Voice: Statement on cyber-bullying pledge

Wednesday, 26, Mar 2008 12:00

Voice: the union for education professionals has welcomed the Government’s pledge to tackle cyber-bullying.

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "Children and adults can be frightened or intimidated by threatening messages sent by mobiles or by e-mail, or published online. This is an issue of great concern to many of our members and was the subject of a high profile debate at our 2007 Annual Conference*.

"Cyber-bullying is an invasion of privacy from which it can be difficult to escape. The victims of cyber-bullying need protection, and we hope that the Government and the ‘cyber-bullying taskforce’ can introduce real and enforceable measures to do that.

"I am looking for the Government to take a strong lead and compel the Web sites concerned to remove offensive or malicious material immediately.

"We would also like to see protection for teachers and school staff across the UK."

“Some people have said that students should be allowed to express their views and opinions, but responsible feedback from students in an appropriate forum is one thing; malicious persecution is another. Freedom of discussion is a two-way process that is tempered by responsibility and it should not include threats or intimidation or be one-sided.

‘In a democratic society we are allowed to criticise but it is not considered acceptable to incite others to murder, or to intimidate with racist, sexist or homophobic remarks, or to ruin reputations with baseless accusations. Bullies are often cowards and those who hide behind anonymity in such circumstances do not have the courage to stand by their remarks."

National Chairman Geraldine Everett added: “We are pleased to see this development of an issue that we first raised last summer.”

Notes*

At its 2007 Annual Conference, Voice (then PAT) members voted in favour of the motion "Conference deplores the very real problem of cyber-bullying in schools and demands the closure of sites encouraging such behaviour". Proposed by: Kirsti Paterson (Inverness), Seconded by Catriona Tait (Dundee): Motion speeches

Ends

Contacts: General Secretary Philip Parkin (philipparkin@voicetheunion.org.uk) or Communications Officer Richard Fraser in the Voice Press Office (pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk) on 01332 372 337.