Social network class as ‘important as physics’
9:14am Monday 6th February 2012 in News
SCHOOLS across Bolton, including St Joseph’s, are teaching pupils how to use social networking websites.
And as well as educating pupils, Harper Green School, Farnworth, runs parental workshops to help them deal with any issues while their children are using the internet.
Youngsters are also encouraged to join the school’s educational social networking site.
Sara Cain, assistant headteacher, said: “When using social networking there can be an element of bravado and they may feel untouchable because they cannot see the person who is being contacted.
Other people can get involved and it escalates.
“Then you may see that person at school and those feelings of anger are there, which teachers then have to deal with.
“We have to be proactive in trying to stop it from arising through education, telling young people it is unacceptable.”
Turton School also teaches its pupils how to use social networking sites.
Headteacher John Porteous said: “There have been a lot of reports nationally highlighting the problems of cyber bullying and I am sure every school in the country will have had to deal with the upset that can be caused and the impact on friendships in school.
“The important thing is for us to be aware and encourage young people to share any incident with us so we can work with them and with parents to prevent them happening as much as is humanly possible.
“We try to teach our students how to be responsible in their comments towards others and how to keep themselves safe online.”
“Learning about these behaviours will be every bit as important as learning about physics or geography in preparing our young people to lead positive and purposeful lives.”
Kearsley Academy has a scheme in which young people investigate social media and how it can be misused and shows a film highlighting the impact hurtful words can have on people.
Andrea Collins, head of information technology, said: “We have not seen a rise in such incidents but there have been some. On our Virtual Learning Environment, children and their parents can work together and learn about internet safety.”
