Learning and Leading - March/April 2011

READERSrespond

POLL RESULTS

Should Schools Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying? Most respondents say it would be unrealistic for schools to monitor students’ at-home online activities for evidence of cyberbullying.

Yes
30%

New World Needs New Ideas

I hope that the latest devastating stories are the last of their kind and that parents and educators realize the new generation of students they are encountering. These students have a new world of knowledge at their fingertips but also have more opportunities to fall into the traps of bullying and harassment. Together, schools and guardians can band together and guide these innovative minds down a path of new ideas and progress.

Rachel Ann Clink Student Holland, Ohio

Cyberbullying = Abuse

In New York State, school officials are required by law to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment to the New York State Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. The law also assigns civil and criminal liability to those professionals who do not comply with their mandated reporter responsibilities.

Aimee Wieler Instructional Technology Coach Buffalo, New York

Can’t Control Student Choice

I think that schools are responsible for teaching students about cyber-bulling and the consequences, but students make their own choices. Schools can not be held responsible for things that happen outside of the school grounds.

Lori Jo Weller Lister Comment on ISTE’s Facebook page

The Means to Monitor

Schools definitely need to be held responsible for any cyberbullying that takes place during school hours. Programs are available that allow teachers to monitor every student’s computer screen when students are working in computer labs or on individual computers, which can reduce the amount of cyberbullying that takes place. Many schools also have rules that students cannot have their cell phones with them during the school day.

Beth Harris Student Teacher Bowling Green, Ohio

Team Effort

Schools should be accountable for educating their students about the ignorance that exists in the misuse of these media tools. Parents should be accountable in sharing life skills by developing empathy at a young age and social emotional skills that will help shape this child’s moral character and judgment. Teachers should be accountable for facilitating experiences that teach students about consequences of their behavior both on and offline and the intentional and unintentional impact of their decisions.

Jennifer Gaspar-Santos Academic Tech Coordinator/Teacher San Mateo, California

Schools Can Only Do So Much Students have so many filters on the Web at school. Isn’t it the parents’ responsibility to watch out for their children while they are at home?

Ana Resendez Comment on ISTE’s Facebook page

No
70%

Safety First

About two weeks ago a student posted something on Facebook that is negative about a teacher and could have been taken as a threat, and she was disciplined by the school. It is becoming seemingly impossible for schools to avoid what is going on in the cy-berworld, and it simply cannot be ignored. The students’ safety is of the utmost importance, and if that means that schools have to monitor cyberbullying, there is no other option.

Elizabeth Nostrant Student Teacher Albany, Ohio

Limits of Liability

Let’s assume that schools should be held responsible for cyberbullying that takes place after school hours on the student’s home computer. By that reasoning, the schools should be held responsible if a student sells another student a defective product, or cheats at cards, or is involved in an accident in spite of taking driver’s ed at school. Schools talk to students about the problems of cyberbullying for many reasons, the law being just one. But to hold the schools liable? Where does it end? It’s nonsense!