14. februar 2012, 12:38 – opdateret 14. februar 2012, 12:54

Parents have backed school administrators’ policy of not installing filters on computers that would prevent kids from surfing the internet and watching pornography during class.

In response to a Politiken Research survey showing that not one school in Copenhagen or Aarhus has installed a programme that blocks extremely violent and sexual images, head of the School & Parents Association, Benedikte Ask Skotte, said she agreed with Minister of Education Christine Antori that pupils’ internet access is a matter for each individual school to decide, not something that needs state intervention.

“”Kids can see porn and violence on the internet at home, at their friends’, or even at the library, so this isn’t just a problem for schools,” she said. “Installing filters could make it even more interesting for children to explore what’s being hidden.”

Child psychologist John Halse said the reaction reflected the rather laid-back attitude amongst teachers and educators that children are capable of administrating themselves.

“Unfortunately it means we’re going to end up with a lot of damaged kids who are unsure and confused about what sexuality means because we know from previous surveys that young boys want to explore sex and violence,” he said.

Even after one mother called for filters after her nine-year old and his friends watched a porn film including group sex during class last year, a spokesman for the Aarhus education authorities said: "We want to encourage kids to grow up to be strong and capable of making their own choices and that's why we haven't installed filters on computers.”