Scotland’s largest teaching union has called on the UK government to regulate social networking sites to protect teachers from malicious smears posted online by pupils.
Drew Morris, education secretary of the Education Institute of Scotland, made the comments after police launched a probe into a Facebook page set up by pupils of a Dundee high school that made abusive and sexual comments about 20 teachers.
Staff at Menzieshill High School complained to Facebook about the page and it was removed. Police were also notified and have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Mr Morris said the UK government must find a way to prevent abusive comments and allegations being made about teachers on sites like Facebook.
He said: “With YouTube and Facebook material can be posted which causes immense damage and hurt.”
Mr Morris said that online abuse of teachers can put some people off teaching.
A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said the UK is “considering” EU proposals that would give people more control over personal data, including the “right to be forgotten” the ability to delete information about them if there is no legitimate grounds for retaining it.
Photo Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire