LOCAL AUTHORITIES in Tayside and Fife have condemned “inappropriate” website content featuring anti-social behaviour in schools and offensive comments about teachers.

Sites such as YouTube and RateMyTeachers have drawn mischievous pupils seeking to publicise their horseplay or settle scores with unpopular teachers.

YouTube has a video showing a pupil throwing an explosive device from a second-floor balcony into the playground of Dundee’s Harris Academy.

A second video shows two pupils apparently fighting on the grounds of Baldragon Academy, also Dundee, watched by other pupils.

RateMyTeachers has many inappropriate and offensive comments about Tayside teachers, including an RE teacher who allegedly picks on children for their beliefs and is described as “thoroughly unprofessional and all-round dislikeable.”

The site also has allegations of a Dundee teacher who surfs eBay during class time, a teacher who is “really nasty (and) needs to be fired,” one daubed “a blundering idiot” and another berated for her “hairy toes.”

The councils’ comments come in the wake of North Lanarkshire Council’s decision to take legal action to request the removal of “offensive, humiliating or derogatory” material involving staff or pupils.

A spokeswoman for Angus Council said it has taken steps to block social networking sites in its schools.

She added, “Guidance is issued to pupils regarding using the internet safely and responsibly, whether on council equipment or at home.

“If any content was posted on any site which the council considered to be obscene or libellous then the council would consider appropriate action.”

Dundee City Council said it will monitor North Lanarkshire’s approach with interest.

An education department spokesman said, “The city council utterly condemns any offensive material like this being posted on the internet.

“Pupils cannot access the RateMyTeachers website from school computers and other inappropriate sites are blocked as well.”

Perth and Kinross Council said it does not have any policy that requires teachers to monitor social websites for offensive material.

A spokesman said, “There are already significant demands made on the time of teaching staff without asking them to police such sites.

“Were the council to be made aware of any significantly offensive material on a particular site, it would be dealt with appropriately and proportionately.”

Bryan Kirkaldy, a senior manager in the education service at Fife Council, said the authority has not issued specific advice about such websites.

“We have not had many problems with these in Fife,” he said. “We make it very clear to pupils that offensive comments about others will be dealt with very firmly in a disciplinary process.”

Last month a Dundee primary school teacher called for sites such as YouTube to be shut down in a bid to stop bullies targeting children and staff online.

Catriona Tait said one in four pupils had experienced cyber-bullying at some time but warned teachers were becoming just as big a target for “humiliation.”

The government has asked a working party, including industry members, to draw up guidance.

YouTube has said it is part of the task force and works closely with teachers’ unions, and will review any content flagged up as inappropriate.