Video-sharing websites like YouTube should no longer be a tool for school bullies, according to the UK government.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson believes sites like YouTube have a 'moral obligation' to tackle the bullies who post clips showing them abusing teachers and students.
Often the videos are used to humiliate or mock faculty members, but Mr Johnson says the site operators have the power to remove those videos.
'The online harassment of teachers is causing some to consider leaving the profession because of the defamation and humiliation they are forced to suffer,' states Mr Johnson.
'These are big companies we are talking about. They have a social responsibility and a moral obligation to act.'
One clip on YouTube shows a pupil running up behind a teacher at the blackboard and pulling his trousers down as the class bursts out laughing.
Another clip captioned 'fat bastard crazy teacher that no one likes' shows a teacher bang a desk with his fist and repeatedly shout 'stop talking' at the class.
As part of his statement, the education secretary also announced new powers for teachers to confiscate mobile phones and digital music players which can be used to record their teachers.
Nearly 17% of teachers have suffered bullying via email, text message or websites, according to a survey earlier this year.
