School smiley-face cover-up backfires

A school in Essex has come under fire for using rave-style smiley faces to protect the identities of its children in an internet newsletter.

Clare Reece, head teacher at Cann Hall Primary School in Clacton-on-Sea, claimed that the decision to mask the children's faces was to prevent paedophiles using the newsletter to target children.

However, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has described the incident as over the top.

"Anyone posting photos of children on the internet needs to consider the risk this poses to children," the organisation said. "But in this case the impulse to protect children's identities may have gone too far."

Some parents have supported the move. "I think it's right," said Deborah Fermor. "I don't think there should be pictures of children on the internet. It's a sign that the world is changing."

Cann Hall Primary School has now taken the pages off its website.

See also:

Security firm outlines main web threats

Financial fraud, online relationships and social networking  14 Feb 2008

Children ignoring online dangers

Apathy remains the biggest concern  14 Feb 2008

Parents unaware of online risks taken by kids

Mind the 'enormous' gap  05 Feb 2008

IM and chatrooms worst for sexual harassment

More dangerous for teens than social networks, says report  05 Feb 2008

UK cops launch child protection website

CEOP sets up site to teach kids how to stay safe online  25 Oct 2007

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