly appointed e-safety co-ordinator Wendy Baxter says is vital at a time when she is dealing with around one case of cyberbullying a week.

“A major part of my role is giving out advice on any dangers with cyberbullying or online posting, and dealing with any issues that arise from the internet.

“I’m currently dealing with one case a week at the school involving cyberbullying right across the year groups.

“If anyone reports a case to me I would provide advice and quite often I have ways and means of going into sites and getting material removed or blocking access,” Ms Baxter said.

Mr Green said unfortunately bullying had always taken place in schools but the internet gave it a different medium.

“What the internet does is provide some opportunity for bullies to say something more insulting with the protection of the internet,” he said.

Wold Newton Foundation School teacher Emma Richardson is the new Driffield School funded e-safety co-ordinator.

She visits local primary schools showing pupils how to use the internet responsibly at a time when Mr Green said children have access to mobile phones and the world wide web at an early age.

Access to social networking websites like Facebook is prohibited at Driffield School but pupils say it goes on 24/7.

A photograph taken of Year 12 pupil Ben Thrustle asleep on a bus trip with the school has been turned into one of the posters being used in the campaign.

He said the photograph had previously been circulated to his peers through mobile phones and the internet – which he said was “embarrassing.”

“It was quite embarrassing because people are looking at me. It was posted on my Facebook page and was being shared

– story continues on page 4

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  • Last Updated: 17 February 2010 4:04 PM
  • Source: Driffield Post
  • Location: Driffield
 
 
 

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