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CELL PHONES
Students are using cell
phones at school in ways that often are disruptive to the school and
embarrassing to teachers, administrators, and other students.
They sometimes will take photos or shoot video secretly, and the
subject doesn't know about it until it winds up on the Internet.
This has a chilling effect on teachers and students alike.
Have you been a
victim of cell phone abuse in school? If so, please tell us
about it
by clicking here. |
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THE FREQUENCY OF CYBER-BULLYING
IN SCHOOLS |
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recently, there were not many studies on the nature and scope of
cyber-bullying among school-aged children. As data is gathered, a
picture begins to emerge: 18% of students in grades 6-8 say they
have been cyber-bullied within the last two months; 11% of those
students admit committing cyber-bullying; 19% of regular Internet users
ages 10 - 17 were involved in online aggression, 15% as aggressors, and
7% as targets. Three percent fell into both categories.
(Citations at
StopBullyingNow.org) While much of the bullying takes place
while students access the Internet at home, the consequences are
frequently manifested in behavior at school. |
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SUGGESTIONS FOR EDUCATORS |
EDUCATOR'S GUIDE
The
Center for Safe and
Responsible Internet Use has prepared a downloadable document
entitled An Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats. In
addition to providing useful background information, the author suggests
a Comprehensive School and Community-Based Approach based on "best
practices in bullying, violence, and suicide prevention programs."
(The approach is not yet research-based, according to the author.)
The Guide is written by Nancy Willard,
M.S., J.D., an attorney who has degrees in special education and law.
It includes a flowchart for a "Cyberbullying or Cyberthreat Situation
Review Process" and a chart with "School and Parent Action Options."
You can download the Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats
here. You will need
Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view the file. |
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The Outer Limits: Disciplining Cyber-Mischief without
Getting Sued
by Mike Tully (PDF
Format) |
From
Stop Bullying Now! Take A Stand, Lend A Hand:
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Educate your
students, teachers, and other staff members about cyberbullying, its
dangers, and what to do if someone is cyberbullied.
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Be sure that your
school’s anti-bullying rules and policies address cyberbullying.
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Closely monitor
students’ use of computers at school.
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Use filtering and
tracking software on all computers, but don’t rely solely on this
software to screen out cyberbullying and other problematic on-line
behavior.
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Investigate reports
of cyberbullying immediately. If cyberbullying occurs through the
school district’s Internet system, you are obligated to take action.
If the cyberbullying occurs off-campus,
consider what actions you might take
to help address the bullying:
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Notify
parents of victims and parents of cyberbullies of known or
suspected cyberbullying.
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Notify the
police if the known or suspected cyberbullying involves a
threat.
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Closely
monitor the behavior of the affected students at school for
possible bullying.
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Talk with
all students about the harms caused by cyberbullying. Remember —
cyberbullying that occurs off-campus can travel like wildfire
among your students and can affect how they behave and relate to
each other at school.
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Investigate
to see if the victim(s) of cyberbullying could use some support
from a school counselor or school-based mental health
professional.
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Contact the police
immediately if known or suspected cyberbullying involves acts such
as:
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Threats of
violence
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Extortion
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Obscene or
harassing phone calls or text messages
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Harassment,
stalking, or hate crimes
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Child
pornography
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