The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Probe after teacher suffers electric shock
Headmistress injured while using smart board in classroom
A probe is under way after a Perthshire head teacher received an electric shock in front of pupils while using classroom equipment.
Islean Gibson suffered the shock while using a smart board during a lesson at Kinloch Rannoch Primary. It happened in the run-up to the Christmas holidays, as startled children looked on.
Miss Gibson required medical treatment after the accident and has been recovering at home since.
Perth and Kinross Council confirmed an investigation had been launched and the smart board has been put out of action.
The Courier understands that an earlier incident occurred in which a child received a shock while using the device. This led to a rubber sheet being placed on the floor of the classroom in an attempt to prevent further accidents.
The head teacher of a remote Perthshire school received an electric shock while using a computerised smart board, as stunned pupils looked on.
A probe is under way after principal Isle an Gibson suffered the painful shock during a lesson at Kinloch Rannoch Primary.
The accident happened in front of children in the run-up to the Christmas holidays and Miss Gibson has been recovering at home since.
An investigation has now been launched to establish what went wrong and to determine how safe the classroom equipment is.
The smart board, an interactive writing board at the front of the classroom, has been put out of action.
The Courier understands that on an earlier occasion, a child suffered a shock while touching the machine, which led to a rubber mat being placed on the floor in an attempt to prevent a repeat incident.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman confirmed the teacher was injured while operating a laptop connected to the board. She is now preparing to return to class.
“The staff member left the class following the incident and was then treated by a GP,” the spokesman said.
“Children continued with their learning, and were reassured about the safety of the member of staff.”
He added: “The equipment that was in use at the time has been decommissioned while an investigation is completed.
“Tests by our electrical compliance officers and Tayside Contracts suggest there is no fault with the equipment and the incident may have been caused by static electricity.
“However, a full independent investigation is now under way to ensure the equipment is safe for use and we a wait its results.”
Local Conservative councillor John Duff, who is also vice-convener of the lifelong learning committee, said: “I was very sorry to hear of this incident and that a member of staff at the school received an injury as a result.
“I am glad that the staff member has since been able to return to work and wish her well. A thorough investigation is under way to make sure that the equipment is safe to use.”
Fellow Highland ward councillor Mike Williamson, SNP, said he was “relieved” Miss Gibson was in the process of returning to work.
“I look forward to hearing the results of the investigation and hope that any similar incidents can be prevented,” he said.
The remote primary has a roll of just over 20 pupils.
Miss Gibson hit the headlines in 2019 for a successful teaching experiment, where dogs were introduced to classroom lessons.
The animals were brought in as part of Miss Gibson’s masters degree in leading, learning and teaching at Dundee University. The project focused on the impact of canine classmates on her pupils, and found that they achieved better grades and were generally happier.
May have been caused by static