Teachers are 'cyberbaited' by kids who post classroom clashes on the webRex Features

A survey of teachers has found that vengeful students are provoking their teachers in the classroom just so they can film their reactions and post them online.

The poll of 800 teachers revealed that almost one in five school staff have been a victim of the practice, or knows a fellow teacher who has.

Known as 'cyberbaiting', the youngsters taunt the teacher and disrupt the class for the sole purpose of capturing the fall-out on their mobile phones. They then instantly upload the content to the internet.

Alice Robertson, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "Cyberbaiting is cruel and humiliating. It can be hugely damaging to self-esteem, confidence and reputation – and even break careers."

Deborah Preston, from the internet security company Norton who carried out the research said: "The digital age has opened up a whole new platform for classroom conflict."

Norton said that around 16% of staff said their school did not have a code of conduct regarding online interaction with ­children and 7% did not know of one.

Do you think schools should ban kids from having mobiles on the premises, full stop?

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