Backing for digital crackdown

Rotorua schools are cracking down on cyber bullies.

Rotorua schools have expressed full support for new cyber safety guidelines allowing teachers to seize students' digital devices when they suspect inappropriate use.

The guidelines, available for schools and parents on the Ministry of Education website, allow teachers to react to digital incidents deemed to be detrimental to students' well-being.

These include intimate photos or videos of another student, cyber bullying, "sexting" or organising criminal activities.

John Paul College principal and Cyber Bullying Workforce chairman Patrick Walsh said the new guidelines took an educative approach to the issue.

"The regulation of digital devices in schools is a complex area and one that needs clearer guidelines to how teachers can and cannot react to specific problems." The new guidelines do not allow teachers to search through students' devices, but if they suspect serious cases of bullying, sexting or recording criminal activities, the device can be handed over to police.

"We have had discussions with police to ensure they are trained to deal with a situation where a principal or teacher approaches them with a student's device."

Mr Walsh said the guidelines were about "protecting the well-being of students, not extending the authoritative hand of a school.

"We don't want to give the impression that we think technology is a bad thing, it's not.

"In fact, it is a useful educational tool, however, we need to acknowledge that there is a dark side to technology and schools have to be able to combat it.

"Cyber bullying has been directly linked by coroners' reports to youth suicide and schools need to take appropriate disciplinary procedures when they see the effects of cyber bullying."

Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker said having the guidelines would save time for teachers.

"Staff can spend a lot of time arguing with students, and sometimes the student's family when there are concerns a digital device is being used inappropriately.

"If teachers can now seize the phone, and know they are doing so safely within the law, it will save a lot of time."

Mr Walker said the misuse of digital devices on and off school grounds was a serious matter.

"Cyber bullying, in all its forms, is a huge problem and these guidelines will make it clear to students that schools take it seriously.

"I can't imagine any schools wanting to get police involved, but, if a case of cyber bullying does get to the point where it may be considered a criminal offence, we can now hand it over to the police to handle."