As we’re learning about all these great advances in technology and how to use technology in the classroom, the rate of cyberbullying is also increasing. Students are taking advantage of their time online to bully other students, and there are many hurtful consequences because of this. One story is linked below.
http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/megansStory.php
This is a story about a 13 year old girl named Megan who felt like no one liked her at school. She met someone online and was monitored by her parents. Her parents felt that the “guy” she met online was a nice boy, so they let her talk to him via emails and online chatting. Megan became very intrigued by this guy because he gave her a lot of attention. Soon, though, things changed. He started being extremely mean to her, and calling her names. Megan ended up committing suicide. This “guy” she met online turned out to be a girl she went to school with. This website is a website set up by her parents in hopes to get Megan’s story out there and to put an end to cyberbullying.
This is a very unfortunate event that happens all too often. What do you think we, as educators, can do to stop this cyberbullying amongst our students? What types of bullying do you see in your districts? Are your schools taking any actions toward preventing this type of behavior?
Collaborative Learning 
One of the biggest problems with cyberbullying and school involvement is that it takes place, for the most part, outside of school. Oftentimes, the teachers and administrators are completely unaware of it happening. It’s not like regular bullying that you can witness. This is done behind electronic devices that only students can see. We do have cases of cyberbullying, but the kids will rarely come forth and admit that something has been done to them. At our school last year, we had a girl who was hounded to send a naked picture to a guy that kept saying he liked her. She finally relented and sent the picture. Within minutes, it was in the hands of every kid that had a mobile device. All of this was done outside of school. However, the girl finally went to the principal, but she was the one that ended up looking bad for having taken the picture and sent it in the first place. The boy who shared the picture was punished, but the girl who took the picture was humiliated. There doesn’t seem to be a safe haven for that type of situation. So many kids won’t share the fact that they are being cyberbullied because they fear it will only worsen if they come forward. Cyberbullying must be the responsibility of the students, educators and most importantly, parents. They must teach their kids not to be bullies and not to take cyberbullying from others. Our school preaches it, but we really don’t have the power the parents have. They are the ones that need to be involved and know where there kids are going online and what they are doing online. I asked my group of 65 sophomores how many of them had access to a computer that they could take into their rooms or into a private place and be alone. Forty-five of them raised their hands. I asked them how many of their parents had placed blocks on their computers. Six of them raised their hands. Parents aren’t monitoring their kids on the internet and as long as kids are unmonitored and the parents aren’t teaching them the dangers of the powerful weapon at their fingertips, there is little schools can do but make sure it doesn’t happen there, continue to preach against it and encourage students safety if they come forward. Seems like a lame approach!
Education, education education.. It is critical that we make students aware of the repercussions of this type of activity and how those being bullied can get help and support. States (see http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecommunications-information-technology/cyberstalking-cyberharassment-and-cyberbullying-l.aspx , http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S6132-2011) have developed some type of cyberbullying legislation. It is to bad that this has to happen after young people have taken their lives because of these incidents. Cyberbullying is still happening in almost all districts as students are connecting via social networks off school property and after school hours. This becomes a police action and not a school action.
I’ve been reading a lot about cyberbullying lately. There was an article in The New Yorker about the Rutgers suicide case–when the roommate used his computer’s camera to view a gay romantic encounter, then Tyler Clementi (if I remember his name correctly) jumped off the George Washington bridge. It’s not a clear-cut case, but Twitter, email, chat, and text messages are all part of the evidence.
In fact, one of my feeds today was kind of a Valentine’s Day warning about the trend (and danger) of teen couples sharing their passwords. Here it is:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/02/07/experts-warn-of-a-growing-trend-teen-password-sharing/
We have a responsibility to educate our students about the dangers as well as the uses of technology. Extending the conversation about online etiquette to warning signs and reporting procedures is part of this Brave New World we’re exploring!
In my school building, I am part of the Olweus professional learning committee. We spoke abut this topic in our last meeting. Because of the courses I have been taking, I asked the group and one of the administrators present, if there could be a course students were required to take before graduation, that teaches internet skills and appropriate behavior online. The answer by the administrator was that these things could and should be taught within the context of each teacher’s curriculum. To get a new course approved to be taught would need to go through the administration building of the district. This process could take two years.
If it is up to the teachers, who are already maxed out with other objectives for learning, it obviously isn’t being taught with the level of depth and understanding necessary to combat this issue. Good parents talk about safety at home, to be sure, and good teachers expect this at school. But somehow, this isn’t enough, or we wouldn’t be talking about it now.
It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with bullying on the playground and in cyberspace. It is certainly our responsibility as teachers to be aware of cyber-bullying, but the issue itself gives students the anonymus opportunity. It’s harder (not impossible) to identify the bully when it comes to cyber-bullying but I feel many schools are unprepared to deal with such an issue. Either it’s not in their AUP (acceptable use policy) or they are unaware and not informed of the issue.
As educators the best way to deal with this issue is to establish positive student-teacher relationships. Establishing these types of relationships will allow for students being bullied to confide in a teacher that the bullying is occurring. Once a teacher nows that this is occurring the can act upon the problem. Preventing the issue can happen with the education of cyber-netiquette. Teaching the students how to act appropriate when on the internet.
Fortunately at the elementary level I don’t see or nor am I aware of many issues with cyber bullying. I know it’s out there, but I imagine that it will become more prevalent as technology is integrated into the curriculum. Here is a link that I use with my class at the beginning of the school year. It’s geared for a younger audience so it may be too childish for older grade levels.
http://www.netsmartzkids.org/
Cyber-bullying can be prevented by teachers if they take an active role in the cyber environment. Teachers need to establish positive relationships that will allow for students to confide in their teachers if they are the victims of cyber bullying. I imagine that teachers are not included in the same Google Circle as students, thus the teachers may be unaware that there is an issue. If a teacher knows of an issue or is given a screen capture of the incident, the incident can be dealt with. I worry that cyber-bullying offers an appealing anonymity to the bully, but there are measures that can be taken to identify the culprit if it is brought to the teachers attention. Besides dealing with the issue once it has presented itself, teachers also need to take a proactive and preventative role and teach students about cyber-netiquette. Teaching students how to be responsible and respectful cyber citizens will teach students how to act responsibly on the internet. Because I am at the elementary level I don’t see cyber-bullying as an issue, but I imagine as the curriculum becomes more infused with technology the issue may present itself. Honestly, I’m not sure what my school is doing to prevent cyber-bullying.
Here is a kid friendly resource that i use to teach my class about cyber-netiquette. It is quite kid friendly and on the level of young elementar students.
http://www.netsmartzkids.org/
As educators I feel we need to help students understand that what is said or written is extremwly hurtful. I feel there are times because of the increase in technology that students forget that words still hurt. It seems as though people are having a difficult time reading eachothers verbal/nonverbal cues because so much is done through technology now. As teachers we need to make students aware of social cues. We also need to make them aware of the help that is out there when they are being bullied. The parents also need to become involved and educated in the use of technology.
Throughout our school district we have all types of bullying, physical, emotional, and cyber. I do not feel cyberbullying is the number one type of bullying in our district but it is still a problem. We have a lot of verbal and physical bullying that tends to be much more prevelant. In theory, we participate in the Olwevus bullying program, however, at the high school I haev yet to see how it is working. Our guidance counselors typically sit down with students who are bullied and try to do a peer mediation with two students. Teachers are also encouraged to write up students who they see being bullied or doing the bullying. I feel there is more that we should be doing at the high school level, however, we have had new administration each of the last two years so it is difficult to keep anything consistent.
As I read your comments, I see that many of us feel that cyberbullying is a very serious topic. Like many of you said, a lot of cyberbullying does take place outside of the classroom. However, I enjoyed reading all the comments and suggestions as to how we, as educators, can do our part while in school. The combination of educating students on hurtful comments (verbal or written), educating parents on the proper use and monitoring of their children with technology, and joining learning committees in order to minimize this bullying is a great way for us to ensure that our students are safe while online. As you can see, most of us agree that there needs to be a lot done while at home. We can do our part while at school, but we don’t have the power that the parents do. In conclusion, the best thing that we can do while at school is to keep teaching and reteaching the importance of being kind to others and attempting to get students to understand the power of words!