NEWS
Concerned parents call
Tensions
grow over
for online privacy lessons
Scottish
teacher
numbers
by Chris Parr
Louis Halpern, chief executive
of Halpern Cowan, the digital com- Tensions between local authorities
munications agency that carried out and the SNP government have
Parents are so concerned that their the report, said: “If we do not proac- heightened to unprecedented levels
children’s online activities will tively teach young people about the after Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s
damage their chances of securing impact of their online activity how education secretary, hinted that
a top job that they want lessons can they better protect and promote education could be taken out of
about online privacy to be made themselves? We want to see a gen- their remit because of a row over
a compulsory part of the national eration of digitally literate adults teacher numbers and class sizes.
curriculum, a report has claimed. emerge in years to come, and it is Ms Hyslop singled out
Digital Literacy, which can- our responsibility to ensure it.” Glasgow Council for particular
vassed the opinions of more than He added: “Young people are blame, saying it had presided
2,000 UK adults, found that almost spending more and more time over a “deplorable” fall in teach-
half felt children’s job and univer- online, growing up with technology er numbers at the same time as
sity prospects could be damaged ingrained as part of their daily lives. pupil attainment in the city was
by reckless use of sites such as Unlike adults, however, they are not worsening at both primary and
Facebook, Bebo and YouTube. streetwise, they don’t understand secondary levels.
Some 69 per cent of those polled the threats.” She has demanded a meeting
said they wanted the government Paul Ainsworth, deputy head at with Cosla, the group representing
to introduce lessons that improve Belvoir High School in Leicestershire, local authorities, early next year
understanding of online privacy, said there was no doubt that young to discuss possible solutions and
and teach the importance of per- people placed things online that they “examine alternatives to the cur-
sonal reputation. later regretted, and that they commu- sory piece of the curriculum is the gauge what is the right thing to She added: “It is not acceptable rent system of local government
Just under half (44 per cent) said nicated things via mobile phone and answer. I think it is something in address at the right time.” to place the entire burden of respon- delivery of education policy”.
they never checked the content that email that they would never dare say schools that we are only too aware Chris Keates, general secretary sibility on schools. Schools already “Everything will be on the
their children access online, despite to someone in person. of as we deal with the after effects of the NASUWT, agreed that many do more than their fair share of fill- table and we will keep an open
having concerns about cyberbully- However, he added: “I am not of such communications through schools already taught pupils the ing the gaps left by parents abdicat- mind, but parents and pupils have
ing, grooming and file-sharing. sure if introducing another compul- our pastoral work, and we then risks of using the internet. ing their responsibilities.” a right to insist on progress,” she
said.
Student snappers win national competition
She would also seek to estab-
lish where £110 million that
“could have been spent on teach-
er salaries” had been spent.
“To slash teacher numbers at
The themes of happiness and the winning images will now form title; and Lolita Cameron, 17, from ment manager for Sightsavers, said the Caribbean to treat and prevent the same time as attainment is
loneliness proved a winning part of an exhibition entitled When Northgate High School in Ipswich, the competition aimed to encourage avoidable blindness. falling is an act of reckless disre-
combination in a national Actions Speak Louder Than Words, whose work, No Waiting At Any young people to reflect on how we There are 45 million people gard for the interests of children,”
photography competition for young which opens on London’s South Time, topped the 17 to 18 section. use our senses. worldwide who are blind, yet 75 per Ms Hyslop told the Association of
people. Bank next Thursday (December 10). The photos beat off competi- She added: “We were all so cent of blindness can be prevented Directors of Education Scotland.
The three winning images, The winning photographers are tion from 500 entries and are to be impressed by their professionalism or treated. Scotland has 1,348 fewer
shown here, were taken by three Emily Tudor, 13, from Pipers Corner exhibited alongside a selection of and artistic flair, and the resulting The i-click exhibition, When teachers than last year, offi-
talented young photographers as School in Buckinghamshire, whose 40 other entries, as well as photos exhibition will help us to demon- Actions Speak Louder Than Words, cial figures showed last week.
part of the 2009 i-click competition image Happiness won the 11 to 14 taken by Harry Potter star Katie strate just how precious the gift of will be held in the gallery@oxo on Secondaries have 25,371 teachers,
run by Sightsavers International. category; Stacy Leigh Stewart, 16, Leung and X Factor contestants sight really is.” London’s South Bank until January down by almost 700 on last year’s
The theme of the competition Denny High School near Falkirk, Same Difference. Sightsavers works in more than 10. Entrance is free. Visit www. total, and a pupil-teacher ratio of
this year was “body language” and whose Lonely Girl took the 15 to 16 Jo Mitchell, schools develop- 30 countries across Africa, Asia and sightsavers.org/iclick 11.9, compared with 11.7.
About half of Scotland’s 32
councils have failed to make
progress on the target of an 18
pupil maximum for P1 to P3,
which was a key part of the SNP
election manifesto in 2007. The
percentage of class sizes of 18 or
lower is unchanged at 13.2.
However, Pat Watters, presi-
dent of Cosla, hit back.
He said: “Local councils and
local people treasure education
as their own and Cosla and local
government would do everything
in their power and take every step
to ensure it remained that way.”
He said it would be “econom-
ic suicide” to hire more teachers
when school rolls were falling. He
also denied councils had pledged
to maintain teacher numbers as
Sight to behold: The part of their concordat with the
winning photographs in this Scottish government.
year’s i-click competition “The drive to maintain teach-
were Happiness by Emily er numbers is only in the mind of
Tudor, Lonely Girl by Stacy the government – there is prob-
Leigh Stewart, and No ably not a councillor alive who
Waiting At Any Tme by thinks it is feasible or indeed the
Lolita Cameron (clockwise right thing to do.”
from above)
Government campaign aims to cut teen pregnancy
Sixth formers should be encouraged honest conversations” about sex with their partner, while one in contraception to suit the lifestyle of
to talk more openly about sex, and relationships. five admit to feeling awkward everyone, and it’s right to talk about
relationships and contraception, Although teenage births are if discussing the subject with these options.”
according to a new government at their lowest level for 15 years, friends. Adverts for the campaign will
campaign. the government says that a lack Gillan Merron, public health show snippets of conversations
Contraception. Worth Talking of knowledge, misinformation, and minister, said: “Sex still seems to be about contraception, and a web-
About will aim to help cut the poor communication are a barrier taboo – too many of us are holding site will offer advice and informa-
UK’s teen pregnancy rate by giving to safe sexual behaviour among back from having the open and hon- tion designed to make it easier
youngsters more information about youngsters. est conversations that young people for young people to discuss sexual
sexual health, raising awareness of Research suggests that more need to make informed decisions, health.
the various methods of contracep- than a quarter of 16 to 24-year- including about when it’s right to Visit www.nhs.uk/worthtalking
tion, and encouraging “open and olds never discuss contraception have sex. There is a method of about for more information
4 SecEd • December 3 2009
04 news.indd 4 30/11/09 17:49:00
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