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| Teachers warn of online threats from pupils | Teachers warn of online threats from pupils |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
| Social networking websites are being used to threaten and make false allegations against teachers, according to a teachers' union. | Social networking websites are being used to threaten and make false allegations against teachers, according to a teachers' union. |
| The NASUWT says a survey shows that more than four in 10 have experienced such online abuse. | The NASUWT says a survey shows that more than four in 10 have experienced such online abuse. |
| Pupils and their parents have carried out such online attacks - many of which go unreported, say teachers. | Pupils and their parents have carried out such online attacks - many of which go unreported, say teachers. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Education said such website bullying was "completely unacceptable". | A spokesman for the Department for Education said such website bullying was "completely unacceptable". |
| Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, described the level of online abuse against teachers as "truly shocking". | Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, described the level of online abuse against teachers as "truly shocking". |
| False allegations | False allegations |
| The teachers' union, holding its annual conference in Birmingham, says that teachers have even faced death threats from pupils writing on websites. | The teachers' union, holding its annual conference in Birmingham, says that teachers have even faced death threats from pupils writing on websites. |
| There have been false allegations of "inappropriate behaviour with a pupil" and attacks on teachers' professional ability, according to the survey. | There have been false allegations of "inappropriate behaviour with a pupil" and attacks on teachers' professional ability, according to the survey. |
| According to the research, 16% of teachers had faced online insults from parents. | According to the research, 16% of teachers had faced online insults from parents. |
| When such parents were reported by teachers, fewer than a third thought that adequate action had been taken against the culprits. | When such parents were reported by teachers, fewer than a third thought that adequate action had been taken against the culprits. |
| Facebook was identified by teachers as the social networking website most used by pupils to comment about school staff. | Facebook was identified by teachers as the social networking website most used by pupils to comment about school staff. |
| But a Facebook spokesman said: "When conversation crosses a line and turns into harassment, teachers have access to reporting tools on almost every page of the site, unlike much of the wider web." | But a Facebook spokesman said: "When conversation crosses a line and turns into harassment, teachers have access to reporting tools on almost every page of the site, unlike much of the wider web." |
| Ms Keates said even though this was such a serious problem, "there are no adequate procedures in place locally or nationally to protect teachers". | Ms Keates said even though this was such a serious problem, "there are no adequate procedures in place locally or nationally to protect teachers". |
| "It is clear that some employers are seriously failing in their duty of care by neither having appropriate policies in place nor taking incidents seriously when reported." | "It is clear that some employers are seriously failing in their duty of care by neither having appropriate policies in place nor taking incidents seriously when reported." |
| She accused the government of being "seriously wanting" in how it responded to such cyberbullying. | She accused the government of being "seriously wanting" in how it responded to such cyberbullying. |
| "It is absolutely unacceptable for pupils to bully, threaten or abuse teachers," said a spokesman for the Department for Education. | "It is absolutely unacceptable for pupils to bully, threaten or abuse teachers," said a spokesman for the Department for Education. |
| "False or malicious allegations about teachers not only damage careers but ruin lives. | "False or malicious allegations about teachers not only damage careers but ruin lives. |
| "The provisions in the Education Act - as part of a wider package of measures on behaviour in schools - help put teachers back in control of the classroom." | "The provisions in the Education Act - as part of a wider package of measures on behaviour in schools - help put teachers back in control of the classroom." |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |