Girls more likely to spread malicious internet gossip

Education Correspondent

Thursday 4 October 2012

GIRLS are more likely than boys to use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to spread malicious gossip, according to a major report on indiscipline in Scottish schools.

CONNECTED: The study reveals there are fears over the disruption to schools caused by pupils using their mobile phones in class.

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Andrew Denholm Education Correspondent

The finding is one of many in a document that highlights the increasingly disruptive use of mobile phones in the classroom.

The report by Ipsos Mori said: "The survey findings showed a sharp increase in inappropriate and, in a minority of cases, abusive use of mobile phones in classrooms and around schools."

Are mobile phones in Scotland's classrooms a boon or a bane? Secondary headteachers felt that "using mobile phones against school policies" had the greatest negative impact on staff's experience at school. The report adds: "There was a perception that girls may be more likely than boys to use social networking sites such as Facebook to make spiteful comments or spread malicious gossip about each other." In the wake of the 2012 Behaviour in Scottish Schools report, teaching unions and parents called for better management of the problem to ensure it did not disrupt learning. The Scottish Government also stressed the issue would be discussed with the Scottish Advisory Group on Behaviour in Schools - which includes teaching unions and councils - to produce a joint action plan for further improvements next year. Currently, there are no national guidelines on the use of mobile phones in schools because such matters are the responsibility of individual councils and schools. However, the Scottish Govern-ment does publish support materials for councils to improve behaviour which may be amended in future to include advice on the use of mobile phones. Most councils adopt a policy where mobile phones are allowed, but must be switched off during lessons. Pupils who flout the rules can have phones confiscated but, as the report found, some teachers prefer not to confront pupils over their use. The report found: "Although use of a phone for texting, gaming or social networking can be offensive to a teacher and can present an unwelcome distractive influence in a classroom, staff also felt confronting a pupil who is surreptitiously looking at their phone under a desk or in a bag or jacket can cause more problems than tactically ignoring it." One positive in the development of policies to tackle mobile phone use highlighted in the research centred on a pilot project in a primary school where older pupils were actively encouraged to use their phones. Teachers were able to harness the positive aspects of phone use, such as using them as calculators, while also explaining the rules surrounding phone use. Alan McKenzie, acting general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, welcomed the pilot. He said: "We have gone beyond the point where it is reasonable or appropriate to ban mobile phones and we need a much more constructive approach to the issue. "What is also important is teachers feel supported by the school's management team to take the appropriate action where it is required, such as confiscating the phone until the end of the lesson." Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said families should also take on responsibility for the correct use of mobile phones. She said: "We need to accept that smartphones will be with us in some form from now on so it comes down to finding the correct management strategies within schools. "It's the responsibility of everyone to ensure these devices do not interfere with learning so communication between parents and schools is vital so these rules can be explained and underlined by families."

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Girls more likely to spread malicious internet gossip

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