Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the new fad of the technological era. With the freedom and endless possibilities of the internet, students have taken bullying to a whole new level. Cyberbullying is when a child harasses, embarrasses, makes fun off, slurs, and/or slanders another child through the outlet of technology, such as on the internet, a chat room, text message, blog, posted picture, etc. Bullying is no longer a face-to-face occurrence, but a person can be attacked from any location and these hurtful actions can cause emotional damage. I do not believe that I have any personal experience with cyberbullying, or at least I’m not aware of it if I do.

Cyberbullying is a prevalent issue on any school campus that both administrators and teachers must address. This form of harassment can disrupt a teacher’s ability to instruct within their classroom. The effects of cyberbullying are felt within the grounds of the school, but many times schools are unable to act and try to alleviate the problem. A school has the ability to teach students about the negative effects that occur when a person demeans another in this fashion, but unless real threats are made not much action can be taken. Anti-harassment policies are instated in schools and students can be punished for cyberbullying, but this is if the action takes place on the campus. The legal issue with this subject is whether or not schools have the right to regulate students’ internet use from home. Freedom of speech is being questioned with this argument, but the use of cyberbullying is disrupting learning and even causing deaths. Students who are being cyberbullied will tend to become withdrawn. Their attendance and grade might slip and they involvement within the setting will lessen. Students who face harassment of this kind feel attacked and they have no way to alleviate this pain.

Addressing the schools role in this issue is tough. The effects of cyberbullying directly affect the environment and success of a school, but at the same time these students are using their own computers and electronic devices to cause this harm. Why should a school have the ability to control a student’s private home life? This question is what is at the root of schools not taking more action when considering the rise in cyberbullying. It is a problem, but how would a teacher like the schools telling them how they are suppose to live their private life. It is just not fair.

My plan for confronting cyberbullying will most likely be both preemptive and reactionary. I believe that I will address the whole class on the issues of harassment and cyberbullying by incorporating these subjects into a lesson somehow. I want students to think about how they would feel if they were put into this kind of situation. This would be a group activity. Later, when an issue of cyberbullying does arise I would speak to the people involved individually and try to help the situation dissipate. These situations would be more reactionary. I want to create an environment in which my students can decipher from right and wrong. I hope to be a model for good conduct and students will take a cue from my own actions and not resort to such childish, mean-spirited actions.