The Times Education Supplement has been forced to clean up its Web site after teachers used its virtual staffroom to make death threats against pupils. BBC World reported that one fantasised about using 'a large handgun . . . to blow the head off of the first pupil who failed to shut up, do homework, sit properly at their desk or speak politely'. Another wrote of her satisfaction at having 'vengefully' reduced a six-year-old child to tears. A shocked parent who read the messages said: 'What would we think of children posting this sort of stuff about teachers? Children have been expelled for less.' The TES staffroom forum is available for anyone to read, although people have to register on the site - with a pseudonym - to write messages. The site's conditions of use include not posting material which is, among other things, 'unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive'. The BBC reported that the discussion was started by someone using the name 'dossonsupply' who asked: 'If you had complete freedom in the classroom what would you do to make your class behave? The more extreme the better.' This brought the response: 'I think I would nail their hands to the desk, tie them in their seats and liberally use gaffer tape around the mouths. I may also keep a machete handy.' Others took up the 'lighthearted' theme, threatening children with a range of virtual violence, including blow darts. The deputy editor of the TES, David Budge, said: 'These people are simply doing what some teachers might do in a pub after school, venting their frustrations by playing a silly fantasy game. 'Nevertheless some of the remarks are distasteful. We have removed the offensive remarks and will be issuing warnings to some of the contributors about their conduct.'