A couple of weeks ago, Assistant Principal Brandon Slone and I attended a Cyberbullying conference held at Baker College in Owosso, MI. The event was free of charge and sponsored by the diploma and class ring company, Josten's. In all, there must have been about 400 teachers, administrators and counselors in attendance.
The presenter was very effective, Justin Patchin, Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-host of the website www.cyberbullying.us
These are just a few of the things we learned during that day:
• early research learned that only 15% of cyberbullying gets reported to adults
• 93% of teens go online regularly; 63% go online daily
• 75% of teens have a cell phone
• QIK - this is a new program that streams live video immediately to the web (think about the danger inherent in that technology)
• Twitter is not that popular with teens - only 6% use it
• Youtube - only 11% use it weekly
• almost 50% of teens use the internet for school work
• girls use technology more than boys
The Digital Divide exists--the adults are Digital Immigrants while the Adolescents are Digital Natives. No real surprise there.
Regarding the concept of Cyberbullying:
• it must occur repeatedly over time to constitute bullying
• willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones or other electronic devices
• informal--kids think 80% are cyberbullied; 60% bully others
• kids rarely use email anymore; but adults over 65 use it heavily
• online gaming is also used for bullying - up to 34%
• the average teen sends 3400 texts per month, or six per hour
• 45% say they are bullied via text messages
• latest research, 19 - 28% admitted they were bullied
• 8 - 20% say they bullied others; girls more likely than boys
• not much difference between the races; whites a bit higher
• middle school is the place where it is at its highest
• the bullies tend to be poor students; as are the victims
• bullies try to be anonymous; victims can usually guess who they are
• easier to be cruel through text rather than face-to-face
• there is a new website, Chatroulette, with pictures/dialogue and click ‘next’ if you don’t like the person
Technology
• 85% of teens have their Facebook account marked ‘private’; three years ago it was only 39% marked private so they are becoming better users
• once something is posted online, it really can’t be deleted, i.e. go to Google and look under cache; Facebook will keep it so it can sell the information later
• having a professional page is doable, but it should not be the public site with a personal profile, etc.
• sexting-12% say they have received naked images; 7% have sent them
• about 50% have had sex before leaving high school--which is worse?
• advice to teens...delete it immediately and send a note not to send it again, passing it along constitutes child pornography, a felony
Responding to Cyberbullying:
• it’s more than just turning the computer off...that's bad advice; flippant and dismissive to the victim
• why should the victim lose computer privileges?
• Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex
• Tinker v. Des Moines - freedom of speech; ability to protest (i.e. Vietnam War) but that doesn't give you license to bully someone via technology
Litigation regarding schools, teens, and computer use:
• was school equipment used? that makes a difference
• was it truly detrimental to the educational environment?
• was there a crime committed?
• still have to protect the rights of a school employee to a degree
• must also be aware of sexual harassment
• is it a one-time offense or repeated acts? once it’s on the web, it’s out there...
When Can A School Respond?
• if school equipment was used, on school grounds, via cell phones at school, etc.
• must demonstrate a substantial and material disruption on campus
• inability to focus on learning
• when it interferes with teaching
• repetitive disciplinary measures are needed
• freedom of expression - must not interfere with the school’s mission
• 44 states have cyberbullying laws--Michigan does not
• the policy should include off campus behaviors
• New Hampshire has a good law that includes off campus behaviors
• most incidents can be dealt with informally
• create a “teachable moment”
• they have an online survey available to be used with students
• they also have scenarios that can be used for discussion
I encourage you to go to the website, www.cyberbullying.us as there is a great deal of information available. The most lasting impression for me was that it should not be ignored. Being the victim is just plain hurtful and unfortunately we have teenage suicides in our state to prove it.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Cyberbullying--Some Quick Facts
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1 comment:
Cyberbullying is very real with our children because my daughter has been on the receiving end of such abuse. There is a website that my daughter had attached to her facebook profile called "formspring" were anonymous questions could be asked. I monitor my daughter's usage and was shocked with the questions that were being posted to her. They were verbally abusive and sexual in connotation. This is a very real concern for parents as we try to help our children through uncertain times, and to guide them to be the best that they can be. I find that most parents' attitudes are that "kids will be kids". Unfortunately this allows parents to take a back seat in their child's development. There are serious consequences! It is terrible to watch a teen spiral down emotionally when they are so vulnerable to begin with. It is important to be diligent as parents, and to teach our children respect for themselves and those around them. It is a very difficult job in todays modern world, but one that should not be taken lightly. Our children are the future and a reflection on those who raise them.
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