Filters on school PCs block pupils' access to sexual health issues

According to recent newspaper articles a Scottish Executive initiative to provide school pupils with information on sexual health is failing to reach its audience because school computer filters are blocking the websites.

This means that thousands of youngsters cannot get access to these valuable sites funded by the Executive and provided by Health Scotland, Young Scot and Caledonia Youth.

Judith Gillespie from SPTC urged local authorities and schools to be more realistic about online "dangers". She said: "Children are already very streetwise, yet schools try to keep them in cocoons. They try to pretend the world is a safe place when it is not. They should allow greater access to internet materials at the same time as equipping children to deal with its dangers."

For more information on this story go to:
www.sundayherald.com
or
www.tesscotland.co.uk

For more information on internet safety go to:
www.besafeonline.org

If you would like to know how to help your child use the Internet safely, then phone or email us for one of our SUSI (Safer Use of Services on the Internet) information packs.