Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying:
- What is it: Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that happens using an online platform. I define bullying as an action that hurts or belittles another human which is able to occur in a variety of platforms.
- Image resource of an overview of Michigan's Cyberbully Laws:
- Cyberbullying statistic: "More than half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying" (Guardchild.com)
- Resources: Media Smarts
- Media Smarts is a website that provides lesson plans for teachers on a variety of subjects including:
- Virtual vs. Physical Worlds
- Avatars & Identity
- Ethical Online Behavior
- The lessons are for grades 5-9 and include a detailed lesson plan with thinking prompts and questions and ethical questions to ask a class to have a discussion about cyberbullying and the possible effects students' actions can have.
I think it's really interesting that the number of victims is equal to the number of perpetrators. As a future health educator, this statistic scares me! Bullying in grade school has proven to be an on going problem in America, but the rise of technology has not helped the bullying problem we face. With social media sites, it's too easy to say things to people that are hurtful and derogatory. When your bullying someone online, we aren't talking face to face with that person. Bullies are hiding behind a computer screen and aren't seeing the immediate consequences of their words. It's comforting to see that Michigan has a lot of laws surrounding cyberbullying to protect young victims of this emotional and social abuse.
ReplyDeleteHannah- I couldn't agree more with you about the first point! It's so hard to be in the classroom and see how they use their words to hurt each other but then to know that when the person is not in front of you, it is so much easier to be cruel. I'm grateful we've had this reminder that our students are learning how to be kind in school and on digital platforms.
DeleteYou bring up good points. They don't see the reaction of their words, so they don't learn from the emotional impact.
DeleteI feel like a lot of schools have anti bullying programs, and I personally wonder if they have now included discussing cyber bullying and not just in-school face to face bullying? I would like to ask my cooperating teacher if my school discusses this topic, or are a lot of schools still not caught up with the times and avoid the discussion of this topic? If you have any idea I would love to hear. Also, I wonder if there a certain online sites that cyber bulling occurs on the most or if all social media tends to be an avenue for this to occur.
ReplyDeleteCourtney- I've asked my CT if our school has a program for cyberbullying. Our school has provided "Think before you post" posters in every classroom in the building to help remind students but if I'm being honest, how much can a poster really do?
DeleteCourtney - Yes, most schools I know cover cyber bullying as part of their bully rhetoric.
DeleteAli - You're right. You can have posters covering the walls but if a teacher turns their gaze away when they hear it in class or in the hall, that speaks louder than anything to the student that it is acceptable. At the very least, it is a mixed message.
Sometimes I feel like I am the worst person to talk to when it comes to bullying in general. I was often bullied when I was younger and did not deal with it the way many teachers would approve of. This does however allow me to know a lot about what students who are being bullied are going through. I can sympathize with them. I am also wondering what kind of cyber bullying, or just bullying in general, policies we have at my placement. Sometimes I hear things from my students and I'm not sure if they are messing around or actually trying to be mean. I can only imagine what is going on online or through texting.
ReplyDeleteMarty- I think your experience will make you more relatable to your students. I think we are all wondering how our student's social media is monitored. I know when I was in high school, it was often after something horrible was done that any intervention took place- usually too late because the damage had already been done. I know our students are able to take their chrome books home so that may add another dynamic since they are school property.
DeleteThis is a very interesting topic, and it caught my eye with how much student's are bing bullied as well as how much student do the bullying..its the same. Cyber-bullying has become such a epidemic these days and the worst part is that a lot of it goes undocumented. Those percentages make question if the number is actually higher. Like Marty said above, students tend to deal with it in different ways, for example, keeping it a secret from everyone... This was a good post! Thanks for the info!!
ReplyDeleteThe statistics on bullying are so scary. This recent article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-187330/Boy-driven-suicide-bullies.html describes how an 11 year old boy took his life because he was bullied. He was bullied for being clever and smart and that just breaks my heart. It is so sad to see a brilliant child/student do this. I can only imagine how his mother and family feels. This is why it is so important to promote awareness of any bullying especially cyber bullying. Thank you for your initial post.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I have a student who is so similar to the student in the article. I am constantly reminded of the great kindness of children but also the cruel reality that sometimes we have not all learned how to be kind. In so many ways, we are our students advocates. Thank you for sharing your article
DeleteStatistically, there are more gifted student suicides that the general population. So, so sad. Gifted students wear a target due to their traits of giftedness: overexcitabilities, sensitivities, perfectionism, different vocab. and humor. Protect the gifted students in your class - all students - yet often times the perception is that smart kids can fend for themselves. Not the case in school.
DeleteIt is sad how prevalent cyberbullying is in all of our schools. In my school, Union High School, not a lot goes on to prevent cyberbullying. Though, at Allendale Middle School they have a year-long campaign against bullying that includes cyberbullying. I think Allendale has taken a stronger approach since the kids are younger and they have one-to-one technology that can easily foster cyberbullying.
ReplyDeleteGreat resource - good lesson plans on the topics! Good find.
ReplyDelete