Probe into shock YouTube video

Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 17 February 2009

Pupils seen hitting out in class

A SCHOOL is investigating after a video clip was posted on YouTube showing two boys viciously striking pupils in a classroom.

The shocking footage — entitled “Kane Wacking Geeks” on the controversial website — has caused anger over the level of violence one of the rampaging Failsworth School pupils uses.

The brief video, filmed on a mobile phone, shows one boy running around the classroom randomly striking several children, while another pupil is also seen in the background hitting pupils, before the pair turn on each other.

It was first feared they are using rulers to hit out with, but it is possibly a rolled-up magazine. It’s not clear if anyone was injured but pupils appear to be laughing at the stunt.
One Failsworth resident said she had considered going to the police. She said: “I just typed Failsworth in, as that’s where I live and I wanted to see what was on, and I saw that come up. It’s terrible. I was absolutely appalled.

“It was the children cowering that was worse. It’s horrific and the children laughing upset me. Who would film something like that?

“I have reported a video before to the school. There was another one of a boy wearing the school uniform in the cemetery with his trousers down.

“But with the seriousness of this one something needs to be done.

“Where is the teacher and why is the school not monitoring such video uploads?”

Head teacher David Johnson said he was unaware of the video or the incident.

He said: “I don’t know anything about it but we will deal with it. We will investigate the incident and take appropriate action.”

But he defended the website, saying: “It’s not YouTube’s fault, it’s how people use it.

“There are some fantastic resources that can be used for education, it’s just the way people misuse it.”

YouTube is a free video hosting site that allows users to view and share clips, and attracts almost 20 million visitors a month.

But videos can be posted without undergoing checks, leading to criticism of the contents of some postings.

It was condemned by the Kidscape charity over a video of two schoolgirls fighting in Cardiff.

In 2006, two of Oldham’s park security staff were sacked after a video placed on YouTube showed them laughing while yobs hit each other with bottles.

The incident had been filmed in a street next to Coalshaw Green Park, Chadderton, and uploaded on to the website.