SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING

School Policies on Cyber-bullying Tarena R. Ruff Georgia Southern University FRIT 7330: The Internet in Schools

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING

School Policies on Cyber-bullying Cyber-bullying is any form of harassment, intimidation, and teasing conducted through the use of electronic communication and technology tools that threatens an individuals physical, emotional and/or mental safety and well-being. With the wide availability of Internet access and mobile devices, cyber-bullying has become a serious issue in schools. In an effort to address the issue of cyber-bullying in the schools, many school districts have adopted policies that attempt to inform school district personnel, students and parents about cyber-bullying, and what the schools are doing to prevent and combat this problem. This paper examines and summarizes three school districts cyberbullying policies, and offers a unique policy that may be adopted for other schools.

Medford County School Board. (2007). School board policy. Retrieved from http://www.medford.k12.or.us/CodePrint.asp?CodeID=1598 The Medford County School District in Medford, Oregon developed a policy that specifically addresses cyber-bullying. In the policy, cyber-bullying is defined as the use of any electronic communication device to convey a message in any form (text, image, audio or video) that defames, intimidates, harasses, or is otherwise intended to harm, insult, or humiliate another in a deliberate, repeated, or hostile and unwanted manner under a persons true or false identity. The policy prohibits students, staff, and third parties from engaging in harassment of another individual using personal communication devices on district property. The policy encourages the immediate reporting of cyberbullyingand the preservation of evidence of such acts. The policy outlines the

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING consequences that may be imposed by the school superintendent or school board on an individual who is found to be in violation. These consequences include loss of district owned electronic device use privilegesor the use of a students own personal devices on school property, disciplinary action, and expulsion. If a staff member is found to be in violation, he or she is also subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. The school board may also report individuals in violation to law enforcement.

The policy provides a clear and succinct definition of cyber-bullying, and delivers a specific course of disciplinary action. Both students and school personnel are equally accountable for reporting instances of cyber-bullying, and consequences are defined if either party participates in the behavior. Furthermore, the policy stresses the importance of finding and maintaining acceptable evidence (including, but not limited to copies of emails, texts, pictures, etc.) of the offense. The Medford School District policy, however, was adopted in 2007, and does not seem to have been recently updated. Also, there is no clause within the policy that determines how school officials will handle off-campus offenses. Furthermore, the policy does not detail how the schools will educate students and parents about cyber-bullying, and does not offer specific steps for parents and teachers to monitor the use of electronic devices at home and in the school. It is possible that individuals could unknowingly violate the policy if their communications are not supervised and/or corrected. Moreover, the policy does not clearly define third party, and the school district may very well be limited in their authority to investigate or discipline third party individuals.

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING

Richland School District (2011). Bullying/harassment policy. Retrieved from http://www.rsd.edu/resources/bullying-harassment-policy.html The Richland School District, in West Richland, Washington, offers a general bullying/harassment policy that include protection for students, employees, volunteers and patrons. Within the policy, cyber-bullying is addressed. Richlands policy provides an overall definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying to mean any intentionally written message or other visual communication, verbal communication or physical act, gesture or omission, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics, when engaged in with the intent to, creating a substantial and unjustifiable risk of, creating the threat of, or with the natural end of physical, emotional or mental harm.Cyber-bullying is defined as any harassment, intimidation or bullying when such is accomplished utilizing electronic communication media. The policy prohibits such activities while on campus, during school sponsored activities, on district provided transportation or school bus stops, or while utilizing school provided owned or leased computer equipment. The policy also states the school district has no duty to regulate communication that occurs off campus, but may reserve the right to discipline students if such activities interfere with the learning environment. The policy provides indicators of interference with the learning environment, which include a targeted students grades, attendance, demeanor, interaction and participation. Intervention by the school district

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING could include counseling for the victim, as well as the aggressor, disciplinary action, and referrals to law enforcement, depending on the frequency and severity of the offense. One of the policys strengths is its far-reaching inclusion of those it protects. Richland School District states its commitment to provide a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, volunteers and patrons free from harassment,

intimidation, bullying or cyber-bullying. Another asset is its thorough definition of terms, and citations to legal references. Moreover, the policy provides support, through intervention and counseling, to victims of cyber-bullying. Finally, the policy expresses the school districts intent to protect an individuals constitutional right to free speech, provided that the expression of free speech does not disrupt the educational environment. While Richland School District has created a thoroughly defined and all-inclusive policy against bullying in general, it does not provide enough details about the strategies of discipline and/or intervention. Furthermore, the policy does not detail procedures for reporting the offense, or due process for the accused. Finally, there is no indication in the policy that evidence of cyber-bullying should be collected as part of a comprehensive investigation.

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING Warwick School District (n.d.). Bullying/cyber-bullying policy. Retrieved from

http://www.warwick.k12.pa.us/orgmodule.php?deptid=107&schoolid=0007&mid =248 The Warwick School District in Lititz, Pennsylvania adopted a policy that addresses bullying in general, as well as cyber-bullying. The policy defines cyberbullyingas the misuse of technological tools to harass, tease, intimate, threaten or terrorize another student or staff members. The policy maintains that staff members, as well as students, have the responsibility to prevent and report instances of cyber-bullying. The policy also outlines complaint procedures. A student can orally, or in writing, report an issue to a staff member. The staff member will gather information to determine if an instance of cyber-bullyinghas occurred. The building principal will be notified, and if evidence is found, the building principal must document the case. Students found in violationwill be disciplined with suspension, expulsion, or reported to legal authorities. One strong point of the Warwick School Districts policy is the clause that states the school shall not infringe upon an individuals right to legally protected free speech. Secondly, the policy outlines the procedures for documenting the offense and informing parents and guardians of the victims, as well as the accused. Finally, the policy states that the students should be educated annually about cyber-bullying, and the consequences of such offenses. Warwick School Districts cyber-bullying policy, however, has some weaknesses. First, it is not clearly stated what the corrective actions are that would be imposed upon an individual who violates the policy. The procedures for due process and disciplinary actions are vague. Secondly, the policy does not address how the district would manage

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING offenses that occur off campus. Finally, there are no clear legal references to govern the

authority of the district to enforce the policy, and it does not appear to have been recently updated.

Unique Policy on Cyber-bullying I. Declaration: The School District declares its commitment to provide a healthy and

positive learning environment conducive to the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of its staff and students. Therefore, cyber-bullying in any form, conducted by any staff member or student is strictly prohibited. II. Definition: Cyber-bullying is intimidation and harassment conducted through the

use of electronic devices, electronic mail, social networking websites, personal blogs, or any other form of electronic communication. Cyber-bullying may occur in, but not limited to, text messages, email messages, social networking web sites, blogs, images, message boards, electronic postings, and online multiplayer gaming. III. Authority: The School District has the right to monitor electronic communications

performed using School District property, which includes, but is not limited to, computer hardware and software, computer peripherals, and networks. Students and staff are prohibited from engaging in any form of cyber-bullying on school grounds, at schoolsponsored events, whether or not the means of communication is carried out using school property or personal electronic devices. If such conduct is observed, the offender will be subject to disciplinary action, as outlined below. IV. Disciplinary Action: Parents of the students, as well as the targeted individual

shall be notified if evidence of cyber-bullying is found. Students will receive a written

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING reprimand, and shall be prohibited from using any school owned electronic

communication devices and networks, on the first offense. A second offense would result in suspension from school and school-related activities. A third offense could result in expulsion, and the offender may be relegated to proper law enforcement. V. Procedures for Reporting and Investigating Cyber-bullying Complaints: Any staff

member or student may report any instance of cyber-bullying anonymously to a principal or school superintendent. Any individual making a report must provide evidence, which could include but is not limited to, printed or electronic copies of textual messages and/or images, links to blogs, message boards and postings. A staff member, with the guidance of a lead administrator, shall investigate the claims of cyber-bullying, and a proper determination about discipline shall be made after school administrators meet with the students and parents/guardians of the offender and the victim. VI. Search and Seizure: This policy does not intend to infringe upon an individuals

Fourth Amendment constitutional rights. Staff or students do not have the right to search personal property of any individual for evidence of cyber-bullying, unless there are reasonable grounds to do so. VII. Legal Rights of Free Speech: This policy shall not infringe upon the First

Amendment right to free speech, as long as that communication does not jeopardize the operation of the learning environment, and it does not do willful harm to any individuals mental, physical well-being or self-esteem. VIII. Education and Prevention: This policy shall be included in all faculty, staff and

student handbooks that are to be distributed annually at the beginning of every school year. Students and parents shall sign a form to acknowledge receipt and understanding of

SCHOOL POLICIES ON CYBER-BULLYING the policy, as well as an acceptable use policy that governs the utilization of school owned electronic communication property. Twice a year, students will be required to attend a workshop on the acceptable use of electronic devices and digital citizenship to prevent instances of cyber-bullying from occurring.