With today's technology, many parents like myself have learned that the world of bullying has expanded to a whole new realm for children. Over the past few years it has become apparent that bullying doesn't end when the school day ends. For some of our children, they face bullying all day, everyday, through emails, social media outlets and text messages.
After a year-long study, legislation has been developed and the “Safe Schools Act” will be introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives by members of the study panel on May 15, 2011.
The “Safe Schools Act,” will direct the Department of Education to provide an age-appropriate model policy on bullying prevention to ensure a unified, statewide policy that follows Rhode Island General laws.
On this same site, cyberbullying is described as involving the use of various forms of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. It may be simple, such as continuing to email someone who has said they want no further contact, or it can include threats, sexual remarks or posting false statements as fact intended to humiliate someone.
But with today's ever-growing technology, what can be done to prevent cyberbullying? Should cell phones be banned from schools all together to prevent cyberbullying?
Cindy and I agree that cell phones have no place in a school. Kids are in school to learn, they don’t need another thing to be sneaking around with. My children do not own cell phones. Though, my thirteen-year-old will ask me every few months when I will allow it, my answer is always the same, “you don’t need one!”
Back in the day when I was in school we snuck notes, gum, drinks or candy. Nowadays with all these “must have” technologies, kids have more of an opportunity to distract their attention from learning with texting, ipods, internet access, handheld video games, etc.
As Cindy puts it, “I absolutely think that cell phones have no place in school. But they can bring them, if they are to be locked in the locker until the end of the school day. I don’t believe for any reason a child should have the privilege of using such a device during the hours of learning. They have cause nothing but trouble in school. The teachers can’t stand that the kids walk around in the hallways texting and not even paying attention. And if the kids have all the time to be cyberbullying in school then that should be an automatic suspension!”
Cindy continues on to say, “Parents also need to make it very clear to their kids that they can monitor their texting and calls throughout the day, and if caught, they will have the phone taken away immediately. I would like someone to give me one good reason why they would allow their child to use their phone during school hours. It’s getting ridiculous and way out of hand. If you need to get in touch with your child after school then they can turn it back on AFTER school.”
Beth is a mom of two little girls. With a teaching background, she has much to say on the topic. “I don't think cell phones should be banned from schools. Firstly, I'm assuming that cell phones are not allowed in classrooms, which is entirely necessary. Many parents and children need to be in contact at times during the day and it is their responsibility to use the cell phone privilege appropriately. I don't think technology is the basis of the bullying issue and, in fact, I know that this problem is not a new one. When I was in college twenty years ago, I took part in a research project on this very topic. Then, it was at the forefront of what is now being considered a very important obstruction to the social and emotional well-being of many children. What I have found over the years in my own teaching career is that the profiles of both bullies and victims have significant patterns that raise red flags not to be ignored by care givers and educators. Technology seems to have enhanced the methods that bullies can utilize but what should be focused on here is more acknowledgement of this ongoing problem, educating children as to how to recognize these big problems, and how how they go about seeking help. When then need arises, we teach children how to be resourceful and gain independence, that encourages them to act responsibly and with integrity. Removing one tool from the bullies "arsenal" won't make the problem go away.”
The main issue I see here is bullying, no matter what form, and that should be the main focus. In the past decade, I have noticed a lot of talk about zero tolerance with bullying and bullying policies being instated, but how are schools really enforcing these policies and teaching kids that bullying in all forms is unacceptable. A huge downside of cyberbullying is that rumors spread more quickly than in any other form, but the upside is that the source of the rumor is traceable and it is documented, so hearsay doesn’t get in the way of the culprit getting away with it.
