- Please describe your district's policy on cyberbullying and sexting.
- What experiences have you had in your district with these issues?
- How do you handle these situations on a building level?
- What are your personal thoughts on the appropriate discipline or law enforcement action for cyberbulling and sexting?
Thank you for your responses. This blog is a project for and Education Leadership class from Radford University in Radford, Virginia.
I am thankful that this has not yet become an issue for my district. I am very concerned that children have quite a bit of freedom with cell phones and texting with most older students having phones with them during the school day and otherwise. As we have seen in the news lately, children are not always able to digest and react in an appropriate manner to these types of communication. Recently, the beating of the student, students committing suicide, etc. over emails and texts are reported more often. I think it is important that expectations of the school be made clear, and I am sad to say that I believe there may need to be action by law enforcement to stop this from happening. It would be devastating to a family to have a child in this situation.
ReplyDeleteOur county's policy on cyberbullying and sexting is basically that they are dealt with on a case by case basis. Depending on the implications of the technological message, where the message was sent from, and what the message was all about. There is such a "gray" area when it comes to the internet useage and violating someone's 1st amendment rights.
ReplyDeleteThe following is Russell County policy on bullying. They do not have a clearly defined policy on "cyberbulling or sexting". Those issues would fall under the umbrella of "threats and bullying" in general.
ReplyDeleteTHREATS AND BULLYING (18.2-60)
Students, either individually or as a part of a group, shall not harass or bully others. The following conduct is illustrative of bullying:
• Physical intimidation, taunting, name calling, and insults.
• Comments regarding the race, gender, religion, physical abilities or characteristics of
associates of the targeted person.
• Falsifying statements about other persons.
Students who attempt to intimidate or bully other students by mode of dress, body decorations, verbal threats or physical threats may be suspended, expelled, or placed in an alternative education program.
Students who threaten other students may also be reported to law enforcement officers and charged
with assault. If the threat is written, signed or unsigned, and contains a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to an individual or member of his/her family, it is a Class 6 felony. If the communication is oral and contains a threat to kill or do bodily harm to any employee and occurs on a school bus, school property, or during a school-sponsored activity, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
* Please describe your district's policy on cyberbullying and sexting? I have searched and don't see anything directly on the issue in our local policy manual. I feel that it would be under bullying.
ReplyDelete* What experiences have you had in your district with these issues? Sexting has been a problem at one high school in the division. It is the only school in the division that has cell phone service. Cyberbullying does occur on occassion. Most cyberbullying happens through "My Space" and "Facebook" at home. These sites are blocked at the school level. If the threats and harassments are brought to school then the building administrator will deal with it using appropirate policies.
* How do you handle these situations on a building level? It is dealt with if it causes a problem at school such as a fight or argument, otherwise the the school stays out of problems that are occurring at home. On a few occassions, parents of the students having problems on the Internet will meet at the school to discuss the problem and attempt to arrive at a solution. One or both sets of parents will contact the school and ask to meet there with the other parents and principal. They are looking for a neutral place to meet with someone who has not vested interest in the problem. Everytime this has occurred in my school a solution has been found.
* What are your personal thoughts on the appropriate discipline or law enforcement action for cyberbulling and sexting? investigation of the problem and then appropriate action needs to be taken if found guilty of the act.