‘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@mediawales.co.uk