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ARTICLE SUMMARY

Pupils in 'spy' survey

HORRIFIED parents and teachers last night slammed a Big Brother-style survey that asks children as young as 10 about their home lives and how much their parents drink.

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STAND UP AND FIGHT.

11.06.07, 8:21am

Just a thought,we pay these jokers wages,just why the hell are we putting up with it.
We had riots over the poll tax,a far less important issue than this,we Brits have lost our backbone.

• Posted by: rozipozReport Comment

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INTELLIGENCE GATHERING ON A SHOE STRING

11.06.07, 7:32am

Me dads got a bad back and says I musn't tell anyone that he cleans windows,mom smokes,it smells funny and stinks the house out.
Wonder if the teachers pass the info. on to the relevant agencies.

• Posted by: rozipozReport Comment

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SPY SERVEY

10.06.07, 11:56pm

THIS REMINDS ME OF SOMEONE ELSE WHO GOT CHILDREN TO SPY ON THEIR PARENTS
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE GESTAPO FORMING ,HITLER YOUTH WERE ENCOURAGED TO SPY ON THEIR PARENTS
IT SHOULD BE STOPPED NOW, COURSE WE HAVE A DICTORIAL GOVERNMENT AND NOTHING SUPRISES ME NOW,
PEOPLE BEING TRAINED TO ENTER YOUR HOME WITHOUT WARRANT , SPY IN THE BIN .
AND SMOKING SS OFFICERS .
SPEED CAMERAS, CCTV CAMERAS WATCHING US DAY AND NIGHT ,
HOW LONG BEFORE WE HAVE CONCENTRATION CAMPS ????

• Posted by: DEZG8MECReport Comment

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TOTALITARIANISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE UK

10.06.07, 10:59pm

As mentioned, this sinister, manipulation of children, by Labour, to spy on their families is, utterly, repugnant. Then again, it should not be so shocking; New Labour has whittled away our civil liberties from day one.
Yes heads should role son, before it is too late.
We are not evolving into a totalitarian state, despotism is already here; thanks to New Labour and its diktat, the BIG-LIE.

• Posted by: misanthropeReport Comment

PUPILS IN 'SPY' SURVEY

10.06.07, 10:19pm

Britain has become a Totalitarian State over the past 10 years. There is not a walk of life that you can follow without the "Big Brother breathing down your neck.

Methinks its time for a complete change of Government - what we need is a party who will govern using common sense.

Finally to use Children in this way is absolutely and utterly despicable.

• Posted by: AnthonyGibsonReport Comment

TELLUS2 ON-LINE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE CHILDREN'S IS INDEX

10.06.07, 10:19pm

Schools up and down the country have been asked to get their pupils to complete the “Tellus2” on-line questionnaire.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/assets/Internet_Content/CSID/files/LettertoHeadteachers_21March.doc states:

“We have been working closely with Ipsos MORI, the Department for Education and Skills, schools and local authorities to develop the Tellus2 survey methodology to ensure that it addresses fully each of the five Every Child Matters outcomes.”

"Every Child Matters" is, of course, the euphemism for the Children's Index/Database. This is the database that will contain personal information about every child in the country. It will be used by police/social services to cause action to be taken if a child is believed to be at risk.

As with school fingerprinting, schools are advised that they do not need to seek parental consent.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/assets/Internet_Content/CSID/t2_cnsltngprnts.doc states:

“Although there is no obligation for schools to obtain parental consent for their child’s involvement in the Tellus2 survey, schools may wish to seek this as a matter of courtesy, and especially if this is a part of the school’s normal practice.”

Most of the questions are fairly benign, but some are more personal and could potentially lead to an investigation by police or social services e.g.

15a. And how safe or unsafe from being hurt by other people do you feel?

(Children are asked to rate how safe they feel “In school” and “At home” with possible responses varying between “Very safe” to “Very unsafe”).

Prior to their child completing the survey, parents are sent the following “letter from headteacher to parent/guardian”

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/assets/Internet_Content/CSID/t2_htletforprnts.doc

This places great emphasis on the confidentiality of the survey i.e.

“The survey is designed to ensure complete confidentiality for those taking part.”

However, the survey is anything but confidential.

http://www.learning.luton.gov.uk/l2g/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/4826/Tellus2_InstructionsForAdministrators.pdf states:

“9. Fill in the ‘teacher completion page’ on the website. This needs to be done before participants activate the questionnaire. This will generate a Class Password. To log on, pupils will need to enter this Class Password and the school URN.”

i.e the system knows which class and in which school the pupils completing the survey are from.

In addition, as part of the survey, the pupils are asked to give their age AND POSTCODE i.e.

10. What is the postcode of where you live?
If you do not know your full postcode please fill in as much as you know.

This will help us see if children and young people in different areas have different views. No one will see who you are from your postcode, so no one will know this is your set of answers.
PLEASE FILL IN YOUR POSTCODE IN THE BOX

So now we know the school, class, age and postcode of the child completing the survey.

Since a postcode uniquely identifies about 14 households, a quick check against the addresses in the school register will easily identify the child.

Here is a link to the primary school questionnaire:

http://www.webstore-ed.net/eds/spmi/Data_Collection_Letters/TellUs2/Tellus2QuestionnairePrimary_doc/Tellus2QuestionnairePrimary.doc

Here is a link to the secondary school questionnaire:

http://www.webstore-ed.net/eds/spmi/Data_Collection_Letters/TellUs2/Tellus2QuestionnaireSecondary_doc/Tellus2QuestionnaireSecondary.doc

It is important to note that, since this survey is done on school premises, parents will, of course, be completely unaware of the intrusive nature of the questions their children are being asked.

• Posted by: brian_v_druryReport Comment

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SICK B'S

10.06.07, 6:45pm

This news is repugnant to put it mildly!!!!!

Who are these idiots???

Heads must role!!!

Regards

Lucian Deville: London SW3

• Posted by: LucianDevilleReport Comment

DISGRACE

10.06.07, 3:59pm

This is an absolute disgrace and I am sure of dubious legality. Under this pathetic government my rights as a parent have been eroded to the point that I am beginning to wonder what I am actually here for other than as a generator of tax revenue for the Treasury. If there was nothing to be feared from such a survey then it would have been implemented with parental cooperation not behind our backs. I have told my children that they are not to participate in any survey without my or my wife's permission, and I will also be informing the school as such. The more we parents claw back our rights the more such organisations will not be allowed to ride roughshot over us. A child's best place is within a family unit (normally) and the parents are those best placed, normally, to cater for their child's needs and wants. I cannot wait until we are rid of this sleaze ridden, incompetent, negligent, and big-brother government for good and shame on all who voted for them

• Posted by: JMan41Report Comment

PUPILS IN SPY SURVEY

10.06.07, 1:31pm

What has this survey got to do with education and why aren't parents out in their droves protesting? What are this heavily dubiously motivated Government going to do with the information? This infringes civil liberties and is very questionable. I am delighted not to have children in school and I have advised my own children not to have any either. Society is not going in the right direction.

• Posted by: judyReport Comment

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