Post submitted by SmartBrief Education Editor Amy Dominello.
Cyber bullying is a problem that schools and courts have only begun to grapple with. But how do school administrators deal with nasty messages posted from students’ home computers or cell phones while they are off school grounds?
One guiding standard for how to handle the problem is already beginning to emerge from the bench, one expert said during an ASCD Annual Conference session on the topic.
Schools and districts must consider whether or not cyber bullying is causing a “substantial disruption” that is affecting the school when disciplining students, said William DeMeo, a Cincinnati school psychologist. Courts are relying on that tenet in their decision making.
But that doesn’t mean that schools can’t be proactive in preventing cyber bullying, too, he said.
DeMeo said administrators should formally assess the extent of cyber bullying in their schools and specify that any bullying—including bullying done through electronic media—is wrong and that the school has clear rules forbidding it. He also suggested using older students as peer mentors and educating staff, parents, and students about what cyber bullying is. Administrators should also consult with school attorneys prior to any incidents to determine ways to best handle cyber bullying.
E-mail DeMeo to follow up and get a copy of his presentation.
