When You’re Smiling

At one primary school in England, the task of protecting young children has gone to a whole new level.

John Ray’s pcblogspot.com reported that while a recent school newsletter sent home to parents included an un-retouched photo of students, the same group shot on the school’s website shows a bunch of smiley faces instead.

Clare Reece, the school’s headmistress, explained that “the decision was made not to include any photos of our pupils on this website” in order to protect them from Internet predators.

Reaction to this move was quick and heated. Sociology professor Frank Furedi viewed it as an overreaction to the pedophile threat, adding that it would deprive young children of the memories of their childhood experiences later in life.

The parent of an eight-year-old student asked: “If they are covering the children’s faces, what’s the point of using photographs?” Another person commented: Why did the IDIOTS take the pictures in the first place. BRAINS – I THINK NOT.

It wasn’t long before the school posted a message on its website, saying: “Our newsletter section is undergoing maintenance. Back soon.

Deborah Lambert writes the Squeaky Chalk column for Accuracy in Academia‘s monthly Campus Report newsletter from which this feature is excerpted.