Teachers’ antics not fodder for social media, pupils are warned

● Glenwood High in Durban is the latest school to ban pupils from filming teachers who behave badly in class, often after provocation from pupils.

Principal Andri Barnes said a clause prohibiting the practice was inserted in the school’s cellphone policy this month because of the prevalence of such incidents across the country last year.

Earlier this month, a video showed a teacher at Sans Souci Girls’ High School in Cape Town slapping a pupil.

Barnes said pupils who filmed and recorded teachers could be expelled.

Jeppe High School for Boys and St John’s College in Johannesburg, and Fairmont High in Cape Town have also banned pupils from filming and recording teachers. In September 2016 a pupil at Jeppe High recorded a teacher telling a pupil: “God, you are such an idiot‚ I have to say to you: ‘Stop your sh*t and work.’ Really‚ where is your book? Where are your notes? What the f*ck is it doing in your case?”

The school’s governing body chair, Michael Berger, said that after the incident, the school got social media law expert Emma Sadleir to talk to pupils on the dangers of “inappropriately” using cellphones.

Paul Edey, principal of St John’s College, said the punishment for recording and filming teachers could range from the confiscation of cellphones and SIM cards to detention, community service, suspension and expulsion.

David Lovatt, principal of King Edward VII School in Johannesburg, said: “We try our best to educate our boys on the responsible use of technology and in particular the broadcasting of material on social media.”

At Fish Hoek High in Cape Town, fights involving pupils are banned. There have been suspicions that some fights were staged. “Pupils have been ready to film and the footage is placed on social media to sensationalise and garner likes,” said principal Gavin Fish.

He said pupils’ cellphones were confiscated for a week if they used them during class. They can get it back sooner if they pay a R60 fine. Last year the school collected R9,820 in fines after 160 cellphones were confiscated.

Sally Upfold, head of marketing at Maritzburg College in KwaZulu-Natal, said banning cellphones might be considered.

“Despite using open forums such as school assembly to address concerns, our boys remain unaware of the risks associated with irresponsible use,” she said.

Sharon Reynolds, headmistress of CityKidz Pre & Primary School in Johannesburg, said two parents had been removed from the school’s WhatsApp group for a certain period after making derogatory comments about a teacher.

Despite using open forums such as school assembly to address concerns, our boys remain unaware of the risks associated with irresponsible use

Sally Upfold, right head of marketing at Maritzburg College in KwaZulu-Natal