Bogacz, R, & Gordillo, M. (2011, March/April). Point/counterpoint: should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Learning & Leading , 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx
Bullying has always been a serious problem in schools. With the development of technology, bullying has developed as well. The newest form of bullying, referred to as cyberbullying, is making its way through schools and damaging students in the process. A student is being cyberbullied when he/she is being harrassed by other students through the internet (social networking sites, email, instant messaging, etc.). With this problem on the rise, people are beginning to question how much responsibility schools should have with this serious epidemic.
The reasons why schools should are responsible are pretty obvious. Students spend a lot of time at school, about 5 days during the week. With that said, cyberbullying affects the students involved, which can greatly affect the school environment. Teachers need to be aware of cyberbullying and they need to educate their students on it's damaging effects, and most importantly how to prevent it. Administrators need to take bullying seriously and enforce necessary consequences. Parents of course need to be involved and be fully aware of their children, monitoring them in the process. Students of course are very important with this issue and they need to be educated to stand up for victims and prevent it from happening. There is a lot of people that can be held responsible in the school system for cyberbullying, as they all hold responsibility to educate the students about this serious issue.
There are also reasons why schools should not be held responsible. Students can be going through exterior issues outside school that sometimes the school can not help or prevent. The responsibility then transfers to the parents or family members of the student to constantly be aware of their children/family member. Parent's have the most authority and knowledge of the student, which only makes sense that parents should be held responsible.
Cyberbullying is as serious issue, and the question of responsibility is always lingering. In reality, everyone needs to be aware of cyberbullying and do their part to help prevent it. In most cases, schools and family are responsible for it. Everyone should be held responsible who did not do their part to help prevent it. Everyone needs to be involved and most importantly educated. This has already caused some fatalities, as suicide rates have increased.
1. Why do students use cyberbullying when they can just do it at school?
Most students who cyberbully are physically defenseless and therefore hide behind a computer screen. When students are able to hide behind a computer screen, they gain more confidence and power to affect their victims. This is because they are too afraid to confront them in person.
2. How can parents properly monitor their children?
In order to properly monitor their children, parents need to gain access to social networking passwords, email passwords, and screennames that they might use. Parents can then log on to their accounts every once-in-a-while to see if anything inappropriate is going on. Parents also need to be aware of their children's friends, and where they go when they leave the house.
3. What should a student do if their teacher is not taking them seriously when they try to tell them about prospective bullying/cyberbullying?
A student should tell another teacher or an administrator. Teachers and administrators have a duty to take bullying seriously and if someone is not doing their part, the student is greatly affected. The best administrator to go to often times is the principal, because they hold the most authority for the school.
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