Teachers are reportedly quitting their jobs after being falsely labelled as paedophiles by students in TikTok videos.
The nationwide TikTok 'teaching-bashing' craze has seen students make 'derogatory comments' about educators, including falsely labelling staff as adulterers and paedophiles.
Unions have warned that the harmful TikTok videos are causing teachers to quit their jobs, while the videos have been reported to the police, The Telegraph reported.
Our Lady and St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, has been hit by the harmful craze and has urged parents to check their children's phones after a string of derogatory videos were shared on social media.
Elsewhere, Cwmtawe Community School in Wales had to call the police after a meme falsely suggested one teacher was an offender, while The de Ferrers Academy in Burton has seen students covertly taking pictures of teachers in class to use in often 'sexualised' videos.
The NASUWT teachers union has warned that the social media craze was leading to teachers quitting the profession.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: 'If there is any evidence that companies like TikTok are actively promoting or inciting the abuse of teachers, this is wholly unacceptable and urgent action must be taken immediately by the Government.
'There is simply no excuse for abuse of teachers whose lives are being ruined as a result of the posting of malicious content on these social media platforms.'
TikTok says it has taken down hundreds of pieces of content, as well as banning accounts where that is appropriate, and is using new technology to better detect abusive material.
Principal Kathy Hardy has warned that such incidents would not be tolerated at the Burton school and leaders were investigating to find out which pupils were involved.
She said: 'Many of the images are sexualised and the language and tone wholly inappropriate and hurtful.
'Images have been taken covertly while staff have been teaching in school.'
School leaders have also warned students that they risk being prosecuted in court and being expelled.
A student at Horndean Technology College, Hants, recently posted a disturbing video on social media saying they wanted their headteacher dead and to gouge her eyes out - before admitting they did it to get more likes and followers.
The pupil uploaded the shocking death threat video to TikTok - a social media famed for its viral dance and comedy videos.
Julie Summerfield, who was the target of the sick video, said when she confronted the student about it they revealed they had posted it 'to get more likes and more followers'.
She said: 'I asked them: 'How would you feel if someone wrote that about your mother?'
'They said they did it to get more likes and more followers.
'What is worrying is there are more avenues for people to be horrible and do it anonymously.
'A lot of students don't see it as a school issue - it's quite a shock for people when they find out that we can do something about it.'
Andrea Marr, the school's anti-bullying co-ordinator, said she has been targeted by three students on the platform with one using a photo-shopped image to paint her as homophobic.
Ms Marr said: 'Someone had mocked up an image of me holding a sign saying that I hate gay people - which was incredibly hurtful.'
At least 10 teachers at Horndean Technology College are believed to have been targeted this month alone.
As part of national charity Anti-Bullying Alliance's Anti-Bullying Week, the school held a series of assemblies to address the trend.
The assemblies are part of a wider, longstanding focus on tackling bullying and supporting other schools to get to grips with the nationwide problem.
Madelyn Grace, a 14-year-old student at the school who is part of its dedicated equality and rights advocacy group, told the Portsmouth News: 'Recently there has definitely been a rise in social media hate.
'It's something that schools and the older generation, and people in general, should be considering more.
The mother of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after being 'groomed and raped' has recalled how her daughter 'broke down and cut herself all over' before revealing she had been sexually assaulted.
Semina Halliwell, from Southport, died on June 12 of this year, after spending four nights in hospital.
Her mother, Rachel Halliwell, claimed her daughter was left 'traumatised' by a torrent of online and physical abuse following the alleged sexual offence by a boy of a similar age on February 25.
Appearing on BBC Three documentary, Zara McDermott: Uncovering Rape Culture, Rachel claimed that Semina had self-harmed 'all over her body' before telling her mother she had been sexually assaulted.
She claimed that Semina was coerced into sending explicit photographs online and that her alleged rapist was putting so much pressure on her she eventually 'gave in' and met him.
Rachel says that Semina was 'very funny, very bubbly and very chatty' before the alleged rape and barrage of abuse from her peers.
'Then things changed', she said. 'She was constantly on her phone, social media became massive in her life. If you said to her "What are you doing on the phone" she'd say "I'm talking to my friends, I didn't understand it."
Semina's friend Trinity said: 'There wasn't a moment she wasn't on her phone. When you're young, I think social media is the first thing you have ownership of it's the first adult thing you can do as a young person.
I've always thought that social media shouldn't be allowed to under 16's. I wouldn't allow my kid to have an iPhone before that age. No wonder kids are increasingly put on anti depressants. They can't be children anymore. Too much pressure, too much stress, too much peer competition
A good teacher doesn't have to instil fear in kids, but reading some of these stories, it seems that teachers in some schools have just lost control.
The lack of respect for anyone in authority is the big problem.
That is usually learned at home from a young age....if no one is teaching from example, we end up with situations like this, sadly.
A good teacher doesn't have to instil fear in kids, but reading some of these stories, it seems that teachers in some schools have just lost control. The lack of respect for anyone in authority is the big problem. That is usually learned at home from a young age....if no one is teaching from example, we end up with situations like this, sadly.
The personality disorder, narcissism, is on the rise.
A good teacher doesn't have to instil fear in kids, but reading some of these stories, it seems that teachers in some schools have just lost control. The lack of respect for anyone in authority is the big problem. That is usually learned at home from a young age....if no one is teaching from example, we end up with situations like this, sadly.
The personality disorder, narcissism, is on the rise.
Is it surprising considering a generation of people have been brought up interacting with others online, sometimes more than face to face.
Add to that the admiration people seem to need from strangers. Values have changed so much.
A good teacher doesn't have to instil fear in kids, but reading some of these stories, it seems that teachers in some schools have just lost control. The lack of respect for anyone in authority is the big problem. That is usually learned at home from a young age....if no one is teaching from example, we end up with situations like this, sadly.
Fear was the wrong word respect would be better.
I always remember Mr Hunt he retired when I was 11
He was fantastic a great teacher, a deep booming voice and his tales of the North Sea and the fact he could pick you up by the ears (without you feeling a thing), I often wonder what happened to him but of course he will be long gone now.
__________________
Simple. You, you're the threads. But me, I'm the rope.
A good teacher can affect the rest of your life, and they are never forgotten either.
I am going to see if I can find out about him.
Of course he was 65 when I was young but I hope somewhere online there is a record - I suspect he was in the services in WW2, he would have made a great Sgt Major.
A true old fashioned gentleman and a wonderful bloke.
__________________
Simple. You, you're the threads. But me, I'm the rope.
A good teacher can affect the rest of your life, and they are never forgotten either.
I am going to see if I can find out about him.
Of course he was 65 when I was young but I hope somewhere online there is a record - I suspect he was in the services in WW2, he would have made a great Sgt Major.
A true old fashioned gentleman and a wonderful bloke.
With the internet it's sometimes possible to trace your old teachers.
My favourite teacher was Miss Davenport. She loved the theatre and used to take a few of us to performances to see local shows.
She ended up in a few TV roles playing comedy....thanks to the internet I managed to read up about what she had been doing long after I left school.
Sadly she died quite young.
__________________
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
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