Cyber-bullying

‘Cyber bullying' is bullying which uses e-technology as a means of victimizing others. It is the use of an Internet service or mobile technologies - such as e-mail, chat room discussion groups, instant messaging, web pages or SMS (text messaging) - with the intention of harming another person. Examples include communications that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down or humiliate the recipient.'

With today being an age of interconnectivity, there is a real threat to children that goes far beyond the schoolyard. Children today demand information faster and more interactively, they are armed with mobile phones that would river computers from even five years ago. Children have become consumers of digital content on an immense scale; so it would stand to reason, as content becomes more elaborate-so too does the delivery of information and it’s speed. When students are looking to communicate, they sms, or use a chat room, this happens very quickly and in some cases with without much emotion. This is where I believe there is a propensity for danger. When students communicate actively, they are privy to knowledge, context, and body language. All of which make an unbelievable primer for a person’s conversation. As content has gone digital, the capacity to misinterpret to disassociate has become very high.

The National Crime Prevention Council has a veritable list of tactics and identifiers that can help a person recognize if they are a victim of cyber-crime. The problem comes to the legality of it. There are some cases that provide jurisprudence for schools; the issue hasn’t been address enough to provide districts with precedent on how to legally maneuver. Right now the Supreme Court mandates that schools can intervene and limit first amendment rights if those exercising them are ‘reasonably’ limiting the school to act on its mission-education. The ambiguity of these claims has made it difficult for districts to garner much legal support. In order for legislation and support to trickle down, an important first step is defining the schools role in this matter. I can see valid points for getting involved. However, the primary mode of the school is to provide education and development. They are not tasked with-nor responsible for enforcement.

In my classroom I will encourage respect and rapport for behavior in and out of the classroom. I will not, like my peers, draw up a contract or politic primer for my students on the issue. I can encourage good conscience and treatment within my room, I am not comfortable trying to enforce it beyond that. I do not believe there is a clearly defined set of rules or a support system in place to go that far. As administrators and officials become clearer on school supported guidelines, I will be more keen to support this issue more clearly. To close, the issue of cyberbullying is very serious, I don’t make light of that. But as we interconnect digitally we have to navigate a whole new realm of laws and with connecting our kids to these technologies there are bound to be some clear set consequences.

That's my take.  Now it's time to read yours...

Some great resources:

http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying

http://www.schools.sa.gov.au/speced2/pages/cybersafety/36277/?reFlag=1

http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/07/viral-cyberbullying-whos-to-blame-for-jessi-slaughters-online-infamy.html