edutech4schools Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 We have been blocking sparklebox but today I have been asked to un-block it. Originally it was blocked for 2 reasons. 1) The owner had been charged with child offences 2) The toolbar seemed to be hogging way to many resources on the computer and might have had some nasty software under the hood. Have other schools started to use this website again?
TheScarfedOne Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 I would say no, as we received an alert from our LA originally...and there has been no advice to the contrary yet.
elsiegee40 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Short answer - No Search back through the threads and you'll see why. Time has not changed anything
synaesthesia Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Don't do it. Nothing has changed and the funds still go into the offenders pocket or other interests one way or another.
tech_guy Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Yes, continue to block it. And tell any staff members that start bleating about it being blocked and want to overlook the provenance of the site because it "has some really good resources and I'm too lazy to create them myself because I've got more important things to do like update my Facebook status because I've got a new pair of shoes", that they're stupid. /RANT OVER 2
Love_Sausage Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Yes, continue to block it. And tell any staff members that start bleating about it being blocked and want to overlook the provenance of the site because it "has some really good resources and I'm too lazy to create them myself because I've got more important things to do like update my Facebook status because I've got a new pair of shoes", that they're stupid. /RANT OVER Fully agree, this is laziness and wilful ignorance of the reasons behind it being blocked to save a bit of work.
hardtailstar Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 dont unblock it. if they whinge just refer them to why its blocked.
LeMarchand Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Have other schools started to use this website again? Since one of my schools has had an acting (up) head, I have seen an increasing amount of resources from this site used. Apparently it's OK to support a convicted criminal if it saves you some work. (Mind you, apparently lots of other dubious practises are OK if SWMBO wants). Still banned at LEA level though, and when we get our own filtering I intend to ban it (if not pre-banned) and if asked to unban it, I will put my case in writing and ask for a written reply before I am prepared to show someone how to unban it.
fiza Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 No. Refer people to this The sex scandal that took the shine off Sparklebox - Features - TES 1
X-13 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 No. Refer people to this The sex scandal that took the shine off Sparklebox - Features - TES Just make sure they don't read the comments too much... Although the creater of sparklebox has done a disgraceful thing, i still, and will continue to use sparklebox. It is a fantastic website that offers invaluable resources that are first of all free (which is very rare) and more importantly time saving. If it wasn't for sparklebox, I would have to make them all myself, and I'm not there isn't a teacher in the world who will disagree with me when I say we already have far too much on our plates and are extremely overworked, without the added burdon of making a pretty numberline. In this instance, I'm sorry to say that morals and ethics come second place to my own wellbeing.
LeMarchand Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 In this instance, I'm sorry to say that morals and ethics come second place to my own wellbeing. I wonder if this person would feel differently if their child was one of those who had had perverted pictures taken of them? Plus, is it too much effort to use (for example) Twinkl?
fiza Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 I wonder if this person would feel differently if their child was one of those who had had perverted pictures taken of them? Plus, is it too much effort to use (for example) Twinkl? That kind of person would probably think Jimmy Saville was an alright bloke (just a bit eccentric)!!!
X-13 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 I wonder if this person would feel differently if their child was one of those who had had perverted pictures taken of them? Probably not. Moral outrage requires effort. Plus, their wellbeing hasn't been impacted.
elsiegee40 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 This was @GrumbleDook's word on it http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/48894-sparklebox-inside-out-bbc-2.html#post448981 As far as I'm aware, nothing has changed. He also posted this: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/e-safety/74181-sparklebox-update.html#post661632
Michael Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Yep I can confirm BGFL still have it blocked and rightly so. The law is an a$$ as the Government have done nothing to prevent this. The individual(s) cannot have direct contact with children, but this should also apply to providing products/services to education also in my opinion. As a result I've seen some staff download the toolbar at home, create resources at home then bring it into school to print. Shocking but true unfortunately.
X-13 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 So... out of curiosity I decided to check it. It's unblocked here. But, not for long.
GrumbleDook Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 I have had no further update to say anything has changed from my previous points on it. If anyone is seriously concerned still then drop an email to the UK Safer Internet Centre for more formal advice. They are always happy to help on things like this.
mats Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Just make sure they don't read the comments too much... I do hope that teacher's not teaching grammar. Or spelling, for that matter.
LeMarchand Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 If anyone is seriously concerned still then drop an email to the UK Safer Internet Centre Or their local rag?
enjay Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 the funds still go into the offenders pocket Except it is a free-to-use site, so some people don't realise that the company is still getting money from the site via advertising. We have blocked it here, and it will remain so until CEOPS/equivalent says otherwise (although looking at our filters, we added the block, it isn't one of the as-standard blocks). Some staff still use it at home and bring things in though - do any schools have policy in place which prevents that?
elsiegee40 Posted March 14, 2013 Posted March 14, 2013 Our HT won't have anything from Sparklebox used in the school. If she sees it, it gets removed. The teachers have stopped using it now though.
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