Cyberbullying: online bullying affects every school district.

Cyberbullying: online bullying affects every school district. Three honors students in a Louisiana school were recently arrested and suspended after one created a "biggest queer" Web site targeting a fellow student, who retaliated by launching a graphically violent site directed at his so-called "prep" schoolmates. Similarly, a teenage girl in the system received more than 300 anonymous e-mail messages calling her the same offensive name. Such "cyberbullymg"--using file Internet and electronic communications technologies to transmit hostile messages and images--is a serious and growing problem that affects every school district. One of the earliest examples of cyberbullying happened after a 10th grader in Quebec used school video equipment to film an imagined "Jedi Warrior" fight using a golf ball retriever A golf ball retriever is used by golfers in order to retrieve lost or misplaced balls. Many golfers find the tool indispensable, allowing them to retrieve balls from water hazards, deep rough or even the occasional sand trap, where they would not otherwise be able to reach them. , but forgot to erase the tape. After other students uploaded the clip to Kazaa as a prank, the once-private fantasy spread rapidly across the Internet and was downloaded millions of times. The student was so humiliated hu��mil��i��ate?tr.v. hu��mil��i��at��ed, hu��mil��i��at��ing, hu��mil��i��atesTo lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of. See Synonyms at degrade. by the notoriety and ridicule that he left the school and sought psychiatric help. The power of electronic communications technologies allows anyone to become a school cyberbully, which sadly can even include staff members. Some cyberbullies are the very students bullied by others in school, says Nancy Willard Nancy Willard (born June 26, 1936, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is a children's author and poet. In 1982, she received the Newbery Medal for A Visit to William Blake's Inn. She lives in Poughkeepsie, New York and lectures at Vassar College.[1]. , director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. "Cyberbullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators and parents as young people continue to embrace the Internet and other mobile communication technologies," she says. Seeking Solutions Since cyberbullying can occur through multiple channels that include e-mail, Web sites, online forums, chat rooms, blogs, instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or and voice/text sent to cell phones, it is difficult for districts to monitor and control. Cyberbullies often hide in online anonymity, may "hack" passwords that belong to others and operate outside of school. Furthermore, even severe bullying incidents are commonly not reported by victims who feel the attacks are somehow their own fault, or fear they may lose electronic communications privileges. Schools are therefore implementing multiple measures to protect their staff and students. For example, in Massachusetts, after several students in the Boston Public Schools used school computers to send e-mail threats, pornography and simulated hit lists to staff and students, superintendent Thomas W. Payzant banned the district-wide access to Yahoo Mail See Yahoo! Mail. , MSN (1) (MicroSoft Network) A family of Internet-based services from Microsoft, which includes a search engine, e-mail (Hotmail), instant messaging (Windows Live Messaging) and a general-purpose portal with news, information and shopping (MSN Directory). Hotmail and other personal e-mail accounts that could not be monitored. "You can't take the chance," he says. Other districts have tried banning or limiting the use of IM, cell-phone text messages and the use of camera phones. Setting Policies Each district needs clear policies on cyberbullying both inside and outside of school. This may mean establishing new guidelines, or extending present bullying policies to include online issues. For example, Washington Township Washington Township may refer to a number of townships in the United States, listed here by state (with the number of "Washington Townships" in each state in parentheses): Washington Township, Arkansas (12) Washington Township, Illinois (2) (N.J.) Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Flemming sent a letter to families stating that the district will take disciplinary action when "cyberbullying and other forms of victimization victimizationSocial medicine The abuse of the disenfranchised–eg, those underage, elderly, ♀, mentally retarded, illegal aliens, or other, by coercing them into illegal activities–eg, drug trade, pornography, prostitution. disrupt the safe learning environment of our schools." Similarly, New Jersey's Plainfield Public School District The Plainfield Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekinderagrten through twelfth grade from Plainfield, in Union County, New Jersey, United States. Web site presents steps students can take when cyberbullying happens. These include cutting off communications immediately, saving and printing copies of all messages, looking for Looking forIn the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. clues that identify the predator, telling a trusted adult and in life-threatening situations dialing 911. RESOURCES Cyberbullying www.cyberbully.org GetNetWise www.getnetwise.org Stop Cyberbullying www.stopcyberbullying.org WiredSafety www.wiredsafety.org Washington Township Public Schools The Washington Township Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district in Washington Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. The district had only served students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. www.wtps.org Plainfield Public School District www.plainfieldnjk12.org Odvard Egil Dyrli, dyrli@uconn.edu, is senior editor and emeritus professor of education at the University of Conn.