CYBER SAFETY – JOHN PARSONS – BELFAST SCHOOL HALL – 26 JUNE 2018
Junior Syndicate Session
John Parson's had a session with all Syndicates. The Juniors went along this morning and learning about being safe on the internet and computers. We discuss keeping ourselves safe and who/what was in your circle.
- Friends
- Family
- Yourself
These are the things in your circle or bubble. Personal information needs to stay in your bubble to stay safe. You have the power if you keep this information in your bubble. The children loved this and being able to show they were strong.
We discussed if people on internet games start asking for your personal information, or you get butterflies in your tummy, you should listen to this and tell an adult. If they're mean to you ignore them and keep the power.
Staff Session Notes:
- John Parsons is;
- Anchored in private sector
- Education sector
- Health sector
- Child protection
DUTY OF CARE:
Firewall – Family Values and culture
- Express values
Children going on Facebook underage
- Can lead to consequences e.g. predators think she is of age
Digital era
Obsessed about pamphlets, bullying
De-powering children – disturbing observations of children’s mental health due to unlimited internet games. They are seeing sexual violent games.
Children marinated in sexual games – their vocabulary changes. A predator will use language that will sexualise. A predator will use language to sexualise the child – if wrapped in family values. If used to that language at 7 – 8 years. Won’t have ability to realise that this is not right.
Profession:
- Teachers are becoming a victim of what we are expected to do e.g. bullying
Reason:
- Every 12 months 5 babies are killed
- Lots of children living in poverty – in every region
- Violence against women
- This reflects at the percentage of children in your class that have this
R18 Game – not nurturing for parents
LAYERING OF RESPONSIBILITIES
- WITHIN THE SCHOOL DIFFERENT LAYERS
IMPORTANCE OF TEACHER / LIFE BALANCE
- Family life first and then a teacher – 80 – 20%
CHILDREN PROTECTION POLICY – should have one in your induction; Risk Management – need driver’s licence. How does it protect you / children
Children protection:
- Bruises seen / dad just got out of jail
- Girl ran off when asked – teacher made a note, signed it, sent on to police
- Judge makes the decision to uplift a child – final say. (immediate harm)
- READ THIS – and school should get teacher to sign it.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE TAKE:
- Never asked a question that is closed
- How did you do that? What happened?
- Tip of iceberg – anything out of ordinary
- Even if Child Youth and Family are dealing with them – still pass it on. Formulise to a procedural way.
- Take it to management – make a note to what you have seen, learn to bring others in.
CONSENT:
- Let children start at any point of their story – don’t worry about sequencing.
DISCLOSURE is made to you – very important to document to the best of your ability.
- When the crime is being committed
- When they tell you of the crime.
Teacher – therapeutic support & clarification of her role
ADVICE FROM TRUSTEES
- Encourage – trust own feelings
- Educate pupils – publish NAG 5
- Know NAG 5
- Safe physical environment -
- What is not consistent with the role of a teacher
- Social network with students
- Student connection through Facebook – worry about things being out of context
- Social connections who are friends with parents in the communities
- Teacher give gifts to students – e.g. reception gives shoes to child because they are too small – need to go through management, gifts need to be transparent, may have more welfare issues
- BETTY – discussion on someone siloed herself and did not meet NAG 5.
- Geography – helping out behaviour things – needs to pass it on not deal with yourself.
- Need to be a team
- Hugging
- Male teacher cannot hug a child
- Confuses the role of a teacher
- May empower predator behaviour
PURGE ON CELLPHONE
- Put photos on to lap top
- Purge them 2 weeks –take off phone
- Pictures are owned by the school – you need to get permission of the school
INTERVIEW WITH JOHN PARSONS
- Important to keep relationship focused with the child – not at the dinner table
- Learn Values:
- Empathy compassion respect
- This means that when they go on line – they can stand up and say that this is wrong
- Open lines of communication
- Cyber tooth tiger – take technology off the child and the child learns nothing but being anxious about technology
- Concerns – shut computer lid, bring phone facing towards them.
Think what if you are right – not if you are wrong
Demand more from agencies
Maintain professional boundary
CHILDREN ARE BORN TO CARE
TRUST YOUR GUT
THINK WHAT IS RIGHT.
IF SOMETHING IS DISCLOSED
WHO THE CHILD IS
THE TIME DISCLOSED INFORMATION
WHERE YOU ARE (LOCATION)
Reflection: This session was very eye opening. It was very thought provoking and made me think more seriously about the impact of social media on teachers and myself in particular. I have some parents in the school community on my Facebook account and it made me think of what they are seeing. I have the school parents grouped for minimal vision of my posts however it still made me question having them on there. Some of the parents I went to school with and have known since I was very little and I was left thinking if I should allow them remain on my account. I was also left thinking about how hugs can be perceived by outsiders. I only hug the children when they are upset over something and it is something that they want so I think I am within my rights to do this as I don't want the children to be upset and a small hug for a 5-6 year old can cheer them up. The discussion definitely made me more aware about reporting even the small things I may see to the appropriate people and I loved the quote "Think what if you're right, not what if you're wrong".
