'Be responsible cyber citizens' — city council says pupils and staff regularly reminded of social media pitfalls
Dundee City Council says it wants pupils to be ''responsible cyber citizens''.
Careless comments can have serious consequences.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 22.02.12
- Published online : 22.02.12 @ 12.28pm
Its comment comes after it emerged this week that some pupils at Menzieshill High School had been making abusive comments about teachers on Facebook.
The page they created has been taken down following complaints and a police inquiry is under way.
The incident has highlighted the problems that can occur when social media websites are misused and the council stressed it has been seeking to get across a safe use message to children at schools.
A spokesman said: ''The city council and other agencies, through the internet safety partnership, help to advise both pupils and teaching staff about the problems that can occur with the use of social media.
''Young people are told of the possible consequences that can arise because of statements left on the web, which can be seen by a potentially huge audience and can be a permanent record.
''We encourage pupils to be responsible cyber citizens and to not put themselves in danger in any way when they are on the internet.''
The spokesman said there have been a number of initiatives over the years to encourage safe use of the internet by young people. Pupils are asked to use the internet and technology in a positive way.
''Parents are also advised of internet and social media issues through sessions arranged through the education department and parent councils,'' he said.
Dundee, along with other Scottish local authorities, has been making extensive use of Glow, the national schools computer network. This was set up to provide a safe and secure environment for online learning.
Glow was used last month to show an official Holocaust memorial event at Caird Hall and also host an online meeting between pupils at a city primary school and people involved in a book and film about a children's Holocaust education centre in Tokyo.
03.41pm - 22.02.2012 Thornindaside - perth, scotland Report This
I'd make a lousy public sector employee cos on reading this article the word twee sprang to mind.
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